The sun was shining at this year’s Leeds Festival. We could end our review right there considering the deluge suffered by past events, but let’s push past the obvious – unnaturally good weather aside, this was an event defined by a stellar line-up from some of the most exciting artists and acts on the planet, and it lived up to its potential and then some.
A secret set by Queens of the Stone Age kicked off Friday night, and they were expertly followed by The Blossoms – it was a big slot, but they never faltered. Charlemagne and Blown Rose went down a treat, as everyone expect they would, and sets were livened up by covers of “There is a Light and it Never Goes Out” by The Smiths and “Imagine” by John Lennon. We fully expect to see these guys headlining sometime soon.
Liam Gallagher bought predictable Britpop swagger, and the set was discretely peppered with songs from his former band alongside new hits from the man himself.
Muse headlined Friday night, and it was hard for anticipation to get any higher. This is a band infamous for phenomenal live shows, and their explosive set surpassed all expectations with a fantastic mix of new songs and past back catalogue.
Saturday saw indie band Bastille excelling in their herculean task of warming up for blockbusters Kasabian. When the Leicester lads did finally take to the stage, their fantastic setlist seemed to work perfectly whether you were a Kasabian virgin or a diehard fan. There were also a few nice surprises, including covers of Daft Punk and Nirvana alongside the band’s own superhits, such as Shoot the Runner and Treat.
Sunday also belonged to the main stage. Nu-metallers Korn blasted through their set, and their blissful unawareness that this wasn’t quite the right crowd for them somehow helped make them seem perfectly placed, especially when finishing with such a legendary metal anthem as Freak on a Leash
Major Lazer came next to perform with surprising energy considering the array of songs they packed into their set, but it was festival closer Eminem that was on everyone’s minds. Hits like “Stan”, “The Way I Am” and “Like Toy Soldiers” have lost none of their charm, and a huge set of classics ended the festival perfectly.