The music festival site turned into a muddy hell for punters
(Picture: Getty Images)Downpours, flooding, mud and washed-out tents have meant the first day of one of Australia’s largest music festivals has been cancelled.
Performances on the main stages at Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay, New South Wales were cancelled as organisers decided to “err on the side of caution”.
They said the decision to cancel performances on Friday was made with advice from emergency services, and in the interest of ticket holders.
Gorillaz were scheduled to headline the festival’s first day, and Kacey Musgraves, Jungle and Yungblud were among other artists scheduled to entertain punters on Friday.
Gorillaz took to Twitter to voice “beyond disappointment”, and said they were “devastated”.
Gorillaz are beyond disappointed that Splendour in the Grass is cancelled today due to bad weather. Sending love to all our fans who were due to attend today. So devastated 💔 https://t.co/tgVX9OBGMP
— gorillaz (@gorillaz) July 22, 2022
Kacey Musgraves said it was “a gigantic bummer” and the weather had been “utterly insane”.
FUCKING SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS. Gigantic bummer. I flew 20 hours and drove 3 to be here with y’all. I know so many of you also traveled far and spent money. This weather has been utterly insane. Please stay safe. I will be back as soon as I can. Much love. 🤍 KM
— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) July 22, 2022
“A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today bringing more rainfall,” organisers said.
Images emerging from the festival site show punters in raincoats and wellies, splashing around in ankle deep mud and with tents surrounded by flooding.
Some took to social media to vent their frustrations over the cancellation and handling of the first day - with some claiming it took them 12 hours to enter the site.
Well my first splendour in the grass is going well 😭 pic.twitter.com/VUj7DFUe7r
— Jessica McSweeney (@jessicamacca) July 22, 2022
Splendour in the grass 2022, really hoping for a cancel-refund tickets- let me go home announcement asap xxx @SITG pic.twitter.com/xioLqzFRUp
— Kate (@kate_ohagan3) July 21, 2022
The festival village and comedy tents remain open to people who have already arrived, but day ticket holders were urged to stay home while staff worked to repair the site at North Byron Parklands.
Organisers hope that Saturday and Sunday programming will go ahead as planned.
Artists scheduled to perform over the weekend include The Strokes, Glass Animals and Tyler, The Creator.
