As we wave goodbye to September, we now begin to get in the throes of full Autumn festival feelings.
This weekend, Live at Leeds in the City hits the unofficial capital of Yorkshire – and we couldn’t be more ready for it. A new music showcase for new music fans, Live at Leeds in the City is a rare multi-venue showing for the new and exciting in the world of music. In that same spirit, we take a look at some of the most anticipated acts to look out for this weekend, into the new year and beyond:
UNPEOPLE
Despite what the commercial numbers may tell us, rock will never die. The likes of Unpeople are certainly testament to that. Born from the resembling of Press to Meco, Unpeople are for those full-volume lovers craving those smash-through-the-ceiling chords. With their fresh, clean-cut heavy rock anthems, it’s safe to say that the four-piece have hit the ground running with their self-titled EP earlier in the year. The likes of The Garden and waste plastering the venue walls will be friendly reminders that rock is most certainly not dead. FFO: Beartooth, Architects
HUMAN INTEREST
Human Interest demonstrate an extraordinary palette and a healthy appetite into mixing an infectious joy with a taxing mood. Forged from both being penned in the confines of their square flat to skipping up Primrose Hill, London’s next lockdown project of Human Interest have taken their healthy dose of quirky, alternative to every corner of the UK. Now, they head to the North off the back of their hotly-anticipated EP Smile While You’re Losing. Hitting the same chords of melancholia, it features leads Shapeshifting and Better Press Repeat. FFO: Mystery Jets, Afflecks Palace.
INFINITY SONG
Leading the charge from the dugout is New York City soft-rock sibling quartet Infinity Song. The musically-homeschooled family of Infinity Song have been comfortably performing in the Big Apple as a past-time ever since they were kids. The audiences’ reaction on their airy alternative Metamorphosis in 2023, have only encouraged the New Yorkers to hit dates through America and trek to Europe, establishing firm ground with their fanbase closer to our shores in the UK. The soft and sultry rock of Infinity Song perform in Leeds with a spring in their step and nothing much more to prove.
MARIKA HACKMAN
The alluring alternative indie multi-instrumentalist Marika Hackman has always drawn captivating pictures with her dark, blood-red indie scopes of peering through a door ajar – unsure whether to keep your eyes open or not. Hackman joins an illustrious line-up in Leeds following on from her 2024 album, Big Sigh – which was arguably, her “hardest record” yet. A brutally honest – but equally harrowing – testament to life past your 20s, it won’t be all that surprising if there’s a few tears shed on Saturday night. FFO: The Big Moon, HAIM
ENGLISH TEACHER
Nothing more can be said about this quartet than what has already been said. What a year they’ve had. After winning the Mercury Prize with their studious record This Could Be Texas earlier in the year, the band top off a stellar year by celebrating with a home crowd in their home city. Be sure to catch their psychedelic frolics of The World’s Biggest Paving Slab and Nearly Daffodils. Be sure to get there with plenty of time though – or they won’t let you in. With such a band back on home soil, you can be sure that they will be spilling out the doors.
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
The avant-garde Mancunians continue the trend and adoration of playing multi-venue festivals this year by topping the bill in emphatic fashion. Bringing their new spurt of quirky alt-pop through new record Mountainhead, Everything Everything are progressive in every sense of the word. Known for their off-kilter workings out and engaging colour-by-numbers, no other band can draw comparison. More established than new to the scene, this group however, are always worth the effort.
manvmusic.com 
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