Leeds Festival 2014 - Preview

Here we go, here we go! Leeds Festival 2014, yet only half of us have scored a return ticket from the headaches and hangovers of last year's epic line-up. Each and every year, thousands of people across the social spectrum and across the UK flock to the fields of Leeds for what they know is THE music event of the year. Of course, catering to the masses is no easy feat but with ten stages all rigged up, this machine, emblem of the north, once again raises its flags way up heavens bound.Moving from Temple Newsam a few years back now, LF has really made itself at home within the colossal 1,235 acre grounds of Bramham park. Returning bands themselves (or the newcomers for that matter), facing glorious deja-vu on approach to the site if not already attended as rowdy teens, are in for a real good show.

With the festival being such an icon and in itself evolving in sheer mass and motor each year, it's understandably hard to really get a good hold-down on the lineup. With time clashes, mud, bar queues and a serious lack of phone battery, it's only fair we deal out a helping hand of this year's 'Not To Be Missed' sets to make festival life a little easier.

In no preferential order at all.

Arctic Monkeys
When & Where: Sunday / 21:20 / Main stage
Prepare With: Snap Out Of It

Probably THE most recommended live set - and not just because of their font size on the poster either. We all know of the epic journey from acne ridden, northern layabouts to multi-million selling, west coast leather superstars. We also know how much this might effect an AM ticket starting price up to £90, so if you haven't caught this album's tour, NOW is the chance of a lifetime. The Arctic Monkeys current live set is, in a hundred years, to be a thing of legend; a notion of the unbelievable, a real kick in the shin when you miss it and catch a later glimpse on iPlayer.

First attending LF themselves at 15, the AM chose especially to close this year's weekend as a homage to the priceless musical fire LF kindled in their hearts. This 1 hour 40 minute finale is one to be remembered, recorded and, most of all, to be singing yourself out of sanity to.

Bombay Bicycle Club 
When & Where: Sunday / NME / BBC Radio 1 Stage
Prepare With: Come To

Returning as sub-headliners on the NME stage, from a main stage slot in 2012, Bombay Bicycle Club are back and at 'em with a new album and thus new live vibes. Their 2011 album 'A Different Kind Of Fix' played host to a number of crowd-fuelled backing vocal anthems and smashed the festival circuits. The new album 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' goes one step beyond this, with their live atmosphere taking us into epic realms of crowd and crumble. Make sure you're front and centre with every single member of your extended festival friendship circle.

Boys Noize
When & Where: Friday / BBC Radio 1 Dance stage / Time TBA
Prepare With: XTC

Collaborating with Berlin-based Canadian musical mastermind Chilly Gonzalez on forthcoming album 'Octave minds', our festival senses are beginning to tingle with Boys Noize. With the new album being very much anticipated, it's only clear Alexander Rhida has some tricks up his T-shirt sleeves for this year's high-up set on Friday's dance stage. However, don't take this latest, seemingly more ambient, collaboration for granted. WARNING: Expect non-stop jiving action - DO NOT forget your dancing shoes.

Milky Chance
When & Where: Sunday / BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage / Time TBA
Prepare With: Flashed Junk mind

Emerging out of the depths of early 2013, Milky Chance has scored a top corner slot early on in the day Sunday making for great rehabilitation tunes and head wobbling ambiance. So forget the long and lazy Sunday blues, get some food down ya', stick the shades on and make your way to the Radio 1 dance stage for this future super-star. With the new album 'Sadnecessary' quickly finding comfortable chart positions, Chance is rising fast - catch him while you can.

Metronomy
When & Where: Saturday / NME / BBC Radio 1 stage / Time TBA
Prepare With: Love Letters & The Look

The epitome of English modern pop acts and arguably one of this year's biggest assets to LF in terms of live sound. Make sure to run through the latest album 'Love Letters' before the weekend commences, with reminiscent 80s vibes and a pitch perfect comparison to the live presence. Attending with a hand holding partner is recommended (if possible), otherwise the whole gang - Metronomy are undeniably bound for one of this year's most awe-inspiring and sets.

The Fat White Family 
When & Where: Saturday / Festival Republic Stage / Time TBA
Prepare With: Is It Raining In Your Mouth

Straight from their residential squat above a South London pub to the LF arena, The Fat White Family are one of the most whispered and worded about bands of 2014. With a modest slot around midday on the Festival Republic stage, prepare for an insight into a true spectacle of the British underground. Expect a mixture of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Black Lips. Highly recommended for any 60s revival fanatics.

Temples
When & Where: Saturday / NME / BBC Radio 1 Stage / Time TBA
Prepare With: Shelter Song

Securing themselves a safe position not far behind the likes of Tame Impala, we follow the path of  the 60s psychedelic revival a little further on over the hill. Breaking the scene early last year, Temples are another new yet ever growing force to emerge to the surface of the festival world at such pace. Of course, the past couple of years has been bursting with colourful delayed guitar riffs and psychedelic chord sequences, giving Temples a desirable energy both on record and onstage. Take your Hendrix headbands along for this feel-good electric 60s set.

Toy
When & Where: Thursday / BBC Introducing stage / Headliner
Prepare With: Lose My Way

Bringing together a mood board for the recent stir of 'shoe-gazing', Toy are up and coming - and coming up strong. Although Toy will inevitably be pulling off slots on the festival republic/NME stages for years to come, this headline slot on Thursday's opening session is bound for airy and lucid crowd-mospheres - perfect for the open air Introducing Stage. In the past, names such as Florence & The Machine and Two Door Cinema Club have emerged from the intro stage; situated between the main stage and main festival concourse, be sure to put in a number of appearances there.

Vampire Weekend 
When & Where: Saturday / Main stage / 18:10
Prepare With: Everlasting Arms

When Vampire weekend set out on a mission to become a Paul Simon 'Graceland' cover band, I doubt any one of them anticipated such a progression as they have meandered. With a hoard of golden tickets to pull of the bag (Oxford Comma/Cousins/A-punk), Vampire Weekend are forever a must see festival act.

Elli Ingram
When & Where: Friday / BBC Radio 1 Xtra Stage / Time TBA
Prepare With: When It Was Dark

Often described as a potential 'badass Adele', Elli Ingram's lightweight R&B set provides a fitting alteration from the dancing and diving across the board. Featuring on Chase & Status' latest album 'Brand New machine', Ingram is affiliating herself with a host of powerful friends. Go for a chill, a sway and recuperate a little to this girl's golden lungs and glorious sampling sounds.

Elsewhere at the festival, you can catch Pulled Apart By Horses, Twin Shadow, Royal Blood, Gogol Bordello, Möngöl Hörde, Brody Dalle, The Amazing Snakeheads, Hozier, Little Matador, Vic Mensa, Kwabs, Prides and Bill Bailey.

There we have it, no excuses, no phone-a-friends. Share it, tweet it, shout it; your top tips for this festival weekend. Enjoy!

Alister Roberts