Live At Leeds In The City – Saturday
Venues Throughout  Leeds
15th November 2025

Inner city festivals often offer some of the best days for musical discovery. This year, Live At Leeds In The City returned from the beautiful sunshine experienced at Temple Newsham Park to the rainswept streets that separate the many venues that open their doors to thousands of hardy music fans. Neil Chapman and Jim Mumby explored the city in search of their new favourite bands.

The weather was a major factor this year, with Storm Claudia lashing the UK with constant rain. Even the most dedicated gig-goers might have considered staying inside one venue for the day. After pickup of wristbands, an obvious choice was to start with Nxdia at The Wardrobe. The intimate venue filled quickly with a young crowd, many of whom had come specifically for the Manchester-based alt-pop singer-songwriter noted for their emotionally resonant lyrics and engaging stage presence. The early set confirmed that Nxdia is one to see again, but for now it was time to head to Leeds Becketts for more artists.

Crossing from The Wardrobe to Leeds Becketts required a diagonal trek across the city centre, so the plan was adapted to minimise exposure to the horizontal rain. Northern Guitars provided a welcome, music-themed shelter for locals and visitors, where singer-songwriter Scarlet Loran made her Leeds debut, starting the day with gentle, heartfelt acoustic tracks that perfectly matched the cozy atmosphere and a cup of coffee. Such unplanned stops are brief but appreciated, making it tough to move on.

Another stop on the way to Leeds Becketts was unavoidable as the rain intensified. The doorway to The Key Club beckoned, and a look at the schedule revealed So Good were about to start. The venue is known as the home of Slam Dunk music, making it less suited for coffee and gentle melody. Instead, So Good delivered the highest energy set of the day. Lead singer Mia Evans impressed with powerful vocals and Olympic-level high kicks, accompanied by two backing singer-dancers who matched her energy. Their blend of funk-infused pop had the crowd energised and ready for the rest of the festival.

Leeds Becketts SU, the main destination, comprised three stages in close proximity. The Theatre stage, now a key festival site, featured artists connected with Monomyth Records, including Darcie T, whose early set rewarded the effort to find this hidden venue. Upstairs, the Students Union hosted two staggered stages: the second stage saw energetic performances by BOLD LOVE and Humane The Moon before the Dork Stage began, bringing several headline-worthy acts.

Honeyglaze opened the Dork Stage to a packed room; the festival is ideal for discovering new artists and catching up with ones that have been missed. Honeyglaze’s acclaimed debut album Real Deal stood out among the highlights of 2024. Their distinctive blend of indie-rock and dream-pop, characterised by inventive guitar work and delicate, expressive vocals, shone in the opener Don’t. The three-piece excelled with complex guitar, tightly layered drums and bass, and Anouska Sokolow’s expressive word shaping in her direct singing style. The performance set an early standard and was a real festival highlight.

A mad dash back to The Warehouse broke the Becketts triangle, further dampening the day. Meanwhile, the team split up, with one half heading to northern venues. Cherry Serpaph’s set at Sela Bar showcased Sophie Russell’s alt-pop electronic project, recently tipped as “Next Big Thing” by Crash Records. At The Lending Room, Silver Tongued Rascals delivered socially conscious lyrics with a dance-friendly electronic style. Frontman Ben’s commanding energy was matched only by the Yorkshire Born banner and the rousing final chorus of Now You’re Going To Believe Us — a set worthy of its praise.

Witch Post, already a festival playlist staple with their single Rust, performed at The Wardrobe. The vocal duo of Isla Evans and Tom Park drew the crowd in, sounding as strong live as on record. The visit was short as another return to Becketts called

The team reconvened for Radio Free Alice’s set on the Becketts main stage. The post-punk foursome powered through a setlist written on paper plates, keeping the crowd at the barrier fully engaged. Radio Free Alice and Keo became a frequent topic among festival-goers, and Keo’s indie rock kept the energy high for the busy room, suggesting promising futures at bigger festivals.

The review team divided again, some heading for outlying venues such as The Brudenell Social Club, The Lending Room, and Hyde Park Book Club. A quick detour to Becketts Theatre meant catching Clitspit, whose set covered social issues, politics, and even the Otley Run Massacre. While mis-matched in a theatre setting, the band would be great for a more intimate venue. The Family Battenberg at Hyde Park Book Club, hailing from Wales, followed in the tradition of the Super Furry Animals to be a crowd pleaser and one of the festival discoveries.

Du Blonde at The Wardrobe was unmissable after a year of near misses. Sniff More Gritty, another 2024 favorite, was centre stage for the closing date of a long touring year. Before beginning, Beth Jeans Houghton candidly addressed the audience about her Tourette’s Syndrome, sharing that it was a tough day — a vulnerable moment that resonated in the room. The band performed a dynamic set including highlights from the recent album and older favorites, drawing the most engaged reaction of the day. The band announced a break from touring for 2026, leaving hope for more new music to follow.

Man / Woman / Chainsaw set up the day’s most memorable merch stall, complete with a handmade decoupage chainsaw. The six-piece avant-garde rock band, a Louder Than War “ones to watch in 2025,” delivered a triple-vocal performance with soaring violin and keyboards. Their lively presence and energetic audience were matched by original songwriting — another act to watch as they rise.

When it came to headliners, the choices at The Brudenell were strong: Flipturn’s energetic indie-rock in The Community Room and The Covasettes’ catchy indie-pop in the Main Room. Staggered times allowed visits to both, with the Brudenell remaining a favourite bad-weather refuge and one of Leeds’ finest venues.

The official headliner was Jalen Ngonda at Leeds Becketts. His soulful set stood out against the day’s mostly indie fare, drawing a full house for rich vocals and blues-inflected tunes.

A final stop at Becketts Theatre for Glass Frogs’ funky finale rounded out the night. Though afterparties beckoned, for many, it was time to end a long and memorable festival day

Live At Leeds In The City continues to exemplify the city’s vibrant music scene, with its many venues playing crucial roles as platforms for emerging talent. 2025 is likely to be remembered as a vintage year, with many of these artists destined for bright futures.

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Neil Chapman is a photographer and occasional writer based in Leeds.  His assorted works can be found at his Unholy Racket site as well as Instagram, and Facebook

Jim Mumby is a photographer based in Leeds | You can find him on his website  Facebook and Instagram.