'Splendour in the mud': Wild weather causes chaos at NSW music festival

Chaotic scenes emerge from the popular NSW music festival as heavy rains wreak havoc on attendees.

Participants traveled to North Byron’s beautiful four-day festival, Splendor in the Grass, yesterday to start at 5pm.

But bad weather has drenched the area, with some people forced to choose between sleeping in flooded campgrounds or in their cars.

Tents were submerged in water, with some residents forced to seek alternative accommodation. (ABC News: Tobias Loftus)

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Others complain of waiting in long queues just to get into the site.

Some frustrated ticket holders have taken to social media to raise their grievances.

“Already in the car queue for 8.5 (hours), still potentially three hours to get to camp,” Harry Nicol wrote on his Twitter after midnight.

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Alex Gubbings told ABC News it took him about 12 hours to enter the Splendor page.

“I think we were in line at about 4.30pm and we only got in at 4am,” Gubbings said.

“It’s not moving, that’s for sure. I don’t think I’m going in.”

Mr Gubbings said he was considering turning around at midnight and getting a hotel instead.

“But my friends wouldn’t let me … we managed to hold on,” he said.

Alex Gubbings said he was considering turning around and booking a hotel.(ABC News: Tobi Loftus)

He said he only heard from staff and security in the last hour.

“Traffic started moving pretty freely after someone we met started directing traffic,” Gubbings said.

Posting on their Facebook page, the festival organizers asked people to be patient.

“We’re extending our camp entry hours tonight so if you’re in line we’ll put you in. Please be patient – we heard you,” they wrote late Thursday.

“The weather and staff shortages are all worse than expected. We’re doing the best we can – the show will be rain, sleet or shine.”

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This is the first time since 2019 Splendor, Australia’s biggest music festival, has been held, after being postponed for two years due to the pandemic.

Many people have been holding their tickets since 2020, with this year’s bill including well-known local and international acts like Gorillaz and The Strokes.

A three-day ticket costs $415.91, while a one-day ticket costs over $200.

For campers, it costs an extra $100 on top of this.

Water had risen around the passenger tent.(ABC News: Tobias Loftus)

The participants had to deal with wet, muddy conditions, and the tent was soaking wet. (ABC NEWS: Tobias Loftus)

This three-day festival has a history of taking place during rainy weather, as it is staged in the heart of Australia’s winter.

ABC News reporter Tobias Loftus, who was at the festival, said the conditions this morning were deplorable.

“It’s very wet in here, and there’s mud everywhere,” said Loftus.

“I’m so grateful I brought my rubber boots. I’ve seen so many people around the place who don’t wear rubber boots. Hopefully they can find them inside once the main festival gates open.

“Not Splendor in the Grass this year, but Splendor in the Mud.”

A gazebo blown onto a demountable at the festival.(ABC News: Eloise Gillespie)

Some of the tents were abandoned.(ABC News: Eloise Gillespie)

Festival player Rhiannon Dunk said he will remember his first Splendor on Grass for some time.

“It started off as fun, you know, kind of a fun ride,” he said.

“Then it was just a case of straight traffic. We actually left the first time because we were bored.

“For the second time we are stuck on the highway in a queue for eight hours.”

He said he didn’t let the mud get him down.

“It’s all part of the experience,” he said.

“I haven’t lost my boots yet, so we’re fine.”

The organizers of Splendor in the Grass have been contacted for comment.

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