Live At Leeds: In The Park 2024 is full of indie legends, exciting new bands and some really good Yorkshire pudding packs

It wouldn’t be a Yorkshire festival with a little rain.

Words: Neve McCarthy.
Photos: Georgina Hurdsfield, Jacob Flannery, Sam Cor.

For the vast majority of the year, Temple Newsam is a lovely place to stroll on a sunny day. For one magical weekend of the year, however, it hosts Live at Leeds: In The Park – a day full of indie legends, lively new bands and some really good Yorkshire pudding packs.

Vista kick things off and there’s no doubt they’re well-versed in festivals. Sun-soaked guitar riffs, choruses and smiles galore, Vista battle through a set of fan favorites such as ’15 Years’ and ‘Calm’ as well as newer releases – their particular brand of indie ready for summer turns out to be ideal. way to lift spirits to start the day.

Antony Szmierek must have gotten the memo about those high spirits as his set sees him determined to draw in the 1pm crowds – thankfully a successful mission. His unique blend of poetic, thought-provoking lyrics and danceable beats captivates the crowd immediately, and they are only thrown further under the Mancunian’s spell as he launches into a cover of Happy Mondays’ ‘Step On’. Closing the set with ‘The Words to Auld Lang Syne’, Antony Szmierek manages to leave the crowd uplifted and hopeful with just 40 minutes to go – it’s magical to watch.

On the Dork Hype Stage, Lucia and The Best Boys cement themselves as one of the hottest bands in the game. With sunglasses on their feet, huge guitar solos and an electric stage presence, they command the packed tent, still riding high from the release of their debut album, ‘Burning Castles’. They’re a formidable force, making a mid-afternoon slot feel as impactful as a late-night effort – their alt-pop bangers are truly ferocious live.

As a result of the overhead passage on the Dork Hype stage, a woman in the crowd remarks “They really underestimated how good the bands on this stage are.” It’s another set with the crowd spilling over the sides of the tent trying to catch a glimpse of indie excellence. It’s a euphoric set – classic indie riffs and anthemic choruses are the cornerstones for overpass, who continue to generate more and more excitement as their career progresses. Those milestones will get bigger and bigger.

Nieve Ella reckons this is her biggest festival crowd to date, and yet everyone expresses themselves in every word they sing. Hitting the stage with “Girlfriend,” her set is a tour de force of hit after hit, and the relatable references and cathartic versions of her songs are even more satisfying live. Nieve is every inch the rock star as she veers between fun and theatrics and pure effortless cool – the unreleased track ‘Ganni Top’ is a standout that sees Nieve changing things up sonically. Closing with “His Sofa”, Nieve delights in orchestrating a big “fuck it” from the crowd, ending one of the most exciting sets of the day.

Matilda Mann graces the Dork Hype stage with just a guitar, a gorgeous voice and a pair of sunglasses (worn to hide the consequences of walking into a lamppost, she clarifies). It doesn’t need anything else, though – it’s a genuinely moving, captivating set. From “Paper Mache World” to “Bloom”, her performance and delicate voice are mesmerizing. A captivating cover of ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ is tear-jerking and a testament to the gentle power of her voice. Matilda’s heartbreakingly romantic lyrics have even more impact in such a desolate setting, and it’s a moment of calm amidst the chaos of the rest of the day.

Orla Gartland continues in the same vein of brooding lyrics, but with bigger riffs and a sonic sigh of exasperation—with herself, with others, with anyone. It’s pure release for her set as she powers through ‘Codependency’ and ‘Oh My God’. ‘Why am I like this?’ it’s a particularly poignant moment – ​​it’s a set that’s emotional but also packs a sonic punch, striking a balance that can only heighten excitement for whatever comes next for Orla.

Declan McKenna is something of a festival king – he’s graced almost every major stage in the country and along the way has managed to perfect a main stage festival set. Fresh from the release of ‘What Happened To The Beach?’, Declan mixes old and new in his set – viral hits like ‘Brazil’ certainly have their place, but songs like ‘Mulholland’s Dinner and Wine’ also have their moment . . There’s infectious funk and indie galore, and Declan is as magnetic a frontman as ever – he’s an unmissable festival act for a reason.

The Cribs make a triumphant return to Leeds Fields for what they say will be one of their last live shows of the year – if anything, they’re going out with a bang. Wakefield’s finest have the entire marquee in raptures. From crowd-pleasing tracks like ‘Cheat on Me’ to long-running classics like ‘I’m A Realist’, it’s a masterclass in thrilling nostalgia. Over two decades into their career and the Cribs are still in top form.

It wouldn’t be a Yorkshire festival with a bit of rain, but Circa Waves can bring the summer vibes even when it’s pouring. A mainstay on the festival circuit, the Scousers have cheery summer anthems in absolute droves. There’s no sign of ‘T-Shirt Weather’ by this time of day, but it’s hard not to grin and sing along to that familiar riff – Circa Waves have the ability to keep the vibes good despite being wet , and it probably isn’t. the only time they will be able to do so this festival season.

By the time The Kooks arrive to close the festival, there’s nothing left to do but dance in the pouring rain to their catalog of indie hits. ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’, ‘Seaside’, ‘Ooh La’ – it’s comeback after comeback and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone not singing along to those iconic choruses. They are full of fun and have no problem going over and encouraging the crowd to join them. It’s a triumphant end to a day of pure talent, and as “Naïve” rings out to close out their set, it’s hard not to feel elated after it all.