What better way to start a day of music than with a fish finger sandwich?

After a hearty lunch to get myself ready, I kept up an annual tradition and started Live at Leeds in The Cockpit. This was the best decision of the day for me, because I stumbled upon some guys who I’d never heard of. They were Leeds band Richard Parker, who I’d describe as someone getting post rock right. They held the attention of everybody in the main room with wave after wave of intense sound washing over us all. If I could recommend any band I saw this weekend, they would definitely be that band!

From there it was up to the O2 Academy for their first band of the day, once again a local band in the form of iliketrains. These were a band I had heard a lot about but had never seen and from the size of the crowd pushing to the front I was one of a small few who hadn’t. With solid bass lines and a sombre sound that was very reminiscent of The National. However for me didn’t have the bite I would expect such a postpunk sound to have.

After this came one of the most bizarre moments of the day. After finishing my drink and having an hour to kill till the next band I had planned to see, I thought why not head over to Leeds Met? What I found was Gabriel Bruce who was interestingly enough the surprise of the day. With a Nick Cave look and sound darted around the stage manically dancing whilst his backup singers kept to a more uniform routine that was soon adopted by the entire crowd. This definitely was one of those moments where you ask yourself did I just imagine that, as about 40 people all dancing in time with backing singers, who were finding it hard to keep from laughing. All this made this one of my performances of the day.

After leaving what felt like “The Twighlight Zone” it was back to the O2 Academy to see another band that I’d been told I couldn’t miss my a friend, Niki and the Dove. This time I was not disappointed. This Swedish duo shot us all back in to the 80’s with some awesome dance along tracks that really got the crowd going. Immediately I thought these guys would definitely be tough act to follow.

Then along came Spector and all I remember think was this is what is missing from the British indie scene. Best description would be cynicism Modest Mouse would be proud of with definite Pulp undertones. For me these guys totally stole the show at the academy and with there last cord ringing out I left. Heading straight for Leeds Uni Stylus and the main act I was here to see, Los Campesinos!

When I got to Stylus it was already rammed, everybody waiting in anticipation. I had just enough time to grab a beer till the seven member strong band took to the stage for an hour of just indie goodness. They played tracks from all four of their albums and finally after a couple of digs at the Leeds United fans in attendance by lead singer Gareth David, they burst into they’re energetic anthem You! Me! Dancing! which got the entire room jumping! Honestly this was the perfect band to finish the day because they really gave me the energy to keep the part going!

Well then that was it Live at Leeds was over for another and I don’t know about anyone else but I can’t wait for next year. Here’s hoping that it’s going to keep getting bigger and better with every year!