1 JUNE 2023
LITTLE SPLENDOUR
Little Splendour is a secure, dedicated, magical kids’ space for dance, play, and exploration. Tiny folk are a big deal at Little Splendour so we’ve curated a weekend experience with everything from clay play to DJ school and bunny rabbits playing rock music (yep!).
For the crafty types, there are loads of workshops. We’re talking tie die and puppet-making workshops, an Indigenous art interactive sculpture workshop, clay play, and so much more!
For sporty kids, a giant climbing wall, slack-line, and jumping castle are waiting to be tackled. You won’t want them to miss the freestyle football demo and workshop, either. The Circus Arts aerial show also returns, taking Little Splendour to all new heights with a breathtaking aerial rig, cabaret-style acts on silk and trapeze, plus a chair balancing act (oh-oh!) and a hula hoop performance.
For the young at heart, clowns, magicians, roaming theatre performers, Mermaids (yes, real mermaids!), puppet masters, and balloon artists will have you buckled over in laughter – and give the kids a break from your dad jokes.
A festival within a festival, rock out to live gigs and stomp-worth sounds, with everything from indie kindy to munchkin metal on the programme. Head to the Little Big Top to bop out to performances from Bunny Racket, whose fluffy gang of punk rockers strike a (loud) chord with young and old. Don’t miss sets from The Gumboots or Sound Synergy, a Little Splendour fan fave!
Channel your inner Flume because DJ Skool is back! Have fun learning how to mix like the pros and create your own dance party with Together Agency and Cory Fletcher. DJ Skool is a unique way for kids to discover what DJing is all about. Supported by Pioneer DJ, the workshop is perfect for kids aged 5 – 16. Now, drop the bass!
Head to LITTLE SPLENDOUR for the full programme
LITTLE SPLENDOUR BABYSITTING CLUB
Babysitting? At a FESTIVAL? No, you’re not dreaming.
Running from 12pm – 12am Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in a fully secured area within Little Splendour is our professional Babysitting Club, run with love by Corporate Kidz Australia. Drop those little (or big) terrors off for up to two hours and enjoy a vino and a boogie.
Bookings are required for ALL children under 5, as we need to allocate an individual staff member. Please book before July 1 by emailing i[email protected]
1 JUNE 2023
EXPLORE SOME MORE… A FEAST FOR THE EYES, EARS AND SOUL.
See, feel and experience more as you journey beyond the main stages at Splendour 2023. There’s an iconic selection of musicians, artists and performers waiting for you… so, where will you explore first?
THE WORLD STAGE
Expand your sonic horizons at the World Stage, where seminal music from all corners of the globe converge. From Mali to Meanjin, the World Stage transcends the mainstream and presents groundbreaking artists from near and far.
Make your way here for unforgettable encounters. Get down with the likes of electrifying Filipino/Aboriginal musician, DOBBY, whose live transmissions are nothing short of mind-blowing, or Narli, the rising hip-hop force and Bundgalung Yaegl native, known for powerful prose that shares deeply important messages.
Head to THE WORLD BAR for the full programme
NGARINDINDI DANCE GROUND
The Ngarindindi Dance Ground is an all-new Indigenous-led program in the Global Village.
Witness powerful traditional dances and sounds from five regional groups as they share the stories at the heart of their culture for three hours each day.
You’re also invited to get hands-on and connect more deeply with our local First Nations Culture. Join a dance workshop, listen to local lore stories, or get involved in a yarn circle.
Head to NGARINDINDI DANCE GROUND for the full programme.
THE BOHEMIAN LOUNGE, VILLAGE GREEN & HEALING SANCTUARY
Follow the sound of poetry jams and sultry jazz to the Bohemian Lounge. A cozy space for chai sipping or chilling out, you’ll also be able to settle in for a cabaret show or witness a circus extravaganza.
Next door in the Village Green, you’re invited to connect with the wisdom of our First Nations custodians, tune in to soothing sound therapy, watch our Artist in Residence, create a live artwork, jam out with some African sunset drumming, or meet your mates for spicy marghies at Trouble San! When you’re ready for a change of pace, the Healing Sanctuaryawaits. Here, Byron Bay’s most skilled and gifted healers, massage therapists and tarot readers tend to your mind, body, and soul. When you’re done, shop for eclectic treasures in the Boutique Craft Markets.
Head to BOHEMIAN LOUNGE and VILLAGE GREEN for the full programme
TROUBLE SAN
Need another guilty festival pleasure? Trouble San is it. Perhaps you’ve heard the legendary tales about their mouthwatering restaurant in Brunswick Heads. Renowned for a menu where daring Japanese meets seductive cocktails, it’s traditional with a promiscuous twist.
Want in? Make your way to the Global Village to experience this new Splendour addition for yourself. And if you dine while the sun sets, expect the Trouble San DJs to spin eclectic beats while you sink into a sensory journey that will always leave you wanting more.
Head to TROUBLE SAN for the full programme
25 MAY 2023
get ready for an oh-so-fabulous fun time at Rainbow Bar
Prepare to crank the dial on all things outrageous and sparkly ✨ Two of Australia’s fiercest queer party icons, GiRLTHING and POOF DOOF will take the helm of RAINBOW BAR, our LGBTQIA+ (and allies) inclusive dance club.
GiRLTHING made its grand entrance upon Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ scene in 2008 after launching the pioneering “indie queer girl social” on Sydney’s iconic Oxford Street and they’ll be taking over RAINBOW BAR on Friday 21 July and Sunday 23 July.
POOF DOOF is THE premier queer dance club brand in Australia, known for hosting parties fuelled by a profound love for exceptional dance music and very late nights. They’ll take over RAINBOW BAR on Saturday 22 July and Sunday 23 July.
Forget breakfast. Meet Dammit Janet, Danni Issues, Daphne Gaye, Kalin Klein, and Venus Pagina for DRAG BRUNCH instead. Leave your filter at the door with the RuPaul inspired fan favourite ‘Lip Sync for Your Life’ and be prepared for serendipitous encounters as they grace the festival grounds over the weekend.
Make like Hannah Montana and get the best of both worlds on Sunday 23 July as the forces of POOF DOOF and GiRLTHING unite for SUNDAY FUNDAY.
Head to RAINBOW BAR for the full programme
25 MAY 2023
prepare to party, The Forest lineup has been revealed
Splendour’s beating heart, THE FOREST, is ready to blow speakers and minds in 2023. From psytrance, glitch pop, and signature drum and bass, to full-tilt techno and everything in between, THE FOREST is a genre defying experience that should be on everyone’s festival bucket list.
While you dance, drop into your senses with luminous light shows, mesmerising visual design, fire performances by Cinder Ashes and contemporary dance from Creative Creatures. Don’t miss the commissioned art piece by Spectacle Art’s principal designer and internationally acclaimed artist, Clint Hurrel, too!
Head to THE FOREST for the full programme.
12 APRIL 2023
SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS CELEBRATING 21 YEARS! HERE’S YOUR 2023 LINEUP
Start planning your party outfits and wheel out the birthday cake, Splendour in the Grass is turning 21!! Australia’s premier Music and Arts festival is returning to its beloved home at Ngarindjin / North Byron Parklands from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July for 3 days and nights of hella good times dedicated to music lovers, and the lineup is finally here! Hold on to your party hats as a ‘uge bunch of international musicians and DJs, and an incredible host of homegrown talent, get ready to descend on the Amphitheatre, GW McLennan and Mix Up stages for Splendour’s 21st edition!
Combine a dollop of the biggest and most innovative stars of electronic sounds, a dash of pop royalty, a heaping of folk and indie rock pioneers, a sprinkling of global names of hip hop, top it off with an exclusive anniversary set, and the recipe for Splendour’s 21st birthday cake is sounding extra scrumptious. Made with the freshest ingredients from some of the biggest international talent touring the world right now, a pour of Australia’s most prolific acts, plus a squeeze of exciting emerging artists and Splendour 2023 has one helluva crew ready to light up North Byron Parklands with you for the 21st time!
Electronic music titan Flume will make an exclusive Australian appearance at Splendour 2023! His Amphitheatre take over will celebrate 10 years since his self-titled debut album broke records (and speakers!) across Australia, launching the now iconic producer into the stratosphere with billions of streams worldwide and Platinum sales in multiple countries. The exclusive milestone performance follows Flume’s recent surprise release Things Don’t Always Go The Way You Plan featuring music culled from stashed away laptops and hard drives. His third studio album Palaces was completed during the pandemic after returning home to Australia, reflecting on this transition as he reconnected with nature. The thought-provoking project garnered international praise, received six ARIA Award nominations and a J Award nomination for Album of the Year. The record also features Flume’s second Hottest 100 #1 Say Nothing feat. MAY-A – only one other artist has ever earned the top spot twice! Flume has headlined major international festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Lowlands, Governors Ball and gave a celebrated main stage performance at Coachella in 2022. He has come a long way since his humble Splendour debut as a changeover artist at Mix Up in 2012, fast forward to now and he is global headliner, has a GRAMMY Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album on his shelf (a total of four GRAMMY Award nominations to his name), and we’re getting ready to celebrate 10 years of Flume with a mammoth Amphitheatre set! The iconic producer will only celebrate this milestone one other time at The Forum in LA, so don’t miss the historic occasion!
Some fourteen years ago, a few young men from London formed a band. It was a happy accident, with nothing unusual about how they formed; shared musical interests, an interest to both make and perform music whatever the occasion and this comparatively unique passion for community and collaboration. They called their band Mumford & Sons, and have jokingly regretted it ever since. You can’t get everything right! Breathe in, let’s go: Number 1 albums around the world. GRAMMY Awards. BRIT Awards. Ivor Novello Awards. Q Awards. Billboard Awards. Sold out arena tours. A debut US stadium tour. Festival headline slots. Bob Dylan’s backing band. Backed by Bob Dylan. John Fogerty’s backing band. Backed by John Fogerty. Shared riffs with Tom Morello. Adventures with Baaba Maal. Trips to Senegal. South Africa. Europe. America. South America. Japan. Australia. New Zealand. Asia. Gentlemen of the Road; their own community-minded, self-curated festivals. Wilder Mind. Babel. Sigh No More. Delta. A massive, massive success. Breathe out. Mumford & Sons will play Lollapalooza Stockholm before bringing their captivating live show down under exclusively for Splendour in the Grass 2023.
It’s Lizzo’s world, we’re just living in it! There’s no denying that Lizzo has shifted the sound, soul, and spirit of popular music and culture. She’s maintained unstoppable momentum since 2019’s now-classic, RIAA platinum certified debut album, CUZ I LOVE YOU, and she’s got 4 x GRAMMYs and an Emmy in the poolroom to show for it. Lizzo hits Splendour with her biggest, boldest and brightest revolution thus far: her hugely adored second full-length offering Special. The album saw Lizzo receive 5 nominations at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards with lead single About Damn Time taking out the coveted title of Record Of The Year. Get ready to dance when Lizzo makes her Splendour debut in July. It’s about damn time!
And there’s so much more! You’ll be sharing your Splendour 2023 weekend with:
LIZZO * FLUME (AUS EXCLUSIVE: 10 YEARS OF FLUME) * MUMFORD & SONS (AUS EXCLUSIVE) * LEWIS CAPALDI * YEAH YEAH YEAHS * HILLTOP HOODS * J BALVIN * SAM FENDER * IDLES * LITTLE SIMZ * SLOWTHAI * TOVE LO * 100 GECS (AUS EXCLUSIVE) * ARLO PARKS * BALL PARK MUSIC * IANN DIOR * KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD * 070 SHAKE * PNAU * RUEL * LOYLE CARNER * BENEE * MARLON WILLIAMS * RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE * HOOLIGAN HEFS * PEACH PRC * PALACE * DUNE RATS * TKAY MAIDZA * NOAH CYRUS * SKEGSS * SUDAN ARCHIVES * CUB SPORT * MEG MAC * X CLUB. * CLAIRE ROSINKRANZ * JACK RIVER * THE SMITH STREET BAND * LASTLINGS * JEREMY ZUCKER * YOUNG FRANCO * SLY WITHERS * MAY-A * THE VANNS * TELENOVA * VALLIS ALPS * JAMESJAMESJAMES * KAYCYY * RVG * TEENAGE DADS * BALMING TIGER * AUTOMATIC * HARVEY SUTHERLAND * GALI * DEL WATER GAP * ROYEL OTIS * SHAG ROCK * BIG WETT * MIA WRAY * MEMPHIS LK * GOLD FANG * MILKU * SUMNER * FOREST CLAUDETTE * FULL FLOWER MOON BAND * WILLIAM CRIGHTON * HELLCAT SPEEDRACER * TRIPLE J UNEARTHED WINNERS * PLUS MIX UP DJ’S TSEBA * CRYBABY * LATIFA TEE * FOURA * CAUCASIANOPPORTUNITIES * LUEN * MOWGLI * DJ MACARONI * CRESCENDOLL
And music is just one piece of the Splendour multiverse! Alongside the stages you know and love, there’s a treasure trove of experiences waiting for you and your crew
Thump. Thump. Thump. That’s not your hangover. It’s Splendour’s beating heart, The Forest! Your bass camp for traversing sub-genres and exploring boundary-pushing sounds, let the Rainbow Region’s spiciest spinners bring the doof to you. Dance into a new dimension as awe-inspiring lightscapes, playful performances and psychedelic art guide the way.
Ready to take a different trip? The Global Village is your one-way ticket to a unique ecosystem of expansive experiences. Add some namaste to your day with a yoga class, indulge in a tarot card reading, relax with a steaming mug of chai or get involved in some circus play. When you’re ready to find your groove again, salsa your way to the World Stage, Splendour’s musical melting pot serving up sounds from all corners of the sonic spectrum.
Keep your head in the game at The Forum! Sit down and listen up as some of the greatest thinkers and storytellers of today deliver an array of thought-provoking talks and panels across the weekend. Discover new ideas and new people. Get inspired, be challenged, cultivate new perspectives and experience innovation. Round it all off with a healthy dose of sh*ts and gigs at The Comedy Club, where the funniest people in the comedy biz come together for three nights of self-deprecating silliness.
Think reading your horoscope is a science? See yourself over to the Science Tent, where you’ll dive into out-there topics and learn about everything from fungi to fossil fuels. If you loved 2022’s presentations with green thumb Costa Georgiadis, the future of psychedelics and mental health, or the interactive live dating show that tested your romantic compatibility via climate values, Science Tent will keep you stimulated again in 2023!
Somewhere over the Amphitheatre hill, where skies are sparkly and utterly fabulous, you’ll find Splendour’s Rainbow Bar. Back for a second year in 2023, celebrate with a glass of bubbles an outrageous programme of DJs, dancers and drag, curated by some of the LGBTQIA+ community’s iconic party starters, unfolds around you.
For self-anointed kings and queens, Splendour’s VIP Village is here to tick all of your bougie boxes. Enjoy access to your private oasis and VIP access to the Golden View bar in the Amphitheatre. There’s also a concierge, express event entry lanes, coat check, fancy toilets and loads more. Also check out the ticket & hotel packages and Splendour’s brand new and very limited Platinum experience.
Bring your children to Splendour. No, we’re not kidding! Little Splendour is your festival superhero, ready to save the day with a curated haven designed for parents and their ankle-biters. From bubs to tweens, there’s something for everyone. You’ll find incredible performers and entertainers, babysitting services and so much more. Please be sure to check out Splendour’s Youth Policy, all U18’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times throughout the event site.
Revel in the Splendour Arts program with its captivating and provocative collection of major visual and performance artworks. Keep your eyes and iPhone’s peeled for bold moments of artistic goodness, all hidden in plain sight across the entire Splendour site!
Keen for the full Splendour experience? Camping onsite is your best bet with a variety of options available. The camping area closest to the event site is vehicle free but you can camp with your wheels in other areas. For the time being you only need to purchase your event and camping ticket. Vehicle passes and other transport options will be on sale soon.
Onsite camping is available for up to 5 nights, with early entry into the campgrounds available from Wednesday 19 July. Travelling from afar and not keen to lug your tent? Pack light and book yourself into WOW Tents or Tent City. Bringing the littlies? The Meadow, Splendour’s family friendly campground is the place to be!
If you’re managing your pocket, Splendour will offer ticket buyers the option to purchase via a payment plan, check the festival’s website for details, please be sure to read the terms and conditions before you purchase.
Move quick and get in early, ticket prices will continue to increase as Splendour is using a flexible pricing model. Head to Moshtix for current pricing and availability.
15 March 2023
LIZZO HEADLINES SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2023
Splendour in the Grass, your annual hit of good as hell music and arts, returns to North Byron Parklands from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July. With the full lineup set to drop in just a few weeks time, it’s about damn time that Splendour shared a secret with you…
Making her much anticipated pilgrimage across the globe to beautiful Byron Bay for Splendour’s 21st edition is 4 x GRAMMY Award-winning singer, Emmy Award-winner, songwriter, rapper, flautist, and singer of those tunes you just can’t get enough of… Lizzo!
There’s no denying it. Lizzo has shifted the sound, soul, and spirit of popular music and culture. She’s maintained unstoppable momentum since 2019’s now-classic, RIAA platinum certified debut album, CUZ I LOVE YOU. The album is fuelled by history-making hits like the platinum certified Tempo (feat. Missy Elliott), the 2x platinum Juice, the 4x platinum Good As Hell and the 7x platinum Truth Hurts. The latter ascended to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, affirming Lizzo as the first black solo female R&B singer to claim the top spot since 2012 and became the longest-running #1 by a solo female rap artist ever.
Named by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time, Truth Hurts went on to earn a GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Solo Performance, with CUZ I LOVE YOU (DELUXE) receiving a GRAMMY for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Lizzo makes her Splendour debut armed with her biggest, boldest, and brightest revolution thus far: her hugely adored second full-length offering Special. Bursting with chunky disco-funk beats designed to make you move, Special’s spirited, charismatic anthems are her most adventurous yet. The album saw Lizzo receive 5 nominations at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards with lead single About Damn Time taking out the coveted title of Record Of The Year.
Crowned 2019’s Entertainer of the Year by both TIME and Entertainment Weekly, Lizzo has lit up the stage at the American Music Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, the BET Awards and Saturday Night Live, and now it’s our turn!
Joining Lizzo will be over 100 of the world’s most provocative and prolific musicians and DJs, alongside a crew of celebrated homegrown talent. Sit tight and stay tuned for the rest of the lineup, which is coming very soon!
1 March 2023
SAVE THE DATE
Friday 21 July – Sunday 23 July 2023
Mark your calendars. Fire up the group chat. Dust off your dancing shoes, it’s going to be sunny right? Tell your boss it’s time for your yearly sonic sabbatical… Splendour in the Grass is back and is ready to blow out 21 candles with you in 2023!
The 21st annual Splendour in the Grass Music and Arts Festival will bring the world’s most prolific artists and national music treasures to Ngarindjin / North Byron Parklands from Friday 21 July to Sunday 23 July 2023, with onsite camping accessible from Wednesday 19 July.
After 20 editions of mosh pits, memorable moments, thought-provoking panels, iconic live music and yes, mud, Splendour is ready to welcome you back to North Byron Parklands in 2023 for a cracking celebration.
Have you purchased tickets and attended Splendour in the Grass five times or more? Become a Splendour Member to get exclusive early access to tickets! Sign up NOW before applications close at 5pm AEDT Friday 10 March.
Stay tuned for more info, including lineup news very very soon!
23 February 2023
SITE PROGRESS REPORT
What a weekend Splendour in the Grass 2022 was, without a doubt the most challenging and difficult year ever and it was not what any of us wanted. While we can’t control the weather, we can manage how we respond and for that, we are deeply sorry.
Apart from the condition of the grounds and its accessibility we recognise that the impacts extended to traffic failings on Thursday that heavily affected not only you but the local community, as well as two of the bus routes on the Saturday night which resulted in unacceptable wait times.
We want to say thank you to the Splendour patrons who took the time to share their experiences in our Splendour in the Grass 2022 survey, we are acting on all that we learned that weekend.
Some improvements will be:
- Weather proofing upgrades to the venue such as wider walkways and hard surfaces in key traffic areas around the toilets and amenity blocks
- Enhanced drainage throughout the site
- Easier terrain to move around including more pathways and easier access to stages and destination venues
- Significant onsite materials and equipment to immediately address unexpected weather conditions
- Improved communications with you and our local community before, during and after the event
- Compliance from the bus companies to deliver on their agreed service levels
- Reviewing our Traffic Management Plan with 2022 learnings in consultation with experts and independent auditors including the Local Traffic Committee
- Improving our workforce levels and enhancing staff, volunteer, and worker facilities for staying and working onsite.
We have invested enormous amounts of time and money over the last six months to upgrade the venue and our processes, and will continue to do so right up until Splendour 2023. With this in mind we hope to welcome you back to enjoy what is arguably Australia’s leading contemporary music festival with some of the greatest acts from Australia and around the globe. More on that soon, news just around the corner!
Splendour in the Grass would not be possible without the planning, time and inputs from numerous people working at authorities such as: Department of Planning and Environment, Byron and Tweed Shire Councils and subcommittees (e.g., the Local Traffic Committee, Local Emergency Management Committee and a Regulatory Working Group), NSW Police, NSW Health, NSW Ambulance, SES, RFS, Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Thanks to every one of you.
Thank you also to the talented artists who show up, our very hard-working Splendour team who put such love and care in their jobs, every supporting staff member, volunteer, brand partner, food and market operator and supplier who roll up their sleeves to deliver Splendour.
And most of all, thanks to our audience who have consistently shown us their commitment and patience over the years. We are incredibly humbled by your honesty and support and we are beholden in making Splendour in the Grass 2023 the best event to date.
Jess & Paul x
