Along comes the summer festival music diary and Leeds, Temple Newsam is the place to be for indie-lovers, new music heads, punk rockers and the like as Live At Leeds: In The Park and Slamdunk take place on the 25th and 26th May. Here is our guide to who you should make a point of seeing over that weekend.
The LAL is an impressive lineup of unforgettable highlights, indie legends, and potential new favourites, Sea Girls fall into the latter category. Even though they were formed in 2015, Sea Girls ascended to fame with dynamic live performances and a distinctive mix of fan-rousing anthems and personal lyricism. The perfect festival day simply can’t exist without UK rockers Circa Waves, a driving force in the indie music scene, promising an electrifying set. Presenting ‘Black Rainbows’ to Temple Newsam, Leeds own Corinne Bailey Rae is bound to be special. She told us “I’m thrilled to be performing in my hometown for Live at Leeds. The live show will be a wild ride through punk, indie, soul and funk. I’m telling stories that I encountered while exploring The Stoney Island Arts Bank in Chicago. Can’t wait! See you there.”
In terms of the new names to watch are Hotwax, the South Coast’s new rock heroes, seamlessly blending effortless coolness with a razor-sharp edge. Equally blazing a trail as a talked-about favourite are Lucia & the Best Boys. Hailing from Glasgow’s post-punk hotbed in 2018, the Scottish powerhouse has evolved into a musical force that effortlessly combines elemental power with stylish electro-pop swagger. Prepare to be captivated as they breathe life into the enchanting sounds of ‘Burning Castles’ at Live at Leeds 2024, promising a performance that transcends musical boundaries and captivates the festival audience.
The following day The UK’s biggest independent rock festival returns to Temple Newsam and it’s shaping up to be one for the ages with You Me At Six, The All American Rejects and Funeral For A Friend may be the ones that make Slamdunk a must-attend on the UK festival circuit, But watch out for others too. Following their 2023 Nightmares And Daydreams world tour, it’ll be straight to Slam Dunk for Against The Current, along with the blazingly-good The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus who’ve thrilled crowds the world-over for more than 20 years, and get ready for “contagious, air-punching rock” as described by Alt Press, as we await their sophomore album it’s As December Falls. Two-piece pop punkers Honey Revenge were born out of the LA scene and have countless sold out shows under their belt. Made up of Devin Papadol and Donovan Lloyd, they’ve been hotly tipped for some time now, with a captivating debut album Retrovision described as an “explosion of colour”, plus Nashville native and alt-pop-punk TikTok megastar Taylor Acorn who dropped her EP Certified Depressant in September this year and has been racking up millions on millions of views and followers on social media.
And you could now win your bar tab for the festivals!
Yorkshire promoters Futuresound have launched a huge competition to give thousands of pounds in bar tabs away to fans attending a number of their outdoor shows this summer. Bringing names like Sugababes, Madness, The Kooks, Katherine Ryan, Ross Noble, You Me At Six, The All American Rejects and more to sites including Kirkstall Abbey, Temple Newsam and York Museum Gardens, the independent Leeds promoters have got something planned for everyone this festival season.
To be in with a chance of winning, gig-goers simply need to buy a ticket for any of the following events: Live at Leeds: In The Park, Slam Dunk, Live At Kirkstall Abbey, Live At York Museum Gardens and Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival with a ticket buyer chosen at random each week. Having worked on incredible concerts and festivals around Yorkshire for decades, Futuresound are the team behind events including Live At Leeds, Slam Dunk Festival and Ed Sheeran’s unforgettable performances at Roundhay Park. Alongside hundreds of shows a year in venues from Oporto bar to the First Direct Arena, Futuresound are taking over historic locations across the country this summer with shows taking place at York Museum Gardens, Kirkstall Abbey and Ludlow Castle.
