“This is the first time they’ve let us outside at this festival,” Mattie Vant exclaims. VANT certainly aren’t going to let this opportunity pass them by. From opener ‘Fly-By Alien’ through to closer ‘Parking Lot’, there’s a constant singalong coming from the crowd. As the set barrels forward, kids are running from across the site to see what’s going down. And with tracks that talk about immigration (‘Birth Certificate’), politics (‘The Answer’), and mental health (‘Do You Know Me?’), it’s no wonder the crowd around the Main Stage are both young and engaged. They’ve found an icon with a voice that makes sense – a part Mattie plays perfectly.
Photos: Corinne Cumming / Dork