Splendour in the Grass

It's official – at 33 I am an old bird for the average female festival goer but I do oh so love it. I love everything there is to love about festivals. The anticipation of line-ups, getting tickets, finding accommodation, finding the right group to go with, anticipation of the program – the immense angst caused by a clash can leave anyone morose for at least 10 minutes - and finally the build up to festival day….. it's like Christmas to a child. It builds and builds until you literally burst and can't get enough of everything thrown your way.

Splendour in the Grass 2007 was no different – if anything all these feelings were heightened. A great line-up not perfect by any means but good.

At last Splendour in the Grass 2007 is here…. At 6.30am I am awake like a child on Christmas Day…

We don't get to the festival until 1.30pm – it only takes a little while to get our armbands and just like last year we wander in under the famous Splendour arch – this year donned with large pieces of fruit.
Same layout as last year and oh so good to be back. We head straight to the dance tent to catch the beginning of "Muscles" – a one man DJ show. Everyone was well ready for the festival to begin – the tent was ¾ full and everyone bopping along. "Muscles" was extremely impressive for a solo act – confident and fun – just what we needed to start our festival.

I ventured off to see The Horrors. I didn't know much about these guys – English punk. Bloody horrendous. The lead singer eventually pulls himself on to stage and starts wandering around the stage in circles, he approaches the mike to say "I look at the sky" then walks away again. The band then launch into a song with a lyric about 'I want to cut you'. I am all for making a show and appreciate gigs are that are a little bit abstract but this was just plain crap. Try hard. No surprise to say we left.

Next Editors. Blooming great. Excellent live.

Ash. Ahhhhhhhhhh Ash. The music of my yoof. I had seen this band about 10 times in the nineties. Either at festivals or supporting other bands. I have always loved them so went along for a trip down memory lane. "Kung Fu" and "Girl from Mars" are played better than ever I was jumping with excitement. Tim is looking good and has the sound the match it. New stuff good – I will buy the new album.

Next The Panics. I had been told by a friend that his band were really boring live so couldn't wait to get there?!…. Boring? Nah just a bit mellow and quite refreshing considering how I was feeling from the night before. It was nice.

I had about an hour free as I wasn't fussed about anyone on the program but our mate was keen to see The Cat Empire. Best band I hadn't planned to see ever. These boys got the whole tent dancing – obviously very popular and no wonder. The lead singer has the most amazing voice. The whole set up sounds great – big band latino sound. First political speech of the day 'vote out the government'…. Yadayadayadayada

Popped into Blue King Brown – who started off the set with 'save aboriginals' – get off your soap box people and actually do something rather than just saying it.

Now this is where the butterflies kick in. In the next 2 hours we will see Kaiser Chiefs and Powderfinger. The crowd is pumped. Really pumped. On bound Kaiser Chiefs in a fury of flashing lights and bangs. Tom is very cocky but why not if you're one of the biggest bands in the UK. Worth all the fuss? Definitely. Kaiser Chiefs has consistently written basic stadium anthems that the middle/working class of England just love to sing to. The whole tent sang their little hearts out. Confidence is so high the crowd are even asked to shout "Kaiser Chiefs, Kaiser Chiefs" cocky but again why not. "The Angry Mob" finishes – perfect crowd pleaser.

How could Powerfinger back it up?

Easy. On they come as unassuming as ever. These guys let their songs do the talking. And talk they did. "Lost and Running" just great. "My Happiness" – I reckon they could have heard us all singing in Brisbane – everyone in the tent sang at the top of their voices. Bernard can't help but beam a smile of his happiness. Classic after classic. The finest Powerfinger I ever saw and cannot wait to see again. Bernard claimed "this is the best festival on Australia". I totally agree.

Day 2. No plans to start too early as tonight is going to be massive. Gutted I missed Teenager and Expatriate but I had to bide my time. We do make it in time for the "Bumblebeez" – we were all there for "Dr Love". Sound was terrible we couldn't hear the vocals. "Dr Love" comes on complete with dancing troop – it was ace. There were a few people who had figures tattooed on their chests – everyone poked each other throughout. Sounds weird but it was lots of fun.

I headed off the Magnolia Electric Co and to get a great spot for Gotye. MEC were not at all not what I expected. I thought it was a festival supergroup… I was so wrong. These guys were from the states and sounded very Neil Young – which was nice for the time of day. Gotye had all sorts of sound problems which meant he had the hump for most of the gig. Shame as I couldn't wait to see him… left early pledging to see him again anyway. Although the packed crowd loved it.

Saw a bit of Spiderbait and Hoodoo Guru's = both great. The Guru's are a band that are talked about so fondly by all my Aussie mates. They are excellent live. I will now buy at least a best of.

Next Bloc Party. I was in no fit state to mosh for this one- the tent was going crazy and could not wait for the Bloc Party to come on. One woman was pulled out with no life in her whatsoever so I was staying well outside the tent.

The Bloc Party are THE festival band. They know what it is we love about festivals – what we do at festivals and what we do after them. They have lived and written about their experiences. I have enjoyed their music but now I love it. Bloc Party take their albums to heaven live. Live they are unreal. The whole tent – packed to the outside - was jumping. They really were brilliant.

Could the Artics back it up??

Whatever anyone says you can't forget that Alex Turner is just 20 years old and most of the group is either 20/21. They come out in a blaze and bang out all the hits. The tent sings at the top of their voices. I loved every single minute because I knew nearly every song. The songs are so good – make you laugh and make you reflect. I thought I might combust during 'dancin' shoes' and 'mardy bum'. They are a solid live band. Alex is starting to get a bit more confidence but still refers to the crowd as a third person – that'll change with experience. They gave a whole lot more than both albums and continue to play with humbled excellence. Band of the festival – big call but they were very good.

Splendour is the best location in Australia and generally has the best line-up. It's a civilised, spiritual and quaint Glastonbury 20 years ago. I hear there are plans to move it - make it bigger. They can but it will never be the same... but I will always believe Bernard was right.

Next year anyone?????

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