Splendour In The Grass promoters have announced a big security beef-up for this year’s event in light of “recent events around the world”.
Though they haven’t mentioned what specific events have inspired the new safety overhaul, it’s likely they’re referring to recent incidents of terror that have seen live music events targeted by extremists in Europe, such as the deadly attack we witnessed on on Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert earlier this year.
Organisers say they’ve consulted with police and security to review the festival’s policies, resulting in some changes in 2017, including new “bag size” stipulations, the regular bag and vehicle searches and the introduction of “wanding”.
“These new security measures are no more invasive than you’ll experience at any airport around the world,” Splendour heads assure us in a statement, adding that “We’ve made some changes that will assist with event safety and simultaneously open up some new fashion options for you.”
And by that, they mean #bumbags.
“All Backpacks and any bags over 30cm (l) x 20cm (w) x 5cm (d) will not be allowed into the event area so pack light and embrace the #bumbag or should we say #fannypack,” organisers say. “Any backpacks and any bags larger than 30cm (l) x 20cm (w) x 5cm (d) must be stored at the Cloakroom prior to entering the festival.”
FYI you can still take bigger bags into the camping area, just not the event space.
Meanwhile, there’ll be an amped-up police and security presence at this year’s Byron Bay bash, and they’ll be employing a technique called “wanding” (which sadly isn’t a Harry Potter reference).
“This is just like walking through that metal detector thing at the airport only this time it’s a wand,” organisers explain. “It’s going to slow down the entry process so be prepared for some delays, so please be patient.”
As usual, there’ll also be drug dogs swarming the fest as well.
If anyone has concerns about safety they can contact the Patron Safety Hotline on 1300 940 928 from 9am this Wednesday, 19th July and for a list of banned items at this year’s event you can click here.
Splendour organisers revealed this year’s official set times earlier this month, and since then an international artist has pulled out of the festival due to “unforeseen scheduling issues”.
Catch the official weather forecast for this weekend’s festival here.
UPDATE: Police Reveal One Of Their Biggest Operations Yet Ahead Of Splendour In The Grass
Splendour In The Grass 2017 Lineup
THE FOOTBALL CLUB
WHARVES
joining…
THE XX
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
ROYAL BLOOD
HAIM
SIGUR RÓS
SCHOOLBOY Q (ONLY AUS SHOW)
VANCE JOY
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
PEKING DUK
RL GRIME
BONOBO
FATHER JOHN MISTY
TASH SULTANA
CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN
PAUL KELLY
STORMZY
KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD
GEORGE EZRA
FUTURE ISLANDS (ONLY AUS SHOW)
BANKS
BERNARD FANNING
DUNE RATS
CUT COPY
ÁSGEIR
ALLDAY
MEG MAC
RAG’N’BONE MAN
THUNDAMENTALS
LIL YACHTY
SAN CISCO
CLIENT LIAISON
REAL ESTATE
DAN SULTAN
VALLIS ALPS
D.D DUMBO
MAGGIE ROGERS
TOVE LO
POND
THE SMITH STREET BAND
BIG SCARY
OH WONDER
A.B. ORIGINAL
DOPE LEMON
THE KITE STRING TANGLE
YOUNG FRANCO
JULIA JACKLIN
KINGSWOOD
AMY SHARK
LUCA BRASI
THE LEMON TWIGS
VERA BLUE
SLUMBERJACK
BAD//DREEMS
BAG RAIDERS
TOPAZ JONES
MIDDLE KIDS
OCEAN GROVE
CONFIDENCE MAN
BISHOP BRIGGS
LATE NITE TUFF GUY
JULIEN BAKER
KILTER
LANY
HOCKEY DAD
KIRIN J CALLINAN
AIRLING
COSMO’S MIDNIGHT
GRETTA RAY
MOONBASE
THE PEEP TEMPEL
TORNADO WALLACE
THE MURLOCS
MALLRAT
LUKE MILLION
THE WILSON PICKERS
ROMARE
JARROW
GOOD BOY
KUREN
ONEMAN
WINSTON SURFSHIRT
SET MO
HWLS
HARVEY SUTHERLAND AND BERMUDA
CC:DISCO!
ENSCHWAY
DJHMC
NITE FLEIT
ALICE IVY
WILLOW BEATS
WILLARIS. K
MOOKHI
SWINDAIL
DENA AMY
ANDY GARVEY
PLANÈTE
SAM WESTON
SUPER CRUEL
CHRISTOPHER PORT
LEWIS CANCUT
KINDER
Splendour In The Grass 2017
Friday, 21st — Sunday, 23rd July — SOLD OUT
North Byron Parklands, Byron Bay
Tickets: Official Website
