Leeds Festival is one of the true highlights of the musical calendar, and never has it gone by in such a flash – but what a weekend it was. These are the fields where history is made. From Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine to The Stone Roses and Meatloaf – the course of a set over the August Bank Holiday weekend has the power to turn good bands into great bands or see giants tumble from almighty heights.
The first band to really grab the occasion by the throat were Papa Roach, an old favourite, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Indeed, the general consensus was but for them Friday would have been as damp as the weather. Even Blink 182 wouldn’t have saved the day despite a terrific forage into their mis-spent youth!
[private]Saturday was a day to spend away from the main stage: Those who had recovered from Friday were also rewarded with a début set from Gerrard Way once of My Chemical Romance.
Maybe to avoid the showers the tents did brisk business with the fans. Many being rewarded to some of the best new music around. Twin Atlantic, Warpaint, Brody Dalle and Wolf Alice.
Twin Atlantic will be main stage material in 2015, and will probably be as big as their Scottish cousins Biffy Clyro. Indeed a few argued that they should have been on the main stage instead of one of the Saturday headliners. However, Queens Of The Stone Age still showed that Twin Atlantic have a bit to learn.
Emo power-pop princess Hayley Williams and the new line-up of Paramore bring a short-sharp kick of radio hits eventually pulled people away to the main arena, Paramore may be losing their way musically but try telling that to forty odd thousand drooling fans hanging on to every word uttered from Hayleys mouth.
Sunday afternoon was all right for dancing as sharp-suited Swedes The Hives packed out the main arena for some infectious guilty pleasures, Shortly after, Chvrches draw indie fans en mass to the Festival Republic tent for an equally triumphant set. With their sky-scorching melodies floating above a foundation of whimsical electronic experimentation, their performance is not only a showcase of their own awesome skill, but a toast to the impeccably rude health of British music today. Indeed a special mention for the BBC Introducing Stage. They brought good crowds to their stage with an eclectic mix of the best unsigned acts: including this years Centre Point winners GirlsOnDrugs who are undoubtedly another Yorkshire band to make the big time.
Over on the smaller stages, the new kids kick up a storm as Halifax group The Marmozets get the weary Sunday crown going before Noel Gallagher’s new best mate and Nottingham’s other most promising bright young thing Jake Bugg dazzles with his spiky sounds. Future heroes Imagine Dragons were the greatest revelation of the weekend. Lazy ears might lump them with the likes of all sorts of bands, but their accomplished sound, rich melodies and fiery performance put them in a class of their own.
Architects sent the crowd feral in a way that only they could before Of Mice and Men held Leeds enraptured with their huge lungs and monolithic rock. Usually, not my favourites – but wow, can they put on a show. As they skipped across the stage holding thousands of devotees in the palm of their hands, I was converted.
Capping the event off in their own idiomatic styles were Sunday headliners in the form of Arctic Monkeys. They’ve wowed the press and here they wowed the main arena heady from the sunshine that had been shining down on the festival for a change. At this festival, more than any other, there’s always a volatile sense of bravado in the air – like anything could happen at any moment. That is exactly what the Monkeys are all about. Four lads from Sheffield tore the place down with fire, fury and a fistful of rock n’ roll.
Leeds Festival 2014 may have flown by far too quickly, except when it rained, but it was one that will endure – a weekend to remember. Yes it rained again and it was cold: But the utter warmth and friendliness of Leeds Festival (and a huge amount of planning) made sure that didn’t matter and all that did matter was the music![/private]
