The second day of Splendour In The Grass hit like a bolt of sunshine after last year's muddy mess.
Festival goers were treated to another day (22 July) of classic Splendour antics with amazing tunes, beautiful sunshine, community spirit and immaculate vibes.First up, Teenage Dads opened the main stage with a bang. These charismatic Aussie lads had everyone hooked from the get-go. Their lively and infectious indie pop anthems had the crowd instantly swaying and clapping along.
I couldn't help but admire their tight-knit chemistry. A highlight was their cover of 'Video Killed The Radio Star', which had the crowd swooning. They set the perfect tone for the rest of the day, and it was clear that Teenage Dads have the potential to go from opening act to headliners in no time.
BENEE - image © Jared Hinz
Next up was BENEE, the Kiwi sensation who oozes charm and cheekiness. Hits like 'Find An Island' and 'Glitter' had us singing-along, feeling like instant besties with this down-to-earth queen.
Turning up the heat as the sun popped behind the amphitheatre, she switched up the pace with 'Green Honda'. She even brought out special guest Mallrat who looked at home on the big stage.
However, the real surprise came from Peach PRC, DIY pop royalty, playing on the Mix-Up stage. Her quirky storytelling and tunes like 'Josh' had us bopping like no tomorrow. The TikTok icon was dressed in her usual fairy goddess attire and she kept the pink vibes going.
Peach PRC - image © Jared Hinz
Then, the legends arrived back at the main stage. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard took us on a psychedelic odyssey, weaving a magic spell with their trippy rock beats.
Opening with 'Rattlesnake' and seamlessly transitioning through their set list of instrumental and vocal experimentation was something I'll never forget. A true highlight for the festival.
As twilight set in, Sam Fender's soulful voice captured our hearts. Emotional tracks like 'Hypersonic Missiles' struck deep, turning us into a choir of feels. The crowd sang every lyric of 'Seventeen Going Under' as Sam had the crowd repeating back the chorus for minutes after the song had finished.
A cardboard cutout of Lewis Capaldi was seen crowd surfing, which Sam pointed out paying respect to Lewis who had to pull out of this year's festival line-up for personal reasons.
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard - image © Jared Hinz
Although the spotlight belonged to the wild queen herself, Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She took us by storm, delivering a jaw-dropping performance.
From 'Maps' to 'Heads Will Roll', we were her puppets in a rock frenzy. Most people will remember moments of the set where she did very questionable things to the microphone, but that's just performance art right?!
After the band had to pull out of their 2022 Splendour appearance a welcomed "we're so f...ing happy to be back," from Karen O brought a roar from the crowd.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O - image © Jared Hinz
Now, brace yourselves for the grand finale: Flume, the electronic mastermind! He tore the proverbial roof off the joint, kicking off with old remixes we thought were lost to history.
The beats hit harder than ever, and surprise guest appearances left us gasping for air: Vera Blue, KUČKA, Tove Lo, MAY-A, and Tkay Maidza made it a star-studded ride the crowd will never forget.
Flume's set list was a roller coaster, serving up hits from 'Flume', 'Skin', and 'Palaces' albums. The visuals were a cosmic trip, taking us to a higher dimension. We danced our asses off, lost in the electronic wilderness.
Flume mixed in 'Gravel Pit (Matt Miller x Kilter Cover)' and 'Higher (Ta-ku cover)', tracks he hadn't played in years. It was a nostalgic throwback that sent shockwaves of excitement through the crowd. As the beats reverberated through our bodies, we couldn't help but reminisce about our younger selves, dancing carefree to the early sounds of Flume.
Flume - image © Jared Hinz
However, the surprises didn't end there. The guest appearances took his set to a whole new level. Vera Blue graced us with her angelic voice, teaming up with Flume for an electrifying rendition of 'Rushing Back'. It was a spine-tingling moment, and the crowd couldn't get enough of the chemistry between the pair.
KUČKA then took the stage, casting a bewitching spell with her dreamy vocals on tracks like 'Voices' and 'Hyperreal'. The energy was palpable as she and Flume seemed to be in perfect sync, their music merging into a hypnotic symphony.
And just when it couldn't get any better, Tove Lo stormed the stage setting it ablaze with her fiery performance. Together with Flume, they gave an unforgettable rendition of 'Say It', leaving us breathless and yearning for more.
The visuals accompanying his performance were a feast for the eyes, perfectly complementing the intricate beats and rhythms. It felt like we'd been transported to an otherworldly realm, guided by Flume's masterful hands as he weaved a magical tapestry of sound and light.
Flume & Tove Lo - image © Jared Hinz
With each beat drop and every soaring melody, the connection between Flume and the audience grew stronger. We danced, we swayed, and we let the music wash over us, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
As Flume bid us farewell, we were left sweaty and grinning like madmen. The man knows how to work the crowd, leaving us craving more. The energy was electric, with our hearts full and our spirits lifted.
Flume's headlining set was a triumphant conclusion to an already incredible day of music at Splendour 2023. He proved once again why he's one of the most exciting and innovative electronic artists of our time.
Another successful Saturday will go down in the books for Splendour In The Grass.
More photos from Day Two.
