LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - FRIDAY // BRAMHAM PARK, LEEDS
KINGS OF LEON CLOSE THE FIRST DAY OF 2018'S LEEDS FESTIVAL WITH A BANG! LEAVING THE AUDIENCE IN A GOOD ATMOSPHERE
KINGS OF LEON CLOSING FIRST DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CAITLIN MOGRIDE
★★★★★
Leed's annual and biggest music festival 'Leeds Festival' returns with one of the most diverse line-up are on festival scene this year. Moving away from their traditional rock music line-up which has made the festival's name over the years to this year allowing more different genres of music than ever seen before to perform at the three-day event this year. Despite this, this year's line-up has some big and huge names performing across the three days and some epic surprise sets as well. The first day saw massive performances from... Kings Of Leon, Courteeners, The Vaccines, Slaves, Don Broco, Hollywood Undead, Tom Grennan, DMA's and many more.
Festival kicked off with some best upcoming bands across multiple stages throughout the arena. One of leed's finest emerging bands 'Dinosaur Pile-Up' opened up the Main Stage, leaving the crowd in a great atmosphere of what's still to come across the day. Over on BBC Radio 1 stage, seen Manchester's seminal band 'Twisted Wheel' who brought their electric sense of energy and also over the years and no strangers to the festival, being in band for over a decade has seen them tour with likes of Oasis, Kasabian, and Ian Brown, the band definitely bought a raw and gritty live performance to the stage.
DINOSAUR PILE-UP OPENING UP THE MAIN STAGE ON FIRST DAY OF 2018'S LEEDS FESTIVAL - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
One of most interesting bands around moment opened up over on BBC Radio 1 Dance stage, 'Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly' opened the stage. Veteran lead singer 'Sam Duckworth' has been releasing and producing music with his band for over past twelfth years, his band features over eight people who all perform different instruments. The band's back catalogue over the years has seen a collaboration with 'Kate Nash', four singles featuring in top forty albums chart, German club number one and gold certified plaque for their seminal "Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager". The band differently bought an exciting set to the stage performing some of their known tracks such as 'The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager (Pt. I and Pt. II)', 'I-Spy', 'War of the Worlds', and 'Animate'. The band attracted a reasonable size crowd and were really into performing, would definitely recommend seeing the band live.
GET CAPE, WEAR CAPE, FLY OPENING UP BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE AT FIRST DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Performances across multiple stages across the arena continued throughout the day with likes of Billy Talent and Shame over on the Main Stage, Marsicans and NF over on BBC Radio 1 Stage, Sleep Token and Normandie over at The Pit/Lock Up Tent, Sam Fender and Hippo Campus storming Festival Republic Tent, upcoming talent performances from the likes of Hippo Campus and October Drift over on the BBC Introducing Stage.
As the talent built up during the first day of Leeds Festival 2018, the excitement and question began who will play the annual secret set slot over at The Pit/The Lock Up tent, the smallest stage at Leeds Festival. As the tent filled-up and even outside, everyone was awarded from a energetic performance from no other than... Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes! With his first of last three performances of this current year, Frank Carter's set went down by storm! It will definitely be one of the highlights of the weekend.
FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLENSNAKES PERFORMING AT SECRET SET OVER AT THE PIT TENT AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
As Carter got down to business and remembering his epic set last year over BBC Radio 1 Stage next door, It didn't take him to long to jump off the stage, started crowd surfing in the crowd during his first song 'Juggernaut'. Carter went on play some well known tracks such as 'Jackals', 'Lullaby', 'Devil Inside Me' and also dedicated his track 'Vampires' to all the ladies out there in the crowd and allowed them to crowd surface for one song only... telling the crowd "This song is for all the ladies out there, it's okay to crowd surface and party in the crowd... every male in this tent will respect you for who you're are and the respect you deserve".
Even though Carter only performed eight-track set for a surprise set, it was definitely a set no one wanted to miss and probably be one best secret sets to happen at The Pit Tent in previous years.
FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES PERFORMING AT THE PIT TENT AS THIS YEAR'S SECRET SET AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Next up over on the BBC Radio 1 Stage, where Australia's finest... DMA's. The three-piece from Sydney who has had massive acclaimed early success with their debut album 'Hills End' and their most recent release 'For Now'. DMA's set went down by storm, as BBC Radio 1 tent packed full with eager fans, the band performed an energetic set, performing known track such as 'Playing Now', 'Time & Money', 'In The Air' and 'Lay Down'. The band's set definitely went down as a treat, the crowd couldn't get enough them and this probably a proud moment for the band to remember. The band definitely made the day a bit more exciting for Friday's headliners 'Kings Of Leon' who will be taking to the main stage in a couple of hours.
DMA'S PERFORMING ON THE BBC RADIO 1 STAGE AT FIRST DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 -24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CAITLIN MOGRIDE
Over on Festival Republic Stage, some of best British breakthrough artists took the stage, from performances from Newcastle's Sam Fender who performed set full of incredible songs such as crowd favourite track 'Play God' Fender definitely gave the Leeds Festival a taster what expect on his upcoming debut album and upcoming Headline Autumn UK Tour.
Other artists performing on Festival Republic stage include... America's crowd favourites 'Hippo Campus' who performed indie rock pop set to crowd goers who were delighted by their sounds. Performing their known tracks, the band certainly won the Leeds Crowd over.
SAM FENDER PERFORMING AT FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE ON DAY ONE OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Next up was Scottish favourite 'Lewis Capaldi' who has had massive career success over the past few months. Releasing his well-known single 'Bruises' the Bathgate Artist career shot to success around the UK and the World. Making his debut appearance at Reading and Leeds Festivals this year, following sold-out headline shows and opening up for the likes of Rag 'N' Bone Man, Niall Horan and Sam Smith, Capaldi definitely deserved a spot on this year's festival bill.
Performing tracks such as 'Fade', 'Rush', 'Bruises' and his new single 'Tough' Capaldi definitely won the crowd over with his strong vocal cords and lyrics. Leeds festival goers got the chance what to expect from his long-awaited debut album which is due for release next year and what expect on his upcoming headline tour around the UK this autumn.
LEWIS CAPALDI STORMING FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CARL SPEIGHT AT GETTY IMAGES
Back to the Main Stage... seen performances from festival favourites 'The Vaccines' and 'Courteeners' who both storm the stage with summer hits and atmosphere the crowd going wild for both bands.
Following their pre-festival concert at sold-out tiny venue of Brudenell Social Club in Leeds last month, The Vaccines returned to Leeds Festival to perform exciting energetic set performing fan favourites such as 'Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)', '20/20', 'Post Break-Up Sex', Norgaard', 'Wetsuit', 'All In White' and 'If You Wanna'. Which went down by storm with Leeds Festival goers, the band also chucked in some new songs from their latest release 'Combat Sports' which seen tracks being performed such as 'Night Club', 'Out on the Street', 'Your Love Is My Favourite Band', and their massive comeback single 'I Can't Quit' which The Vaccines closed their set with. The band's set definitely was accepted by the Leeds festival goers and got the crowd in a more exciting mood for Kings Of Leon.
The Vaccines are definitely made for festival performance slots. Reading and Leeds festivals organisers made the right choice having the band on the festival bill this year.
THE VACCINES RETURNING TO LEEDS FESTIVAL TAKE ON THE MAIN STAGE AT DAY ONE OF 2018 WEEKEND - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: ANDREW BENGE
Next up were Manchester rockers 'COURTEENERS' which seen the place go in an absolute frenzy, soon as Liam Fray and co. performed their first track 'Are You in Love With A Notion?', as festival goers got into the band's set, all you could see was smoke of colour flares and lighters been exploding throughout the Main Stage crowd area. COURTEENERS continued to perform fan favourites such as 'Cavorting', 'Take Over the World', 'Lose Control', 'Summer', 'Not Nineteen Forever' and ending with fan favourite 'What Took You So Long?'. The band also performed tracks off their recent release 'Mapping the Rendezvous' performing tracks such as 'The 17th' and 'No One Will Ever Replace Us'. This year, seen the band celebrate ten years since they released their acclaimed debut album 'St. Jude' the band celebrated by performing shows in their hometown of Manchester, performing in London as part of Teenage Cancer Trust, performing warm-up intimate shows, headlining Manchester's newest outdoor festivals 'Neighbourhood Weekender' and performing recently at Glasgow's TRNSMT Festival before taking on Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.
COURTEENERS STORMING FIRST DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 AT THE MAIN STAGE - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: MATT EACHUS
Storming BBC Radio 1 Stage seen the mighty... DON BROCO take to the stage, after performing last year as secret set over at The Pit stage next door named as 'The Pretty Boys' following the release of their new album 'Technology' earlier this year, Reading and Leeds festival's welcome back the boys to the festival giving them as later on slot at BBC Radio 1 Stage.
Storming straight onto a dark stage set with colourful lights and laser, seen Bedford rockers kick off with 'Stay Ignorant' followed by fan favourite 'Pretty'. Front-man Rob Damiani and co continued to perform fan favourites such as 'You Wanna Know', 'Automatic', and 'Nerve'. The band also performed new tracks off their new recent release album 'Technology', including the title track, 'Technology' and 'Everybody', 'Come Out To LA' and 'T-shirt song'. The band's set definitely went down by a treat with Leeds Festival goers.
Don Broco gave fans something what-to expect on their massive UK Headline tour early next year and definietly are on course to headline Reading and Leeds Festival one day in the future.
DON BROCO TAKING ON THE BBC RADIO 1 STAGE AT DAY ONE OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Following Don Broco's set on BBC Radio 1 Stage, seen the incredible SLAVES take on the stage. Following the release of their new album 'Acts of Fear and Love' which the band celebrated touring intimate shows around the UK last month and doing publicity stunt on social media, advertising for a new drummer for new single 'Chokehold' music video, the band took Leeds Festival this year. Appearing on stage, the two peace appeared on the big screen on stage backstage in front of their Tour Bus with walking towards the stage.
Laurie Vincent and Issac Holman appeared on stage performing their massive single 'Sockets' which kicked off their set and caused festivals goers to go into frenzy. The band's set continued performing fan favourites such as 'Cheer Up London', 'The Hunter' and 'Chokehold', 'Cut and Run' from their new release 'Acts of Fear and Love'. As the band's set draw to a close, the two-piece left the crowd in sweaty, and great atmosphere, this definitely showing what expect from Slaves on their upcoming tour and Slaves could definietly headline Reading and Leeds festivals one day in future.
SLAVES PERFORMING ON BBC RADIO 1 STAGE AT LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CAI DIXON
As Friday and the first day of Leeds Festival 2018 headliners 'Kings Of Leon' was due to take to the stage over on the main-stage next, Festival organisers put on alternative headliners on other stages. Including the likes of American hip-hop rockers 'Hollywood Undead' closing The Pit/Lock-Up tent, upcoming acclaimed 'Tom Grennan' wrapping up things over on Festival Republic Stage, Diplo closing things on BBC Radio 1 Stage and Hannah Wants closing over on BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage.
We managed to check out both sets from Hollywood Undead and Tom Grenann. - Over at The Pit Stage, Hollywood Undead took to the stage giving festivals performance to remember. Appearing on stage with 'Whatever It Takes' the crowd in the tent wanted more from the band already, the crowd were loving the band on stage and atmosphere was just crazy as hell.
The band continued performing their exciting set on stage. Hollywood Undead continued performing fan favourites such as 'Undead', 'Been To Hell', 'Comin' In Hot', 'Bullet', and closing their set with 'Everywhere I Go'. The band also performed tracks off their latest release 'Five' including 'California Dreaming', 'Whatever It Takes', 'Renegade' and 'We Own the Night'.
During their performance band also managed to perform few covers including Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' and Rammstein's 'Du Hast'. This was Hollywood Undead's first performance ever at Leeds Festival and was definitely one to remember.
Over back on the Festival Republic Stage closing the stage, was one of hottest upcoming talents in country right now... Bedford's pop, indie-rock artist 'Tom Grennan' took the stage. Appearing on stage wearing a white vest, and burberry tartan trousers and black shoes, Grennan got straight into his set performing his opening track 'Royal Highness' the crowd already couldn't get enough of him being on stage.
Tom Grennan continued perform his soulful pop/indie rock sounds throughout his set, since releasing his debut single 'Something in the Water' his career shot to massive success around the UK, from being a nominee for BBC Sound Of The Year earlier this year to headlining shows around the UK. Grennan continued performing tracks off his along awaited acclaimed debut album 'Lighting Matches' which reached No.5 on UK Albums Chart on it's release. Crowd goers couldn't get enough of tracks such as 'Praying', 'Barbed Wire' and 'Found What I Been Looking For' and were singing along to every word of each song. Tom Grennan is certainly one to watch out for we expect more big things for him soon, we also reckon one day he could headline one of the stages at Reading and Leeds Festivals in future.
Grennan will be hitting out on another UK Headline Tour this October following his headline slot on Festival Republic Tent at Leeds Festival this weekend.
TOM GRENNAN HEADLINING FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE ON FIRST DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Finally over on the Main Stage, closing the stage were American Rockers 'Kings Of Leon' who return to the Reading and Leeds Festival after nine years since last headlining the festivals back in 2009 with their successful album 'Only by the Night'.
As front-man 'Caleb Followill' and co. took the stage kicking off 'Slow Night, Slow Long' from their second album 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' the crowd were already in a good mood. The band continued rattle through their one hour and forty-five minute set performing massive crowd pleasers such as 'Fans', 'Radioactive', 'Pyro', 'Supersoaker', 'Notion', 'Use Somebody' and closing their headline set with the brilliant 'Sex On Fire' which left entire crowd in great mood.
Following their release of their new album 'WALLS' last year, the band performed tracks off the album including 'Eyes On You', 'Over', 'Find Me' and the brilliant lead single 'Waste A Moment'.
Kings Of Leon's headline set proved, the band still have it what it takes to headline a festival like Reading and Leeds festivals and know how to keep festivals in good mood and leaving them with a great atmosphere to head back to camp or heading back home. The band's set kicked off the festival to a great start and we can't wait to see what headliners 'Fall Out Boy', 'Travis Scott', 'Kendrick Lamar' and 'Panic! At The Disco' have in store for Leeds Festival goers over the next two days of this year's festival.
KINGS OF LEON HEADLINING AND CLOSING FIRST DAY OF LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 ON THE MAIN STAGE - 24.08.2018
PICTURE BY: MATT EACHUS
SETLIST: | KINGS OF LEON - LEEDS FESTIVAL 2018 - 24.08.2018
Slow Night, Slow Long
King of the Rodeo
Taper Jean Girl
My Party
McFearless
Manhattan
Mary
Eyes on You
Molly's Chambers
Fans
Arizona
Charmer
On Call
Radioactive
Pyro
Find Me
Crawl
Over
The Bucket
Supersoaker
Notion
Use Somebody
ENCORE:
Knocked Up
Waste a Moment
Sex On Fire