THE FRONT ROW

Leeds and Reading Festival is built on its big names, the poster-filling giants, the jaw-drop booking announcements, the generational singalongs that echo across Bramham Park and Richfield Avenue. But the real magic? That happens away from the headline slots. It’s in the sweatbox tents at midday, the stumbling-across-something moments on the Introducing Stage, the early afternoon main stage sets where you discover your next obsession before most of your mates have even had their first pint.

This year’s top line is stacked, from Chappell Roan’s meteoric pop ascent to Bring Me The Horizon’s genre-bending carnage – but we’re not here for that. You know where to find the headliners. We’re here to point you towards the names you’ll be telling everyone about on Monday morning, the sets you’ll still be talking about in five years when they’re halfway up the bill, or maybe even headlining themselves.

If you’re Reading-bound, you’ll get your shot at these too – just check your clashfinder carefully. But here in Leeds, these are the moments worth circling, the places you’ll find The Front Row grinning at the barrier, pint in hand.

Friday

Cliffords – BBC Introducing Stage

Kicking off the weekend on Friday, the BBC Introducing Stage has a knack for opening your festival account with something memorable – and Irish indie bands Cliffords might just be the ones to do it this year. They’re a band with a knack for hooks that feel instantly familiar without ever sounding derivative, tight enough to fill a main stage one day but still raw enough to feel like a secret worth keeping for now.

The songs bounce between indie punch and alt-rock edge, the kind of setlist that makes you feel like you’ve been let in on something special. They’ve grafted across the UK and Ireland’s grassroots circuit, honing their sound in rooms where you can feel the kick drum in your chest. Expect them to turn up armed with their sharpest material yet, a mission to win over early crowds, and the kind of festival energy you can’t fake.

It’s the kind of opener that sets the tone for the whole weekend – get down early, shake off the campsite cobwebs, and let Cliffords kickstart your Leeds 2025 story.

Saturday

Saturday at Leeds is a treasure map of discovery, and you don’t even have to stray far from the big stages to find it.

Red Rum Club – Main Stage
Liverpudlian brass-driven indie heroes Red Rum Club open the Main Stage and will be the first big shot of adrenaline for the day. They’ve become a festival favourite for a reason – trumpet hooks that cut through the air like sunbeams, choruses designed for mass singalongs, and a swagger that feels effortless but earned. They’re not just a warm-up; they’re a statement that the party starts now. Reading crowds will get it just as good – but in Leeds, with that Yorkshire morning buzz, it’s going to be electric.

The Royston Club – Main Stage
Later in the day, just before Bloc Party, Wrexham’s The Royston Club step up. They’re a band riding the wave of guitar music’s latest resurgence, pairing sharp indie riffs with lyrics that dig into real-life stories. Their growth over the last year has been undeniable – bigger rooms, bigger crowds, and bigger confidence. On the Main Stage, they’ll prove they can hold their own with the best, delivering a set that will feel both intimate and widescreen at once.

Good Health Good Wealth – Chevron Stage
Over in the Chevron Stage early doors, Good Health Good Wealth open with a dose of indie-funk optimism. Their sound is a mash of groove-driven basslines, silky vocals, and sharp pop instincts – the kind of music that makes you forget you were tired five minutes ago. Expect a crowd of early adopters dancing like it’s midnight, not midday. They’re one of those acts you’ll leave telling everyone, “Yeah, I saw them first at Leeds.”

Overpass – BBC Introducing Stage
Birmingham’s Overpass have been quietly climbing the ranks with a sound that straddles classic indie and modern alternative rock. On the BBC Introducing Stage, they’ll bring the kind of precision and melodic punch that turns heads. It’s easy to picture them on bigger bills in the next couple of years – catch them here while you can still get this close.

Artio – BBC Introducing Stage
Closing out Saturday’s hidden gem trail, Artio bring their dark, cinematic alt-pop to the BBC Introducing Stage. Hailing from Leeds, this is home turf, and you can feel it in their live shows – big choruses, electronic flourishes, and a confident stage presence that fills the space. It’s moody yet euphoric, tailor-made for a tent full of people about to stumble upon their new favourite band.

Sunday

The final day might be when the legs are sore and the voices are hoarse, but Sunday’s undercard is stacked with reasons to power through.

Finn Forster – BBC Introducing Stage
Hailing from the North East, Finn Forster’s heartfelt songwriting and rich, soulful voice have been turning heads across BBC Introducing airwaves. His set will be a breather in the chaos – storytelling lyrics, melodies that linger, and a genuine charm that cuts through the noise. Perfect for a Sunday reset before diving back in.

KEO – BBC Introducing Stage
KEO are a rising alt-pop band whose sound blends shimmering synths, rhythmic precision, and a knack for infectious hooks. Live, there’s an energy that flips from intimate to explosive in a heartbeat. It’s exactly the kind of set that can catch a weary crowd off guard and pull them right back into the moment.

Eville – BBC Introducing Stage
Eville’s music dances on the darker edges, weaving in beats and textures that make it both club-ready and festival-fit. Their set will be one for those wanting something a little different – a reminder that Leeds’ smaller stages are a playground for the unexpected.

Mouth Culture – Festival Republic Stage
Closing out our hidden gem picks, Leicester’s Mouth Culture hit the Festival Republic Stage with a sound that fuses alt-rock grit, indie melodies, and a dash of cinematic ambition. It’s anthemic without being predictable, and live they bring an intensity that feels like they’re trying to win over every single person in the tent. On a Sunday night, with the festival’s last few hours stretching out ahead, it’s going to be the perfect send-off.

---

See You Down the Front

Leeds Festival 2025 has the big names locked down, you already know where to find them. But these are the sets that will surprise you, the ones that make your mates jealous when you tell them about it after. From hometown heroes to future festival favourites, they’re the heartbeat of the weekend.

We’ll be there, Leeds-side, from the first chord to the final bow, pints in hand, eyes on the stage, and ears wide open. Whether you’re making notes for Reading or planting yourself in Bramham Park, make room in your weekend for these hidden gems. They’re the real reason Leeds and Reading is still the best weekend of the year.