I’ve always loved urban parks and Leeds boasts one of England’s very finest at Roundhay. For over a century those 700 immaculately kept North East Leeds acres have provided welcome sanctuary to generations of the city’s inhabitants, hosting a number of hugely popular events, most recently a leg of the ITU World Triathlon Series, ecstatic crowds witnessing a home grown one-two, the Brownlee brothers putting the rest of the field to the sword.
As far as live music is concerned, Roundhay punched well above its weight too, the natural amphitheatre of the never completed third lake playing host to The Stones, The Boss, U2, Jacko and Madge to name but few. It may come as a surprise then that a decade has passed since Robbie Williams gave Leeds its last open air live concert at the venue. Thankfully 2016’s OnRoundhay marks a welcome return with a mouth-watering line-up featuring a headline show from Madcunian Indie legends James, returning to the county following a triumphant show at Bingley last summer with album number fourteen ‘Girl at the End of the World’. Actually calling James an indie band is a little unfair, their music containing considerably more depth than plenty of bands tarred with that particular brush, the same can also be said of support band Primal Scream, a hedonistic blend of old school rock and roll brought up to date with ground-breaking electronica, their landmark album Screamadelica trousering the inaugural Mercury Prize back in 1992.
Also on the undercard are new young pretenders Wolf Alice, their splendid debut long player and Grammy nominated ‘My Love is Cool’ making tsunami sized waves last year, the Leeds Academy also requiring a new arsehole following a stellar WA gig this Spring. Max Jury and The Haggis Horns complete the line-up and under-12s are free making it a perfect family day out.
So, if you want summer to last that little bit longer this year, be there or be square.
Words - Mike Price
Leeds Indie Food are bringing their expertise to the event so prepare yourself for some mouth-watering delights at the festival courtesy of the likes of Manjits Kitchen, Laynes Espresso, Claw Hide, Piggie Smalls and more!