Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Day Two

This morning the sun is shining and although yesterday was a little patchy today we’re ready for music overload. Starting on the BBC Introducing stage we head to see Sheffield’s Situationists who give the day an indie pop boost. Sounding like Hot Club De Paris mixed with The Wombats the student group are the perfect act to kick start today’s proceedings. These New Puritans however are a little different. Resorting to dreary vocals with a distinctive lack of hooks the group are a heavier Rakes and fail to grab our attention. Someone desperate for attention however is Florence and the Machine who appears a little off the rails for today’s set. Claiming the audience to be “beautiful” for the umpteenth time in ten minutes Florence appears in a blue flowing dress, hoping to lap up the remains of Bat For Lashes’ last year success. She’s great at performing, but her incessant diva qualities becoming draining even for the spectators.


Frank Turner is the unexpected hit of the day. Finding himself lodged in the Lock Up stage he plays a variety of material from his two solo albums. With hundreds of teenagers screaming the words back to the band on stage it's a shock to find Turner's lyrics resounding with such a young audience. You can't help feeling the message is a little lost, but as Turner nods to the audience for the final time to find them relaying back every line you can't help but smile.

As teenagers pile into the NME Stage we all know they're after that song, the song that have made MGMT where they are today, the song which placed the group at the top of every hotlist in the country. While many argue the band at times can be distracted by overlong guitar solos and silly in-jokes, today the band power through the popular tracks from their debut- with the echo of 'Kids' ringing through the tent long after the band have finished, proving they're far from one hit wonders.

We then stay put for another band of the festival- Vampire Weekend. It's rare you find a band that are enjoying themselves as much as the audience but Vampire Weekend are clearly happy to be here. As lead singer Ezra dances around the stage, moving almost in unison with his sweet guitar melodies, the group are upbeat as every flute solo is hummed back on-stage. Decked out in casual summer shorts and shirt complete with sandals, this band manages to encapsulate the festival in a mere half hour and leave you begging for more.

If there's a band more deserving of a headlining slot this summer it's The Wombats. Loaded with more hits you can shake a stick at they manage make their slot not only effortless, but an additional greatest hits package rolled into one. 'Kill the Director', 'Let's Dance to Joy Division' and 'Backfire at the Disco' all get an airing and leave every last person in the tent dancing like there's no tomorrow. Fortunately there’s still a day of the festival to go, and after an underwhelming set from Rage Against the Machine, we head for a (relatively) early night.