Words and photos by Izzy Reeve
Live At Leeds: In the City 2025 filled the streets with devout live music fans, all determined to push through the persistent drizzle to hotly debate with their pals which of their personal lineups would win the schedule clash war. As we all sprinted around the city in an attempt to see as many bands as possible, I set out on an adventure to find the fan favourites, ones to watch and future stars for Karma! Magazine.
Nxdia held nothing back in their midday slot, opening up the day’s proceedings at the Live At Leeds 2025 hub of action, The Wardrobe. Punchy pop-rock never sounded so loud, with a busy room and hardcore fans shouting along to every word, we were off to a great start. I stopped off at The Key Club to see a bit of alt-rockers Tooth, then popped my head into Leeds Beckett SU Stage Two after being drawn in by Humane The Moon’s energetic performance. Kicking off the Dork Presents: Leeds Beckett SU Main Stage was Honeyglaze, whose dreamy indie-rock got the ball rolling. The three-piece were enchanting; their sophomore album ‘Real Deal’ has since been on repeat.
Girl Group at Belgrave Hall had the audience revelling in the joys of catchy synth-pop, highlighting the power of girlhood. Fierce in their dance routines and lyrics, Girl Group are an upcoming force to be reckoned with. Heidi Curtis, who I was excited to see as a late stage addition to the lineup, was next up at Belgrave. Since seeing her support Sam Fender back in 2019, I’ve been waiting and ready for the release of new music. Performing her debut single and a set of driving tunes, Heidi’s hype is well-deserved and I’m looking forward to her rise to the top.
One of the most anticipated acts of the day was Panic Shack. There is nothing restrained about Panic Shack’s exuberant punk scrappiness and their humorous social commentary. They were an electric addition to the lineup; the crowd were bouncing off the walls and buzzing to see the Welsh tornado rip up the stage. I dipped a tiny bit early to catch Keo, a band I’ve heard so much about following their meteoric rise off the back of their debut EP this year. Sure enough, they had gathered a crowd of hardcore fans who roared along to every word with their arms in the air for a passionate rendition of ‘I Lied, Amber’.
Sticking to Leeds Beckett, Katy J Pearson and Divorce were next on the bill. Katy J Pearson brought her refreshing indie-folk centre stage, with her stunning vocals supported by her band in an intimate, spellbinding performance. I found myself swaying, mesmerised, with the crowd for the whole set. Tiger Cohen-Towell of Divorce may have had a scratchiness to their voice after supporting The Last Dinner Party in Dublin the previous evening, but the band still delivered a stellar performance of transcendent harmonies. Another band with palpable excitement surrounding them, Live At Leeds hit the nail on the head with the lineup on their biggest stage. Knackered by this point, I was ready to have the multifaceted Man/Woman/Chainsaw snap me back to reality with a dynamic set at The Wardrobe. With all six of the band squished on the stage, it felt like an orchestral, rocky fever dream. Raring to go and feeding off each other’s energy, their noisy but polished performance was brilliant and fun to watch.
Being front row at a HotWax gig is a wild ride. The trio blew The Key Club away with their driving, fuzzy bass and adrenaline-jolting set list. The crowd laughed as they jostled with each other, egging Talulah Sim-Savage and Lola Sam forward to involve themselves in the fray. Taking a breather, I got the bus over to the iconic Brudenell Social Club’s Community Room for Florida’s shimmering indie stars, flipturn. Reaching the end of the European and UK leg of their huge tour, flipturn showed no signs of burnout. The band’s positive energy was infectious, and their camaraderie clear for all to see as they executed tight renditions of cult upbeat hits like ‘August’ and ‘Glistening’ with an air of glee. Their euphoria was reflected in the crowd, who danced their way through the set.
Closing out my day of discovery, Belgrave Music Hall hosted new kids on the block Westside Cowboy. My personal one-to-watch, the late night slot for the Manchester University graduates was also on everyone else’s radar. With a one in, one out system firmly in place by the time I got to the venue, I managed to squeeze into Belgrave Hall to watch it all unfold. Shrouded in smoke, Westside Cowboy delivered a rousing performance that exceeded all of my expectations. I wholeheartedly joined in the shouts of ‘WESTSIDE COWBOYYY’ that opened up ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’. If I wasn’t already a fan, seeing Westside Cowboy live only cemented my appreciation.
Live At Leeds: In The City continues to uphold its long-standing position as a pioneer for festivals championing new and emerging artists. The promise of compelling live acts around every corner had me eager to brace the rain and make my way across the city. The only problem was there wasn’t enough time in the day to see it all. From bands you’ve heard whispers about, to those with music yet to be released, this festival had it all. A poignant reminder why community-driven spaces for new music to thrive are so important, there’s no doubt that Live At Leeds: In The City has had a hand in uplifting your next favourite artist.
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