In the lead-up to Splendour In The Grass, FasterLouder quizzed a bunch of the headliners about what gets their festival mojo racing.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FESTIVAL TO ATTEND?

Polyphonic Spree: I really did enjoy Glastonbury when we played to 80,000 people. It was awesome.

Tokyo Police Club: As a band, I would have to say Reading. We just had a stack of fun there and the line-up was great.

The Presets: Benicassim is a truly great festival in terms of interesting line-ups and fun backstage areas with an oasis and go-kart track. Also pretty much any in Australia. Our festivals are world class.

Vampire Weekend: We’ve only played three at this point – Coachella, ATP vs Pitchfork, and Radio 1 Big Weekend. They’re all very, very different.

The Living End: I think that depends on who’s playing…but Splendour In The Grass is always great. If you’re fast enough to get tickets!

The Fratellis: Summer Sonic in Japan.

The Grates: 2/3 of us have been to every Splendour Festival bar one, and it’s always great fun – not too over-crowded and the bands are very eclectic and sometimes unexpected. Falls is another really good one; however, they both have the potential for DRAMA. By the third day, everyone’s an underslept, over-stimulated emotional land mine!

The Music: Without doubt it’s Fuji Festival.

YOUR BEST FESTIVAL MOMENT?

Polyphonic Spree: I had my robes stolen one night after a show in the UK, and when we came to play in Scotland at T in the Park, a radio station knew I didn’t have a robe and sewed it for me. They gave it to me when I went on, before I fell off the stage and landed on the ground.

Tokyo Police Club: I’ve never actually been to a music festival as a spectator, I have to admit! By the time I was old enough to attend, TPC started playing at the festivals. It’s kind of hard to pick the best moment ever, but I would have to say the best moments happen when I’m just chilling out, watching a great band and soaking in the atmosphere.

The Presets: When Jules, some friends and I went to the Big Day Out in ‘96 and Jules bum-rushed the security guards with about 20 other people and we all got in for free.

The Living End: Being stuck in the middle of 50 thousand punters watching Rage Against The Machine. I’ve never felt solid ground move like that before. Scary, but absolutely amazing!

The Fratellis: Watching The Who play Glastonbury last year. Stood side of stage with The Who’s family.

The Grates: As a band – Splendour 2006. We played just before sunset on the Saturday, and it was just a thrill. It was our largest crowd ever, and we got to do a huge balloon drop (apologies to my good friend Julia, though, who later told me of her latex allergy). We also had a great time behind the scenes at BDO that year, as well.

The Music [Phil]: Dave Grohl saying we were his favourite new band at Big Day Out.

The Music [Adam]: Fuji in Japan – the best crowds in the world.

The Music [Stu]: Going to my first ever festival, Leeds Fest 1999.

STANDOUT BAND YOU’VE SEEN AT A FESTIVAL?

Polyphonic Spree: The Datsuns at Reading. Some fans ripped the pants off the frontman and he did the rest of the set in just his underwear.

Tokyo Police Club: There are too many bands to mention for the best category but Arcade Fire would have to be up there.

The Presets: Devo at Benicassim 2007, Tricky and Aphex Twin Big Day Out 1996.

Vampire Weekend: I saw The National play at Coachella. They played right after us and they were very, very good.

The Living End: Queens Of The Stone Age – brilliant. Blondie, The Strokes, Cog, You Am I, Shihad, The Mars Volta…sooooooo good! I saw Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunt at a festival once. Russ is an amazing actor.

The Grates: We all love watching the Foo Fighters, even if it’s just for Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins. If I was to list a ‘worst’, it would probably just be the result of any incidence of having to brave 40-degree heat to see them!

The Music [Phil]: Best: Daft Punk. Worst: Babyshambles.

The Music [Rob]: Best: Queens Of The Stone Age. Worst: The Cribs.

IF YOU COULD’VE ATTENDED ANY FESTIVAL IN HISTORY, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN?

Polyphonic Spree: The Monterey International Pop Music Festival in 1967, with Jimi Hendrix. It would’ve blown my mind.

TPC: To be honest I actually don’t know much about the history of music festivals [laughs].

The Presets: Don’t know. Maybe that silly one in upstate New York, 1969, where everyone took acid and ran around naked.

Vampire Weekend: I’m going to be very American and say the first Woodstock.

The Living End: Woodstock please!

The Fratellis: Woodstock, just cause of all the old favourites like Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin.

The Grates: Big Day Out 1993.

The Music: Woodstock, the original, not the shit second one!

ESSENTIAL ITEM FOR A FESTIVAL?

Polyphonic Spree: Booze!

TPC: The meal ticket. Each band member receives a meal pass for the duration of the festival and I don’t know what I would do without mine. Seriously, the meal ticket is the one item I could not go without. I mean, that’s pretty much all we do at festivals: eat all the great food.

The Presets: If we are talking about Splendour in the Grass then I would say bring two pairs of gumboots – one for your arms, one for your feet.

Vampire Weekend: A rag to absorb my sweat in between every song. The bass guitar is also kind of important!

The Living End: A site map and program. There is nothing worse than missing your favourite band. And a bit of SPF 15+ never goes astray either.

The Grates: Anything able to classed under ‘Slip’, ‘Slop’ or ‘Slap’.

The Music: Whatever your drug is. These days, plenty of water and a condom.

The sold-out Splendour In The Grass kicks off this Saturday 2 August at Belongil Fields.