UPDATE 13/04/15: The official Splendour In The Grass 2016 lineup is here.
Original Story: The pile of artists effectively ruled out for the 2016 edition of Splendour In The Grass continues to grow, meaning it’s likely you’ll be able to predict this year’s bill by a simple process of elimination.
A new sister festival to Coachella, dubbed Panorama festival, will launch in New York from July 22-24, the same weekend as Splendour. While the headliners of the festival – LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, and Kendrick Lamar – were already unlikely to make it here for Splendour, other acts on the lineup include Sufjan Stevens, Broken Social Scene, FKA twigs, A$AP Rocky, Blood Orange, The National, Kurt Vile, Run the Jewels, Anderson .Paak, Major Lazer, White Lung, AlunaGeorge, and a stack more, which you can see below.
There are a number of international festivals with dates that clash with Splendour’s, including XPoNential Music Festival, Ontario’s WayHome Music & Arts Festival, Detroit’s Mo Pop Festival, Seattle’s Block Party and The Newport Folk Festival. While it’s not completely impossible for some of the acts on these lineups to make it our way for Splendour 2016, the idea of dashing across the world between festivals is pretty unlikely.
On the other hand, the lineup for Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival gives us a better indication of which acts we might actually see appear on the bill for Splendour, the two festivals traditionally shares a number of acts.
Have browse through our crystal ball predictions for Splendour 2016 below, alongside the Panorama festival lineup.
Splendour 2016 Crystal Ball: Who Could Be In & Who’s Probs Out
Splendour 2016 Crystal Ball: Who Could Be In & Who’s Probs Out
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In: The Strokes
The Strokes haven't been here since 2010 which is a ludicrous amount of time to be absent. They have teased new music set for release this year and are also playing Governor's Ball in NYC so a headline set at Splendour isn't a silly idea. -
Out: Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels tore audiences apart when they played Falls Festival at the end of 2014 and with a third album on the way we would've liked them to do the same all over again but unfrotunately it's not going to happen. They're playing NYC's Panorama Festival (the newie by the same guys who put on Coachella) and probably can't run fast enough to get here. -
In: Animal Collective
Animal Collective release their tenth album Painting With this year and have embarked on a huge world tour. They're playing Primavera Sound in Spain in early June but then they have a large break right up until September which sounds like they're planning a trip to Splendour. They last played the 2013 Big Day Out here. -
In: Yeasayer
Yeasayer are preparing for the release of their fourth album Amen & Goodbye and are busy booking a number of worldwide dates to promote it. While they're insanely busy, their calendar clears up after June which means a Splendour visit is very much possible. -
In: The 1975
There's always a few accidentally leak their appearance and it looks like its The 1975 who have gone and opened their mouth this year. The British four-piece recently let slip that they're coming "around July" and probably playing Splendour. -
Out: Sia
Sia hasn't toured Australia since she became a megastar in the US. She's started touring again after a long absence booking festivals like Coachella and Boston Calling but she's also gone and booked Panorama Festival the same weekend as Splendour. -
Out: Miike Snow
After looking like a very strong contender Miike Snow have been ruled out. They are on the bill for Colorado music festival The Divide the same weekend. -
In: Santigold
When Santigold spoke to Music Feeds last month she said she hadn't booked any Australian tour dates yet. That was either the truth or she's booked on Splendour and is attempting not to leak the news. She's touring a lot over the next few months but there's room for a Splendour trip to drop some jams off 99c. -
In: At The Drive In
At The Drive In have started playing shows again albeit without Jim Ward. They last played Splendour in 2012 but their schedule is looking clear for a return. -
In: Kanye West
Kanye West has headlined Splendour before in 2011. He's toured here twice since then, headlining Big Day Out and playing his own headline shows in support of 'Yeezus'. He's only booked one festival slot this year but maybe Australia is where he wants to kick-off touring 'The Life Of Pablo'? -
In : Sigur Rós
Icelandic trio Sigur Rós have announced shows across North America in September and October promising two sets for each theatre show. They have new material to show-off and also a Splendour-sized gap in their touring schedule to come down and try it out. -
In: Two Door Cinema Club
Two Door Cinema Club have announced that album number three is finished meaning they have new music to play live. They were due to play Splendour in 2014 but had to pull out after frontman Alex Trimble fell ill. Maybe, it's time they made it up to us. -
Out: Passion Pit
Passion Pit have been announced on the lineup for The Divide Music Festival in Colorado on the same weekend. -
Out: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes have been announced on the lineup for The Divide Music Festival in Colorado on the same weekend. -
Out: Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi has been announced on the lineup for The Divide Music Festival in Colorado on the same weekend. -
In: Crystal Castles
The Alice Glass-less Crystal Castles are playing Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party on 22nd July, and their website boasts a "To Be Announced" performance for 23rd July, which is Splendour 2016's Saturday night. With new vocalist Edith Frances in tow, the duo's founding member Ethan Kath is sure to have a bunch of previously unheard new material to show off, and fans are super-keen. -
Out: Alabama Shakes
The Grammy Winners are playing XPoNential Music Festival in Philadelphia on the same weekend as Splendour, so they probably won't be heading our way. 🙁 -
In: Radiohead
Thom Yorke and company haven't played in Australia since 2012, and with a new album and a string of festival dates already plotted for 2016, the band are potential Splendour headliner material. That said, they're playing Montreal's Osheaga Music and Arts Festival the week after Splendour before playing in Japan in August, so it depends how much international travel they're up for. -
Out: Flight Of The Conchords
Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo, Flight Of The Conchords, are reuniting for Newport Folk Festival in the US on Friday, 22nd July, which is just after Splendour kicks off. There's still a chance they could make the trip down under, but it's a very slight one. -
Out: Arcade Fire
They're due for some Aussie shows but the Canadians are playing Ontario's WayHome Music & Arts Festival during Splendour this year. They've also already toured Australia behind their latest album, 'Reflektor', performing headline sidehshows around Big Day Out 2014. -
In: Lana Del Rey
Ms Del Rey has released two albums since she last performed in Australia as part of Splendour In The Grass 2012, and we're sure festival organisers and fans would love to have her back. She's playing Montreal's Osheaga festival the week after Splendour, so hopefully she'll add another Splendour appearance to her schedule. -
Out: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Basically, the Chili's schedule during this year's Splendour weekend is packed to the brim. They've got appearance at Japan's Fuji Rock festival and Korea's Valley Rock festival to play before heading to Montreal the next week, so we'll probably miss their sun-kissed faces this time around. -
In: James Blake
Old mate JB is playing the UK's Field Day festival and Barcelona's Sónar festival in June, but he's pretty free afterwards. Last in the country for Splendour 2013, Blake also has a new album called 'Radio Silence' which is expected to drop later this year, so we could be hearing more from it at Splendour. -
Out: CHVRCHES
Recently in town for Laneway Festival 2016, the Scottish electro-poppers are already locked in for Ontario's WayHome festival and Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party during this year's Splendour weekend. -
Out: Muse
The Matt Bellamy-fronted rockers have said they're eyeing 2016 for an Aussie tour behind their latest album 'Drones', but they probably won't make Splendour thanks to an appearance at Greece's Ejekt Festival. The trio last toured Australia in 2013. -
Out: Chet Faker
The homegrown producer is also playing Ontario's WayHome festival on the Splendour 2016 weekend, so we might not see him make an appearance at Splendour this year. -
In: Courtney Barnett
Australia's much-loved avant-gardener is also set to rock out at Fuji Rock on this year's Splendour weekend, and while she's toured her home country a tonne recently, there's still a chance she'll make a Splendour 2016 appearance. It depends how much she loves us. -
Out: FKA twigs
The English producer/dancer/singer/genius is also playing Ontario's WayHome festival on the Splendour 2016 weekend, so we probably won't see her down under in July. -
In: Disclosure
The house-lovin Lawrence brothers are also on Japan's Fuji Rock lineup, leaving them a good chance for a spot on Splendour's 2016 roster. They're playing Montreal's Osheaga festival the week after Fuji, so they've got some time to head our way if they so desire, and they recently proved their love for Australia by playing at Falls, Southbound and Field Day festivals over New Year's. -
Out: Foals
The consistent festival favourites are also likely to miss Splendour In The Grass 2016 thanks to a slot on Ontario's WayHome festival the same weekend, but they toured Australia around New Year's with a handful of festivals, so we forgive them. -
In: Grimes
Even though she was just in the country for Laneway Festival, the Queen of the art angels could make a triumphant return down under for Splendour 2016 before she heads to Montreal's Osheaga festival the following weekend. It's optimistic, but we can always dream. -
Out: Future
The 'EVOL' rapper is named on the lineup for Ontario's WayHome festival, which is on the same weekend as Splendour 2016. He's also playing Montreal's Osheaga festival the following weekend, so looks like he'll probably just be in Canada for a while. -
In: Bloc Party
The new-look Bloc Party are playing Osheaga festival as well, and there's cosy space in their schedule for a possible Splendour appearance. The band played Falls and Southbound festivals over New Year's and have since released their latest album, 'Hymns'. -
Out: LCD Soundsystem
The reformed LCD Soundsystem are poised for a HUGE 2016, with a new album in the works and festival appearances at the likes of Coachella, Bonnaroo and Primavera Sound. The James Murphy-led group are also playing Ontario's WayHome festival on the Splendour 2016 weekend, so they're unlikely to make it down under in time to grace a Splendour stage. -
Out: M83
Anthony Gonzalez's M83 are playing two festivals on this year's Splendour weekend -- Ontario's WayHome festival and Detroit's MO POP festival -- and we reckon three would be asking too much. -
Out: Major Lazer
Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire have a packed schedule in July, so they look unlikely for Splendour 2016. Having last played in Australia in 2015, the group are playing Ontario's WayHome festival on the Splendour weekend, unfortunately. -
Out: Ryan Adams
Sometimes confused with Bryan Adams, Ryan Adams actually played at Splendour only last year. He's also playing Philadelphia's XPoNential Music Festival during this year's Splendour weekend, so we probably won't be seeing him around for a while. -
Out: The Killers
The Killers are also unlikely to appear at Splendour 2016, with a spot on Ontario's WayHome festival already confirmed for the same weekend. The band were last in the country for Big Day Out 2013. -
Out: The Last Shadow Puppets
The supergroup -- that's Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Miles Kane (The Rascals), Zach Dawes (Mini Mansions) and producer James Ford -- are playing Ontario's WayHome festival, so they'll probably miss Splendour. Their second album, 'Everything You've Come to Expect', is expected to drop on 1st April. -
Out: Beirut
Zach Condon's former solo project are performing at Ontario's WayHome festival during Splendour, and at Montreal's Osheaga festival the week after, so a quick trip to Australia seems out of place. -
Out: Haim
The Haim sisters and their drummer Dash Hutton are probably going to be too busy for Splendour as well, with festival slots lined up for Ontario's WayHome festival and Detroit's MO POP festival on the Splendour weekend, and Montreal's Osheaga festival the week after. The band were last in Australia for Laneway Festival 2014, so here's hoping they return soon.
