Photo: Charly Murgatroyd/Press
When it comes to inner-city feasts of the best new and established music, you can't do much better than Live At Leeds. Forget the far-flung Texan mix-up of SXSW, Live At Leeds is here to really educate Yorkshire.
Counting London Grammar, Anna Calvi, Alt-J, Mumford and Sons, The Maccabees, Ed Sheeran, The 1975 and many more among their alumni who showcased their promise before exploding into greatness, Live At Leeds always delivers and has more than a few things to teach us.
Here are just 10 of the many things we learned at Live At Leeds festival 2014.
1. Everything is brilliant in Leeds
This festival is not only the opening of the floodgates for brilliant new music, but it's also a celebration of the beautiful people of Yorkshire and the City Of Leeds. In joining the dots and hopping from stage to stage, one can't help but be astounded by the many incredible venues this city has to offer - from the awesome party hub of the Belgrave Music Hall to the majesty of Leeds Town Hall. It's no wonder this city breeds so many brilliant live bands, like the wonderfully twisted Forward Russia.
2. Say Lou Lou could well be your new favourite band
Every headline and blurb you read about this deservedly hyped duo is likely to say something about their cheekbones and use the phrase 'girl band', but to do so does this band one hell of a disservice. While their image is as arresting as their sound is dramatic, everything is considered but never contrived. What you have in these Swedish twins is a pair of authentic artists who craft their own world by delivering the whole package.
The shimmering pop perfection of their singles 'Everything We Touch', 'Julian' and 'Better In The Dark' are given a much rockier edge by their new live band, and are bursting out of the walls of the intimate Belgrave Music, begging for a much bigger stage. The throbbing disco-rock banger of new track 'All That Glitters' reflects the true warm, open and fun nature of the Kilbey sisters, proving a highlight of a short but flawless set - a promising sign for their debut album.
Ladies and gentlemen, Say Lou Lou could be your new favourite band.
3. Albert Hammond Jr doesn't need The Strokes
With The Strokes returning to perform at The Governor's Ball in NYC later this summer, it's only a matter of time until they return to the studio and the game-changing garage rock icons are back as we know them - but let them take their time. The Albert Hammond Jr you see on stage today is an artist at the peak of his creativity, bursting with a vibrant and infectious care-free energy. Enjoy him solo while you can.
4. Frank Turner lives for his fans
Whether selling out the O2 Arena, headlining a festival or going solo here in the relatively intimate College Of Music, Frank Turner makes every show feel like every fan is getting a one-on-one.
6. Wolf Alice are going to be this year's guitar heroes
Imaginative and fierce rock that's refreshingly cliche-free, packed with character and wonderfully weird. They're one hell of a live band, and super nice people too. What's not to love?
7. Bipolar Sunshine is so much better live than on record
Seriously. Good. Fun.
8. Years & Years are going to soundtrack the summer
One of the most anticipated sets of the day comes from rising electro-pop upstarts Years & Years. In 'Real' they already have a strong contender for single of the year, and judging by their set at Live At Leeds, only bigger things await for them to fulfil their promise further. If there's any justice in the world, they'll be the breakthrough champions of 2014. You need this band in your life.
9. Nina Nesbitt's fans are mental
The good people at Dr Martens kicked off their run of inner-city festival specials by hosting a special, intimate in-store gig for Nina Nesbitt - giving her legions of hardcore and dedicated fans the perfect opportunity to come face to face with their heroine, and even present her with tiny blankets knitted for her cats. Yes, really.
10. Chloe Howl and Ella Eyre are future icons
Both champions of the BBC Sound Of 2014, these two future queens pull understandably massive crowds, before delivering two distinct sets of artfully crafted fresh sounds that totally smash the myth that all of today's pop sounds beige and cookie cutter. Here are two huge voices with two different but colossal futures ahead of them.
Below: More exclusive photos from Live At Leeds 2014
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