Acts Forced To Play Sets In Pubs After Rain Washes Out Festival

A number of music acts were forced to play sets in pubs after a festival they were set to perform at was cancelled due to heavy rain. Watch a festivalgoer's footage from the soggy event here:

Australia's Splendour in the Grass festival was due to kick off today (Friday 22 July) at the North Byron Parklands in Yelgun, New South Wales. 

However, the festival’s first day was called off amid bad weather, with a statement from organisers saying programming on Saturday and Sunday would go ahead as planned. 

“A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today bringing more rainfall,” they said. 

“In the interest of patron safety and in consultation with all relevant emergency services, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel performances on the main states today only.” 

Organisers added that ‘destination spaces’ remained open for those already on site, but asked day patrons not to attend the festival while the team ‘work on repairs’. 

at Splendour in the Grass, lol @ how totally unprepared Australia is for handling rain or mud. Getting some serious Battle of the Somme/YNot Festival 2017 vibes. pic.twitter.com/kffpl3aEJ0

— Jack Carter (@jackcarter22) July 22, 2022

However, in the wake of the news, some of the festival’s acts decided to come up with a plan B – announcing last-minute gigs at smaller venues instead. 

Yungblud, who was supposed to be performing at 4.15pm, said he would treat fans to a free 'first come first served' performance at Kingscliff Beach Hotel that night. 

He wrote on Instagram: “FREE GIG TONIGHT! What happens when a festival gets cancelled. We put on a fookin show. Kingscliff Beach Hotel. Tonight. I’m on at 9pm. First come. First in. Doors 7pm. Let’s rage." 

Byron Bay gig venue The Rails also rallied to pull something together, having roped in the likes of The Buoys, George Alice, Japanese Wallpaper, Ioakim, Adam Newling, Flowerkid and May-a for another free event. 

“In light of the Splendour cancellation we are bringing it to you!” The Rails said. 

“Music from 7pm free entry get down here!” 

Meanwhile, rapper Baker Boy said he would instead be performing at Beach Hotel, sharing a lineup with fellow-festival performers Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and Confidence Man – along with a ‘special DJ set’ at 10.30pm. 

While that one wasn’t free entry, organisers were only asking for AUD $20 (£11.60/US $13.90), which isn’t much for a pretty hefty bill of artists. 

Fingers crossed the festival will be able to go ahead as planned for the rest of the weekend.