“Who Will You Discover Next?” – the tagline for this year’s Live At Leeds: In The City, perfectly encapsulates the essence of capping off another vibrant festival year. While looking at the lineup might initially evoke thoughts of unfamiliar names, the true charm of the festival lies in the discovery of new talent. Emerging artists, potential future headliners, and cult favorites are all present in the Live At Leeds lineup; it's a delightful quest to pinpoint them scattered throughout the city in a kind of magical musical treasure hunt. Eager to uncover some hidden gems, CLASH ventured to Yorkshire for this annual northern adventure.
We begin our day by braving the wet and windy weather, collecting our wristbands at The Wardrobe before taking a short walk to The Key Club – our first destination. After a quick visit to JUMBO Records next door (a must for anyone in Leeds), we descend the stairs into the basement venue to catch our first act of the day – the Dublin six-piece, Child of Prague. Offering an Irish twist on Midwest emo, the band is mesmerizing as they perform tracks from their outstanding 2025 EP, ‘Clothed In The Sun’. With three vocalists alternating leads and harmonizing beautifully, their musical arrangements captivate, enhanced by the addition of a saxophone and violin alongside the usual bass, drums, and guitars. Standout tracks like ‘Grey Hair’ and ‘Basking Sharks’ during their brief set, alongside their unique rendition of a traditional Irish song, set an impressively high bar for the day, signaling a promising future ahead for the band.
Staying at The Key Club, we now experience a taste of the European rock scene courtesy of the French quartet Last Train. They kick off their set with a seismic entrance, as ‘Home’ creates a heartbeat-like rhythm that establishes a tense atmosphere, which then erupts with powerful guitar riffs. Charismatic frontman Jean-Noël Scherrer invites the crowd to come closer before unleashing the intense energy of ‘The Plan’ and transitioning into the darker, Placebo-like ‘On Your Knees’. The performance captivates, as eyes remain glued to the stage while Scherrer and guitarist Julien Peultier deliver electrifying riffs. At one point, Peultier even breaks his guitar strap, but he cleverly reattaches it using duct tape to finish the set. The set culminates with ‘The Big Picture’, an epic 10-minute piece featuring smoky guitars and Scherrer’s passionate screams. They may have performed only four songs, but this accomplished French rock band left one of the strongest impressions of the entire day.
Next, we trek uphill to the Leeds Beckett Student Union for more emerging talent. Upon arrival, we catch Irish singer-songwriter Kean Kavanagh, who infuses the event with some country vibes, blending Americana with traditional Irish folk. His performance is mostly understated, supported by a polished backing band that expertly plays songs from his 2025 album, ‘The County Star’. We then move next door to see London rock quartet KEO, who attract one of the largest crowds of the day. With their first song, they have the audience singing back passionately, waving their arms in the air, as frontman Finn Keogh’s raw, powerful vocals amplify the room's emotional intensity. Despite being a band that just released their debut EP this year, they already exude a headliner’s presence, reflecting their rapid rise in 2025.
Finally, after navigating the maze of Leeds Beckett to find the Theatre stage, we encounter Sheffield nu-metal group Broken Narrative. Despite performing for a small crowd and some band members nursing flu symptoms with Lemsip, they give an impressive performance, transitioning between tracks from their ‘Thesis on Change’ EP and popular emo/rock covers, including Don Broco’s ‘Everybody’. After playfully executing the song's choreography and narrating the performance, frontman Joel Arthur encourages the audience to support local music and be the change they want to see – a message we can all get behind.
Following a quick refreshment break, we return to Leeds Beckett SU for Nottingham quartet Divorce, who have had a remarkable year with their five-star debut, ‘Drive To Goldenhammer’. This evening feels celebratory as the Leeds crowd enthusiastically sings along, supporting bassist and singer Tiger Cohen-Towell, who is struggling with her voice due to a gig with The Last Dinner Party in Dublin the night before. Despite her hoarse voice, the band sounds magnificent as they play old favorites like ‘Checking Out’ and ‘Eat My Words’, alongside well-received singles ‘All My Freaks’, ‘Hangman’, and ‘Lord’ from ‘Drive To Goldenhammer’.
Finally, it’s time for the headliners. After much deliberation over which act to see, we decide on South London electro-punks, Fat Dog. This choice proves fortunate as their set at Stylus becomes legendary. Arriving midway through their popular track ‘
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“Who Will You Discover Next?” – the slogan for this year's Live At Leeds: In The City, perfectly encapsulating what makes it an excellent conclusion.