Despite a slightly damp evening at Roundhay Park, spirits were anything but, as Lewis Capaldi delivered a set packed with fan favourites from old to new, each ballad sounding as huge as the last.
With the support of a full band, every song carried the soaring emotional quality fans have come to expect, with the impact being felt across every inch of the vast festival site.
Never one to take himself too seriously, Lewis joked that he was worried nobody would turn up after ticket sales picked up late, which led him to reflect on his first Leeds show at Oporto, and he marvelled at the journey from playing a small pub to headlining a packed field.
Lewis also spoke candidly about how good it felt to be back after taking time away to focus on his mental health, or as he put it, after having a “menty-b”. The honesty was met with warm applause and was a reminder of why audiences have connected with him for so long.
A playful snippet of Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ midway through the set drew plenty of smiles before the evening ended with Lewis’ first single, the heartfelt ‘Someone You Loved’, followed by fireworks to close off the night.
Credit goes to the organisers, who created a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of food stalls, places to sit and interactive touches around the site.
Lewis Capaldi was a fitting highlight of a brilliant debut weekend for Roundhay Festival, and with the festival already set to return next year, it has laid down an impressive marker for what’s to come.
Words and photography by Emma Gibbon.
Roundhay Festival: Brought to Leeds by AEG Presents with American Express 3 – 5 July 2026
