With the 2014 Splendour In The Grass lineup set to drop on Wednesday April 23, we’ve pulled out our crystal ball to decipher just who we may be seeing gracing the stage at Byron Bay this July.
Ever since their recent reformation and announcement of a ‘world festival tour’, one that would see them perform 40 shows around the world, Atlanta hip hop duo Outkast have been highly speculated. Adding to the speculation, they’ve also been announced as a headliner ofJapan’s Fuji Rock, a festival that takes place on the same weekend as Splendour and often shares acts.
Other Fuji Rock acts that suit the Splendour mould include Damon Albarn(who devastated fans when Blur pulled out of the 2014 Big Day Out),Foster The People (who are due for an Australian return following last month’s release of their latest album Supermodel) plusBombay Bicycle Club, SBTRKT, Parquet Courts, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Franz Ferdinand, Basement Jaxx and Manic Street Preachers.
At SXSW this year Splendour threw a showcase party with Falls Festival that bosated a lineup featuringSkaters, Chlöe Howl, Royal Blood, Wolf Alice, Basecamp, Gossling, De Lux, Dune Rats, Drowners, Lowell, Jetta and Tor Miller,which certainly holds a hefty hint for possible lineup additions.
Having recently visited Sydney for a short promotional stint, Sky Ferreiramustsurely have a full Australian tour on the horizon, while London Grammar(also appearing at Fuji Rock) andMetronomy have been leaving Splendour-sized hints in recent interviews. Splendour’s promoters Secret Sounds recently touredMikhael Paskalev for a series of intimate Australian dates, which may prove to be a warm-up buzz-starting tour before he returns for the festival – a tactic we’ve seen used in the past for Splendour appearances from James Blake, Lana Del Rey and Foster The People.
Who definitely won’t be playing? There are some Splendour alumni you can be guaranteed won’t be returning this year. Jack White was rumoured but has since announced a clashing US tour, it’d surely be too soon for Lorde (who famously filled-in last year after Frank Ocean’s last-minute cancellation [he also has no current tour dates penned and surely owes Splendour a visit, yeah?]) as she’s embarking on a national tour in April/May, and 2011 headliner Kanye West will be coming to Australia later in the year. Babyshambles cancelled all of their Splendour sideshows last year and still have fans waiting, but they’ll be in Berlin when Splendour kicks off.
Fans ofMassive Attack have been waiting to hear of their Australian tour plans following the cancellation of Harvest last year, but unfortunately they’ll be playing at Low Cost Festival in Spain this July, as will Editors, The Hives, Los Campesinos! and Kaiser Chiefs.
What bands are on your Splendour wish list? Let us know in the comments below.
Splendour In The Grass 2014 will take place overFriday July 25 – Sunday July 27 at the North Byron Parklands, Byron Bay. We’ll be dropping the official lineup right here onWednesday April 23.
