Dust off your gumboots, because Splendour is just around the corner! In celebration of the country’s greatest festival we’re running over the must see acts for the entire festival.
5. Future Islands
Drawing from the sonic palette of post-punk, electronic, pop and alternative, Future Islands has put out gloomy albeit groovy synth pop over the course of their six records thus far. Add front man Samuel T. Herring’s infamously passionate live performances to the mix and one can understand why Future Islands is one of the must see acts of Saturday.
4. Schoolboy Q
As a part of the prolific TDE hip-hop collective, Schoolboy Q lends some high profile rap status to the lineup. Schoolboy is no stranger down under, having played just three years prior, although, there is no greater time to catch him on the back of his wildly successful 2016 LP, Blank Face. With new fan favourites like That Part and classic throwbacks such as Hands on the Wheel and Man of the Year, Schoolboy’s discography will undoubtedly provide a thrilling set from start to finish. A hip-hop set always stands out from the predominantly alternative lineup at Splendour, and as such what better way to embrace the genre than to catch Schoolboy Q.
3. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
The past three years have all been labelled “King of the Gizz,” a worthy title by virtue of the Melbourne psych-rock group’s enormous creative output since their inception. However, if there was one year where the band truly lived up to the title it would be 2017, for they’re currently two albums deep into a promised five due to be released this year. Somehow fitting touring into their schedule, the seven-man group will round out the night at the G.W McLennan tent and are a must see due to their hectic discography of roaring psychedelic zaniness.
2. LCD Soundsystem
Following a half-decade hiatus, LCD Soundsystem has returned with new material, a forthcoming album and worldwide tour that began last year. As the final act of the festival, the group’s reunion will attract enormous crowds at the Amphitheatre, with James Murphy and company undoubtedly playing favourites like Dance Yrself Clean and I Can Change. LCD’s infectious fusion of disco and alternative is truly unique throughout the festival, and therefore there is no better way to end the festival than to catch one of the strongest bands of the 2000’s.
1. Queens of the Stone Age
As the must see act of the festival, let alone Saturday, the Queens of Stone Age set will be raucous to say the least. Their notoriety for intense, unforgiving sets that thrive on the vicious flow of the quintet’s sound is well known, and with the prospect of hearing new material from their forthcoming seventh album, the deal is sweetened even further. On the basis of past set lists and simply reviewing their discography, their set is bound to be a relentless experience from beginning to end and will be a brilliant conclusion to the second day of the festival.