Festival Review: Live At Leeds - October 2021

With summer over, it’s not unusual to think festival season has come and gone for another year. But not every festival is set in a field in the sun; sometimes it begins in a bar and ends in an O2 Academy. Embrace the indie side of life, with Live at Leeds!

Celebrating their 15th edition of the festival, Live at Leeds built up anticipation with a stellar line-up of rising stars, red-hot acts and headliners that make the walking and waiting worth it throughout the day. Kicking the day off at the Wardrobe is what the festival teased as their “very special guests”, The Sherlocks. A band that has been ascending for years now, they started off the day’s festivities in style.



Filling the venue to its capacity and more, it’s proof that The Sherlocks were indeed a very special addition to the line-up and were the ones to get the crowd going. Playing new and old hits, the standouts of the 45-minute set were ‘NYC (Sing It Loud)’ from 2019’s Under Your Sky and ‘Chasing Shadows’ from 2017’s Live for the Moment; the latter of which helped close the set and was shown to be the overall fan-favourite. Every word was sung, screamed, cried back to the group and the bond was strong and loving. It speaks volumes about The Sherlocks and the strength of unity and power within their songs; and with them also performing later that night at their own headline show, it’s with no hesitation to say out of a short afternoon festival set or a full headline set, the former felt more spectacular and special for the band and the fans in attendance.

O2 Academy Leeds was the venue of the day, as it was the home to many of the biggest and best acts of the night. This run started with Sheffield’s Reverend & The Makers, who over the course of 15 years in the industry, gained a sizable following and a hype only they could command with the strum of a guitar and the press of a key.


This is where the outsider of the indie scene will be blown away and converted once and for all. Blending elements of dance, rock and indie together in a fascinating mixture, it took only one song to get the crowd jumping and moshing along. The energy was electric and the pit was a sight to behold; and grew to become its own event during one of the band’s most popular tracks, ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’. The mosh pit followed in the song’s namesake and to be on the inside was a religious awakening, while to be on the outside is observing a miracle in the making.

If anyone wants to say that indie rock doesn’t bring the same heavyweight energy as any other subgenre, show them the true ‘Heavyweight Champions’ in Reverend & The Makers.



At the same time across the street at Leeds Beckett was a complete 180 from Reverend & The Maker’s overwhelming heavy-set atmosphere, with Jack Garratt taking over the stage in his own smashing-yet-soothing sound. Being a standout star in his mesmerising glitter jumpsuit, Garratt proved himself to also be one to blow away the outsiders in attendance. Just in a different way. In an artistic way. In an emotional way.

Showcasing music from both his debut record Phase, and his recent release Love, Death & Dancing, there was something for everyone in that room. But the music wasn’t the only hard-hitting part of his set; not even solely his lyrics. It was his heart, his dedication to his work, and his admiration for music and all the musicians appearing at the festival that day. With everyone being in that venue - and the city - coming together with the love of music and live entertainment, it was a sentiment every single person could relate to. We all know a musician, or have listened to one, or bought an album, bought a ticket to their show - we all know from firsthand experience or being outside watching in.


Garratt encouraged everyone to find a musician and praise them. An act everyone can get behind as it’s never been harder or less thankful to be in the industry, so giving just a few words of love and respect will always be appreciated. Save the scene and keep going to shows.

Heading to Leeds’ famous alt spot Key Club for the night for their very first Leeds show was Lynks. A fabulous faceless performer, they proved to be a true “club kid” as they got the crowd moving from the very moment she took to the stage.

In an always iconic leather-based outfit, complete with a tartan kilt and coordinated beret, the London artist showed that he can bring the talent to every stage he stomps onto. With Lynks, there are no two ways about it: she is the true meaning of alternative, and is the most alternative act of the evening. Someone with a small cult following, who will know every single word to hits such as ‘How to be Successful’ and ‘Pedestrian At Best’, but also someone who will intrigue newcomers enough to drag them into their scene. Before long, the punk-disco mix of music was enough to get everyone moving and grooving, chanting the hooks along with him and feeling the free vibe that is Lynks (with the help of his boombox table friend Barbara - go Barbara!)

Lynks is this captivating enigma in the music industry right now - and after one taste, you’ll just want more and more and more.

With mere hours left of the festival and two more acts to hit the O2 Academy stage, it’s time to gather that last spark of energy to bounce and mosh.

The penultimate act is the hottest band on the indie scene at this very moment, Sports Team. Full of punk attitudes and indie sounds, the outfit put on a show in a way only they could. Frontman Alex Rice was the star of the show - as usual - as he brings out the best in his audience; whether this is heckling the crowd, showing off his specialised dance moves, or striking fear in the crowd and crew by climbing up to the top of the venue in the middle of a number. If this is the new face of rock and roll, give it a kiss and keep it in your life and repertoire.


The biggest, loudest, most emotionally fired-up act of the night was the closer: Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes. The band’s first show since releasing their fourth record Sticky just 24 hours prior, they didn’t hold back and neither did the crowd.

Debuting most of their new material, including the likes of ‘Rat Race’ and ‘Cobra Queen’ - as well as bringing out Lynks for ‘Bang Bang’ and previous single ‘Go Get A Tattoo’ - the frontman was blown away himself by the visibly positive reception of the new record. Claiming that it took one day to command a circle pit for the new tracks when it usually takes up to a year, he was proud of his fans - dubbed the Snakepit - and they were proud of him also. Carter has always shown trust in his loyal followers; including surfing the crowd for an entire song as they were not ready to give him back to the stage. It was a sight to behold, and a sensation of fantasies to be given such love and trust from an idol in a situation such as a moshpit. Moshpits at the Rattlesnakes’ shows are infamously intense but famously safe and welcoming, and this is an atmosphere Carter and co. will continue pushing at every show they perform.



The set also showed the band bringing back classics from previous albums: such as ‘Wild Flowers’, which is celebrated with a moshpit for women and non-binary individuals; ‘Crowbar’, which fuels the flames in everyone’s hearts and brings people together over fighting to be themselves and not caring who hates it; and ‘Juggernaut’, which is just a fun banger to get the crowd going just as the set begins to wind down.

There was a song for every single person in that room and if they weren’t a Rattlesnakes fan when they entered, they definitely were one when they left.

The importance of events such as Live at Leeds cannot be stressed enough after the fatalities of local venues and live music during the COVID-19 pandemic, and almost every act reminded attendees that live music is here and it will never ever go away again.

What a time to be alive in Leeds.

Photography by Amelia Jones
Words by Jo Cosgrove


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