Splendour In The Grass name Gorillaz, The Strokes, and Tyler, The Creator as 2021 headliners

Splendour In The Grass organisers have now officially announced the three acts who will headline next year’s postponed event.

Originally set to take place between July 24th and 26th this year, Splendour organisers revealed the lineup for their 20th anniversary event back in February, with the likes of Flume, The Strokes, and Tyler, The Creator all serving as headline artists.

Unfortunately, the announcement came just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic all but put 2020 on hold, forcing organisers to initially postpone their event until October, before this “ambitious” decision was later changed, with the festival now set to take place in July of 2021.

“Like most we have been monitoring the situation closely for the past few months and while Australia is now moving into the recovery phase, there is no timeline yet around the opening of international borders,” Splendour In The Grass Co-Producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco explained in a statement released last month.

“As a result, and with our audience interests front and centre, we must announce the reschedule to 2021.”

Though dates for the festival were revealed, the full lineup was kept under wraps, with organisers revealing they intended to keep the 2021 event’s bill as close to the intended 2020 lineup as possible.

Now, organisers have revealed that Tyler, The Creator will close out the festival on Sunday, July 25th, while The Strokes will play the Amphitheatre on the 24th, while Gorillaz will take over Flume’s spot and headline Splendour’s Friday night.

While rumours have repeatedly spread in the past regarding Gorillaz turning up on the Splendour In The Grass lineup, none have ever proven to be true, with frontman Damon Albarn only appearing at the festival once before, when Blur headlined in 2015.

Though Gorillaz haven’t released a new album since 2018’s The Now Now, they’re currently working through the first “season” of their Song Machine project, which sees the outfit working with an “ever-evolving roster” of collaborators.

At this stage, the rest of the lineup remains under wraps, with Splendour In The Grass organisers looking to name the acts who will be joining the bill in early 2021. While the 2020 edition of Splendour sold out almost instantly, “pre-loved” tickets to next year’s event are currently on sale via Moshtix.

Check out ‘Momentary Bliss’ by Gorillaz:

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine