Well, well, well what a weekend that was. With a stellar line up including the likes of Blink 182, Paramore, The 1975 and Arctic Monkeys this year’s Leeds Festival certainly did not disappoint.
Eager to get the festival underway we headed to main stage early doors on Friday morning to watch American pop/punk band – The Story So Far. They managed to pull a decent crowd considering they were on at noon and definitely kick started our Friday morning.
The Friday at Leeds seemed to be the gift that kept on giving with performances from Young Guns, Papa Roach, The Neighbourhood, A Day To Remember, You Me At Six, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The 1975 and of course the mighty headliners – Blink 182.
A definite highlight from Friday would have to be the packed out NME/Radio 1 tent for The 1975 boys. They pulled the biggest crowd at the tent across the full weekend, with eager fans squeezing themselves through the thousands in order to get a good view of the lads and in particular a very popular Mr Matthew Healy. He graced the stage in his usual attire of ripped jeans and a bottle of red wine in hand. The crowd welcomed the band with an eruption of cheers and then the craziness began…. The crowd sang their hearts out and danced the night away, song after song with friends on shoulders and not a care in the world. The 1975 pulled off another spectacular performance and are sure to be headlining these festivals very soon!
Blink 182 provided the perfect close to the perfect day, playing hit after hit to a crowd that worshipped their every move. Blink 182 are ‘THAT’ band and I think they always will be.
Saturday started off with a little bit of rain, however it did not seem to dampen anyone’s festival fever with yet another glorious day of great music. We decided to watch Gerard Way’s debut as he performed solo for the first time since the My Chemical Romance split. He opened the NME/Radio 1 Stage in style as he took to the stage in a very dapper suit! The crowd gave him a very warm welcome and loyal fans queued for hours to meet him at the signing tent.
Next up for us to watch was Scottish band Twin Atlantic. Having just released their new album, ‘Great Divide’ a few days prior to Reading & Leeds Festival, the boys could not look happier on stage. The crowd belted out word for word to tracks such as ‘Free’, ‘Heart and Soul’ and ‘Crashland’. They even chanted the ever so charming Leeds chant of,’ Leeds U WOT, U WOT’ to a very baffled Sam McTrusty who even to this day most probably has no idea what they were saying!
The best and most surprising crowd reaction on the Saturday would have to have been during Catfish & The Bottlemen who played the Festival Republic Stage. You would never have thought that these guys had not yet released an album as the crowd seemed to know each track word-for-word and the band could not praise the crowd enough for such a great reaction to their set. Catfish & The Bottlemen are definitely heading onwards and upwards with more great things to come including their debut album which is due for release on September 15th.
Festival season always comes and goes too quickly, doesn’t it? Sunday arrived and with it was tired and bleary-eyed festival-goers as well as fresh-faced and raring to go day ticket holders.
With the sun shining we sat outside and watched the likes of Lower Than Atlantis, Imagine Dragons and Jake Bugg.
At the NME/Radio 1 Stage, Don Broco shook things up with a lively performance that got everyone going on a tough Sunday afternoon. The boys have been away to write their forthcoming album so it was good to see them back on the stage where they belong. With their signature moves and the push-up squad at the ready, Don Broco provided a seamless performance to an eagerly awaiting crowd who couldn’t get enough as they boo-ed when Frontman Bobby announced they only had two songs left. Fear not, the boys are back headlining the Kerrang! Tour next year!
With Arctic Monkeys closing the festival it was time to say goodbye to Leeds and all it had offered across the weekend. The line-up could not have been much better, providing music for everyone to enjoy!
To all of the campers at Leeds Festival 2014 – I still have no idea who ‘Steve’ and ‘Alan’ are but I hope you find them!
‘Leeds U WOT, U WOT.’