Despite the ever-present threat of rain, Parramatta Park was flooded with the sounds of good vibes, outlandish fashion, good times and great Aussie music.
This reviewer arrived just in time to catch the tail end of Sydney singer-songwriter Odette's set and her mesmerising track Watch Me Read You.
Punk upstarts Clowns had one the rowdiest moshes of the day as the five-piece churned out some short, fast riffs with frontman Stevie Williams down rolling in the grass.
Brisbane's fast-rising stars WAAX had the small High Society stage packed out as frontwoman Marie DeVita wielded her banshee scream like Thor's hammer. Having the two punk bands on the bill overlap wasn't the best planning, but the punters gave both sets a mighty crack. Their punk-as cover of Courtney Barnett's Pedestrian At Best had the entire crowd joining in.
Ruby Fields took to the Future Sailors main stage to a huge applause, the crowd getting into each and every one of her summer vibe, folk songs. Triple j favourite P Plates received the largest response as everyone danced in the afternoon sun.
Down at the Duck Pond among the trees, family affair Tigertown were pumping out some electro indie tunes, as vocalist Charlie Collins had the all-ages audience moving and shaking to the grind.
After kicking about for the best part of a decade, Melbourne blues rockers The Teskey Brothers have finally dropped a debut album and the cuts they showcased down at the main stage had the oldies and the young ones nodding along in approval before heading off to Haiku Hands. For this reviewer, their set was a complete WTF moment and we loved every minute of it. The four-piece, in matching jumpsuits, had hilarious choreographed dance moves and super catchy lyrics that left a smile plastered on this dial. Fashion Model Art has a chorus that just won't leave your brain.
We just want to run up and hug Alex The Astronaut. She has amazing pop sensibilities, gorgeous songs and lyrics, and a rare ability to make everyone giggle at her silly jokes and stories about vomiting at AFL tryouts. According to the show of hands, the majority of the crowd were named William or Georgia, and pop singalongs Rockstar City and Not Worth Hiding garnering huge responses.
Getting between stages is a cinch as the grounds of The Plot are small, yet manage to fit a lot into the windy little passages. Within seconds we were back at the main stage for the electric Bec Sandridge. Dressed in the knee-length plastic jacket from her latest film clip, Sandridge was well prepared for the impending weather and she played her heart out for the massive all-ages crowd. She introduced her parents, who were in the mosh, before dedicating new single I'll Never Want A BF to them.
Dean Lewis could be Australia's answer to Ed Sheeran, judging by the way everybody was fixated on his every word. Tales of love lost in the streets of England, ARIA charting hit Waves and those flowing locks had more than one festival goer a little weak at the knees.
In complete contrast, Melbourne noise mongers Cable Ties were blasting their wares from the main stage. Frenetic guitars and plodding bass lines give way to absolute burners with screamer Jenny McKechnie's voice resonating into the night. Punk riffs turn to garage rock as six-minute opuses pummel ears.
Down at the hidden away High Society stage the only international act on the bill, Youngsta CPT, was spitting rhymes left, right and centre to a small, but dedicated group of punters. The best-named DJ in the business, The Muffin Man, ran the decks as the prolific South African rapper had that small stage jumping.
Outrageously fun Brisbane MC Mallrat bounded across the stage and everyone danced as she flirted between rap and catchy pop songs. Joining Mallrat on stage, special guest Alice Ivy sent a buzz through the night.
Whether you love them or hate them, there is no denying that Brisbane electro act Confidence Man are here to stay. Controversially dubbed Australia's best up-and-coming live band by triple j for their out of sync dance moves and basic electro-funk beats, the four-piece had the mostly underage crowding foaming at the bit. With the drums and frontman Sugar Bones' vocals turned right down in the mix, it was the smooth vocals of Janet Planet on singles Boyfriend (Repeat) and Better Sit Down Boy that got everyone up for a boogie.
If Clowns had one the day's rowdiest moshpits, Sydney rap sensation Manu Crook$ had the biggest circle pit. With catchy as hell hooks, he spat pure fire while his entourage bounced on and off the stage for bursts of adrenaline-charged hip hop. The dust rose from the pit into the night air as the crowd sweated and heaved like a single living entity. Blowin' Up and Day Ones brought a beat that seemed straight out of Atlanta, the crowd pumping in unity.
A wander down to the local 2150 stage yielded more homegrown hip hop from Korky Buchek and the divine Miss Blanks, who lit the night with her fresh beats and 'don't fuck with me' attitude.
Within a swirling screen of lights, amid an epic soundscape of transcending arpeggios, post-rockers sleepmakeswaves rose and fell like the crashing tide. Beautiful, flowing instrumentals with moments of hysteria captivated. Their mammoth slabs of gorgeous music deserved a larger crowd than was present.
The entire festival seemed to have gathered for beer punks Skegss. The Byron Bay trio had the whole crowd jumping and screaming for their fun-loving tracks LSD, Got On My Skateboard and Spring Has Sprung. The boys have gone from strength to strength, selling out shows across the globe and tonight's set was a ripper.
With the beers flowing all afternoon and the rain having held off, we settled in with a gourmet hotdog in hand for the raucous electro-rock stylings of party starters and headliners Northeast Party House. Opening with that boppy bass line, Heartbreaker had the festival rushing up the hill after rocking out with Skegss to dance the night out. Calypso Beach rhythms had hands in the air and people riding each other's shoulders. Closing anthemic banger Youth Allowance signalled one last dance-off for The Plot.
