After his truly humbling Facebook post detailing the respect he held for Byron’s famed Splendour In The Grass, and the place it holds for him, it was no wonder he felt like he should return the favour. While most of us take his success for granted, still thinking of him as that small time Australian producer, Flume is huge, seriously huge. Selling out massive shows and headlining festivals globally, performing to crowds in their thousands, he’s gone on to collaborate with trendsetters old and new like Raekwon, Vince Staples and Beck, shaking up the scene completely with his new album Skin. So when it came to his headlining set at this year’s Splendour in the Grass, it was always going to be something special.
While he could have really pushed the button on his features, bringing out those huge artists everyone already knows and loves, instead he decided to showcase up and coming Australian artists to take on the guest performances heard throughout the album. Contrasting the last time he performed at Splendour, his big break in 2012, this time he decided to shine the light on others, a truly commendable and honestly amazing decision.
Preforming both a mixture of the new bangers alongside old favourites, Flume managed to bring out acclaimed Melbourne emcees Remi. and Baro for the tracks Lose It and Smoke and Retribution, two amazing interpretations which blew the crowd away completely. He didn’t stop there though, continuing to wow us all with folk singer songwriter Vera Blue on Never Be Like You, the amazing Ngaiire on Take A Chance, the groovy Jess Kent on Say It alongside collaborator Kučka on their track Smoke and Retribution, leaving everyone completely stunned and wishing for more
No one could have really prepared for the crowd for the incredible collaborations that Flume curated, but boy oh boy they were in for a treat. Now all that’s left is to listen to it one more time below, jam it on repeat, then start saving up for his national tour at the end of the year, where he tours with Laneway counterparts Vince Staples and SOPHIE. Seriously, who knows what he has up his sleeves for that, be we’re not risking it.
Speaking to Triple J, Flume spoke about how the guests all rehearsed for the show on the day of, and day before the performance. “We found some rehearsal space near Bryon, on a farm down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere in a barn. Posted up there – ran through the tracks and hung out and it all worked which was great.
“I’m a fan of these people and we thought ‘you know what? Why not, for Splendour, we do a one-off show, get some of my fave Australian artists. See if they’re up for coming on stage and singing some songs’.”
Listen to the Flume talk about the set here:
Setlist:
Lose It (+ Remi)
Wall Fuck
ID
Insane (+ Moon Holiday)
Tennis Court Remix (Lorde remix)
Never Be Like You (+ Vera Blue)
Smoke & Retribution (+ Baro & Kucka)
Take A Chance (+ Ngaiire)
Slasherr (Rustie edit)
HyperParadise (Hermitude remix)
Free
Say It (+ Jess Kent)
You & Me (Disclosure remix)
Flume National Tour Dates
Friday 25 November: Perth Arena, Western Australia
Thursday 1 December: Riverstage, Brisbane
Friday 2 December: Riverstage, Brisbane
Saturday 3 December: Spilt Milk Festival, Canberra
Friday 9 December: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Saturday 10 December: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Thursday 15 December: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Friday 16 December: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Saturday 17 December: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Hindmarsh
Image: Facebook – Flume