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Lewis Capaldi’s emotional Roundhay Festival return proves Leeds never stopped loving him
“You had me f***ing worried, Leeds!”
After Friday night’s Pitbull takeover, which saw thousands of people rocking bald caps and belting out every word, I genuinely didn’t think day two of Roundhay Festival could top it.
Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Where Friday was one giant party, Saturday was an emotional rollercoaster. The line-up was stacked with artists whose songs have probably soundtracked at least one heartbreak, and judging by the crowd, everyone was more than ready to feel every lyric.
Before the night’s headline act, festivalgoers were treated to performances from Jessie Murph, Jacob Alon and Conan Gray.
One of the best things about festivals is stumbling across artists you might not usually listen to, and Jessie Murph was exactly that. There had been plenty of chatter online questioning the support acts before the weekend, but every single one proved why they deserved their place on the bill. They might not have the mainstream status of Friday’s pop heavyweights, but their talent spoke for itself.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
Lewis Capaldi walked on stage to one of the loudest receptions Roundhay Park has probably ever heard, opening with Hollywood and instantly reminding everyone exactly what they’d missed.
There’s something about a Lewis Capaldi gig that no one else quite manages to recreate.
One minute he’s breaking your heart with songs like The Day That I Die and Someone You Loved, the next he’s got thousands crying with laughter from a story that probably shouldn’t be funny but somehow is.
It’s that balance of vulnerability and humour that makes him one of Britain’s most relatable performers.
Having stepped away from touring to focus on his mental health, Lewis didn’t shy away from talking about his journey. Instead, he embraced it, making the night feel less like a comeback concert and more like catching up with an old mate.
One of the biggest cheers of the night came after he joked about worrying whether anyone would actually turn up following comments he’d made on The Graham Norton Show about ticket sales.
Thousands of phone torches lit up the sky as every word of Someone You Loved echoed around the festival site. It was one of those moments that reminds you exactly why live music matters. Lewis had previously been due to return to Leeds before cancelling shows as he prioritised his health, making this performance feel even more significant.
His last appearance at Roundhay Park was back in 2019 supporting Ed Sheeran. This time, he came back as the main event.
Roundhay Festival gave Lewis Capaldi the welcome he deserved, and Leeds gave every bit of that love straight back.
Read more: Pitbull at Roundhay Festival – For one glorious evening, Leeds became the happiest place on Earth
Featured image: The Hoot Leeds
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Slam Dunk Festival reveals first wave of acts for 2027 festival
Clementine Hall
Slam Dunk Festival is back with another belting lineup.
Slam Dunk, the UK's biggest independent rock festival, has unveiled its first wave of artists - and its a lineup to get very excited about.
Hot on the heels of a milestone 20th anniversary this summer, the festival kicks off with Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Sleeping With Sirens, The Used and The Front Bottoms topping the bill.
This time, Slam Dunk is doing things a little bit differently, landing here in Leeds first at Temple Newsam on Saturday 29 May before closing the weekend at Hatfield Park on Sunday 30 May 2027.
Leading the festival are two of pop punk’s biggest festival favourites. Bowling For Soup return following a memorable 2023 appearance, whilst Simple Plan will be rotating headliners, returning to Slam Dunk after 8 years and whose debut album No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls also turns 25.
Elsewhere, ska-punk favourites Reel Big Fish return to Slam Dunk for an exclusive UK reunion show, Less Than Jake are also back on the bill, bringing more than three decades of anthems with them, while The Interrupters join a formidable ska-punk showing and Isle of Wight punks Grade 2 bring a dose of old-school punk to the bill.
And it doesn't stop there, with even more names still to be announced to the already star-studded lineup.
Pre-sale tickets are available via the Slam Dunk app for up to 48 hours (subject to availability) from 10am, Friday 2 October, with remaining tickets on sale from 10am on Monday 5 October through all other outlets. Get yours here.
Read more from The Hoot Leeds:
Featured image - Suppled (Slam Dunk)
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BBC Introducing announces massive Leeds takeover celebrating the UK’s best emerging artists
Clementine Hall
BBC Introducing and Leeds promoter Futuresound have announced a city-wide takeover this November as part of their ‘Introducing Live’ event.
Taking place in ten towns and cities across the UK, Introducing Live will hit Leeds on Saturday 28 November and showcase some of the best emerging artists in the UK today.
Not only that, but it will be held in some of the city's most iconic independent music venues including The Wardrobe, Belgrave Music Hall and Oporto.
The 450-capacity venue The Wardrobe will be home to an 'Introducing on Radio 1' showcase featuring a packed programme including the Egyptian born, Manchester based alt-pop artist Nxdia, Lincolnshire indie-pop quintet Cherryholt, dark pop artist Precious Pepala, Scunthorpe singer-songwriter Will Parker and many more.
Meanwhile, over at Belgrave Music Hall, Emily Pilbeam from Introducing's Mixtape on 6 Music will showcase black country duo GANS, the local 7-piece project Group A.D., underground group holybones and more.
Oporto, famous for hosting some of the biggest names in music during the start of their careers, will host a dedicated 'Introducing Rock' takeover with Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe, with a line-up featuring Nottingham-formed rock duo Alt Blk Era, goth-grunge alt group Venus Grrrls, indie-pop BRIT School alumna jo from school, post-hardcore band Hollow Bloom, and Sheffield-based electro-metalcore band DUSTHOUSE.
Joe Hubbard, promoter at Futuresound Group, said: “We’re really excited to be working with BBC Introducing to bring this event to Leeds, for the first time! It feels a very fitting partnership after our partnership on Live at Leeds together over the years.
"Between headliners Nxdia, Alt Blk Era, Gans and Jaguar, I feel there’s something for everyone. I’m also really proud of the local offering we’ve got, with strong representation from BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield across the bill. There’s been months of work behind the scenes to make it happen, so it’s a great feeling to finally release the line-up to the world. See you in November!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am and you can get yours here.
Read more: Innovative Leeds music venue TESTBED announces launch party lineup
Featured image - Supplied
Declan Kelly -
6th July 2026 
