Review: Sunday at The Garden Party in Leeds

Image: Garden Party 

Craig Charles takes to the Just A Little stage at half past three. After Paul Woolford, he is the earliest 'big' name to play on Sunday.

With a preplanned set comprised of crowd-pleasers including 'Seven Nation Army', 'Uptown Funk' and a brass arrangement of Marvin Gaye's 'Sexual Healing', the TV sensation attempts to take the crowd's mind off the potentially day-ruining clouds above.

He has some success: barrier huggers sing and wave along to his selections, but not everyone is in a Mediterranean state of mind. The slow but steady exodus of people walking away from his set suggests that Charles' exuberance is not universally appreciated. 

At the Skinny Stage, Galaxians succeed more-so than Craig Charles to counter the mid-day festival blues. As soon as the two-piece Leeds-based outfit takes to the stage, those sitting down take to their feet.

Jed Skinner somehow coolly manages to replicate the sound of a four-layer melody section using three synthesisers. Matt Woodward on drums keeps the manic synth output locked to a sleazy groove.

The pair's most recent four track EP, Personal Disco Component, is much appreciated. One or two sporadic rays of sun even get involved in the party. 

The Skinny Stage, facing a grassy area peppered with hay-bails, is the most suitable place to enjoy the afternoon programme. Punters can take a seat and enjoy food from ten local producers.

(Source: The Garden Party)

The stage bar, tucked away in the corner of the festival, is the only stage from which you can hear the artist without hearing music from another stage.

At one point, perhaps due to teething issues, Patrick Topping practically played a back-to-back set, but each was on a different stage.

Bernard and Edith perform on the the Skinny Stage next. The pair's music is quite dark and provokes a different crowd reaction to that caused by Galaxians.

Reverb-drenched, eerie vocal melodies sit on top of sequenced drum tracks. Not many people bother to stand up. Comparisons could be made between the young duo and Purity Ring or 18+.

As the festival atmosphere picks up, Bicep takes to the FACT stage. One half of the pair is missing, but this doesn't stop the crowd from fist pumping along to the sound of 4-to-the-floor, drum machine house. 

By now, the muddy Yorkshire day time weather has retired. Talib Kweli and his DJ do not manage to fill the Crack stage; There is plenty of space at either side of the tent, something that can't be said for the other stages featuring house music DJs.

Kewli bounces from the left side of the stage to the right and brims with energy as he plays selections from his 13 year-old discography. 

The evening draws to a close with the sound of Grandmaster Flash. It was a good thing he performed last, for a set packed to the brim with everything from disco to trap to reggae to funk would have been nigh on impossible to top. Arms are continually in the air and the crowd sings along to feel-good classics. 

Garden Party staff can be safe in the knowledge that the Sunday programme succeeded in bringing a festival atmosphere to the centre of Leeds. 

Read: The Libertines, Kendrick Lamar and more at Reading and Leeds Festival