Live Review: Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa, Spring King @ Leeds Festival 2018


Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar @ Leeds Festival 2015 (Gary Mather / Live4ever)




It’s that time of year again when Yorkshire awakes to music, mud and mayhem. But does Leeds Festival still matter?

It always brings surprises, but this year the biggest surprise was its lineup. 2018 is the year the festival has taken a significant step forward into its future. It hasn’t jettisoned its rock roots entirely, but many choices suggest a forward momentum few expected, but most knew it was about time for.

This year saw pop and hip-hop hit the festival hard, and they never sounded out of place. Pop orientated artists like Dua Lipa, Sigrid and Fickle Friends proved that done right pop is as powerful as ever. Fickle Friends’ set was so exciting that even the singer’s broken foot wasn’t enough to stop them. Hard To Be Myself was earnest and entertaining, which really sums up the beauty of their set.

Sigrid’s time on stage was a lot bouncier (and not just because she didn’t have a broken foot). Songs like Strangers and Don’t Kill My Vibe are just what you need mid-way through the rainiest day of the weekend – it’s moments like these that remind those listening why they’re still bothering. Then Dua Lipa pulled one of the biggest crowds of the weekend and gave them one of the biggest shows. Dancers, overly dramatic drumming and simple style; it all adds up to something special. One Kiss and New Rules make real waves live.

As for hip-hop, a lot is going on, but judging from the crowds it was Post Malone, N.E.R.D. and Kendrick Lamar who really hit the mark. Post and N.E.R.D. have different ideas of what being a rockstar is, but both prove it in the
same way. NERD’s set was a particular favourite, no one could match the sheer volume of classics, one after another.

Kendrick Lamar offered something a lot darker and a little more prophetic with a set that used pared-down theatricality to help the music genuinely resonate. Opener DNA set the scene and was unbeatably brilliant just for its sheer audacity and impact.

However, when it comes to rock Leeds still does it better than anyone else. And it’s the range of rock that still stuns. You have everything from Kings of Leon and Wolf Alice to Papa Roach and The Bronx. It shows Leeds is still setting the standard for rock festivals. As for what stood out, that’s not so easy as there was so much to choose from. Kings of Leon, Sum 41, Nothing But Thieves and Spring King did stand out. Why?

Spring King 1

Spring King (Photo: Alberto Pezzali for Live4ever Media)

Sum 41 bring nostalgia and fun, but more than that they delivered a set packed full of exuberance and brilliant songs. Fat Lip hasn’t lost any of its power, and a cover of Linkin Park’s Faint, with Mike Shinoda, was an exceptional moment. Oddly, Spring King matched Sum 41 every step of the way for energy, but the results were so different. Live, Spring King deliver a joy that is hard to quantify, songs like Mumma and Rectifier both have a wink-wink, nudge-nudge quality that when coupled with their unfettered bounce make them truly special. They should never be missed.

In contrast, Nothing But Thieves blasted through their set with fury and passion. Their guitars are huge and their vocals beautiful. But it’s the songs that truly stun, filling every inch of the humongous Radio 1 tent. Ban All The Music is utterly immense, Amsterdam flawless, Sorry simply beautiful. And they’re merely the first 3 that spring to mind.



Equally, Kings of Leon stun. The only difference is how. KOL are a rarity in rock music these days; they’re not pushing boundaries or changing music, they’re simply playing good old-fashioned rock music, reminiscent of times gone by. But live their music truly comes to life.

A set full of life and love and lunacy has Molly’s Chambers still as exciting as ever after all these years. Use Somebody’s beauty is only amplified live and Manhattan is just breathtaking. But if pushed for that ultimate, absolute moment that summed up the weekend’s brilliance that’s easy, yet completely unexpected.

For 5 minutes, time stood still in a tent as Borns unleashed Electric Love. A sugary, silly and salacious slice of poppy, glam-rock dance, yet uncompromisingly beautiful throughout. It’s this belief in uncompromising brilliance that makes Leeds festival so great. The festival is about music, not rock music despite its history, but great music whatever that is. And time and again it’s proven this to be the case. 2018 only showed that it will
continue to do so.

Leeds Festival is not only alive and well, but actually pushing boundaries in a whole new way.

(Dylan Llewellyn-Nunes)


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