After the huge Splendour In The Grass 2012 lineup announcement and tickets selling out faster than ever, it was only a matter of time before the inevitable avalanche of sideshows would make an appearance.

And we didn’t have to wait long. This morning more of what promises to be an epic calendar of sideshows have been announced, adding to the previously announced Jack White shows in Melbourne and Sydney.

THE AFGHAN WHIGS

The wait is over! 25 years after their first gig, THE AFGHAN WHIGS are coming to Australia for the first time. The recently reformed ’Whigs first began in Cincinnati in 1986 and became one of the most acclaimed alternative bands of the early ’90s, developing a dedicated cult following. Playing material from across their catalogue including the seminal albums “Congregation” and “Gentlemen”, these shows are not to be missed.

WEDNESDAY JULY 25 – THE HI-FI, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: thehifi.com.au or ph: 1300-THEHIFI (843 443)

THURSDAY JULY 26 – THE FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY
Tickets from: factorytheatre.com.au or ph: 02 9550 3666

BAND OF SKULLS

Fresh from performances at Coachella, a UK tour with The Black Keys and a mass of North American shows, BAND OF SKULLS will play a handful of Splendour sideshows.  Having wowed the world with their debut release “Baby Darling Doll Face Honey“, this will be the first taste of their critically lauded new album “Sweet Sour” live for Australian audiences. A powerhouse on stage, the UK trio is a must-see at their Sydney and Melbourne performances.

THURSDAY JULY 26 – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: cornerhotel.com or ph: 03 9427 9198

FRIDAY JULY 27 – THE FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY
Tickets from: factorytheatre.com.au or ph: 02 9550 3666

COMMUNION: MICHAEL KIWANUKA with BEN HOWARD

Secret Sounds is very proud to join with London label Communion in presenting a series of special Splendour sideshows featuring a sample of their finest artists with MICHAEL KIWANUKA, BEN HOWARD and Australia’s TIM HART. Communion is the brainchild of Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons fame and this istheir first full-curated tour. “It’s such an incredible evening of music, I’m going to be gutted to miss out on it. But we are very proud these artists will be flying the Communion flag Down Under,” says Lovett.

TUESDAY JULY 24 – THE FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY
Tickets from: factorytheatre.com.au or ph: 02 9550 3666

WEDNESDAY JULY 25 – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: cornerhotel.com or ph: 03 9427 9198

DJANGO DJANGO with THE CAST OF CHEERS

With universal rapturous reviews for their sweat-soaked “live happenings” and a worldwide buzz overflow from their SxSW appearances, DJANGO DJANGO are the art-rock geeks to be reckoned with in 2012. With their debut album being named a ”giant cohesive dance party” with “songs crafted for hand-clapping and feet-stomping”, be sure to catch the East Londonersfor their first-ever Australian performances. They are joined by Irish math-rockers THE CAST OF CHEERS for a hip-swiveling night out at these Sydney and Melbourne Splendour sideshows.

TUESDAY JULY 31 – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: cornerhotel.com or ph: 03 9427 9198

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1 – OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY
Tickets from: oxfordartfactory.com or ph:1300 GET TIX (438 849)

HOWLER with ZULU WINTER

From separate corners of the world come two of the biggest buzz bands of recent years, HOWLER and ZULU WINTER. Minneapolis’ HOWLER are described by Q Magazine as “the latest skinny-jeaned claimants to the indie-rock throne”.withrave reviews for their debut album “America Give Up” on both sides of the Atlantic. HOWLER will be the band to watch when they bring their white-hot show to Australia. Add to the mix ZULU WINTER and you can see why these will be some of the hottest Splendour sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. With a fan base including Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and The Kaiser Chiefs, the hype-machine is in overdrive for Oxford’s latest indie wunderkinds ZULU WINTER.

TUESDAY JULY 24 – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: cornerhotel.com or ph: 03 9427 9198

WEDNESDAY JULY 25 – OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY
Tickets from: oxfordartfactory.com or ph: 1300 GET TIX (438 849)

FRIENDS

After blazing out of Bushwick in 2011 with two buzz-worthy singles, ‘I’m His Girl’ and ‘Friend Crush’ and a reputation for turning live gigs into spontaneous DIY parties, Brooklyn’s FRIENDS make their debut appearance in Australia with Splendour sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. With debut album “Manifest!” set for release on June 8, FRIENDS’ slinky ESG-style polyrhythmic post-disco take on ‘tropicool’, fronted by the uber-sultry Samantha Urbani, will have the dance floor heaving.

WEDNESDAY JULY 25 – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: northcotesocialclub.com or ph: 1300 724 867

THURSDAY JULY 26 – THE STANDARD, SYDNEY
Tickets from: wearethestandard.com.au or ph: 1300 GET TIX (438 849)

ELECTRIC GUEST 

Hailed worldwide by the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Nylon as being this year’s ‘pretty much irresistible’ indie darlings, ELECTRIC GUEST have kicked off their studio career in grand fashion with Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, The Black Keys, U2) producing their debut album ”Mondo”.  A seamless fusion of Motown, 70’s daytime radio funk lite, indie rock and 60’s French pop, “Mondo” is the breezy slick pop sensation of 2012. File unashamedly next to Hall & Oates and Gnarls Barkley. Be sure to check out their Splendour sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne.

TUESDAY JULY 31 – OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY
Tickets from: oxfordartfactory.com or ph: 1300 GET TIX (438 849)

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1 – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: northcotesocialclub.com or ph: 1300 724 867

FATHER JOHN MISTY

Having departed Fleet Foxes in 2011 after 3 years on the drum stool, Joshua Tillman celebrates the release of his debut album “Fear Fun” under the new moniker of FATHER JOHN MISTY with Splendour sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. The music maintains a gloomy, secretive and yet conversely playful quality. Lyrically, his absurdist fever dreams of pain and pleasure elicit, in equal measures, the blunt descriptive power of Bukowski or Brautigan, the hedonist-philosophy of Oscar Wilde and the dried-out wit of Loudon Wainwright III. Come experience the soulful musings of FATHER JOHN MISTY at these intimate performances.

FRIDAY JULY 27 – OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY
Tickets from: oxfordartfactory.com or ph: 1300 GET TIX (438 849)

SATURDAY JULY 28 – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: cornerhotel.com or ph: 03 9427 9198

YOUTH LAGOON

YOUTH LAGOON, the moniker of 22-year-old Trevor Powers, has been doing anything but sleeping since the release of his debut album.
“The Year Of Hibernation” was a dreamy lo-fi breakthrough of 2011 landing in Pitchfork’s Top 50 albums of the year and set Powers off on a touring schedule that spanned four continents and over 100 shows. Having captivated Australian audiences on his sell-out tour in February, Powers returns with full band in tow for a series of intimate Splendour sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne.

SATURDAY JULY 28 – THE FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY
Tickets from: factorytheatre.com.au or ph: 02 9550 3666

SUNDAY JULY 29 – THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets from: cornerhotel.com or ph: 03 9427 9198

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