Yorkshire’s biggest festival took place right here over Bank Holiday weekend- and what a weekend it was.
Leeds Festival returned to Bramham Park this weekend – and if you were one of the 80,000 odd singing along to Liam Gallagher on Friday or wading through the sea of people queuing for a glimpse of Blink 182 – you’ll know exactly what we’re on about.
As a festival that’s now in its mid-twenties, it’s certainly got older and wiser over the years – and the lineups just get better and better ever year.
There's no doubt this festival will go down in history as the year of Storm Lilian, Friday's delayed opening time was met by the heartbreaking closure of three stages due to the high winds with flying tents landing in local's back gardens...yes, really.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Due to a stripped back musical line-up, crowds for the main stages were vast as first headliner Catfish and the Bottlemen played their first live show in three years with a performance that did not disappoint and had fans flocking for spots at the front barriers.
The highlight of the first day, though, was most definitely Liam Gallagher as he shuffled onto the main stage in his parka and sunglasses to perform a set list consisting entirely of his former band’s early classics in celebration of Definitely Maybe's 30th anniversary year.
The field was united with epic singalongs as Gallagher shouted “this one’s for the tents”, the absolute perfect tonic after a demanding and blustery day.
As the wind settled and Saturday rolled around, bucket-hat wearing festival goers were back on form ready for another jam-packed day of live music.
Belfast's provocative rappers Kneecap kicked off proceedings with an electric performance that was as hilarious as it was controversial, urging a field full of Yorkshire to rap along with Get Your Brits Out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Welsh pop-punk heroes Neck Deep added a political flair to the post-GCSE party quipping "it won't always be like this", whilst Jorja Smith's set was moved to the main stage due to the Radio 1 tent closure which she did was prowess and ease.
Scottish troubadour Gerry Cinnamon united crowds as the sun set, from the synchronised foot stomps to the bellowing chants you sort of felt like you were at a sing-song at the pub - but in the best way possible.
Naturally an enormous crowd formed for Blink 182, although no sign of Kourtney Kardashian unfortunately. It was a welcome return for the pop-punk pioneers who delivered a healthy dose of nostalgia alongside lighthearted teenage humour throughout their closing set.
Fontaines D.C.'s Sunday teatime slot was perhaps the highlight of the whole weekend, a set which initially suffered from blustery sound issues but erupted into mayhem as the Irish post-punk heroes plunged into a double whammy of Boys in the Better Land and the fantastic In the Modern World, from new record Romance.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With no eye-catching visuals and only a mumbled "How you doing" from frontman Grian Chatten, it's a performance that delivers entirely on their own terms and acts as a footnote in their inevitable meteoric rise.
Lana Del Rey's hazy California pop is met with echoes of screaming teenage girls, as the American singer-songwriter delivers a beautiful performance dotted with classics such as Summertime Sadness and Young and Beautiful.
Finally, breakout producer Fred Again makes history as the first electronic act to headline the main stage delivering a laser-inducing performance that had punters dancing through the rain.
“You’re the biggest set of troopers we’ve ever played to at a festival" he cries as the downpour refuses to cease, as a festival that started in disaster ends drenched in style.
The Manchester indie heroes are making a triumphant return to Sheffield.
Following an absolutely belting headline set at Tramlines this year, it seems the Courteeners just can't get enough of the Steel City as they're announced as a headliner for next year's Rock N Roll Circus.
Fresh from a new album and nationwide tour, they'll be bringing their set of singalong indie anthems to Don Valley Bowl on Saturday 28 August 2027.
And they're in good company too, with The Vaccines and The Lathums joining the line-up alongside a brilliant mix of both established and up-and-coming talent.
Also joining the bill are The Guest List, Girl In The Year Above, Little Grandad, Cowboy Hunters, Cherryholt, Saint Clair, Ist Ist and Yorkshire’s Slates and south coast band Crystal Tides.
This is just the first wave of acts to be announced, with three more headliners expected to take to the stage over the bank holiday weekend.
Now entering its fifth year in Sheffield, Rock N Roll Circus has established itself as a big hitter in the UK's festival calendar.
Ali O'Reilly, Festival Director of Rock N Roll Circus, said: "Anyone who saw Courteeners at Tramlines last year knows exactly what Sheffield means to this band. They absolutely blew the doors off the place, and there's something about the connection between Liam and a Sheffield crowd that makes every show feel like a homecoming.
"To have The Vaccines and The Lathums joining them is a huge statement, but we're just as excited about the artists coming through on Stage 2. Bands like Cherryholt, Cowboy Hunters and Ist Ist are exactly why we love putting these line-ups together. There's something brilliant about watching a new band in an intimate setting and then heading into the Big Top for one of the biggest acts in the country.
"2027 marks our fifth year in Sheffield, which is a real milestone for us. We've grown with the city, the audiences have been incredible and we're proud of what Rock N Roll Circus has become."
Rock N Roll Circus returns to Sheffield's Don Valley Bowl from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 August 2027, with Courteeners headlining on Saturday 28 August.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 6 November, find out more here.
Pop royalty S Club announce new arena tour, with huge Leeds and Sheffield gigs
Daisy Jackson
S Club will be heading back toYorkshire on a newly-announced 13-date arena tour next year.
The pop icons have announced the Ain’t No Party Like A S Club Party tour, which will see Bradley, Jo, Jon, Rachel and Tina back on stage for the ultimate pop party.
The huge tour includes a night at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, a night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, as well as two gigs at the O2 in London.
S Club are one of Britain’s most successful pop groups, formerly known as S Club 7, who went on to become a cultural phenomenon with their own TV series – one of which, L.A. 7, remains the highest-rated programme of all time on CBBC.
Their smash hits include Reach, Don’t Stop Movin, Bring It All Back, Never Had A Dream Come True, and S Club Party.
In 2023, S Club celebrated their 25th anniversary with a sellout UK and US tour, shortly after the tragic death of former member Paul Cattermole.
Now, five of the original seven are ready to bring the party back to Manchester, as S Club return to the stage.
They’ll have very special guests supporting on the tour too, announcing Boyzlife, the supergroup made up of the former Boyzone and Westlife members Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden.
S Club say: “We can’t wait to get back out on tour, see you all and celebrate the songs, memories and moments we’ve shared together over the years.
“It’s going to be one BIG party, and we want you all to be part of it!”
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 6 November HERE.
Clementine Hall -
27th August 2024 
