Avalanches confirm first live shows in 15 years as Splendour in the Grass announces lineup

The Avalanches will play their first live shows in 15 years in Australia, Spain and England in 2016, answering rumours of a reunion that emerged on Tuesday, after the band updated each of their social media accounts with the same mystery photo.

The pioneering Australian electronic group, who have not released an album since 2000’s influential Since I Left You, will lead the lineup of Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay in July.

Announced on radio station Triple J on Wednesday, the festival lineup also features Australian exclusive performances from the Strokes, Sigur Ros and Vincent McMorrow, as well as the Cure, Band of Horses, the Kills, Courtney Barnett, Santigold, Mark Lanegan and Flume.

While their Splendour set has been announced as an Australian exclusive, the Avalanches have confirmed rumours they will be playing Primavera Sound in Barcelona on 3 and 5 June, and Field Day in London on 12 June.

There is no new information on whether the Avalanches’ tour will be accompanied by the long-awaited second album, but fans have reason to be hopeful: in October 2015, in a Facebook post announcing a court victory over Universal Music, their label Modular Records told fans to “stand by for news on forthcoming releases from Movement, Bag Raiders and the Avalanches”.

In February the Avalanches tweeted they were listening to tracks by Van Dyke Parks “in the studio”.

Over the years the Avalanches has lost four members – including founding member Darren Seltmann, turntablists Dexter Fabay and James De La Cruz and keyboardist Gordon McQuilten – leaving only Robbie Chater and Tony DiBlasi in the band, although this line-up has not been confirmed since 2014.

Tickets for Splendour in the Grass go on sale at 9am AEST, on Thursday 21 April.

Splendour in the Grass 2016 lineup

The Strokes (only Aus show)

The Cure

The Avalanches (only Aus show)

Sigur Ros (only Aus show)

Flume

James Blake

At the Drive-In

Violent Soho

Hermitude

Band of Horses

Santigold

Matt Corby

Sticky Fingers

Boy & Bear

Jake Bugg

The 1975

Leon Bridges

Duke Dumont (DJ set)

James Vincent McMorrow (only Aus show)

Courtney Barnett

The Kills

The Preatures

What So Not

Years and Years

Gang of Youths

Illy

Peter, Bjorn & John

Golden Features

Crystal Fighters

Ball Park Music

Tegan & Sara

DMA’s

Hayden James

City Calm Down

Snakehips

Mark Lanegan

Michael Kiwanuka

Jagwar Ma

Jack Garratt

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

The Jungle Giants

The Internet

Motex

Emma Louise

Urthboy

Sampa the Great

Ngaiire

The Wild Feathers and more