'I burst into tears': 25 years of Leeds Festival

Held in Bramham Park, the main stage at Leeds Festival 2024

This weekend marks 25 years since Leeds joined Reading to form one of the UK’s biggest and most iconic music festivals. BBC News speaks to festival-goers and artists to explore its impact.

Taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, it became a two-site festival in 1999 with the addition of the north location. However, its origins in the south date back to the 1950s.

Since its introduction, Leeds has hosted an ever-evolving blend of some of the biggest rock, hip-hop and pop artists from around the world while also championing local talent.

As she was growing up, indie-pop artist Ellur, from Halifax, worked in a burger van just so she could attend the festival. She was overwhelmed with emotion after her performance on the BBC Introducing Stage.

“I literally burst into tears at the end of my set in Leeds,” she said.

"I tried to get as many people in as I could, because all my family, all my friends have been coming for so long."

“I saw a guy that I went to primary school with who was singing along to all my songs and I've not seen him since we left.”

Jodie Langford has appeared on BBC Music Introducing in the past

It was a similar story for Jodie Langford, from Hull, who also performed on this year’s Introducing Stage.

She said it was “extra special” playing in Leeds due to her roots.

“I’m unapologetically northern and I'm proud of using my accent and not covering it when I sing,” she said.

“I think the audience [in Leeds] get that and so the atmosphere was just incredible.”

Wrexham-based band Neck Deep performed twice on Saturday.

They too attended the festival in their youth.

“It’s a compliment and it’s nice that they have a lot of confidence in us,” they said.

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Matt West, from the band, said although the north site means more family and friends can attend, things do not always run smoothly.

“The amount of times that we've done Leeds before, and I've had a phone call from my mum half an hour before I’m due on stage saying, ‘I'm in the car park but don’t know if it’s the right one’.

“I'm like, ‘I love you but I'm sorry, I can't help - maybe you'll see us, maybe you won't’.”

For long-time music fan Martin Jackson - who attended the first Leeds festival with his daughter Lauren - there was one moment in particular which stood out back in 1999.

“I had attended Reading before Leeds began and that first year we saw the likes of Terrorvision, Sick of it All, The Offspring and Red Hot Chili Peppers,” he said.

“Flea [the bass player from Red Hot Chili Peppers] went across the stage upside down naked – it was certainly unforgettable.”

Neck Deep's Ben Barlow spoke about his admiration for the Leeds site during the band's first set