Festival Splendour Full of Delights

FOR festival-goers, SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS is a dream come true two days in Byron Bay watching some of the biggest names in music.

Returning for its third instalment, this year's event was no exception and apart from the muddy grounds, Splendour in the Grass could easily be named the best festival of 2003.

With a capacity of 13,000, the festival was comparatively cosy compared to the BIG DAY OUT.

Although Sunday was regarded as the big one, Saturday also offered a great line up.

Promising Aussie newcomers JET and THE CASANOVAS rocked out loud and proud.

Leeds four-piece THE MUSIC was one of the weekend's highlights, bringing an energetic element of psychedelic rock to the festival reminiscent of LED ZEPPELIN .

In the MIX-UP TENT , it was the angelic voice and ambient electro beats of GOLDFRAPP that produced one of the most amazing performances.

Singer ALISON GOLDFRAPP left the crowd in awe of her spine- tingling vocals which could easily be co used with another instrument.

The amazing line up on day two gave revellers enough incentive to get up and do it all again with the likes of COLDPLAY and PLACEBO to close the festival.

The cream of Aussie talent was out in force on the main stage with SCREAMFEEDER, SUNK LOTO, FRENZAL RHOMB, THE SUPERJESUS and JOHN BUTLER TRIO playing back-to-back.

The Mix-up Tent featured a superb offering of acts with DJs and live acts.

Californian based hip-hop trio UGLY DUCKLING stole the show with their fun rhymes and old school beats that left the crowd chanting for more.

The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived when Coldplay took to the stage and delivered a show that surpassed the highest of expectations.

Thousands sang with frontman CHRIS MARTIN to favourites like Yellow and In My Place before Martin capped off the set with a rendition of Wonderful World .