Live at Leeds: In the City 2024 preview

Live at Leeds: In the City is almost upon us. Usually in these previews, I detail my excitement by picking out a sizeable handful of must-see artists and giving you loads of reasons why you should see them. This year, there’s such a range of genres in the mix that I thought a mock schedule of who to catch and where, might just prove a little handier. Paper and pen at the ready…

Make your first port of call Wolforna at Sela Bar at 12:30pm to kick the day off. This cute watering hole might be small in size, but it’s big in charm and cool cocktails, and it’s about to have its roof blown off by these rockers. The Bradford-hailing band has just released a ferociously riffy EP, ‘Tales of the Damned’, which harnesses Queens-of-the-Stone-Age-meets-Deftones sensibilities, and seriously levels up. Get down early to avoid disappointment, because they’re an explosive act not to be missed. They’ve got seals of approval from Tigercub and Dirty Honey, after all.

When 2pm hits, you’ll have quite the toss-up between Terra Twin more locally at Belgrave Music Hall or Hang Linton down at the iconic Brudenell Social Club. That’s always the fun of the ‘In the City’ instalment of Live at Leeds, as you’ve got to hotfoot it around town to reach the venues at the optimum times. Keep an eye on your watch and you’ll make it work.

Whopping indie energy is guaranteed at 2:30pm at one of my favourite, slightly underrated, Leeds venues — Stylus. That’s when The K’s will be assuming the stage, ready to belt out anthemic tunes. We caught a bit of their set at Leeds Fest this year, and they really had the crowd putty-like.

Some ducking and diving might be in order, as more indie goodness is promised in the form of the lively L’objectif at 3pm at Belgrave Music Hall. That means pizza slices or juicy burgers could be your lunch sorted, too.

Indoor Foxes once served me food at Strip Joint Records in Glasgow. Nope, not the start of a bad joke — very much the truth, as multi-talented Martha, at the helm of the outfit, used to work there. Fantastic record store and delish pints. Having actually never witnessed her dreamy bops live before, I’ll be muscling over to Santiago Bar come 4pm to watch in awe. Overpass will be revving up at the same time at Stylus — the energetic four-piece have gained so much traction over the years, so I can’t not recommend them.

Half an hour of electronic-fuelled bliss is bound to serve as your afternoon breather when it’s Spielmann’s turn at Sela, at 4:30pm. Pull up a chair or stand and groove — the choice is yours.

Conserving your energy for CASISDEAD at 5:15pm at Leeds Beckett SU is a must. Naturally, what’s on the setlist is yet to be determined, but here’s hoping the whopping ‘Pat Earrings’ and ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ make appearances — could they be any catchier? Samples, fat beats, rapped bars — need I say more? Rest assured, they’ll be a good warm-up for the evening.

This year’s Mercury Prize was won by none other than Leeds’ English Teacher, so it’s doubly fun that they’ll be one of the ‘In the City’ headliners. They’re on reasonably early (6:45pm, also at Leeds Beckett SU), so don’t plot in a pit stop for dinner at that point. If ever there was a band to brag about having seen, it’d be this lot. DIY post-punk at its finest.

The last time I was in the presence of Liverpool’s STONE was at The Vinyl Whistle in Headingley. They’d not long released their debut album and they’d come to perform a stripped-back version of it, to a very wanting crowd. Set your alarms for 6:30pm at Stylus to tick them off your Live at Leeds itinerary.

One of our line-up favourites here at Record Weekly is Swim School. The Edinburgh band will be fairly fresh off their recent tour supporting Pale Waves, and it’s also their opportunity to return to the festival since 2021. Alice and the lads are consistently captivating as they rock out with Fender kit aplenty and dazzle with their not-to-be-messed-with riffs. Alice’s vocals are simply ethereal, so The Key Club won’t know what’s hit it at 8pm. Don’t be square. If you wanted to nip out early, though, the gigantic Everything Everything will land at 8:15pm at Leeds Beckett SU, or you’ve got Van Houten gracing The Wardrobe at 8:30pm.

Alfie Templeman is of course another headliner. His deliriously poppy indie numbers are irresistibly joyful — definitely Saturday night fodder. You’ll find him at 9:30pm, following on from The Royston Club, who’ll be there beforehand (from 7:45pm).

When the clock strikes 10pm, the hard decision to go for wildly captivating rock anarchy or smooth-as-silk sax and funky beats will chime. Avalanche Party represent the former (down at Hyde Park Book Club), and they’ll be armed with new material given their current campaign of releases. But if soul’s the goal, Flat Moon deliver the latter — they’re all about strings, drums and brass. Check them out at Leeds Beckett SU.

There are so, so many more bands and artists playing Live at Leeds: In the City 2024. You might take this snapshot as good enough gospel to roll with, or you might want to fashion your own hour-by-hour plan. Buzz over to the festival’s website for more info, scheduling and line-ups, plus tickets.