Aussies go wild for three days of partying at Splendour in the Grass Festival

Crop tops and glitter face have been out in force at Splendour as Aussies take to the fields for three days of partying.

Festival goers watch Wolfmother perform on the Amphitheatre stage during Splendour In The Grass. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Crop tops, glitter face and leather chaps were out in force as Aussies took to the fields in Byron Bay for Splendour in the Grass which is set to run all weekend.

Santigold and Tame Impala kicked off the first night of partying in the Byron sunshine. The three-day event will also feature Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, Foals and Catfish and the Bottlemen as headliners.

Revellers took their inspiration from risque outfits seen at Coachella and Glastonbury, with leopard-print, glitter, bum bags and glitter face featuring heavily despite the winter weather.

Before arriving crowds were warned there would be a “no drop off” policy on site and they would be forced to take a shuttle bus to the event which one attendee slammed as an “absolute joke.”

Others slammed the heavy police presence as “more like a prison than a festival”.

I’ve been to 9 splendours.. and this is the first that it’s felt more like a prison than a festival, thanks to @GladysB @nswpolice #jerks #letsuslive #SITG2019 pic.twitter.com/mA5QXL4PT1

— M (@mull_man) July 19, 2019

Just in case you’re thinking of drinking or cooking with the portaloo water at #SITG2019 ... pic.twitter.com/E1ORnZ011B

— Adam Spencer (@adambspencer) July 19, 2019

Santigold has invited about half the Amphitheatre on stage for a dance. #SITG2019 pic.twitter.com/fXMiAIDguR

— Music Junkee (@musicdotjunkee) July 19, 2019

Aussies hit the mainstage to watch Wolfmother at Splendour In The Grass 2019. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Never mind the winter temps, it was all about the crop tops. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

The Amphitheatre at sundown. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Getting ready for Tame Impala at the main stage.

Police have also issued heavy warnings that drug-takers can expect to be caught with a three-day operation set to target drug use and supply, alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour. Officers will also be targeting speeding, drink- and drug-driving, and other dangerous behaviours.

Superintendent Dave Roptell said police want revellers to be aware of the consequences of risky behaviour while ensuring people have a safe and enjoyable experience.

“Those who bring illegal drugs into the festival can expect to be caught and dealt with accordingly,” he said.

However the view is at odds with that of one campaigner who said this week that hardline drug policy doesn’t work and a system for safe testing would be better.

Howling it up for Wolfmother. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

Watching punk rockers Fidlar. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

Hail Queen Santigold. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Speaking at a NSW inquest following drug deaths of six young people at festivals, harm reduction campaigner Will Tregoning said: “We know that in practice (scaring people into stopping drug use) is not effective, as we have tragically found here.”

Mr Tregoning said drug detection dogs and police strip searches could cause more harm than good. He said he’d spoken with people who described the experience of being ordered to undress in front of police as akin to the trauma of being sexually assaulted.

“My concern is it additionally trains people to not trust police,” he said, adding most officers held a very strong sense of social service and wanted to help.

He said drug searches may create “a climate of fear” and create further barriers between young people and those trying to protect them.

Police have promised a crackdown on drugs, but experts question their use. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese.

Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame will travel to the festival on Friday to observe policing and medical procedures.

Experts have told the inquest that legalising pill testing won’t normalise their use as it is already normalised. Edith Cowan University psychologist Stephen Bright told the inquiry pill testing offered a way to counsel young people about illicit drug use.

“The evidence we have is pill testing doesn’t give the green light or normalise drug use,” he said. “With one in 10 people having already used ecstasy, drug use is already normalised.” Alex Ross-King, Nathan Tran, Diana Nguyen, Joseph Pham, Joshua Tam and Callum Brosnan all died after consuming multiple MDMA capsules at NSW festivals between December 2017 and January 2019.

The coronial inquest will resume in September with Ms Grahame to hand down her findings in October.

— With AAP