VANT crowd-surf with mission statement of a Reading Festival set

There are better ways to endear yourself on a first-time Reading run than by declaring: “Hello Leeds!”, but the rest of VANT’s Lock Up set is a charm-offensive.

“That was on purpose,” says Mattie Vant about his R&L cock-up. He was joking, by the way. But he needed to clarify things when speaking to DIY after his set. What follows from any sense of slight awkwardness is a surge in attention towards a band who’ve been on the edge of something big - now they look capable of going that one step further. Fans are already wearing VANT tees in their droves, and the band’s name is chanted back between songs by an ever-expansive pit. The hype is real with these guys, and this is the surest sign yet.

What works with VANT is their directness. Songs don’t fuck about, in subject or stance. Lyrics are rooted in reality, and Mattie delivers them with an intensity that goes beyond what’s on record. Steadfast belief has got them here, and once they figure out which festival they’re at, there’s every chance they’ll follow up buzz with a storming next twelve months. It closes with Mattie crowdsurfing his way to the back of the tent, punching the air. Try topping this. The next stop is on this year’s Neu Tour with The Big Moon and INHEAVEN.