Truly a femininomenon: Chappell Roan crowned the queen of Laneway

Laneway headliner Chappell Roan ruled the stage and the crowd like a queen descending from her castle. 

And she indeed did have a castle built on stage that reflected her Renaissance and fantasy-inspired aesthetic. 

With the exception of a cloudy start to the festival, most of the afternoon was sweltering hot with a harsh sun that drove many under the shade of tents and trees.

Chappell Roan emerged to greet her kingdom at around 8:35pm following a packed set list which included Benee, Lucy Dacus and Role Model.

In the minutes before Chappell Roan took to the stage, the sun was setting and the stadium was packed with an eager crowd.

For many, Chappell Roan’s set was the reason they had decided to attend the festival.

“I think she was the reason I bought the ticket,” one fan, Sophia Bishop, said.

“She’s very authentic, she’s very herself... she’s not afraid to be weird. 

"I think she brings it out in other people as well.”

That statement was proven right almost the second Chappell Roan appeared from her castle, and most fans began jumping and screaming at the top of their lungs.

She started the set with one of her hits 'Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl' from her album The Rise and Fall of the Midwest Princess.

When she moved on to 'Femininomenon', it was clear she had the crowd hooked by delivering a performance that was not only fun, it was empowering.

The themes of her album centred around identity, personal growth and the strength of the girl boss energy - all of which she brought to the stage.

“What do we need?” she yelled into her microphone, then pointed it at the crowd.

“A Femininomenon!” the crowd yelled back right on queue.

Although fans were excited to be bouncing along to her more upbeat songs, when she started playing 'The Subway', the crowd almost out-sung her.

The song is one of her most famous hits and is both soothing and heartbreaking.

It was a hit that fans were anticipating singing along with, and letting out all their emotions.

“I can’t wait to belt my heart out to that song,” one fan, Jessica Barker, had said before the show.

But Chappell Roan didn’t let fans dwell too much on their feelings with the very next song being 'Hot To Go', and most were on their feet doing the song’s signature dance moves.

She stopped around halfway through the set to thank the crowd for having her, saying it was so cool to be performing at a festival.

“I’m so happy to be here,” she said, then sighed. “It’s tough in my country right now.

“To be here and see so many businesses with pride flags, this is f***ing awesome.

“I didn’t quite realise how scared I was until I got here.”

It was this honesty, openness and solidarity that fans adored the most about Chappell Roan.

“She’s hard to beat,” said Beau Harvey, one of the artist’s many fans.

“I love that she sets good boundaries, it’s needed... It’s so gay and so good.”

Earlier that day, Lucy Dacus had been another artist with a devoted fan base that had been awaiting her performance.

The crowd, although less ecstatic, was singing along to her soft, heartfelt music. Some had taken the hand of their partners and started dancing slowly to songs like 'Night Shift'.

English rock bands Wet Leg and Wolf Alice rocked the stage right before Chappell Roan.

Role Model had also been on the must-see list of many fans and did not disappoint. When playing his song 'Sally, When the Wine Runs Out', which usually features a well-known person that plays the role of Sally, Benee was brought out on stage.

The New Zealand artist had done her own set earlier in the day.

Chappell Roan brought the night to a close with the song 'Pink Pony Club' which she performed from the balcony of her castle, bringing fans to their feet as they screamed, “Oh mama, I’m just having fun.”