Festival goers make their way through the mud during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
Festival goers make their way through the mud during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
Britpop legends Blur brought the three-day mud fest that was Splendour in the Grass to a close, and finally made amends for their Big Day Out cancellation in 2013.
It was fitting that a band who have seen their fair share of festival mud over their 27-year career were able to lift the spirits of the 30,000 festival goers who had endured three days of muddy conditions.
Damon Albarn of the band Blur performs for fans during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
It's been 18 years since the British band have performed in Australia, with their latest album The Magic Whip, they made their joyous return Down Under with an energetic set that included hits such as Parklife, Song 2 and Coffee and TV.
Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Alex James from the band Blur perform for fans during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
Frontman Damon Albarn even managed to throw in a backwards tumble during his performance.
However, the buzz band of the weekend were Perth group Tame Impala who have just released their third album Currents, No.1 in the ARIA album charts. "We are Tame Impala, from Perth," long-haired frontman Kevin Parker told the crowd.
Parker even made an appearance during Mark Ronson's set on Friday night and the superstar producer hung around all weekend to catch Tame Impala's Sunday night slot just before Blur.
The mud, brought on by wet weather conditions during the week, created an old-school vibe reminiscent of classic festivals Woodstock or Glastonbury, which suited the dominating psychedelic-pop influences of Tame Impala and Pond (an off-shoot containing members of Parker's group).
Kevin Parker of the band Tame Impala performs for fans during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
Some lucky revellers were even able to catch the special Tame Impala bus which ferried people to the camp grounds while playing the band's album.
Other highlights included Florence and the Machine's ethereal set on Saturday night and controversial rapper Azealia Banks' high-octane performance, complete with backing dancers. Banks has some competition on her hands from Adelaide rapper Tkay Maidza who appeared to surprise even herself with a popular performance to a packed tent.
Florence Welch of the band Florence and the Machine perform for fans during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
But Splendid in the Mud was the theme with people embracing the soggy ground by day three, flinging themselves into it with glee until they resembled the undead.
Even surfer Stephanie Gilmore got in on the action posting a snap of herself at the festival captioning the picture: "Splendid in the Mud".
Festival goers make their way through the mud during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
The weekend wasn't without a few hiccups. Aussie rapper Allday cancelled his set on Sunday due to a family emergency and British band Years and Years arrived without their musical kit, yet went ahead with a slightly truncated set.
Festival goers dance in the sun during Splendour in the Grass, Australia. Photo / Getty Images
But the spirit of peace and love permeated throughout the festival crowd, as Blur closed out with For Tomorrow singing to their fans to "hold each other tightly".
