Live At Leeds Announces Strongest Line Up To Date say Claire Schofield, who went to the launch for us …
It may only be January but Live at Leeds is an event that you will want to get in your diary early on. The annual Leeds music festival, which will run from 2nd to 5th May, promises to provide music lovers with an entire weekend of musical mayhem.
Over 200 bands are due to perform in over 20 venues around the city, including The Cockpit, O2 Academy, and – new for this year – The Town Hall. The festival, which is now in its 8th year, celebrates the best local talent and is known for selecting the most exciting new artists that promise to be the next sensation alongside more established artists. Chart topping heavyweights Ed Sheeran, Mumford & Sons and Jake Bugg have previously graced the stages at the festival before hitting the big time, so it really is a great opportunity to see the future’s biggest stars.
The main event, on Saturday 3rd May, will see over 100 bands playing in a host of venues all across the city. Notable acts announced for the main event include Clean Bandit – whose single ‘Rather Be’ is currently the UK number 1 – Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., I like Trains and local rockers The Mexanines and Pulled Apart By Horses.
Festival promoter Ben Lewis said: “I am very happy with the line-up. It has good breadth. It has a good mix of pop stuff and rock stuff. I’m really proud. It’s the strongest line-up to date.”
Separate ticketed events will also see Blood Red Shoes play The Cockpit, Melt Yourself Down and Grammy winners Snarky Puppy will take to the stage at the Brudenell Social Club on Friday 2nd May, whilst Kodaline will perform at the O2 Academy and Neurosis will play at Leeds Metropolitan University of Sunday 4th May. All other artists will perform at the main event on the Saturday at a variety of venues across the city.
Former (and rather regular) festival performer, Dave Best, bass guitarist in local Leeds band The Pigeon Detectives, commended the festival, saying : “it is a really good festival to be a part of and is a good opportunity to promote new and up-coming bands.”
Aside from music, Live at Leeds will also see the return of The Unconference at Leeds College of Music with a host of guest speakers, including Jen Long, and panels and workshops about the music industry.
Ben Lewis added: “the festival has the potential to make people’s career.”
So why should you attend? This year promises to be even bigger and better than the last. With more events set to take place all across the city and a host of new venues getting involved, including cinemas and shops, it will bring more of the city into the spirit of the festival – you would be mad to miss it.
Head over to liveatleeds.com for more information about the event, including the full listings and to get your hands on a £25 festival wristband before they sell out.