“Last day”. It’s an expression that conveys a lot here at Leeds, a mix of relief and disappointment. Here’s the story of our journey through our last day here at Leeds Festival.

By Graeme Smith

Photos by John Hayhurst (@snapagig)

Sunday Afternoon

Just when I was starting to feel that I’d had my fill of live music for the weekend, Sunday at Leeds made me fall in love with it all over again. Dublin’s Thumper opened the Festival Republic stage. With two sets of drums and four guitars they created quite a unique sound that merged the three P’s – punk, psych and politics. It was a great way to start the day although the Natasha Bedingfield cover came a little out of left field.

So why not more rock? First it came in the form of Corella on the BBC Introducing Stage, then the energetic screamo of Static Dress on the Festival Republic stage. Gabe Coulter delivered something a little more melodic and melancholic on BBC Introducing before finally we enjoyed the genre mashing flavour of De’Wayne on the Main Stage West. He proved to be a highlight.

The afternoon was rounded of by a personal favourite of ours. We’ve been supporting Madison Beer on this blog since 2018 and her breakout EP As She Pleases. A critically-acclaimed album Life Support now under her belt it was going to be great to finally see her live. We weren’t the only ones thinking it. The BBC Dance Stage tent was packed out for her, and the crowd were singing every word back to her. The look of appreciation on her face was priceless. Not going to lie – I got a little teary.

Sunday Evening

By the time the evening was setting in, the arena was thronging. Where had all the people come from? Crowd dodging became the sport of the evening but we still managed to get around the stages just about.

Starting with the Main Stage West, Enter Shikari bulldozed through their set. Wandering through the crowd, political diatribe and a special appearance from Wargasm was on the menu for those who had gathered to see them.

We then added a trio of punk acts on the Festival Republic stage to our watch list. Firstly the heavy punk of Casseyette, followed by pop punk anthems from carolesdaughter, then finally the ghoulish machine gun punk of HO99O9 who proved to be another festival highlight.

But none of them could compare to the nostalgia factor of Pendulum‘s surprise set on the BBC Dance Stage. It was a treat for the (slightly) older punters at the festival (myself included), one that was made doubly sweet by an appearance from Enter Shikari‘s front man Rou Reynolds, who performed a new remix of Sorry You’re Not A Winner.

While headliners Bring Me The Horizon and Arctic Monkeys were clearly the big crowd pullers of the night, my last word goes to York Calling favourites Krept & Konan who closed the BBC 1xtra Stage. They attracted a devoted crowd of their own and showed why they’re the biggest names in UK drill right now.

And that’s it for another year. Your exhausted but elated reporter is signing off.

Leeds Festival took place at Bramham Park, Leeds from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 August 2022.