It’s time to start getting excited, Dear Reader. We’re just a few months out from the unofficial start of our summer festival season. That May Day Bank Holiday weekend means one thing – Live At Leeds. Packed with (literally) hundreds of the best new bands on the planet, it sees one of the country’s most vibrant creative cities turned into a mecca of buzz, hype and awesome live music.
To celebrate, we’re holding a special Live At Leeds takeover. Over the course of the day (28th January 2020, in case you’re coming to this late – Ed), we’ll be bringing you all kinds of stuff from and about the acts playing this year’s event. If you’re going, it’ll help you plan out those all-important spreadsheets. If you’ve not yet picked up your tickets – well, what are you waiting for? You can grab ’em here, right now.
Fresh off the back of releasing a video for their latest single ‘Time Machine’, and ahead of both an APRE support tour and their first trip stateside for SXSW, North London fivesome Weird Milk are celebrating their upcoming set at Live At Leeds with this here playlist, a rundown of some of Yorkshire’s best tunes.
The Cribs – I’m Alright Me
Charlie: The band that made me discover indie rock music when I was 14. The best song and album to sing as loud as you can to.
Gang Of Four – Damaged Goods
Blue: A post-punk masterpiece, listening to this song takes me back to performing at school, thinking how cool we were by trying (and probably failing) to replicate their sound. Entertainment! One of the best post-punk albums.
Pulp – Something Changed
Blue: I’m a real sucker for the butterfly effect, songs about what could have happened should one thing have not fallen into place, and potentially what might’ve happened if only something had gone your way. I think this song sums this up perfectly.
The Human League – Being Boiled
Zach: Oh to have been alive in the 80s and to have walked into a nightclub to hear this, rather than being subjected to the ‘monster floor fillers’ and attuned lyrics of today.
Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia, My Reflection
Blue: Proper gothic track from the 80s, always feel like I should’ve dyed my hair black and worn eyeliner. One day, eh…
Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Blue: As tempting as it was to choose ’Sex Dwarf’ from the album, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye had to be chosen due to the story told in the narrative (despite the potentially disappointing ‘happy’ ending). Please note that I have deliberately chosen the album version, the 12” clarinet solo version just doesn’t cut it for me.
The Wedding Present – My Favourite Dress
Blue: The ultimate song in terms of teenage heartbreak, seeing the love of your life with someone else. My Favourite dress? My favourite song.
The Outer Limits – Just Help Me Please
Charlie: An amazing band from Leeds around in the late 60s. The record has inspirations from Mo-town and guitar bands from LA.
Joe Cocker – Something
Charlie: One of the great, great voices singing one of my favourite songs ever. A perfect sing-along for the boozy end of the festival.
Live At Leeds will take place on 2nd May, visit liveatleeds.com for more info.
