LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017 - SUNDAY // BRAMHAM PARK, LEEDS
EMINEM PLUS, KORN, EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLE SNAKES, MARMOZETS AND BLAENAVON KEEP CROWD BUZZING FOR DAY 3 OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017
EMINEM HEADLINING DAY THREE AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017 - 27/08/2017
PICTURE BY: JEREMY DEPUTAT
★★★★☆
American International rapper superstar EMINEM and Korn topped off an unforgettable weekend at Leeds Festival 2017. Other performances across the day from, Korn, Everything Everything, PVRIS, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Marmozets, and many more rocked final day of Leeds Festival 2017.
First up over on the NME / Radio 1 Stage were the upcoming hampshire indie rock band 'Blaenavon'. Blaenavon who have made their success over the past year with their debut album 'That's Your Lot' which was released in April earlier this year which has started to make their name in music industry. Over the past year the band have been supporting the likes of Sundara Kara on tour and most recently alt-j on their special London O2 Arena gig to celebrate 10th birthday celebrations at The O2 London. Blaenavon are due to support alt-j again on their seaside shows in September across England.
As Blaenavon arrived on the stage... frontman Ben Gregory shouts "Are you ready to lose your shit?" then questions the crowd before him "I know I am." Balanced on a knife edge between grace and ferocity, Blaenavon turn everything up to eleven. It’s a wondrous world that the trio’s music inhabits, echoing in splendour and underlaced with a a driving distortion. Performing at Leeds Festival, that’s exactly where they take their crowd. Shimmering hooks and pummelling rhythms abound, bright melodies tinged with a darkness that boasts enticement by the barrel full.
The band’s ferocity floods the tent in next to no time, Ben Gregory throwing himself around the stage with a reckless abandon. Bassist Frank Wright eventually forsakes his instrument completely, throwing it to the ground to join Harris McMillan behind the drums, while Ben dives head first over his audience, losing himself in the fray as the final chords ring clear. Crowds remain gathered by the stage front in excitement, waiting for a glimpse of the group they hold dear. Reading: accomplished. Next stop: the world.
Over on the Main Stage, American rockers 'PVRIS' took to the stage after recently releasing their second album 'All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell' which was released just at weekend here. It’s testament to just how far the trio have come – and how fast they’ve done it – that they already feel like they’re ready for the next step up.
They’ve got the songs – opening one-two of ‘You & I’ and ‘St Patrick’ is up there with anything you’ll hear all weekend. They’ve got the excitement factor too. Everyone knows their star is still only heading in one, stratospheric direction.
The only negative of their early afternoon set is that, actually, they’re fast becoming a band worthy of higher billing. Cast into the shadows of dusk, this set could be spectacular. It still is, but as a thundering ‘My House’ proves, once they get to where they’re so obviously going, PVRIS will own the lot.
PVRIS PERFORMING ON THE MAIN STAGE ON FINAL DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017 - 27/08/2017
PICTURE BY: SHIRLANIINE FORREST
Back over at NME / Radio 1 Stage the Leeds crowd were filling up the tent and were also roaring for 'MARMOZETS' to jump on stage. Marmozets played Main-stage back in 2015 when they were last played Leeds Festival. Marmozets have started to make their name with debut album and hit number songs but didn't start to get recognised till they supported likes of MUSE and Kasabian on Tour who are both headlining this year's Reading and Leeds Festivals.
Marmozets have recently returned from a short break and wrote their second upcoming studio album. Their first comeback track from the new album is called "Play" it's a very energetic track from vocals to backing music.. Becca MacIntyre lead vocalist and co.. came on stage first performing their hit number 'Move Shake Side' which seen the Leeds Crowd go into moshing from song one of the set. The set then went onto play likes of 'Habits' and their new single 'Play'.
The band dedicated their strip back verison 'Capative You' to Leeds Festival crowd watching the band on stage. The new arrangement for the song was highlight of their set, every single person in crowd was singing along to the song being played. Marmozets end their set with their well known track 'Why Do You Hate Me?' Before leaving stage 'Becca MacIntyre' "announced that the band will be touring around the UK in October and hoped to see many people there as possible"
MARMOZETS PERFORMING ON THE FINAL DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017 - 27/08/2017
PHOTOCREDIT: SHIRLAINE FORREST - GETTY IMAGES
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes are a law unto themselves. Raking in the applause before he even steps onto the stage, pausing to kiss his daughter on the cheek as he walks out in front of the crowd, the charismatic frontman is everything the crowd have been waiting for. “This next song is all about falling in love!” he yells as the group rear up for their first number. “Are you ready to fall in love with me?”
The answer is a very definite yes. With his distinctive swagger on characteristically top form, the first song is barely over before Frank Carter is walking out onto the crowd, stepping on hands held high to balance over people’s heads before forward rolling his way back to the stage. The Rattlesnakes make the most of his absence, careering and freewheeling their way around the stage with a raucously freewheeling energy.
“I’ve been playing music for over a decade,” Frank declares mid set, “and to see this many people here for a band that’s been going two years is a beautiful thing.” Dedicating songs to his daughter, and to every woman in the tent who’s ever wanted to crowdsurf in a safe space (threatening anyone who endangers it that he’ll “rip their fucking head off”), this is what rock and roll is all about. As the band rage their way through the final song, and Frank carries his daughter out onto centre stage to pose for a photo before the adoring crowd, there’s no one who doesn’t feel the warmth. Let’s face it: when singing along to ‘I Hate You’ feels like a rallying moment of camaraderie, you know you’re part of something spectacular.
The best highlight from the set was when Frank Carter asked everything person to run out of the tent then run back in moshing, entire tent just went crazy which gave awesome atmosphere.
FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES PERFORMING AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017
PHOTOCREDIT: Sarah Koury - Entirety Labs
Back over on the Main Stage at Leeds Festival USA metal rock giants 'KORN' take to the stage for their roaring set in front of the Leeds Crowd. The band lead by Jonathan Davis, kicked off their set with 'Rotten In Vain', which appears on their latest album 'The Serenity Of Suffering'. The Record was released in October last year.
After 'Here To Say', Davis asked the crowd "What the fuck is up, Leeds? It sounds like you're having a fucked up time up here". He continued: “Thank you so much, it’s amazing to be here today with all these beautiful, insane, English-looking motherfuckers. I am pumped up as a motherfucker right now.” He then led the audience in raising their middle fingers and chanting “fuck that”. The band then launched into ‘Y’All Want A Single’.
Before ‘Shoots And Ladders’, Davis walked off stage, picked up some bagpipes and came back on stage playing them. During ‘Coming Undone’ a couple of songs later, the group burst into a brief refrain of Queen's ‘We Will Rock You’. The set came to a conclusion with ‘Blind’ and ‘Freak On A Leash’. After the latter, Davis said: “Reading, thank you guys so much. Y’all were a beautiful, amazing crowd and we’ll be back some time to play for y’all.”
KORN PERFORMING AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017 - 27/08/2017
PICTURE BY: MATT EACHUS PHOTOGRAPHY
Back over to NME / Radio 1 Stage, It’s weird to think it, but Everything Everything are basically elder statesmen of their scene now. With their fourth album, ‘A Fever Dream’, currently riding high in the UK Album Charts, this isn’t their first bite at the festival cherry. Far from it. And it shows. Never wilting wallflowers, tonight they’re a band with real vim and vigour in their stride. From new album opener ‘Night Of The Long Knives’ on, they match their oddball pop with genuine, assured confidence that they’ve got this. And boy, do they.
‘Desire’ already sounds like another classic from the Everything Everything vault, as does fellow recent addition ‘Can’t Do’. ‘Kemosabe’ and ‘Cough Cough’ feel like old friends, inspiring mass sing-a-longs – or as close as you can get, at least.
The beauty of Everything Everything is that they manage to belong without becoming just another face in the crowd. Playing in their own register, but never another language, when it comes to the higher reaches of a festival bill, they’re still quite probably the most exciting safe hands in the game.
Eminem was Sunday night closing headliner on the main-stage the entire crowd and arena was packed ready watch the US superstar come on stage to perform. Appearing on stage after an impressive instrumental from his band Eminem kicked off the show ‘Square Dance’ before jumping into ‘Won’t Back Down’ and then hit the crowd with ‘3 am’ at around 9:30pm. Em took small breaks to talk to the fans and show his appreciation for Glasgow and its people.
He then carried on his blisteringly quick set with ‘Business’ and ‘Kill You’, songs from his 2000 release ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ and carried on spitting songs from all years of his career. Before moving to his next number Eminem addressed the crowd, he roared ‘F**K Donald Trump!’ which in turn the crowd exclaimed and began cheering. This was perfect timing for his next tune ‘White America’ a politically based song where he addresses the claims that he influences criminal activity in the children and young people who listen to his music. He was also sporting a T-shirt with ‘F**K TRUMP’ in plain white block letters across the chest of his black top. A bold message from a confident man.
He continued his thirty-plus set with ‘Mosh’ and ‘Evil Deeds’ before showcasing ‘Rap God’. From the name of the song alone it is expected that something special is there…and it was. With Marshall articulating quicker than you thought was possible it’s hard to even understand how he does it no matter learn it for yourself. According to Guinness World Records, Slim says 97 words in 15 seconds, that’s over 6 words a second. I think that song is without a doubt more than a tongue twister.
Moving speedily along he gave the Leeds crowd Soldier, a song that hasn’t been performed since 2003. A few songs later and he was hyping the crowd up to sing along with his 2000 release ‘The Way I Am’, although due the sheer number of songs he was playing most tracks were cut down to a verse and chorus so he could fit then all into his hour and a half presentation.
At the halfway point Eminem played a few covers and songs he had previously featured in, songs such as ‘The Hills’ by ‘The Weeknd’ and ‘Airplanes Part 2’ by ‘B.o.B’. Next came a slight hiccup, while preforming his song ‘Stan’ Slim was rapping through a verse when he suddenly stopped and said he would have to re-do the song. Although the fans were confused they still gave him a cheer and soon after he asked to start again he got back into the song at the end of the verse.
From that point on it seemed to be hit after hit after hit with songs including ‘Like Toy Soldiers’, ‘Love the Way You Lie’, ’Till I Collapse’…the list goes on. At this point the gig was in full swing, the crowd singing almost every line to Slims’ delight. You could really feel the fans appreciation and respect for this superstar.
Before leaving the stage he performed ‘Not Afraid’ after talking about loss, addiction and other struggles in his life. At this point the light was almost gone and the stage seemed to have more power than ever, it was a truly great performance and it wasn’t over yet. Returning to the stage to give the fans his trademark song Eminem finished everything with ‘Lose Yourself’ and I think it’s fair to say, the crowd lost themselves.
EMINEM HEADLINING DAY THREE AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2017 - 27/08/2017
PICTURE BY: JEREMY DEPUTAT