Our final Live at Leeds 2024 review gives you The K’s, Overpass, Somebody’s Child, STONE, The Royston Club and Alfie Templeman.
For years, the organisers of Live at Leeds have striven to deliver some of the hottest acts in the history of this great cultural City. Dating back over two decades, Live at Leeds, perhaps titled after the historic live studio album by The Who in 1970, have seen some of the mightiest performances by many of the premier acts across the globe.
Each May, thousands flock to Temple Newsam for a heated day of the hottest acts in the industry – and after the summer’s rendezvous of name artists such as The Kooks, The Cribs, Circa Waves and Caity Baser (among dozens of others), the season ended signalling just one thing: another Live at Leeds festival, but this time housed in some of the greatest venues – In The City.
It has quickly become the place for music talent on the cusp of recognition; on the verge of breaking out into stardom. Since October 2021, this spinoff festival has given new life to the local community. Many great venues across the City take part, bringing gig-goers the grand opportunity to see many an act – all at a generous walking distance.
Last year was a wonderful time, allowing me to feast my eyes (and ears) on delectable gems such as Wunderhorse, Paris Paloma and The Last Dinner Party. In the past twelve months, these are just three acts that have gone on to receive vast exposure nationwide with tours, new albums and their fair share of media attention.
So, I knew exactly what to expect as I set off from home with longtime friend and photographer Emma Gibbon. A cold November afternoon saw the sun still shining as I stepped foot into The Wardrobe to obtain my press wristband. It’s a rite of passage to get these things, and, having attended so many different festivals in the past few years, for me they are souvenirs to look back on when opening my bedside drawer.
Alfie Templeman
2023, we set up shop at Leeds Beckett Student Union, some five minutes’ walk away. We did dip into Stylus last year for a band or two, but this year we set out to deliver coverage on all of the bands to crash into the University of Leeds campus. I simply can’t in good conscience even try to count the number of times I’ve been to the three-storied concert hall – that wouldn’t do it justice whatsoever. To put it safely – I’ve been here, and I’ve been here a lot. I even did my Master’s degree in Writing for Performance and Digital Media here, and graduated around this time two years ago. A lot has changed since even then, though my brushes with Stylus have to date back more than twelve years to the Slam Dunk Festivals of old.
If walls and sticky floors could talk, they would never shut up. Every prominent band I can think of from across the world, whether on the rise or enjoying a renaissance period, has played LUU. What boggles my mind is the fact that after so many years, the WiFi signal is still practically nonexistent!
But, perhaps it’s the charm of attending a day so committed to delivering indie rock sounds. Last year a running gag was the Woov app informing everyone that Oporto Leeds was at capacity, seemingly every five minutes. This year? It’s going outside to check social media. It truly felt like The Land Before Time, and by before time I mean as if the clock rolled back to 2005, and our precious WiFi was more of a luxury than a normality.
The K’s
The big day began at 2:30 on the dot, with The K’s hitting the stage in a timely fashion. For mid- afternoon, I’ve never seen the place so crammed with people this early in the day before. Mind you, not all gigs kick off that early. This had to be verging on capacity from the start.
From the violin piece that played the group onto the stage, the four-piece outfit from Merseyside had presence about them. Performing an hour’s set that failed to tire the crowd out for a second, they dazzled many and won plenty of fans. Their set also earned the accolade of being the earliest I’ve ever seen a shirtless dude on another’s shoulders, singing and chanting along – this side of Elland Road, at least.
Vocalist Jamie Boyle makes for a remarkable frontman, guiding us through the set filled with bangers from their new album ‘I Wonder If The World Knows?’. Upbeat hits with a fresh Britpunk sound, at times his voice reminded me of Brian Molko’s from Placebo. Their rocky sound brought the requisite indie pushpit just two tracks into the set, and you could tell from a jovial and pally connection with the audience through onstage interactions that they were going places. The headliner vibe was off the scales – and this was merely the opening act. How could any artist top something like this?
One thing’s for sure – they made a killing at the merch stand. All day long I saw The K’s brand on T-shirts, and with the warmth inside the venue, it can’t have been from being cold. Even hours after the merch vendor closed shop, I saw people wearing merch that previously was set up behind the counter in the corner of the room.
Overpass
Overpass brought a different mood to Stylus, though the crowd remained to check it out. In jest of audio difficulties and production issues, denim-clad spectators stood patiently in groups packing out the floor of the building. Their chilled demeanor soon became clearer as the band took to the stage at 4:15, presenting stringy guitars and a shoegazy sound, complete with passive-sounding vocals that are absolutely my vibe.
Their warm sound from Birmingham actually had me thinking back to the indie boom in the United States during the 2000s. Absolutely worth noting how the vocalist hit those high notes exquisitely.
With such a wait in times between bands, I have to confess: I love a good sofa. All venues should have couches. If they don’t, I don’t know that they should legally be allowed open. Actually, scratch that: every building regardless of function, purpose or business should have one. Sitting down felt good. ‘Nuff said.
Somebody’s Child
Somebody’s Child continued the trend of a fifteen minute delay, but to their credit they provided something different from the bands that came before. Dancy, loud and boisterous from start to finish.
With a bassy sound, the Irish syndicate presented a new breed of gift from across the British Isles.
Flinging his limbs overhead with his back against the barrier, this was a frontman who practically doubled as a hypeman.
With a progressive sound to their instrumentations, what really got me about them was their dedication to play through long intros and outros with precision.
STONE
Then, STONE happened. If you’ve never had the pleasure of checking these fellas out (like me before today), then I suggest you do. Emma heard from the security guard at the front that they were quite a heavy band – word has it the last time the hard rock band played Stylus, the vocalist wound up on the third tier of the venue!
Reminding me of similar painfully British bands such as the punchy attitude of IDLES, tied with the ferocity of Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, and the lyrical Britishness of Arctic Monkeys, STONE brought the volume to the max.
Perhaps it was the change in tone, this stark contrast with a heavy, thrilling set was highly welcome and derived from the status quo set out by the day’s line-up. As a longtime punk fan and gig-goer to underground grottos and pits, I really enjoyed checking out STONE.
After one song, the vocalist leaped the barrier to party with the crowd in the centre of the room. Surfing his way back across, things escalated quickly. I distinctly had the impression STONE could be in for a very strong 2025, following in the footsteps of Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs or Wunderhorse from last year.
After somewhat of a lull after The K’s brought the house down, STONE returned the venue back to nearing capacity. A day of loud music, drinking and hanging out with the pals led to a rather lively audience. Singing and chanting along with whatever the cause, there really was a sense of camaraderie – everyone was here for the same thing. It was especially felt as they voiced their disapproval with boos once Billy Ocean’s “Love Really Hurts Without You” got cut off by the sound guy.
The Royston Club
The Royston Club snapped the people back into a frenzy, providing the service of getting their fans to dance to their heart’s content.
With a powerful and punchy presentation, the energy was through the roof as the jovial and tipsy crowd ushered in the venue’s first “Yorkshire” chant of the day – at 8:06, no less! Very impressive.
There’s something about Leeds livers screaming “Yorkshire” at random intervals, at the soonest opportunity.
Alfie Templeman
Alfie Templeman had the envious task of delivering on the closing set. With so much going on across the City today, it had to be difficult for bands such as Alfie’s, who had to contend with rivaling bands on other stages all in similar areas.
Loyalist supporters stuck around to see what he got, in what unintentionally created an even greater, harmonious and intimate fan experience. You could draw parallels to The 1975 and The Weeknd for how they performed, with a sleazy bassline in parts and a strong 1980s synthy influence. It had to help their case that they mentioned having Bundobust for dinner, too! For what it’s worth, despite the fans piling out before they graced the stage, the ones who stuck around knew all about Alfie Templeman, and what they could do as an act.
It’s a day for new music, supposedly for new fans of music. I disagree – it was a highly immersive and diverse audience for people of all different backgrounds. With such heavy emphasis on britpop and indie, it was really cool to hear these genres still buzzing with its fair audience of supporters.
For over fourteen years I have enjoyed live music. I’ve seen a lot of imports, some big bands and rising bands – but can say I’ve seen tens of hundreds of unknown artists. I won’t lie to you when I say that I came into this year’s festival with zero clue as to approximately 99% of the line-up, but that changed.
I’m absolutely certain I wasn’t the only one who gained a new taste of music to enjoy on my commutes to work each morning; of artists to look for when seeking upcoming gigs to go to; for songs to suggest at the nightclub; to throw on in quiet and social moments alike.
Music is about experience. We feel, we live and we breathe it. From the second those notes hit our ears, we become one with the sound and thus, earworms are born. Interests are distorted. All focus fades, and all concerns and worries in the world briefly dissipate.
This was one of those days. On a day such as today, you can only imagine what the future ha to offer for so many of the talented troupes who played today.
Here’s to next year!
The K’s continue to reach milestones, coming after the release of their debut album ‘I Wonder If The World Really Knows?’ back in April. It reached No. 3 in the charts, and is surely the start of something big. Catch them when they come to Lincoln, Newcastle, Manchester, Hull, London and Middlesborough later this month – you will not regret it.
Recommended songs: “Hometown” and “Heart On My Sleeve”.
Birmingham’s Overpass ride the wave with their new EP scheduled to drop in February 2025, titled ‘Dependent’. They see the year out with dates in Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and London, on the road to their new record’s drop. Recommended songs: “Right Time” and “Like No Other”.
Somebody’s Child waits for their own new album, ‘When Youth Fades Away’, out in March 2025. Selling out venues across December, they play before Netherlands crowds in December before popping back over for a show in London. Recommended songs: “Time Of My Life” and “We Could Start A War”
STONE revolt off of the release of their first album ‘Fear Life For A Lifetime’, with pent-up rage and a badass style. The Liverpudlian punks play before O2 Academy Leeds on November 18, before touching base in Manchester and London before the year’s end. Recommended songs: “Say It Out Loud” and “Queen”.
The Royston Club wrap up 2024 before back-to-back sellout houses in Liverpool this week, after a whirring year in the fallout of their 2023 record ‘Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars’. Recommended songs: “The Patch Where Nothing Grows” and “Mrs. Narcissistic”.
Alfie Templeman brings the Radiosoul Tour to Europe in November and December, with dates across the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France. Recommended songs: “I Thought You Were Mine” and “Movies”.
Photography by Emma Gibbon.
Main image: The K’s audience.
