ROCKSTAR ENERGY UK PRESENTS... LEEDS FESTIVAL 2025 - SATURDAY: MUST SEE ACTS

Rockstar Energy Presents...
LEEDS FESTIVAL 2025

must see acts - saturday

MAIN STAGE

HOZIER // main stage // 9:10PM

An instantly recognizable voice and stirring songcraft solidified Irish troubadour Hozier as a Grammy-nominated, award-winning multi-platinum singer and songwriter. Driven by the thought-provoking quintuple-platinum anthem, “Take Me To Church,” his self-titled full-length debut bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 (the second biggest debut album of the year) and went on to achieve quadruple RIAA Platinum status. It reached number 5 in the UK charts, and enjoyed nine weeks at number 1 in his native Ireland. Indeed the album rose to number 3 in the UK ahead of his third sell-out UK tour, while both “Take Me To Church”, and his second single “Someone New”, gave the Irishman two singles in the UK Top 30 that year, “Someone New” won a BMI London award and the official video featured the acclaimed “Game of Thrones” star Natalie Dormer. Hozier’s success hasn’t been confined to the UK and US, with the album also achieving Multi-Platinum status in Belgium, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. Major TV appearances have helped spread the gospel including stand-out appearances on Later with Jools, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel, Graham Norton. Following a year of sold out shows and festival appearances across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. VH1 crowned Hozier “Artist of the Year,” and he received the honours “Top Rock Artist” and “Top Rock Songs” at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. In addition, he scored nominations for “Song of the Year” at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at which he performed alongside Annie Lennox and “Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock” at the American Music Awards. He won BBC “Song of the Year” and the coveted Ivor Novello award for “Song of The Year”.

With over 22 billion global streams, numerous platinum album certifications, multiple award nominations and wins, Hozier is recognised as one of the foremost singer-songwriters of our generation.

CHAPPEL ROAN // main stage // 6:40PM

Bold pop hooks, sex positivity, honest songwriting, and a heavy dose of glitter make up the world of Chappell Roan, the multi-faceted pop artist taking the world by storm. The LA-based singer, songwriter, and performer exploded into stardom with her 2023 debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, a technicolor tale of self-discovery that landed on multiple year-end lists (Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Billboard, TIME, more). With her larger-than-life performances surrounding the album, she swiftly built up an impassioned community of listeners, who sell out all her headlining shows in mere hours and scream along to her gutsy anthems. Instead of resting her laurels on fleeting digital moments, she’s intentionally built her own fantastical musical universe—one that celebrates queer expression and honoring your true self—that everyone wants to join in on.

A critical smash, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess established Chappell as a breakthrough songwriter who could combine fantasy with heart-bearing self-reflection. Penned by Chappell alongside producer Dan Nigro (Olivia Rodrigo), the project showcases her journey of falling in queer love for the first time, as she embraces all of its messy and imperfect moments. To express the whirlwind ride of her coming-of-age, the LP touches every genre from euphoric dance-pop to introspective acoustic guitar ballads, country-pop and punky new wave

Inspired by everything from Bratz dolls, burlesque, and Hannah Montana, the Chappell Roan universe is now built on all the gaudy, sparkly, fun things that Chappell cherished when she was little. “I’m just trying to honor my inner child who thought she wasn’t worth anything, and prove to her that she actually is a really good person,” she concludes.

THE KOOKS // main stage // 4:55PM

As The Kooks, continue to reach an ever-growing audience of young fans, ’10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark’ feels like a mission statement. It’s a celebration of getting through troubled times and a rallying cry for our future.

This is a band whose career highs are still to come. They’re right to feel optimistic about what’s next and that the future might be a little bit brighter.

WALLOWS // main stage // 3:50PM

Wallows (composed of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston) return in 2024 with their highly anticipated third studio album, Model (out May 24th), which sees them reunite with GRAMMY Award-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten). Having debuted the single “Your Apartment” – their first new song in 2 years – in February, the band’s second single “Calling After Me” is set to arrive on March 21st.

In March 2022, the band released their sophomore album, Tell Me That It’s Over, produced by 3x GRAMMY Award-winner Ariel Rechtshaid (Vampire Weekend, Haim, Adele). TMTIO saw Wallows continuing on their ever-evolving journey of sonic exploration, fusing a vast array of musical ideas – from lo-fi post-punk and indie-folk to early ‘90s dance-pop psychedelia – into their own one-of-a-kind creative vision. TMTIO marked the full-length follow-up to Wallows’ hugely popular 2019 debut album, Nothing Happens, also produced by John Congleton. The album, which includes the 3x Platinum single “Are You Bored Yet? (feat. Clairo),” proved to be one of that year’s highest streamed debuts and has since gone on to be certified Gold in the United States.

BLOC PARTY // main stage // 2:25PM

Ambition. Corruption. Desire. Dysfunction. Dominance and submission. Getting what you want at all costs. Burning bridges. Cutting ties. Losing sight. Playing your cards. Sleight of hand. These are just a few of the themes and energies that simmer and burst throughout Alpha Games, the sixth record from British band Bloc Party.

After almost two decades, six albums, endless world tours and a variety of solo projects along the way, Bloc Party are a different band to the one which burst onto the indie scene in the early 2000s. It’s an evolution and growth that seeps into every corner of Alpha Games. “I don’t feel that I’d have been able to write songs like this earlier on in my career because all of the characters seem to revel in their dysfunction,” Kele says, “whereas I feel like in the past I would have tried to resolve everything or put a rosy tint on things. But I think it was important in this record to see all of the ugliness. To see what happens when you stop seeing other people as human.”

THE ROYSTON CLUB // main stage // 1:30PM

They say the bonds formed as teenagers are the strongest. In that case, Wales’ main contenders The Royston Club are an unbreakable unit, formed in Wrexham by schoolfriends Ben Matthias (Guitar), Tom Faithfull (lead vocals, guitar) Dave Tute (Bass), later adding Sam Jones (drums). After the lineup was complete, things moved fast: they hit the ground running, performing a run of high-energy gigs in their hometown, self-recording and releasing demos to an ever-expanding and devoted fanbase.

In 2021, they signed to Run On Records (home of The Coral), quickly making their mark by releasing debut single Coasting, which reached no.10 on the official vinyl charts. Their sound was established: anthemic indie hooks, life-affirming melodies and ragged riffs – songs to soundtrack your life. Support slots soon came, with the likes of Jamie Webster, Blossoms and The Academic, bookended by their own raucous headline tours. More studio time followed in Chapel Studios, Lincoln; sessions which would eventually produce debut album Shaking Hips And Crashing Cars, rocketing to number 16 on the official album charts, selling out of all physical formats and subsequent special editions.

In the time after, things snowballed. They sold out London’s Koko, conquered Glastonbury three times, headlined Focus Wales, and picked up Hollywood actor and Wrexham FC owner Ryan Reynolds as a fan. Intermittent time on the road provided experience, space in which to write. In early 2024, they went to Kempston Street studio, Liverpool, with producer Richard Turvey (Blossoms, The Coral) for a session that led to last month’s critically acclaimed comeback single The Patch Where Nothing Grows, showing a new depth to both the band’s songwriting and performing, paving the way for an album to be confirmed later in the year.

In the meantime, the band’s rigorous work ethic continues; namely with slots at Portsmouth’s Victorious festival, a couple of European dates, headlining both This Feeling’s Bridlington By the Sea and Stockton’s Gathering Sounds festival, Liam Gallagher’s Malta Weekender, and two shows at Liverpool O2 Academy, both of which have already sold out. If the Royston Club are about to go skyward, then The Patch Where Nothing Grows is the perfect
launchpad.

ALESSI ROSE // main stage // 12:40PM

Rumination as ritual, the debut EP by Alessi Rose, arrives like a shot of adrenaline straight to pop’s heart. The London-based, East Midlands-born musician makes genre-mash songs that crackle with the torturous thrill of heartbreak, self-discovery and new romance, Alessi’s disparate musical and lyrical ideas fused together by the sheer power of her self-taught songwriting ability. Wise beyond her years but writing with the in-the-moment recklessness of any self-respecting 21-year-old, Alessi is a sly, acerbic new voice in pop, a self-made star with plenty of talent to burn.

You can understand why the fans, as well as outlets like NME and Popjustice, have cottoned on so strongly to Alessi’s style. Songs like “situationship,” are fan-favourite tracks that Alessi initially posted on TikTok and finished at the behest of her superfans; “Lucy” digs into female friendships, and the surreal feeling of hating someone that everyone else likes. “I feel like people don’t want to admit stuff like that,” she says. “break me” captures the messy, youthful thrill of self-sabotage, “and knowing that something’s not going the right way but letting it happen anyway,” she says.

These songs capture Alessi Rose as she is right now – messy and flawed, but self-possessed and in-tune with her emotions all the same. rumination as ritual captures her brilliant songwriting ability in its nascent stage, raw and oh-so-real and addictively listenable. As for Alessi, she’s already onto the next thing. “My next body of work, I just want it to be bigger,” she says. “I want
to be outrageously myself”

red rum club // main stage // 12:00PM

Red Rum Club are an alternative sextet hailing from the shores of Liverpool, England. Since forming, Red Rum Club have enjoyed extensive UK tours and festivals, including a performance at Glastonbury in 2019. The measure of the bands success in the UK was their  headline show at The M&S Bank Arena, in their hometown. (9000 Capacity) In March 2022, Red Rum Club ventured across The Atlantic Ocean for the first time to make their South By South West debut. During this visit, the band played their first shows in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

They have since returned multiple times, recently supporting The Wombats on their North American tour.

 

chevron stage

aj tracey // chevron stage // 8:10PM

AJ Tracey is on an unstoppable, independently-built trajectory. April 2021 marked the release of his highly anticipated second album “Flu Game”. A chart-scaling, stellar offering from the West London rapper at the forefront of pushing creative boundaries, the album draws influence from the story of Michael Jordan in one of his most memorable championship games – where he overcame a nasty bout of food poisoning and took his team to the championship. In typical AJ style, “Flu Game” highlights AJ’s incredible breadth of vision in taking on drill, garage, afrobeats, and more in one masterful swoop, proving that the versatility showcased across ubiquitous hits “Ladbroke Grove”, “Thiago Silva” and “Rain” is now a honed superpower here to stay. Parallel to MJ’s come-up, AJ has made massive wins in the face of adversities, and his last year was no different. In what is now his biggest year to date, AJ had the most top 5 singles of any British artist in 2020, picked up multiple BRIT nominations, an Ivor Novello Songwriter of the Year nod, and spent the summer of 2021 co-headlining some of the most renowned festivals in the country, from Reading to Wireless.

aj tracey // chevron stage // 4:25PM

SOFT PLAY are the British punk duo made up of Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman. After being on hiatus for several years, the band, formerly known as SLAVES, have reignited their partnership under a new moniker, and have been back on the road with The Prodigy marking the band’s much anticipated return to the live arena.

Instead of shying away from discourse following the decision to change their name, latest single ‘Punk’s Dead’ see’s the band remould the real life criticism and commentary into a Comments Section frankenstein of pure lyrical mastery. Braced by a cast of friends and fans who contribute vocals to the
track’s bridge (including one particularly notable guest), the playful return of serve arrives as a timely reminder of the spirit of humour, joy and community which has always been the cornerstone of the duo’s identity.

Across three UK top ten charting albums, taking root from their 2015 Mercury Prize nominated debut, the duo quickly established themselves as an influential force in the British rock landscape. Their distinctive, unapologetic approach to the genre and kinetic live performances have fortified the band’s avid global fanbase, earning them widespread critical acclaim and coveted festival slots. Along the way, they’ve won the hearts of The Streets’ Mike Skinner, the Beastie Boys Mike D, won multiple NME Awards, had Skepta join them on stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and toured with The Prodigy,
Kasabian, Jamie T and Wolf Alice.

still woozy // chevron stage // 3:20PM

Under the moniker Still Woozy, Portland-based singer-songwriter/producer Sven Gamsky makes psychedelic alternative music with a homespun mix of acoustic and electronic instruments. On his debut album released in 2021,IfThis Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is, Gamsky ultimately redefines the limits of modern pop, introducing elements of soul, folk, and psychedelia into a wildly infectious sound that immediately leaves a lasting impact. He shared an ingeniously detailed body of work, including beloved singles “Window,” “That’sLife,”and “Woof,” and graces each song with the uplifting energy he brought to the stage at major festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza and a sold out If This Isn’t Nice Tour across North America and Europe. With his distinctive blend of dreamy melodies and innovative sound scapes, Still Woozy continues to captivate audiences, solidifying his place as a unique and influential force in the contemporary music landscape. With a sophomore album, Love seat, due for release on June 28, Still Woozy returns with a new single “Shotput” out now

 

festival republic stage

the chats // festival republic stage // 10:10pm

Hands down the world’s greatest post-millennial punk-rock group, The Chats have skipped past the unimaginable banana skin of COVID-19 to emerge tougher, faster, funnier, more riotous – even better for 2024!

The trio, originally formed in Australia’s self-explanatory resort Sunshine Coast, are a once-in-a-generation band who reconnect popular music with its roots in ultra-raw rock ‘n’ roll, inject their own fresh perspective, and have duly made an instantaneous connection with their youthful peers right across the globe.

high vis // festival republic stage // 9:05pm

Since 2018, High Vis has polished their progressive hardcore sound with shades of post-punk, Brit pop, neo-psychedelia, and even Madchester groove, mapping a middle ground between hooks and fury, melodies and mosh pits. In 2019, High Vis released their debut album No Sense No Feeling, which broadened the scope of the hardcore veterans beyond scene while creating self-described “post-industrial-Britain misery punk.” The celebrated follow up, 2022’s Blending includes the tracks “Talk For Hours” and “Trauma Bonds” and not only expands upon the sonic breadth of High Vis, but vocalist Sayle opened his chest cavity through his lyrics discussing social issues and political miseries while reaching a hand out to folks listening to give a message of hope.

On Guided Tour, High Vis sounds like a band reaching for new heights, bristling with energy. Recorded across a few weeks at Holy Mountain Studios in London with producer Jonah Falco and engineer Stanley Gravett (who also helmed the sessions for High Vis’ Blending), the results feel dynamic and dialed-in, like anthems burned into sense memory through sweat and repetition. The album’s 11 songs span the spectrum of contemporary guitar music, sharpened by experience, camaraderie, and societal frustrations. From swaggering street punk to jangling indie sneer to heavy alt to shoegazey spoken word, the group’s chemistry transmutes any style to their unique intensity.

Mannequin Pussy // festival republic stage // 8:05pm

Mannequin Pussy’s music feels like a resilient and galvanizing shout that demands to be heard. Across four albums, the Philadelphia rock band that consists of Colins “Bear” Regisford (bass, vocals), Kaleen Reading (drums, percussion), Maxine Steen (guitar, synths), and Marisa Dabice (guitar, vocals) has made cathartic tunes about despairing times. “There’s just so much constantly going on that feels intentionally evil that trying to make something beautiful feels like
a radical act ,” says Dabice. “The ethos of this band has always been to bring people together.” Their latest I Got Heaven, which is out March 1 via Epitaph Records, is the band’s most fully realized LP yet. Over 10 ambitious tracks which abruptly turn from searing punk to inviting pop, the album is deeply concerned with desire, the power in being alone, and how to live in an unfeeling and unkind world. It’s a document of a band doubling down on their unshakable bond to make something furious, thrilling, and wholly alive.

heartworms // festival republic stage // 7:15pm

Heartworms’ debut EP A Comforting Notion received glowing praise from the likes of DIY (“a masterclass in making an entrance”) and NME (“the next great cult band”) who both awarded it a perfect 5* stars. The EP’s pummelling singles ‘Retributions Of An Awful Life’ and ‘Consistent Dedication’ led to nods in the NME 100 and Dork Hype List for 2023, while a string of further press plaudits were received elsewhere from the likes of The FADER, Dazed (On The Rise), The Sunday Times (Breaking Act), The Quietus, Loud And Quiet, The Line Of Best Fit, So Young Magazine (where she featured as cover star), CLASH, and many m0re. Both singles were added to the BBC Radio 6 Music playlist following support from Chris Hawkins, Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne, and Tom Ravenscroft at the station. The singles also grabbed spot plays from Radio X’s John Kennedy, BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders and Gemma Bradley, and Apple Music 1’s Matt Wilkinson.

Uniformity plays a huge role in all things Heartworms, too. The metronomic music and meticulous fashion of bands like Interpol and Kraftwerk greatly inspires her, as does PJ Harvey, whose dark sense of humour and lyrical dexterity permeates her songwriting. The end result is a life affirming exercise, an opportunity to expel her own self and passions; which include military history (she has a volunteering role at The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon) and the poetry of Pound, Thomas, and Keats

snayx // festival republic stage // 4:45pm

SNAYX were formed from a mosh pit. Sure, the Brighton & Sheffield based trio have been in other bands before, dabbling in everything from indie rock to ska, but those groups never incited the communal carnage that Charlie Herridge, Ollie Horner and Lainey Loops crave.

The band are breaking through at a time where socially-conscious, aggressive guitar music is making waves across the UK and beyond. The likes of Nova Twins, Bob Vylan and Kid Kapichi (all bands SNAYX have supported) are showing what DIY bands can achieve.

Sofia Isella // festival republic stage // 3:55pm

19-year-old multi-talented artist and instrumentalist SOFIA ISELLA has been making waves as of late. A classically trained violinist, songwriter, producer and poet, the young creator’s biggest influences are among the likes of Trent Reznor, Beck, Sylvia Plath, Margaret Atwood, Mona Awad and Anne Sexton. ISELLA has spent the last few years touring globally and domestically, most recently opening for Tom Odell in the UK and Melanie Martinez in the US, UK, and Mexico. ISELLA recently opened for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in London at Wembley Stadium

Any Young Mechanic // festival republic stage // 12:35pm

Having taken their name from a line in Hooray For Hollywood – inspired by the song’s jarring use in Robert Altman’s Philip Marlowe detective movie The Long Goodbye – there is an aptly cinematic quality to Any Young Mechanic’s music.

With intricate scenes, enthralling narratives and unique characters cropping up across the lyrics, and a kaleidoscopic yet coherently interwoven spectrum of moods and emotions stretching through the music, the Adelaide five-piece bring a fresh language to folk music’s natural propensity to spin a good yarn.

 

bbc introducing stage

jack dean // bbc introducing stage // 6:25pm

Jack Dean is a 24 year old singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from the Southwest of England, currently based in London. For the past few years, Jack has worked as a writer and producer with artists such as Amber Run, Caity Baser, Henry Moodie, Only The Poets amongst others. Recently, Jack has been gaining traction with viral cover videos garnering over 25 million views across reels and Tik Tok. Jack recently signed to Electric Feel and releases “Rumours” the 4th single from his debut EP on the 16th May.

overpass // bbc introducing stage // 5:30pm

Emerging as the most exciting homegrown act to come out of the midlands in over a decade, overpass unite singer and guitarist Max, bass player Indie, guitarist Elliot and drummer Jake. The band formed through a series of serendipitous connections and a shared appreciation of arena-sized indie rock, leading them to sell out a string of ever increasing capacity shows in the UK’s second city.

With a growing fanbase despite little music out, overpass continued to make waves in the Birmingham music scene, bolstering word of mouth support. “We didn’t expect to sell out shows so quickly” says Elliot, “but Birmingham’s been amazing to us.”

overpass’ dedicated following feels like a refreshing counterpoint to culture’s current obsession with online metrics. “We have big dreams and goals,” Max promises. “It’s great to have loads of views on a video or something. But, like, what does it actually mean? When you see loads of people in front of you singing your songs back – that’s real. It’s tangible. It’s authentic. And that’s what overpass is all about.”

artio // bbc introducing stage // 4:35pm

Hailing from Leeds, UK, self-produced Gen-Z 4-piece Artio are comprised of lead vocalist and lyricist Rae Brazill (they/them), lead guitarist Rob Arkle (he/him), rhythm guitarist Jai Akhurst (they/them), and drummer/producer Ieuan Jones (he/him). The group forge ferocious and incendiary electronica-infused alt-rock anthems taking inspiration from fellow genre-defying trailblazers Twenty One Pilots, PVRIS and Skrillex to craft their sound.

Signed to Slam Dunk Records in 2021, their cathartic ‘Pyrokid’ EP garnered praise from BBC Radio 1, Kerrang, Rock Sound and Upset for its modern and nuanced take on a coming-of-age record. This release saw the band explode in popularity on TikTok after lead single ‘Product Of My Own Design’ deeply resonated with the platform’s queer and trans communities. Their debut album ‘Babyface’ is a highly ambitious, emotionally charged story of growth, change, transition and evolution, accessible to anyone determined to break toxic cycles and bury their past self in attempts to grow.

Having toured with the likes of VUKOVI, Mothica and Honey Revenge, Artio have been tipped by both Kerrang and Rock Sound as ones to watch over 2025.

Artio are excited to be working with independent label, Lab Records, to mark the next chapter of their career. The band will hit the road again across the UK this fall in support of friends/collaborators As It Is, after vocalist Rae featured on the track ‘Turn Back To Me’ as part of their reworking of their debut album.

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