By Peter Vincent
One veteran rock band, a classic pop act and a slew of groups which have 10 or more years under their belts give a huge Splendour in the Grass line-up announcement a more retro feel than usual.
Turn of the millennium indie rockers The Strokes (playing their only Australian show on this tour) and 1980s pop-rock phenomenon The Cure were the biggest names announced for the three-day festival at Byron Bay on Wednesday morning.
Add to them The Avalanches, Tegan and Sara, Santigold, Band of Horses, and another veteran, Mark Lanegan and Splendour 2016 has a distinct retro-fest feel.
But the likes of The 1975, Flume, Courtney Barnett, Duke Dumont and DMAs ensure the top lines of the poster will have sufficient pulling power with its core audience of under 30s.
Quality solo acts are a feature, with Barnett, James Blake, Leon Bridges, Jake Bugg, Matt Corby, Lanegan and James Vincent McMorrow notable performers.
The line-up has its usual depth across the genres, with Australian music prominent. Australian hip hop fans, for instance, will lick their lips at the prospect of seeing Illy, Hermitude, Urthboy on the same bill.
Early reaction from fans and commentators on social media was that this was one of the strongest SITG lineups in years.
Splendour in the Grass will be held at the North Byron Parklands from Friday, July 22 to Sunday, July 24.
SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2016 LINE-UP HIGHLIGHTS
The Strokes
The Cure
The 1975
Courtney Barnett
Flume
Duke Dumont (DJ set)
Leon Bridges
Santigold
Band of Horses
Boy & Bear
Tegan and Sara
DMAs
Hermitude
Illy
James Blake
Jake Bugg
Crystal Fighters
Mark Lanegan
The Kills
James Vincent McMorrow
At the Drive-In
Ballpark Music
Jagwa Ma
The Avalanches
Violent Soho
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Sigur Ros
The Preatures
Gang of Youths
Matt Corby
Sticky Fingers
Urthboy
The Jungle Giants