It’s time to start getting excited, Dear Reader. We’re less than a month away from the unofficial start of our 2019 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 (11th April 2019, 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.
You know who we, Dork, want to check out at Live At Leeds (the bands on our stage, OBVIOUSLY), you know who festival booker Joe-from-Live At Leeds wants to see (this list here), but who do the bands playing have on their wishlists? We asked a few of them to find out.
Another Sky
Jof: We played with them in Leeds last year for Live at Leeds Ones to Watch and were blown away by their set.
Swimming Girls
Alessio: These guys are smashing it and they’ve nailed 80s revival. They always sound so big whenever we’ve seen them.
Lauran Hibberd
Joel: Lauren’s live set is always really fun. I would get down there for a boogie.
Kawala
We did the Jack Saunders Hopscotch tour with these guys last year and they absolutely smashed it every night. It’s impossible to not love them, such a brilliant live show!
Archie Faulks
We discovered his track ‘What I Like’ a little while ago and we think it’s a really beautiful tune! Really love his songwriting and we are looking forward to seeing him up in Leeds.
Big Society
Oscar first came across Big Society back home in Edinburgh. We think that their track ‘17’ is a total banger and we can’t wait to see them live.
Tamu Massif
Will: A Bristolian producer and songwriter who recently released his debut album that is in my opinion, criminally slept on. The minimalist electronic production mixed with acoustic instrumentation is incredible and the delicate vocals are one-of-a-kind. Definitely excited to see how he manages to translate it into a live show.
Confidence Man
They add something different to the line-up! Have heard lots of good things about their live shows and intrigued to find out what it’s all about.
Genghar
Still actually never seen them despite a lot of love for their first album so will be good to hear some of those songs.
Hotel Lux
I must’ve of seen Hotel Lux 10+ times now and I’m still blown away by their energy. You truly feel as though you’re watching something uniquely great. The incredible lyricism coupled with the brooding yet catchy instrumentals is definitely not one to miss.
Metronomy
We’re lucky enough to be playing with Metronomy at a load of festivals this summer, and to be honest we’ll probably watch them every time.
Confidence Man
Jules: Whenever a drink is had, somehow always plays Confidence Man’s song ‘Boyfriend’ which creeps on repeat and has the whole van going mental.
Sun Silva
We did a six-date tour with these lovely lads last year and watched their set in full every single night, its like Radiohead with added banging pop elements.
Indoor Pets
Charlie’s new obsession, I haven’t been in the car in two months without Charlie playing Indoor Pets at full volume and belting the lyrics at me, one of the most refreshing guitar bands in a very long time we think!
Zuzu
If you know what’s good for you, and the rest of the universe. Zuzu is the girl, proving that aliens really do exist and they have a great taste in music.
Ed The Dog
If you haven’t heard ‘A Good Thing’ you are probably not a good thing. Perfect for dancing and crying at the same time. I love it!
Marsicans
Imagine Indie. I’m a huge fan of these boys, effortlessly releasing great song after great song. So much energy live. Strong believer a 2020 calendar should be in order, to highlight how easily they coordinate haircuts, shirts and trainers.
Team Picture
We’ve seen these guys 3 times now, they are majestic and insanely captivating. It’s an assault on your ears in the best possible way.
Sun Silva
These guys are gonna be big, beautiful songs and crazy musicianship, definitely ones to watch!
Whenyoung
Their set at SXSW was full of certified sing-along bangers and they nail the three-piece attitude.
Marsicans
It’s always inspiring to see local bands do well especially when they’ve got tunes like Marsicans. Check out “Your Eyes” for a taste of Leeds’ bred indie-pop banger’n’mash.
Mini Mansions
If Jake Greenway could describe Mini Mansions in three words, he would say groovy, groovy and groovy. Nuff said.
Ibibio Sound Machine
Our millennial moaning can all get a bit much so it’s always good to let off steam with Ibibio. When you’ve seen us, let’s have a boogie to some suhweet Afro-funk.
Easy Life
We saw these guys play at SXSW and they’re mint live. I don’t think any of us had listened to them before, and we’re all fans now. Awesome tunes, and they’re all sick players too.
Met them briefly as well, they’re all class guys so buzzing to catch their set at Live at Leeds.
Giant Rooks
We toured with these guys in Germany and they toured with us in the UK last year so have got to know them really well. They’re an awesome live band, we learned loads from them and can’t wait to see how they’ve stepped up their live set since! Can’t wait to catch up with them, they also mentioned about some new music they’ve been working on so will be cool to see if they play any of it live.
Larkins
These are all class guys who we went out to SXSW with – dead good friends with them all… they’re making mad strides at the minute and every time I catch them live they’re doing new sick things. They played with us at our album launch show too which we’re crazy grateful for. Can’t wait to see what they do at Live At Leeds.
This lot all play Live At Leeds (4th May).
