It's the magnificent Live at Leeds this bank holiday weekend and we'll be there once again. Here are our top tips for one of the best festivals in Yorkshire. We've also handily included the stage times and locations of each act, you know because we're super nice like that. This list is in alphabetical order too so it's dead easy to navigate. Enjoy!
Abi Ocia
The Chapel, 18:00-18:30
After racking up over six million plays on Spotify, London-based Abi Ocia has made a name for herself with tastemakers and bloggers alike. Her unique take on R 'n' B is something we're very excited for and The Chapel is the perfect venue for her tender, intimate vocals.
Listen to - Running
APRE
Belgrave Music Hall, 14:00-14:30
London duo APRE have only got one tune online but it's great. 'All Yours' is full of funk-influenced guitars and psychedelic synths. A must for fans of Foals and early Bombay Bicycle Club and a perfect way to kick off the weekend.
Listen to - All Yours
Avalanche Party
The Lending Room, 23:00-23:45
Yorkshire lads Avalanche Party have been making waves all over the UK with their chaotic and entrancing live shows. Signed to Clue Records, the band play their garage rock and roll with an intense urgency that explodes off the stage. It'll get sweaty with this lot.
Listen to - I'm So Wet
Boy Azooga
Brudenell Social Club / DIY Stage, 20:00-20:30
Having just signed to the legendary Heavenly Recordings, Boy Azooga are starting to make waves in the world of indie. The Welsh natives draw from the Beach Boys and the legend that is Wesley Gonzalez to create their unique indie hits.
Listen to - Loner Boogie
Bruno Major
Headrow House / NME Stage, 23:00-23:45
Bruno Major's voice is incredible. His debut album 'A Song for Every Moon' is the culmination of a year-long project where he released a new single every month. The result is an album full of singer/songwriter confessionals combined with modern electronic production. Major is a perfect way to end the day.
Listen to - Just the Same
Cosmo Pyke
Brudenell Community Room / DIY NEU Stage, 22:45-23:15
Talented lad this fella. He's a skater, model, graffiti artist and a brilliant songwriter. His jazz-influenced indie-soul is fresh and the perfect soundtrack to any summer. He's only young, but the future is super bright for the brilliant musician from Peckham.
Listen to - Social Sites
Demob Happy
The Key Club, 20:15-21:00
Demob Happy recently released their decent second album 'Holy Doom'. If it's riffs, hair and chaos you want, these are the band for you. With elements of psychedelia and 70s influenced backing vocals, this trio will be a definite highlight.
Listen to - Liar In Your Head
Easy Life
The Wardrobe / Dr Martens Stage, 16:15-16:45
Easy Life's 'Pockets' was a late highlight of last year. the single is reminiscent of some of Jamie T's early stuff and we love it. Their debut mixtape 'Creature Habits' takes influence from hip-hop, indie and electronica. Each track is an absolute head bopper and it will be great to see these tunes performed live.
Listen to - Pockets
FLING
Leeds Beckett Union (Main Stage), 17:00-17:30
Bradfordians and wonky pop specialists FLING follow the legendary Ash on the Leeds Beckett Union mainstage. Their tunes are unbelievably catchy if lyrically a little odd, but FLING are the ones to inject some fun into your day.
Listen to - Banjo Billy
Forever Cult
Leeds Beckett Union (Stage 2), 20:00-20:30
We love Forever Cult and after the release of their latest single 'Usurper' and a UK tour with Fizzy Blood they just keep on getting better and better. Expect serious noise from the quartet fronted by the supremely talented and all-around nice guy Kieran Clarke.
Listen to - Usurper
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
The Key Club, 12:00-12:45
Sam Duckworth has been releasing music under the Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly moniker for 14 years (14 YEARS!!). His politically charged acoustic pop is still pretty timeless and you'd be an idiot to miss the legendary 'The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager' live.
Listen to - The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager (Part One)
Haley Heynderickx
Holy Trinity Church / Clash Stage, 14:15-14:45
We love love love Haley Heynderickx here at
Not Another Music Blog. (we gave her debut album an 8/10) and we can't wait to see her live for the first time. She'll be gracing the beautiful Holy Trinity Church with her unique and brilliant folk music.
Listen to - Worth It
Her's
Brudenell Social Club / DIY Stage, 21:00-21:30
Liverpool two-piece Her's know how to write a riff. Their oddball pop has seen them garner some amazing praise and we've heard only great things about their live show. Ariel Pink and Mac Demarco fans will love these two.
Listen to - What Once Was
Hey Charlie
The Key Club, 18:15-18:45
This all-girl three-piece are keeping Rock 'n' Roll alive in 2018. They look cool as fuck and know how to write some proper heavy tunes. We can't wait to see how their riff-driven guitar music transpires in a live setting.
Listen to - Hey
The Horrors
Church / Dork Stage, 21:30-22:45
Last year, we featured The Horrors' newest studio album in our top 50 albums of the year. The band have grown from strength to strength since their inception and this is one show we're incredibly excited for. The Church is the perfect setting for some psychedelic, gloomy indie.
Listen to - Something to Remember Me By
IDLES
The Wardrobe / Dr Martens Stage, 12:00-12:45
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| Credit - Lindsay Melbourne |
Opening the day for us is IDLES. Without a doubt the best punk band in the UK right now, Joe Talbot and the rest of the boys return to Live at Leeds after a sold-out headline UK tour. Last year's performance at The Key Club is the stuff of legend and we can't wait to see their rip-roaring, social commentary noise come to life. Get down early for this one.
Listen to - White Privilege
JW Ridley
The Wardrobe Bar, 21:15-21:45
Last year, London-based JW Ridley released one of the best debut tracks we've heard in recent times. 'Everything (Deathless)' is an eight-minute epic with krautrock beats and heavy reverbs reminiscent of The War on Drugs. We're expecting big things from JW Ridley, and we're tipping him for massive success at this years Live at Leeds.
Listen to - Everything (Deathless)
King Nun
The Key Club, 17:15-17:45
After being tipped for huge success in 2018, King Nun have been quiet on the release front so far this year. Not to worry, their current material is brilliant and the Dirty Hit band are renowned for their live performances. They promise to cause a riot.
Listen to - Hung Around
LIFE
Santiago Bar (LAL Fringe), 22:00-22:45
LIFE self-released their critically acclaimed debut in 2017 and since then they have gone on to appear at numerous festivals and tours all over the UK and Europe. They return to Leeds with their ferocious punk after headlining SXSW for the BBC.
Listen to - Grown Up
The Magic Gang
The O2 Academy / Leeds Festival Stage, 19:15-20:15
The Magic Gang have had a bloody brilliant year so far. They scored a chart position of 12 for their debut self-titled album and it seems like they've been on tour ever since. Their relaxed indie has gained them tonnes of fans up and down the UK and it would be a crime to miss them before they inevitably get even bigger.
Listen to - Oh, Saki
The Modern Strangers
The Lending Room, 13:00-13:30
Fronted by brothers Max and Archie Davenport, The Modern Strangers make create nothing but bangers. We've been obsessing over them for a while and we can't wait to hear their disco-tinged indie tunes live.
Listen to - Coco Hello
The Orielles
Holy Trinity Church / Clash Stage, 12:00-12:45
Leeds is only a short trip from Halifax for The Orielles but its one that will be worthwhile. They've had an amazing 2018 already and we can't wait to see what's next for the trio. They're on early so be sure not to miss them open the Holy Trinity Church with their blend of shoegaze, indie-pop.
Listen to - Let Your Dog Tooth Grow
Pale Waves
Brudenell Social Club / DIY Stage, 23:15-00:00
The latest signing to blow up from Dirty Hit, the home of the 1975, Pale Waves have already built a cult following. The Manchester-based quartet have worked with Matty Healy to write some absolute pop bangers and they will be definitely closing the Brudenell in style.
Listen to - Television Romance
Peace
The O2 Academy / Leeds Festival Stage, 15:15-16:15
Indie legends Peace release their 3rd album on Friday (4th May) and to celebrate they'll be opening the O2 Academy / Leeds Festival stage. Expect some absolute indie bangers from the boys from Worcester.
Listen to - Power
Pip Blom
Brudenell Social Club / DIY Stage, 17:00-17:30
Sports Team label mate Pip Blom, originally from Amsterdam, is definitely one to watch. Her heavily distorted slices of garage-influenced indie will fill that Brudenell room perfectly.
Listen to - Soon
Sam Fender
LUU Stylus / The Independent Stage, 18:15-19:00
Geordie-boy Sam Fender made the BBC's Sound of 2018 longlist this year and has been working tirelessly ever since. The singer/songwriter writes about fake news and sexual harassment with a grit and bite that can be lacking in your average troubadour. His breakout single 'Play God' is majestic.
Listen to - Play God
Sorry
Brudenell Community Room / DIY NEU Stage, 21:30-22:00
London post-punks Sorry mix low-fi instrumentals with melodic vocals and scratchy beats to create a bleak sound reminiscent of their life in London. They will go down well with the Brudenell crowd and expectations will be high. They are surely bound to deliver.
Listen to - 2 Down 2 Dance
Sports Team
Brudenell Social Club / DIY Stage, 15:00-15:30
Not Another Music Blog. favourites Sports Team will be gracing the best venue in the world, The Brudenell Social club. Be prepared for electric stage presence and the wittiest of tunes. We're not quite sure Leeds is ready for this lot from North West London.
Listen to - Camel Crew
Superorganism
The O2 Academy / Leeds Festival Stage, 14:45-15:30
We saw this internet age supergroup at a live recording of ...Later with Jools Holland once and they blew us away. Their experimental and catchy indie-pop tunes are enough to win any music fan over. They released their debut album this year to rapturous applause so be sure to check out the weird and wonderful eight-piece.
Listen to - Everybody Wants to be Famous
Suzi Wu
Brudenell Community Room / DIY NEU Stage, 19:30-20:00
Nineteen-year-old Suzi McDermott's refreshingly new sound and captivating storytelling has found her fans across the board, earning her 'World Record' and 'World First' on Zane Lowe's Beats1 show and support across Radio 1 and Spotify. She apparently blew the audience away at SXSW too so go see what all the fuss is about.
Listen to - Speed
TOUTS
Nation of Shopkeepers / Too Many Blogs Stage, 19:00-19:30
A singer that can't sing, a mod that can't play bass and a drummer that can't see - TOUTS' Facebook bio. They don't give themselves enough credit to be fair. We're big fans over here and we can't wait to see the lads from Derry literally tear Leeds a new arse hole with their ferociously brutal punk.
Listen to - Sold Out
The Vaccines
The O2 Academy / Leeds Festival Stage, 21:00-22:30
Probably the most well-known band on the whole bill, The Vaccines will be closing out proceedings at the O2 Academy. They've been a part of a resurgence this year with the release of their brilliant new album 'Combat Sports'. Expect old and new hits from a band who really know how to work the crowd.
Listen to - Your Love Is My Favourite Band
Tickets for Live at Leeds are still available here, don't miss out!
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