In what has been a rather dull and drizzly week, the indie-pop hit-makers most definitely brought the sunshine with them alongside a truly electric performance.
For the fifth instalment of Sounds of the City 2023 on Thursday 13 July, British band Bastille took to the stage and boy they did not disappoint.
Celebrating 10 years since their seminal album, now being re-released as Bad Blood X, the show took us on a trip down memory lane through a thrilling showcase of their catalogue of classics.
A montage of Bastille's journey together was projected to the back of the stage, playing intermittently between tracks.
Image: Millennium Square Leeds
It was a welcome reminder of the band's longevity and proved just how much of a stamp they've made on British pop over the past decade.
Of course they kicked things off with Pompeii, which I am still humming in my head as I write this. Charismatic frontman Dan sprung to attention, hitting every square foot of the stage possible and matching the excited energy of the bustling crowd.
And he didn't just sing, although that would have been impressive enough, he played the drums as well as the keyboard intermittently throughout - all of which added to the overall immersive and encapsulating experience.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
From 'Pompeii' we moved to other hits like 'Things We Lost In The Fire', 'Overjoyed' and 'Flaws'. Although there were some tracks which weren't as widely recognised, the band constantly held your attention by clever placement of their absolute bangers.
Talking directly to the crowd, Dan spoke about the past ten years and thanked his fans for their ongoing support.
A special moment and one which can only happen at unique events such as Sounds of the City was when Dan jumped down from the stage and into the crowd during 'Flaws', weaving through jumping fans and still holding every single note to perfection.
After a short break, it was clear that Bastille were certainly not slowing down. The crowd were warmed up and raring to go for more.
Image: Millennium Square Leeds
Jumping straight back into it with 'Good Grief', the sun was setting and the energy was magnetic.
They then of course sang 'Happier' which was the best performance of the night, the crowd were singing every single word and dancing like nobody was watching. A truly memorable moment.
Overall, we felt honoured to take a trip down memory lane with Bastille and witness such an incredible performance of their music through the ages.
Even though it was a look back on the previous decade, we've no doubt that there'll be many more to come for these British pop legends.
Ever wanted to play at Tramlines Festival? Well, now's your chance.
Applications are now open until Wednesday 28 January for Tramlines Festival’s 2026 Apply to Play programme.
This fantastic initiative offers emerging and unsigned artists the chance to perform at the festival, which is set to take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.
This year's Tramlines Festival will be headlined by Fatboy Slim, Courteeners and Wolf Alice - so it's safe to say that if you win, you'll be in great company.
Alongside a paid slot at the festival, the overall winner will also perform at Truck Festival, Y Not Festival and Victorious Festival.
Images: The Sheff
The talented winner will also receive an official endorsement with Epiphone, one of the most iconic guitar brands in the world, a professional electric guitar, 12 months of artist relations support, access to Epiphone’s London showroom and a performance slot at the Gibson Garage.
And it doesn't stop there as they will also get £500 in studio credit from Pirate Studios and a slot at the This Feeling industry showcase.
Finalists will receive paid performance slots at Tramlines and a second artist will be chosen through a public vote from a shortlist of 100 entries. That artist will also receive the full Epiphone package and secure a guaranteed place in the final selection.
Timm Cleasby, Operations Director at Tramlines, said: “Apply to Play is one of the things at Tramlines I’m proudest of. Every year we get blown away by the talent coming through, not just from Sheffield but from all over the UK.
"We’ve had artists start out on a small stage and come back a couple of years later to play a packed tent. That kind of journey means a lot to us and shows emerging artists there is a pathway for them to grow. It’s why we do it and I can’t wait to see who steps up in 2026.”
A daytime rave where you can be in bed by 8pm is returning to Leeds
Clementine Hall
The famous Day Fever is back and this time it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before.
If you haven’t heard of Day Fever before, then we are about to blow your mind.
Launched in early 2024 by actress Vicky McClure and frontman of Reverend & The Makers Jon McClure, Day Fever has become somewhat of a cultural sensation.
From its debut in Sheffield to a tour that sees thousands of ravers hitting the dance floor each month, the message is clear: people want to dance and let loose, but still be in bed before 9pm. And to be honest, we don’t blame them.
Running from 3pm to 8pm, Day Fever provides a proper night out that doesn’t completely write you off for the entire weekend.
Image: Supplied
“It started as a WhatsApp idea,” says Jon McClure. “Jonny just said, ‘A daytime disco, how good would that be?’ We’re all a bit nuts, so we just said, ‘Come on then!’
“It feels like a massive house party at your nan’s,” laughs Vicky. “No drama, no egos, just people acting daft, getting dressed up, and having the best time.”
From Leeds to Newcastle, Glasgow to Manchester, every Day Fever event has its own unique flavour.
There’ll be local DJs who know their crowds keep the energy high with a nostalgic mix of Northern Soul, disco, indie, and 90s classics. “Manchester goes mad for Oasis,” says Jon, “and if Vicky’s there, we have to play Whitney, it’s non-negotiable!”
They last popped up in Leeds at Project House a couple of weeks ago and it went down a storm, so they've decided to come back for two more dates to kick off the new year.
Day Fever will be turning up the speakers at Project House on Saturday 31 January and Saturday 28 February, and we will absolutely see you there.
Tickets are on sale now, and you can grab yours here.
Clementine Hall -
14th July 2023 
