Pictured: At The Drive In

Another year, another Splendour in the Grass - though this year we seem to have gone back in time, with the festival returning to its Byron Bay home for the first time since 2009. This brief trip down memory lane will forever be remembered as a muddy affair, with today's 30 minute downpour - hail, brimstone and all - destroying the festival site and making those who brought gumboots truly thankful - none more so than the ones selling them on site for $50+ a pop!

Pictured: Friends

As part of a Splendour Sideshow triple treat. Friends, Howler and Zulu Winter played the Oxford Art Factory and Pete Dovgan was there to capture the action

Howler were everything you’d expect from a bunch of boys who play American surf/garage rock - nonchalant, hip and way too cool for school.

With Splendour sideshows set to hit the country TOMORROW with the Spin Off Festival in Adelaide, we thought we'd take a look at 5 sideshows we don't reckon you should miss....

While in Brighton for The Great Escape, we caught up with Splendour bound band Howler to talk about Australia, Brighton, Ladyboys, America Give Up, Roller Coasters and have a freaky moment involving James Brown. Watch the pretty hilarious interview to see what went down...

Pictured: Alabama Shakes.

With the 2012 Splendour in the Grass festival boasting some sweet international and local talent once again, the usual round of sideshows have been announced today. If you missed out on tickets to the festival itself, you can score yourself some tickets to any of the following shows. Sales commence from 9am, May 4.

THE AFGHAN WHIGS
Presented by Mess+Noise, Beat & The Brag

WEDNESDAY JULY 25 – THE HI-FI, MELBOURNE

Howler’s debut effort America Give Up impressively channels 80’s punk, particularly Ramones, with a twist of 50’s rock and roll.