Purple Sneakers Approved: Our unmissable acts playing Splendour In The Grass 2018

Christmas in July is real and that's because, to any fan of music, SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS is better than any Christmas. However, in 2018, they have really stepped their game up. Giving us three diverse headliners in rap legend KENDRICK LAMAR, alt-pop superstar LORDE and everyone's favourite indie darlings VAMPIRE WEEKEND, this year's Splendour lineup is about appealing to all fans of music. On top of that, the lineup's diversity has seen huge improvements in comparison to other festivals, with around 43% of total acts on the bill having some form of non-male representation.

That being said, a really huge part of this lineup's appeal is how clearly it is championing up-and-coming Australian artists - of all genres. This is something Splendour has nailed down to a fine art over recent years. Gone are the days where 12pm was too early to rock up to a festival, as you just might miss the next Lorde or next Vampire Weekend before they inevitably conquer the world. In keeping with that, here are our picks for some unmissable up-and-comers you can and most definitely should see at this year's Splendour In The Grass.

WOODES

Woodes is coming off of a massive 2017 that saw her enter into a realm that was all her own. Her fantastical and mystifying song-writing coupled with her ethereal and transformative production, as evidenced in tracks like 'Dots' and 'Origami', is a listening experience like no other through a pair of headphones. Naturally, seeing it live on a festival stage will be something to truly behold.

BAKER BOY

With a big smile on his face and flames in his bars, Baker Boy truly made 2017 his own. His irresistible charm and his electrifying energy is palpable through your speakers and he's materialised this into a truly exciting live show. Melting modern hip-hop and traditional Indigenous language - like the Yolngu Matha language we hear him rap with on the all-conquering 'Marryuna' - it's no wonder at all that he had two entries in the Hottest 100 for 2017, and with more music and more shows slated for this year, 2018 is going to be much the same: All about Baker Boy!

G FLIP

We're only a third of the way through 2018, but we already have its definitive star - G Flip. Not many artists experience the completely meteoric rise that this Melbourne singer/songwriter/drummer extraordinaire has had, but G Flip (Georgia Flipo) is handling with ease, humility and a certain spark that has completely captivated not just Australia, but the globe. Need any proof? Take one listen to her only current single, 'About You', and tell us you won't be front and centre for her Saturday Splendour set.

HAIKU HANDS

Every once in a while, a band comes along that truly lets you escape. Haiku Hands have enabled that escapism by being unapologetically and unashamedly fun. While G Flip's similarly titled 'About You' is heartfelt and tender, Haiku Hands' 'Not About You' is one giant, middle finger to their detractors and one giant hug to themselves. It's a raucous, chaotic, self-empowering anthem that is, to put it simply, going to go off.

MANU CROOK$

It must be hard to be the certified standard-setter for Aussie hip-hop so early in your career, but Manu Crook$ doesn't seem bothered one bit. He is, by all definitions, an innovator as he has really contributed to the reshaping and expansion of what the masses consider to be Australian hip-hop. He's making music that is revolutionary for the genre, and he 100% knows it. Making international moves, this year looks set to be his biggest yet, so Splendour In The Grass will be the perfect opportunity to catch him before he's a global superstar (which is exactly where he's headed).

POOLCLVB

Splendour hits us in the year's coldest month, but that won't stop POOLCLVB giving the festival a sweltering, summery feel with his insatiable beats. Everything he creates is drenched in heat and vivid colour, and his You + Me EP is the pinnacle of that. His raison d'être seems to be making beats that are as ready for 2am in the club as they are for 1pm by the pool, and you best believe that - no matter what time of day - they are perfect for Splendour in the Grass.

EBONY BOADU

Sydney's Ebony Boadu is exactly the type of artist 2018 needs. She's outspoken and ambitious, she's constantly giving a voice to the voiceless, she's asserting her feminism and, on top of all of that, her mixes and production are thumping to say the least. She's an outspoken woman of colour in a world dominated by men, but she consistently and fearlessly smashes down any obstacle that gets thrown in her way. She's confident, she's assertive, she has some of the best rap mixes in the game right now, and with her recent foray into releasing her own remixes, she's perfect for Splendour 2018.

ALICE IVY

As far as revolutionising the industry goes, Alice Ivy is running headfirst into the fire. Giving us production that's reminiscent of The Avalanches (another band on the Splendour 2018 lineup) but at the same time completely her own, she has a special way of bringing out the most in her collaborators - like Bertie Blackman and E^ST to name a few - and elevating them to soaring new heights. And extreme altitude is something Alice Ivy better get used to, because her rocket ship keeps flying higher and you'd be silly not to take the ride with her.

Tickets for Splendour In The Grass 2018 go on sale at 9:00am AEST on Thursday 19 April via moshtix.com.au and 1300 Get Tix (438 849).

Peep the full lineup below.

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2018 LINEUP

Kendrick Lamar

Lorde (only AUS show)

Vampire Weekend (only AUS show)

Khalid (only AUS show)

The Wombats

Hilltop Hoods

CHVRCHES

Miguel

Girl Talk (only AUS show)

Angus & Julia Stone

Gang of Youths

Franz Ferdinand

MGMT

Ben Howard

Dune Rats & Friends

James Bay

PNAU

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite

The Avalanches DJ set

Chromeo

DMA’S

Ball Park Music

Henry Rollins (only AUS show)

SAFIA

The Jungle Giants

Lil Xan

Methyl Ethel

Amy Shark

The Bronx

Ocean Alley

Carmada (L D R U & Yahtzel)

DZ Deathrays

Lord Huron

Middle Kids

Hockey Dad

Towkio

Cub Sport

Touch Sensitive

Sampa The Great

Dean Lewis

Skegss

Albert Hammond Jr

Mallrat

Marmozets

Alex Lahey

Riton & Kah-Lo

Jack River

Superorganism

Anna Lunoe

Lewis Capaldi

All Our Exes Live In Texas

Alex The Astronaut

Yungblud

Crooked Colours

Nina Las Vegas

Soccer Mommy (only AUS show)

Elderbrook

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Tim Sweeney

Stella Donnelly

Bully

Baker Boy

Wafia

No Mono

Waax

Angie McMahon

West Thebarton

Eves Karydas

G Flip

The Babe Rainbow

Haiku Hands

Didirri

Alice Ivy

Amyl & The Sniffers

Ziggy Ramo

Fantastic Man

Lo’99

Human Movement

Manu Crook$

Kasbo

Madam X

Andras

Alta

Ara Koufax

Two People

B Wise

Made In Paris

Jensen Interceptor

Woodes

Teischa

Antony & Cleopatra

Muto

Elk Road

triple j Unearthed winners (TBA)

Plus…

Mike Gurrieri

Love Deluxe

Lauren Hansom

Poolclvb

Godlands

Nyxen

Emma Stevenson

Ebony Boadu

Words by JACKSON LANGFORD

Image: Facebook + VISUALSBYRAZAK + Facebook

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SEE ALSO

BLOWIN’ UP: GETTING TO KNOW MANU CROOK$

GETTING LOST IN THE MAGIC OF WOODES