Splendour In The Grass 2022

Splendour In The Grass - Byron Bay, NSW

22nd - 24th of July

Tom’s Splendour

On the 21st of July, we set off for the 2022 edition of the long-running Splendour in the Grass. We travelled through gale-force winds and torrential rain to be a part of this 20th edition; little did we know this was only the beginning of a SITG no one will ever forget.

So much has already been reported about the state of the grounds. The queues. The lack of staff as well as the lack of facilities where the long waits were experienced. The disorganization, the lack of transportation for punters,  and the limited information being provided by organisers. I don’t feel the need to say any more on these as the attendees are voicing their own opinions.  What I will say is Splendour is usually a very well-run and organized event,  but something has gone very wrong this year.

Let’s focus on the positives …

The installations and shops were beautifully set up and decorated. Obviously, lots of money and time had been invested to showcase what these businesses had to offer. These were a credit to those involved and I hope they were well rewarded with lots of sales for their efforts.

The musical talent scheduled to perform at Splendour was the event’s saving grace, the artists and bands did their absolute best to deliver great music and engaging stage shows. The special guests and surprise artists were at an all-time low but absolutely no one could fault the scheduled musicians that did play and the job they did. Had they not been as professional as they are, this SITG would have been a complete write-off.  Music is what Splendour is all about and the music was splendourful.

The locations of the stages and the festival’s layout were on point, as was the aesthetics. Each stage uniquely dressed to capture its individual theme.

Would I return? Would I attend Splendour in the Grass 2023? The answer is YES. I would definitely go again. Everyone is entitled to one questionably successful event especially given the unprecedented weather conditions the country has experienced this year, not to mention these Covid times we’re living in. The organisers were going to cop backlash if they postponed or if they went ahead, they were literally caught between a rock and a hard place, so they pushed on and tried to make the best of a nightmare situation. Given my past SITG experience I would definitely come again and I’m sure the SITG Team have learned a lot from this year’s event and I would be surprised if any of the same issues arise again at future shows.