Pulp and Coldplay forSplendour?

Thu 7th Apr, 2011 in Local News

Already at least three bands have revealed that they’ll be on the Splendour in the Grass lineup in 2011 – The Kills, The Vaccines, and Cornershop – and now as we countdown the days to the official announcement the rumour mill has inevitably gone into overdrive.

Last year the Splendour in the Grass lineup was released on the 15th of April and as we approach that date an article has been posted on SPA claiming that Pulp has been “confirmed” to headline Splendour, with Elbow, Noah and the Whale and Coldplay on a very English festival lineup. The Britpop stars who reformed in November last year have been booked to headline several festivals this year and is free on Splendour weekend, so we certainly hope the rumour is true.

Coldplay’s place on the festival lineup has been a persistent rumour ever since the 2003 Splendour visitors were announced on the Fuji Rock lineup back in March. Earlier this week Herald Sun music journalist Nui Te Koha also declared on Twitter that “Coldplay [are] coming for splendour in the grass. no side shows” so the rumour certainly seems to be gathering steam.

FasterLouder also recently spoke to Noah and the Whale’s lead singer, guitarist and ukulele player Charlie Fink and received a very carefully worded and hesitant response to the inevitable Splendour question: “I can possibly say yes,” he told us, “Australia is definitely a possibility and we hope to be there this year.”

It’s also unsurprising to see Elbow among the rumours as the TV advertisements for the band’s new album, Build a Rocket, Boys! has already leaked the news that the band will be touring in July.

Oh, and while we’re searching for clues about the Splendour lineup it’s worth noting that Motley Crue have announced tour dates in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania with support from Poison and the New York Dolls on Splendour weekend… damn!

Update:
According to the New Zealand based Under The Radar we’ll also see Friendly Fires on the lineup as the band apparently confirmed their spot on the bill in a recent interview – “the band member we interviewed thought we were calling from Australia and said how much he was looking forward to coming down for Splendour”.

While the rumour that Kanye West will join Coldplay and Pulp at the top of the bill has been strengthened with the industry journal TMN claiming this afternoon that “industry sources [reveal that] it’s all but officially announced”.

Guess we’ll have to wait until Wednesday 13th April for the official lineup announcement to reveal if these rumours are true.