In advance of this Saturday’s (5th May) Live at Leeds, the city’s new music festival now in its twelfth year of running, Sophia and Alice bring us a guide to some of the hottest bands that you will not want to miss whilst you’re there.
Founded in 2007, and designed to mark the 800th birthday of the city, Live at Leeds is a day-long festival with performances scattered among some of the best venues the heart of Leeds has to offer. Since its beginnings, the event has grown exponentially in popularity, with the big names on offer this year including the likes of Circa Waves, Peace, and headliners The Vaccines. Boasting over 200 artists spread over 19 stages, fans will be able to catch live acts in a range of settings. From book shops to bars, a former church, and even a spiegeltent, the venues extend from the conventional to anything but.
If you are heading to Live at Leeds and hoping to catch some new music, then here are our recommendations for the artists you can’t afford to miss:
Wild Front
If you’re in search of a chilled-out set, a smattering of acoustic tracks, or just some mellow tunes, Southampton-based alternative band, Wild Front, are probably right up your street.
Time: 3:00pm — 3:30pm
Venue: The Lending Room
Caro
With their quirky, funky vibe, Caro bring a sound to the table that could almost be the lovechild of Gengahr and alt-J. Few of their songs are available online, so there’s even more reason to catch these guys and experience their music in the flesh.
Time: 1:00pm — 1:30pm
Venue: Oporto — BBC Music Introducing West Yorkshire Stage
The Orielles
Only announced earlier this week, The Orielles consist of 2 sisters and their best friend. With songs that eclectically cover themes like cinema, literature, and the physiological details of domestic animals, there is every indication that this will be a set to remember.
Time: 12:00pm — 12:45pm
Venue: CLASH Stage — Holy Trinity Church
Soham De
Nominated for the best unsigned male at the UMAs 2016, Soham De showcases a refreshingly relaxed attitude, one that is somewhat lacking in the music industry at the moment. The intimate venue he’s playing will be the perfect environment for some laid-back listening.
Time: 5:30pm — 6:00pm
Venue: Northern Guitars Cafe Bar
Moncrieff
Irish singer-songwriter Moncrieff, is an up-and-coming artist, having released just two songs, but already promising an abundance of compositional talent, as well as powerful vocals. This is an excellent opportunity to witness an artist from the midst of a smaller crowd, before he inevitably begins playing to bigger ones.
Time: 2:00pm — 2:30pm
Venue: Nation Of Shopkeepers — Too Many Blogs Stage
Billy Lockett
Looking to unwind in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere? Well, Lockett’s haunting voice and deeply personal lyrics might well be worth your time over at the speigeltent. Inspired by Bon Iver, Oh Wonder, and composer Ludovico Einaudi, Lockett has also toured with Lana Del Rey and Birdy. This performance is sure to leave you with a renewed sense of perspective as the evening draws in.
Time: 8:00pm — 8:30pm
Venue: Leeds International Festival Spiegeltent
Hollow Coves
If you want to break up those hectic stage dashes then Hollow Coves are worth a listen. Who knows, their chill vibes might just come to define your soundtrack of the summer. And, even if they don’t, you’ll probably still be humming some of their catchy tunes a month down the line.
Time: 4:00pm — 4:30pm
Venue: Leeds International Festival Spiegeltent
Live at Leeds are also hosting some of the bigger names in new music at the moment, so take a trip to one of the larger venues to see some bands you might well be familiar with already.
Spring King
A self-defined “art-pop-punk project based in Manchester”, who have supported both The Killers and Kasabian, Spring King’s set will likely be a high-intensity performance. So, go get warmed up for The Vaccine’s time-slot by swinging by the Leeds Beckett Main Stage.
Time: 7:15pm — 8:00pm
Venue: Leeds Beckett Main Stage
Tom Walker
With hits such as ‘Leave a light on’ and ‘Just you and I’, Walker’s voice packs power and emotion, this set might contribute some pleasant diversity to your schedule.
Time: 3:00pm — 4:00pm
Venue: Church Leeds — Dork Stage
Peace
For fans of Peace, their return is long overdue, but with their new album being released the day before the festival, this set will probably see them come back with a bang. Critically acclaimed and always putting on a great show, this appearance has been gathering a lot of attention, especially because it has been a while since their last UK performance. It is definitely not one to miss.
Time: 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Venue: O2 Academy — Leeds Festival Stage
Superorganism
This eight-person supergroup, with members from all over the world, only formed last year, but their sheer talent and eccentricity convey a dynamic that seems long-established. Having already released a widely well-received album, the group are set to bring their world-wide excitement to Leeds. Get down to Stylus in the afternoon to experience their idiosyncratic pop sound.
Time: 2:45pm — 3:30pm
Venue: Stylus — The Independent Stage
The Vaccines
The Vaccines have returned with a new album this year, adding numerous tracks to their long, anthemic discography. The band are headlining the festival which in itself indicates how unmissable this appearance is tipped to be. So, don’t miss it!
Time: 9:00pm — 10:30pm
Venue: O2 Academy — Leeds Festival Stage
Live at Leeds is overflowing with a day’s worth of unforgettable talent that will see Leeds set alight from noon until midnight by musicians and artists from a range of genres. Obviously, it goes without saying, see as many artists as possible and don’t forget to run between venues to make the most of all that is on offer, but check out some of our recommendations and you won’t regret it.
All roads point to Leeds!
Article: Sophia Bonner and Alice Cronshaw
Editor: Alex Sheriff
