It's not just about the headliners.

Last updated: 4th Jul 2018

Originally published: 28th Jun 2018

Image: Leeds Festival (source)

It's one of the biggest festivals in the UK, attracting up to 85,000 revellers each year as well as some of the world's biggest artists. This year's line up boasts the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon and Fall Out Boy as headliners, with the rest of the line up jam packed with a genre-spanning array of artists.

But what about the bands in small print? They might not be as well known as the music industry goliaths that dominate the top of the poster, but there is a huge bank of talent just waiting to be discovered on this year's Leeds Festival line up.

We did a bit of digging to find out the best emerging artists that you need to see.

Black Futures

The apocalyptic world of Black Futures is an industrial, dystopian nightmare, where nihilistic punk, dark synths and a bleak outlook is combined with a tongue in cheek approach. Think Nine Inch Nails roughing up the Blade Runner soundtrack with the Beastie Boys swagger, and you're kind of halfway there.

They've had a big festival win at The Great Escape already this summer, as well as dates at Boardmasters and Y Not, so by the time Leeds comes round they should be ready to rock The Pit on Friday.

Wyvern Lingo

Irish trio Wyvern Lingo make smart and infectious pop music, harmoniously harking back to classic R&B girl groups such as SWV or TLC but with a folksy influence that makes them equal parts Florence & the Machine.

They first bubbled on the radar back in 2014, but finally released their self-titled debut album earlier this year which showcased their sound in supremely polished fashion. They're opening the Festival Republic stage on Sunday.

Demob Happy

So they may not be completely unheard of, but these guys have been just under the radar for ages, and  we can't get enough of their fuzzy, melodic grunge rock.

They're just on the edge of being massive, following a load of festival dates and a support slot for Nothing But Thieves on their UK tour, so now will be a good time to catch them on the Festival Republic stage.

Petrol Girls 

This feminist British/Austrian four piece have a lot to say, and it's no surprise given we're living in extremely testing times. We could certainly do with some new faces to vocalise what a lot of us are thoroughly pissed off about, so their punk sensibilities are more than welcome.

Their music is fast and angry so let off a bit of steam and see them kick off the Lock Up stage on the Saturday at Leeds.

I Don't Know How But They Found Me

IDK for short, these lot have been causing quite the hype online. Unless you're a Panic! at the Disco fan (who also play Leeds), you might be feeling quite confused.

According to their website this band 'faded away into obscurity after struggling to find success in the late 70s and early 80s. Only recently, the Internet has begun to uncover the performances and recordings of a band that the world wasn’t ready for'... We're not entirely sure what this means either, but it turns out it's the new project of former PATD member Dallon Weekes. They play Reading and Leeds as a UK festival exclusive and are, erm, an opening band. How bloody ironic.

Grab Leeds Festival tickets below.