Leeds Festival: In Review
Photo: Sam McMahon
The last major festival of the U.K. season concluded in a very windy autumn like fashion. Storm Lillian did her best to burst her way through Leeds Festival causing the sad destruction to the campsite and various other areas including the closure of 2 stages – this also lead to some major names having to pull out of the Friday due to the conditions, which later saw more acts follow with the permanent closure of the Radio 1 Stage. Despite the frantic start, the Leeds flame was rekindled as the site opened later than usual bringing the joy back to the sea of revellers flooding through the area gates at opening time.
With that late start, the Friday kicked off with the always lively Pendulum – in many ways it was the perfect pick me up to what was a rough start to the day. As always they brought their a-game sending the Leeds crowd into a frenzy. A flawless set filled with timeless bangers still showing why they are worthy of a main stage slot. The sun began to shine across the festival site bringing even more feel good vibes to a set that was already hyped up. Classics like ‘Propane Nightmares’ and ‘Blood Sugar’ set off some of the biggest pits of the afternoon and they Introduced some metal to the day with their massive collaboration with Bullet For My Valentine ‘Halo’, although unfortunately minus the guest vocals of Matt Tuck. With their headline slot 24 hours later, things were set up nicely with their remix of the Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’, the ultimate feel good and festival party anthem that’s always certain to send any room or field into a chaotic meltdown. Concluding with back to back chaos dropping ‘The Island Part 1’ followed by ‘Watercolour’, it was the perfect way to get this going for the weekend ahead.
Photo: Sam McMahon
From the main stage to the BBC Introducing to catch rising star Delilah Bon make her Leeds Festival debut, not only here as a first timer, but also as a headliner. Her new album is right around the corner giving this weekend the perfect time to tease fans and bring in new ones with a taste of what’s to come. With the theme of this summer, it was fitting to kick off her set with ‘Brat’, both Delilah and her band were instantly active. Delilah’s live shows are becoming more and more iconic that are filled with various props and dance choreography that suck you in at all times. To headline a stage like this and bring out all the stops shows the intent that she has – new and old songs brought out to cause a scene and give Leeds fest the full force of what her live experience is all about. From baseball bats to bubble machines, you were left wondering what was next. Delilah has been underrated and under appreciated for far too long and this set proves why she deserves to be on the highest stage.
Saturday
Saturday is the day for the alternative kids to come and take over for what was an incredibly stacked day. Up first fresh off the back of their huge headline slot at the Heavy Music Awards was Wrexhams pop punk kings Neck Deep. Slotting in with two sets in one day, they kicked off in the baking Leeds sunshine on the main stage showcasing their latest self titled record. Their set was filled with flaming production and the usual action you expect both on and off stage, a packed crowd and pop punk – it’s the perfect mix of ingredients. Throwing in two classics ‘Lowlife’ and typical closer, ‘In Bloom’ in the midst of newer material. Given the passion that was piled into this it shows exactly why the band are main stage ready gearing things up nicely to the up close and personal set later in the day.
Sticking with the HMA’s theme, next up we have the treat of being graced by the winners of the best international band and one of the most exciting and biggest names in metal – it’s Spiritbox. Opening their set, Courtney introduces the band by stating “we’re Spiritbox and we’re here to ruin your day”. A crowd filled with onlookers blissfully unaware of what they are about to witness. Courtney’s fluctuating vocals between cleans and screams are on another level showing exactly why she’s one of the best in the game. The gritty guitar riffs and hard breakdowns ripple through the festival air and for many in the crowd this was time they’d feel the sheer power of this band. The backdrop was a simple but standout 3D visual of the bands logo that overlooked the actioned – paired with the force of the performance on the stage it brought together the perfect set churning out the fan favourites with the same energy as the new music they presented to the applicative crowd. Circle pits on either side of the security split were constant as they brought a cloud of dust with every move. Whether non fans were won over or not, it was a set that will go down in the festivals history books. The band continue to push new boundaries with their nods to nu-metal and grunge while also adding their own take to what they do. Destined for big things, the band announce their biggest UK headline show to date as they’re set to take on London’s Alexandra Palace next year.
Photo: Alex Piper
It felt like no time had passed since Neck Deep left the main stage, mainly because it was only a few hours apart but It was time for the bands ‘deep cut’ set, digging right into the back catalogue to treat the proper OG’s. The tent was as you would expect and rammed to capacity with eager fans ready to take things back to where it all began for many. With the 10 year anniversary of ‘Life’s Not Out To Get You’ approaching, the set was stacked with some of the less played tracks from this record. Such an iconic set being placed in a tent raised the atmosphere 10 fold with a sea of people screaming their lungs out in unison. The band themselves matched the energy with Ben throwing in the occasional 2 step here and there. Iconic songs like ‘Haunt You’ & ‘Lime Street’ making appearances for the first time in ages brought an extra special feel to the show. Looking around the tent you could see and feel the raw emotional projected from the fans during every song – any set that kicks off with ‘Serpents’ and ‘Gold Steps’ is certain to set things off the right way. It was a huge statement from the Wrexham icons to bring such a special throwback set especially to a festival, it raised the question on the fans lips what this may lead on to next knowing the anniversary was fast approaching. Until then you can catch Neck Deep take over the U.K. on their ‘Dumbstruck Dumbfuck’ tour early next year.
South Arcade have quickly moved up the levels in the last year gaining themselves a lot of well earned praise leading them to achieve their first Reading & Leeds slot taking to the BBC Introducing Stage as headliners. Despite the challenge of some tricky clashes, the fans came in their numbers to back the band fuelled with passion. The perfect time to showcase new material and bring out the singles that gained them all the focus – new singles ‘Stone Cold Summer’ and ‘How 2 Get Away With Murder’ made their live debuts including little water guns given to fans to have their own water gun fight throughout the set adding that extra fun buzz to the show. Guitarist Harry Winks urges the first pit of the night during ‘Riptide’, the fans of course obliging sending the small space into chaos while fan favourite tracks ‘Danger’ and ‘Sound of An Empty Room’ received the biggest receptions of the night. This was a set that’s shown how far the band have come and how much they are growing after every live show, their stage presence and ability to control a crowd wouldn’t look out of place on the biggest stage. The future is looking bright for one of the UK’s most exciting names.
The return of Blink 182 with Tom was one of the most anticipated and welcome moves in recent years – when the announcement came of them returning to the U.K. festival scene it brought even more excitement to what was already a special moment for the fans. From the opening drum beats of ‘Feeling This’ the band instantly had the crowd in the palm of their hands and it’s plainly obvious the band haven’t lost a single shred of their force on stage. Between songs there is the constant flow of comedy from both DeLonge and Hoppus bringing up things of the past and the very regular sexual jokes, I mean it is expected. The energetic delivery of both old and new tracks was done to perfection building even more of chemistry with the fans.
Photo: Luke Dyson
The entire set was filled with explosive intent both from the pyro and each classic they threw out. The unexpected addition of +44’s ‘When Your Heart Stops Beating’ and even a snippet of Taylor Swift came as a huge surprise to the majority however played with such effortless conviction made it feel like it belonged there. The nostalgia trip the place was taken on reminded me of how important the band were growing up – the biggest stand out throughout was the togetherness shared on stage showing they are back and bigger than they ever were. Fans uniting together to scream ‘Where are you….’ So loud it could be heard over everything else happening around the festival. It’s plain to see they haven’t grown out of their younger phase but also showing how much they’ve grown as a band since the split and reunion. Closing off their set with ‘Dammit’ and an impressive firework show rounded off what was a history making show. The emotional ‘One More Time’ concludes with a video across the screens of the bands history leading up till now – they really have went from strangers to brothers once again.
Photo: Georgina Hurdsfield
Sunday
The final day got off to a very rowdy start with Glasgow’s Dead Pony bringing the action to an early afternoon slot. A few saltire flags darted around the tent gave an early indication the Scottish fans here were ready and waiting. With no time wasted the Glaswegians kick off with what’s become a very popular opener on their set – their rendition of The Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’ sets the tone perfectly for their set, singer Anna Shields dances her way on stage looking like she means business. The crowd waste no time in getting the pits started after only two songs and the centre of the tent is showing what they have got. The band and fans alike are feeding off each other’s high energy raising the atmosphere that bit higher. Circle pits and even a wall of death bring out the best in what this crowd has to offer – ‘Cobra’ and ‘Bullet Farm’ see the most activity before the sets concluded with a giant inflatable ‘dead pony’ being let loose among the Leeds crowd to pass around while the band work their magic one last time on stage.
Sticking with the tent action, Australians Yours Truly are next to grace the Leeds crowd as they celebrate the release of their 3rd studio album ‘Toxic’. Given their great relationship with their British fans it came as no shock to see a high attendance as fans waited eagerly to watch their hero’s. From the minute they take to the stage the bands performance is captivating and singer Mikaila Delgado’s stage presence shows how much she was born to perform – she danced the confines of the stage with endless amounts of confidence and joy with this quickly rubbing off on the Leeds crowd. The set was a solid mix of old and new giving fans the chance to be acquainted with tracks off Toxic for the first time while also singing their hearts out to hits like ‘Funeral Home’ and ‘High Hopes’. A masterclass performance setting the start of their UK/EU tour on the ultimate high. Yours Truly are propelling themselves into the hallowed halls of alt greatness.
Today is certainly the day to be in the Festival Republic stage – next up we catch another rising star band who are gaining all the right attention, it’s Kid Kapichi. The tent is as busy as I’ve seen all day and quite right, these guys know exactly how to work any sized room in whatever way they want. First song in and the crowd break into rowdy mosh pits which barely let up for the remainder of the set as has become standard fare at any Kapichi show, the intensity on and off stage rarely lets up. Their sound is enough to get any room moving whether there is fans or newbies, they put punk through its paces as they switch between the insidiously catchy yet sardonic ‘New England’ or ‘Can EU Hear Me?’. Their political messages are greeted with all the right cheers as singer Jack has his say on the going’s on across the country and beyond. Their message and sound is a solid indication they are set for greatness, it’s just a matter of time.
Closing off the weekend is the heaviest possible fashion is Liverpool’s Loathe. The metal band are one of the most interesting and ferocious bands to break out of the U.K. scene in recent years making their own wave wherever they go. It took the band to set foot on the stage for the pit to open almost as wide as the stage – the size and the actions of fans within was an very indication of how this set was going to go and I’m all for it. It’s refreshing to be seeing such a heavy upcoming name take to the stage at R&L and judging by the crowd size I wasn’t the only one. Percussive brutality, masterfully contrasted by moments of atmospheric and melodic brilliance is the best way to describe Loathe and their stage presence only elevates these elements even more. Vocalist Kadeem France lays down some uniquely piercing screams and gorgeous clean vocals while his band send out riffs heavy enough to cause mayhem at any given movement. Loathe took to the stage at the best possible time as the festival starts to fade out and legs start to tire, they gave anyone in that tent and extra lease of life to go hard and see out the weekend if the best possible way.
Even with the challenges on day, the staff and organisers at Leeds Festival stood firm and together to ensure the weekend would not go down hill and they are a credit to what they do showing exactly why thousands put their trust in them each year at this incredible festival. The running and safety of the overall weekend was done to perfection and secured yet another enjoyable and successful Leeds Fest.
Words by Craig McInnes
