Yorkshire’s biggest festival took place right here over Bank Holiday weekend- and what a weekend it was.
Leeds Festival returned to Bramham Park this weekend – and if you were one of the 80,000 odd singing along to Liam Gallagher on Friday or wading through the sea of people queuing for a glimpse of Blink 182 – you’ll know exactly what we’re on about.
As a festival that’s now in its mid-twenties, it’s certainly got older and wiser over the years – and the lineups just get better and better ever year.
There's no doubt this festival will go down in history as the year of Storm Lilian, Friday's delayed opening time was met by the heartbreaking closure of three stages due to the high winds with flying tents landing in local's back gardens...yes, really.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Due to a stripped back musical line-up, crowds for the main stages were vast as first headliner Catfish and the Bottlemen played their first live show in three years with a performance that did not disappoint and had fans flocking for spots at the front barriers.
The highlight of the first day, though, was most definitely Liam Gallagher as he shuffled onto the main stage in his parka and sunglasses to perform a set list consisting entirely of his former band’s early classics in celebration of Definitely Maybe's 30th anniversary year.
The field was united with epic singalongs as Gallagher shouted “this one’s for the tents”, the absolute perfect tonic after a demanding and blustery day.
As the wind settled and Saturday rolled around, bucket-hat wearing festival goers were back on form ready for another jam-packed day of live music.
Belfast's provocative rappers Kneecap kicked off proceedings with an electric performance that was as hilarious as it was controversial, urging a field full of Yorkshire to rap along with Get Your Brits Out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Welsh pop-punk heroes Neck Deep added a political flair to the post-GCSE party quipping "it won't always be like this", whilst Jorja Smith's set was moved to the main stage due to the Radio 1 tent closure which she did was prowess and ease.
Scottish troubadour Gerry Cinnamon united crowds as the sun set, from the synchronised foot stomps to the bellowing chants you sort of felt like you were at a sing-song at the pub - but in the best way possible.
Naturally an enormous crowd formed for Blink 182, although no sign of Kourtney Kardashian unfortunately. It was a welcome return for the pop-punk pioneers who delivered a healthy dose of nostalgia alongside lighthearted teenage humour throughout their closing set.
Fontaines D.C.'s Sunday teatime slot was perhaps the highlight of the whole weekend, a set which initially suffered from blustery sound issues but erupted into mayhem as the Irish post-punk heroes plunged into a double whammy of Boys in the Better Land and the fantastic In the Modern World, from new record Romance.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With no eye-catching visuals and only a mumbled "How you doing" from frontman Grian Chatten, it's a performance that delivers entirely on their own terms and acts as a footnote in their inevitable meteoric rise.
Lana Del Rey's hazy California pop is met with echoes of screaming teenage girls, as the American singer-songwriter delivers a beautiful performance dotted with classics such as Summertime Sadness and Young and Beautiful.
Finally, breakout producer Fred Again makes history as the first electronic act to headline the main stage delivering a laser-inducing performance that had punters dancing through the rain.
“You’re the biggest set of troopers we’ve ever played to at a festival" he cries as the downpour refuses to cease, as a festival that started in disaster ends drenched in style.
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two new arena dates have been added to their forthcoming UK tour, after selling out the entire run within two hours.
Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.
The now sold-out arena run starts in Europe in November before now arriving in Leeds on Sunday 30 November.
The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmereis the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.
However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.
Image: Supplied
With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is alsothebeginning of a new phase.
Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.
The album itself drops on this Friday 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.
As for the arena show, tickets will go on sale this Thursday 27 March at 10am.
Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.
Clementine Hall -
27th August 2024 
