Festival Review: Live At Leeds In The Park 2022
As soon as you stepped foot into the grounds of the Live at Leeds In the Park, which was hosted at Temple Newsam, the well-known feelings of excitement and euphoria took hold. Feelings that only the vision of hundreds of smiling faces, food trucks and festival stages can bring.
At precisely twenty past two, the sound of rapturous indie rock transpired from the DIY big top tent. The band in question providing this overjoyed music so early in the day were Cassia. Cassia provided a warm and inviting space where the cool temperature was no longer a thought despite the bitter weather outside. Kicking it off with their hit single Similar, the almost full tent sang alongside frontman Rob Ellis. A dynamic start to the third song, Motions, occurred with the entire three-piece retrieving drum sticks and executing a zestful drum solo. Finally, the last song, Right There provided the perfect sing-a-long for the crowd and ensured that Cassia were to be a masterful and memorable experience for the public. Cassia’s set provided the perfect oxymoron between the upbeat vibes within the tent in contrast to the glacial weather outside.
In contrast, Stone was set to make a statement on the stage just next door to the DIY tent. Impassioned, angsty and vivacious are the three words that best envelop Stone. Keep Running was their first song on the setlist, which warmed up the crowd for what was set to follow. Stone’s stage presence throughout the set was unmatched; from funny stories told by frontman Finlay Power to thought-provoking political speeches, there was not a second that the audience was left without entertainment. The Scouse punks performed each and every enraged single with the same energy and zeal as their first. Leave It Out, their most famous single was served with intense charisma and musical perfection.
Just seconds after the end of the punk rockers, over on the MTV main stage, the ethereal Holly Humberstone picked up her guitar and along with her female drummer, the two hypnotised the audience. Holly’s beautiful and shy aura created a new sense of calm for the festival-goers. Song after song, Holly presented her angelic voice. Although her voice was tranquil and timid, it was also both powerful and spellbinding. Halfway through her captivating set, Holly began London is Lonely, a heart-wrenching ballad written for her sister as a means of showing her support for her devastating mental health. As soon as the first chord was struck, it was although you would hear a pin drop in the audience. Holly Humberstone’s set was an unforgettable experience, and her talents are unparalleled.
The walk back up the hill to the marvellously named ‘Hill Top stage’ was a must in order to catch the Mancunian rockers The Blinders. The Blinders, throughout their set, reiterated that their sound was one meant for the main stage. With blaring bass and indignant guitar, the group were not messing around. Their song 40 Days and 40 Nights was played second and allowed a mosh pit to open up in the centre of the crowd. It was as if the air was electrified during The Blinders performance as a sudden bolt of excitement and exasperation had a hold of everyone. A mix between their old and popular releases, such as Brave New World and L’etat C’est Moi, were irately performed alongside their newer tracks, such as Ritual Of The Crocodile Man.
It was a walk back down the hill once again to catch a watch of the iconic indie lads Sea Girls. Opening with one of their newer releases, Sick, the band instantly showed the entirety of the audience their air of professionalism and musical talent. Despite an incredible showcase of their musical ability, their fashion sense did not quite match this aptitude as frontman Henry Camamile was dressed head-to-toe in luminous neon orange, a memorable statement-making outfit. After executing flawlessly performances of Call Me Out and Lucky, Henry took himself into the crowd for Violet with many an eager hand reaching out to him. You Better Get Ready For More was an intense crowd-pleaser. The vibe that the music from Sea Girls generates is one of ecstatic happiness; no one can not enjoy the cheesy sing-a-longs that they create so superbly.
The iconic The Snuts were up next on the Hill Top stage, preparing for a mind-blowing performance. As the crowd gathered, a distorted version of God Save The Queen began to blast on the speakers, making the public aware of what they were about to witness. Alarm sirens followed this mix of God Save The Queen, and The Snuts wandered out onto the stage and started to perform Burn The Empire. It was now clear how fitting of an introduction the archetypal song was. The Scottish Lads performed as if there was no tomorrow, with each and every band member energetically performing. At the end of this first song, Renegade Master boomed through the speakers as a mix into their second song, All Your Friends. These short snippets of well-known songs truly hyped up the audience and got everyone ready to dance. Towards the end of the set, after some staggering musical executions, The Snuts performed a single, which they rarely performed live. This song was Fat Boy Slim, this was a memorable moment for many, and the crowd went fanatical. As always with The Snuts, they performed their hit song Glasgow last, a classic from the group.
It was time for The Vaccines, where the largest crowd was gathered back on the MTV Main Stage. Since the formation of The Vaccines was over twelve years ago, they have had plenty of time to perfect their set, and their performance did not disappoint. The multi-national band have had intense success over the years and are namely one of the cult bands within their genre. Their performance was simply hit after hit, from Wetsuit to Handsome; they were the perfect band for the main stage, re-enlivening the crowd after a long day. It was as if The Vaccines held their own party; everyone was dancing and hyped up for what they were about to play next. Surprisingly, their last song was All In White, a slower ballad which signalled the end of their performance.
It was almost time for the headliners Bombay Bicycle Club, but there was one last pit stop over at the DIY tent for Easy Life before this happened. Easy Life have become well-renowned for their ambient and catchy releases among the younger generation. As soon as they walked on stage, it was almost as if you were watching the cast from School Of Rock in their older years due to their outfits. All five of them were adorned in matching double denim outfits accompanied by a white shirt and tie; it was indeed a sight to behold. Across from Easy Life, over at the Hill Top stage, The Pigeon Detectives were performing, and Easy Life were quick to share their opinion on this band. This opinion was the antonym of positive. The atmosphere within the tent was chill and breezy, as one would expect. Sunday, Daydream and Peanut Butter’are all namely hits created by Easy Life, and these were all performed in style. During the performance of OJPL, frontman Murray Matravers took him upon himself to crowd surf, which was a real hit for the audience. Not only did he engage with the crowd in this way, but he also cheekily requested bra’s from the audience, which one person happily obliged to give as it was thrown across the stage mid-performance. The set ended with Nightmares, a perfect remedy for the end of their act.
As the time approached nine-thirty, it was time for the headline act Bombay Bicycle Club to perform. With no other artists playing at the time, every person who attended the event that day made their way down to the Main Stage. Bombay Bicycle are assuredly distinct legends in the indie music community. With Jack, Jamie, Suren and Ed ready on stage to close the festival alongside a trumpet player, it was sure to be an unforgettable final set. Each song performed by the group created an air of nostalgia for the onlookers. Songs like Home By Now and Feel provided the perfect wistful sing-a-long. The whole set was indie perfection, and their music had almost a transcendent and magical appeal.
In its entirety, Live at Leeds In The Park was a flawless festival embellished with both upcoming artists and solidified musical talents. Tickets are on sale already for 2023, and they are a must to get your hands on.
Words by Sophie Bourgeois
Photography by Jess Foster
