Sunshine helps get festival party started

Headlined by American rock heroes Foo Fighters the day saw hundreds of bands play across six different stages.

The notorious traffic delays caused by the festival look to have been confined to the Thursday with the roads around Bramham Park clear yesterday morning except for the usual commuter traffic.

With hundreds of young people having picked up their A-Level and GCSE results in recent days, the party atmosphere was in evidence from early on.

Perhaps the most emotive moment occurred when Leeds punk rock band Pulled Apart By Horsesopened the main stage.

More used to playing small clubs, the scale of the occasion was evident on the band’s faces as soon as they took the stage and all members made their gratitude known throughout their set.

Later, New Jersey’s Gaslight Anthem drew a huge crowd who added an impromptu mass clap along to closing number The Backseats.

Rainfall earlier in the week had yet to reduce the site to its usual quagmire and festival goers enjoyed basking in the sunshine.

Later Leeds indie band Kaiser Chiefs played a well-received greatest hits set with singer Ricky Wilson jumping into the crowd to get up close and personal with fans.

Ian Sunter from Scarborough, was making his fifth visit to the Leeds Festival. “It’s just part of the summer,” he said.