Just before midday on my favourite day of the year (Laneway day), I find myself in an Uber to Flemington Racecourse. It’s my first Laneway in Melbourne, though I haven’t missed the festival since 2018. Depending on who you ask, I was too early for anyone worth seeing, such as headliners Dominic Fike or Stormzy. But, as I prepared for my fifth Laneway, I knew I was in for a marathon day of the best up-and-coming local acts sharing the stage with some of the world’s finest talent. 

While I overlooked the vibes town stage with the stunning backdrop of Tassies natural beauty, I knew I was in for an adventure.  Exhausted from the 4am plane ride and the 20kg loads of camping gear on our backs, we set up camp in the 30-degree heat, filled with excitement for the day ahead. 

And The Slingers, a group of rag-tag, swoon-worthy, romantic bushrangers, well, they refer to this modern age through dualities and dichotomies; an age of both “great compassion and crucifixion” of both “creature comfort and constant pain and numbness,” an overall age of loneliness.

I’m not really sure what we’re supposed to be at 24, but the headlining emotions seem to be confusion mixed with elation, randiness and disorientation. We seem confused about who we’re meant to like and love and where to channel passion, where to channel frustration, what behaviour to let slide, and what behaviour to criticise, but at least we’ve always got some gritty and rocky country music to sway along to as we stutter our way through the day.

The band’s transition to a new and temporary era also saw yours truly change her status from a previously uninvolved yet content gig reviewer to one with still inchoate powers, as I may have indirectly created a turn of events that led to Harry farewelling Australia in a fashion far from pure; by doing a shoey out of lead singer Kim’s Blundstone.