Fans kill to see Heidi: By CAMERON ADAMS

THOUSANDS of Big Day Out punters were left frustrated when unable to see top-selling Melbourne band Killing Heidi at yesterday's rock festival.

Teenagers caused a near riot trying to enter the small indoor venue where Killing Heidi, No.1 in the charts this week with its hit Mascara, had been booked to play before its recent burst of popularity.

Crowds crammed sardine-like around the cattle-shed-turned-indoor-stage pushed, climbed on roofs and each other, and caused a human traffic jam trying to get inside the venue.

"It's not fair, they should be on the big stage," one upset fan said after organisers miscalculated the band's popularity.

Those inside saw singer Ella Hooper celebrate her 17th birthday on stage, with the band performing a cover version of silverchair's hit Tomorrow.

With a 42,000 capacity, moving around the showgrounds was often like walking in quicksand as the venue struggled to cope with the influx of punks, hippies, ferals, ravers and more piercings than the bull parade the venue usually hosts.

Fans were treated to a mainly alternative musical diet, from the f-word-littered set of American punk band Blink 182 to Perth rock band Jebediah.

British folk singer Beth Orton introduced possibly the first mandolin to the Big Day Out, while Aboriginal act Yothu Yindi and Latin percussion band Ozomatli provided a respite from the noise.