LEEDS FESTIVAL 2025 - SUNSHINE, SINGALONGS & A PINK PONY CLUB TAKEOVER

Leeds Festival 2025 – Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th August 2025

IMAGES Courtesy of Leeds official photography / WORDS MATTY BEZ

Leeds 2025

It's August. The summer is nearly out, the kids are getting ready to go back to school (I hear the sighs of relief), and the festival season is coming to an end. But before the clocks go back and the dark nights set in, it's time for a little bit of madness, partying, and festival fun to cap off a fantastic summer. Leeds Festival is back! And I could not contain my excitement.

SATURDAY

Work commitments kept me away on Friday — sometimes real life wins out — but if you’re going to start a weekend late, Leeds is the place to do it. By Saturday morning Bramham Park was already buzzing, the stories from the night before spilling across the fields, and the energy sky-high. I arrived ready to make up for lost time, and Leeds delivered in spades. with perfect festival weather — dry, warm, but not baking hot — and I clocked up nearly 20,000 steps chasing stages and soaking in the atmosphere. Leeds Festival 2025 was alive and buzzing, and I was determined to make the most of it.

The Main Stage opened for me with Wallows, who were nothing short of a revelation. Frontman Dylan Minnette had charisma to spare, steering the crowd with ease. I knew a couple of tracks — “Calling After Me” and “Are You Bored Yet?” — but walked away converted, already plotting to dive into their back catalogue at home and in the car. That’s the beauty of festivals: walking in half-aware, walking out a fan..

Between sets I took time to explore the site. Festivals have come a long way since I first started coming to Leeds/Reading back in ’98. The food options were outstanding — I later tucked into loaded fries and brisket — and the chill-out zones were plentiful. Gone are the days of fabric backdrops and tinny sound systems; in their place huge LED screens, crystal-clear staging, and dazzling light shows that transform the whole place into a world-class spectacle. Add in the classic fairground rides lighting up after dark, and it’s clear Leeds has evolved into something special.

Back at the Main Stage, The Kooks delivered exactly what you’d hope for: breezy, timeless indie singalongs that united the sun-soaked crowd. “Naïve” and “She Moves in Her Own Way” floated across the field like old friends — the perfect soundtrack to a summer afternoon.

A tip-off at the bar sent me to the BBC Introducing Stage for Overpass — and I’m glad I followed it. They were tight, confident, and bursting with promise, the kind of band destined to outgrow the smaller stages quickly. Discoveries like this are why you wander.

The Chevron Stage then exploded into life with Rudimental. Not my usual genre, but you couldn’t resist it — chest-rattling bass, pounding beats, and a crowd whipped into a bouncing frenzy. The visuals were next level: a huge LED net suspended above the audience, synced perfectly with the stage screens and lights, transforming the whole tent into an electrified cocoon of sound and colour. Once night fell, it became nothing short of breathtaking.

But all of this was a warm-up for the most anticipated act of the day: Chappell Roan. From the moment I saw kids in pink cowboy boots, glitter hats, and homemade T-shirts, it was obvious much of the crowd had come just for her. The staging — part Alice in Wonderland, part enchanted castle — only ramped up the excitement. And when Chappell rose from beneath the stage floor, the field erupted.

With two teenage daughters at home, her songs are never far from the speakers, and somewhere along the way I’ve become a closet fan by osmosis. But live? She was next level. Backed by a full band in full costume, she delivered a masterclass — her voice even more powerful than the recordings, her presence magnetic, her fans utterly devoted. “Giver” and “Casual” hit hard, but it was “Hot To Go” that stole the show. Thousands of fans — especially the kids — danced in unison to its signature moves, a pure festival moment of joy. And when “Pink Pony Club” arrived, the whole field became a blur of pink arms raised to the sky. It was brilliant, wholesome, euphoric — a set for the ages.

Keeping the country energy alive, I headed to Chanel Yates at the BBC Introducing Stage. She was fantastic — witty between songs, brimming with charisma, and armed with infectious country tracks. “Big Girl Boots” was a standout, a proper anthem in the making.

As darkness fell, anticipation built for Hozier. His stage was packed with musicians, and the production was phenomenal: sweeping lights, soaring harmonies, and a set that blended intimacy with sheer scale. His voice, rich and soulful, filled the night sky. Midway through I slipped off to catch a burst of punk mayhem from The Chats — short, sharp, and brilliantly scrappy — before returning just in time for Hozier’s finale. “Take Me To Church” rang out as fireworks lit the sky, a spellbinding end to a long, perfect day.

I headed back to North Wales with ringing ears and a full heart, ready to return for one last round on Sunday.

SUNDAY: RELAXED VIBES & A THRILLING FINALE

Sunday started a little later for me. Knackered from the day before, I took a more casual approach, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the festival at a gentler pace.

My first stop was Wunderhorse, one of my personal favourites. They were a revelation live — rich, intricate indie-rock with big, catchy choruses that drew the crowd in effortlessly. Their energy was infectious, and every song felt like a perfect festival moment. Easily one of the highlights of the day for me.

Next up, a real throwback: Limp Bizkit. A blast from the past and a band I’ve seen at Leeds before. Sure, I’m older now, but they hit just as hard as they did when I was a teen. Hits like “Break Stuff” and “Rollin’” had the crowd bouncing, and I found myself caught up in the nostalgia while still appreciating the raw energy and spectacle of their performance.

The grand finale for many was Bring Me The Horizon on the Main Stage. They delivered the chaotic, high-octane rock they’re known for — perfectly closing the weekend with intensity, spectacle, and crowd participation. The pits, the riffs, and the soaring choruses wrapped up Sunday in true Leeds style.

FINAL VERDICT: LEEDS 2025

Leeds Festival 2025 was an absolute triumph. From sun-soaked indie singalongs with Wallows and The Kooks to the mesmerising spectacle of Chappell Roan — undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend — every day had its standout moments.

The festival has evolved massively since the early days: huge screens, immersive light shows, incredible food, fairground rides, and thoughtfully designed chill zones make Bramham Park a festival playground for all ages. Yet it still retains the magic that keeps me coming back year after year — discovery, nostalgia, and the sheer thrill of live music.

Highlights? Too many to name, but Chappell Roan’s set was a masterclass of stagecraft, energy, and fan connection. From the pink cowboy boots waving in the air to her flawless vocals and vibrant band, it was a moment that will live long in the memory.

Leeds 2025 reminded me why I’ve been coming here since 1998: incredible music, outstanding production, and that unique feeling that only a festival of this scale can give. Sunburnt, exhausted, ears ringing, and heart full — this was a weekend I’ll be talking about for months.

See you again in 2026 — I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

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