Live At Leeds tenth anniversary
Who have you seen? It is a question that was asked ad infinitum at Live At Leeds tenth anniversary: There was so much to see and listen to during the day that it was overwhelming. That is the joy of one of the finest urban festivals in the country. Consequently any review is merely a flavour of what happened on the day: However, the general consensus that no matter how you followed the festival; who you saw or where you saw them the biggest Live At Leeds was a success. You could have been forgiven for initially thinking that with so many acts available that the quality might actually suffer. Well let’s put that one to bed immediately. Very few festivals would survive the cancellation of one of the main headliners without quibbles of the quality of the other acts. Live At Leeds survived the very late cancellation of Jess Glynn due to illness without a flicker. By the time the news filtered through we had already been wonderfully entertained by top whack sets of Glass Caves and Katie Dean on the new outdoor stage in the main thoroughfare of the shopping quarter of the city:
A brilliant addition to the festival that must surely return next year. We’d been enchanted by Natalie McCool’s brilliant set at Nation Of Shopkeepers and forgave all the sound problems experienced by Hannah Lou Clark at Trinity Church after she delivered a selection of songs that sent shivers down the spine in what is probably the best set played there since Anna Calvi performed at that venue a few years back.
DMA’s, The Duke Spirit, Khloe, The Hunna and Band Of Skulls were all terrific at various venues across the city.
All these bands will, deservedly, be names that we will become familiar with in the next few years. Already on the cusp of superstardom are Mystery Jets, Izzy Bizu and Shura who kept the O2 Academy crowd happy despite the cancellation mentioned.
Almost unknown Jodie Abacus stumbled upon accidentally at Headrow House, another new venue, was the surprise package of the festival. If you were lucky enough to be there then you no doubt will have checked him out. If not then check him out this guy is going places.
It would be a little churlish to pick a venue of the festival. However, we would be surprised if iconic Brudenell Social Club was surpassed on the day. Twenty three acts over two rooms seamlessly provided by the splendid people at the club at the heart of student Leeds. Declan McKenna, just about old enough to be a university fresher is just starting out but expect him to be playing bigger stages soon. But then again every one of those who appeared there were perfect. In essence Brudenell was a microcosm of the the whole festival. Something for everyone and an introduction to music you would not normally listen to that will be there in your own person playlists for years to come. Perfect just perfect.
Speaking of festivals we have come across the most perfect festival band: Molotov Jukebox: They have just returned with their much-anticipated second album Tropical Gypsy, released via Pause For Effect Records and out now. The album displays a truly riotous whirlwind of Latino influenced horns, accordion and violin; all tightly bound together over guitar, bass and drums by the infectious vocals of musician and actress, Natalia Tena, who you may know from Game Of Thrones. Incorporating newly found sounds collected first hand on a South American tour last year, the band have added flavours of samba, fohó and cumbia to their existing Balkan influences. Famed for their ferocious performances around the globe in both English and Spanish, none of the band’s undeniable live energy has been allowed to escape during recording.
To celebrate the release of their astounding record, Molotov Jukebox have been on the road and we caught them at The Brudenell in Leeds where they played a very special show to a sell-out crowd that by the end of the show were dancing uncontrollably to their Latin rhythms. Watch out for them on the festival circuit. Live at Leeds tenth anniversary. Live at Leeds tenth anniversary. Live Leeds tenth anniversary
