Photo Credit: Frank Ralph

Following the release of their first number one studio album ‘Yummy‘ in April, one of Britain’s most iconic bands JAMES set out on an arena tour in support of the album, while also treating fans to a slew of their much-loved hits and giving the new songs the live treatment they so richly deserve.

With renowned acts in mind, indie rockers RAZORLIGHT are still going strong 20 years later. Being a pioneer in their own scene since the mid-2000s, their infectious choruses entice everyone to sing along even if they aren’t die-hard fans. The arena was already packed when ‘In The Morning‘ kicked off the support slots, getting the crowd’s lungs pumped up. Popular singles ‘Stumble and Fall‘ and ‘Before I Fall to Pieces‘ received a resounding favourable reception from the audience. Johnny Burrell knows how to deliver a headline worthy performance for every show of theirs, as he jumps around during songs and owns the stage each time. The band ended the set with ‘America‘ as they capped off a fantastic opening slot and a welcomed return to Leeds.

After undoubtedly one of the best warm-up performances for any event, JAMES entered the stage. The band walked onto the stage one by one, commencing with ‘Johnny Yen‘. The more gentle approach to the opening was undoubtedly favourable, since it added to the excitement. Following ‘Waltzing Along‘, they revealed a number of tunes off their most recent album, including ‘Our World‘, ‘Rogue‘, and ‘Life’s A Fucking Miracle‘, all of which went down a storm and demonstrate that these new songs are already beloved by their devoted followers.

Frontman Tim Booth continues to crowd surf during the band’s performances, as he was carried around the front section of the standing area, easily spanning 100 people before being brought back over the barrier and returning to the stage. The entire band was in fantastic form, with backing vocalist Chloe Alper dancing all over the stage and spending time with each member, whether she was joining Tim in a duet or surrounding Saul and Andy and pushing them to let loose for a bit.

‘Butterfly‘ had its live premiere on the night, with a fascinating show of the insect drifting around the screens that was not only eye-catching but also beautiful in its own right. Keeping up with tunes from ‘Yummy‘, ‘Shadow of a Giant‘ and ‘Mobile God‘ made it onto the loaded set list, while a trio of fan favourites finished off JAMES‘ flawless performance. ‘Tomorrow‘, ‘Come Home‘, and ‘Sometimes‘ all get the audience on their feet, dancing along to these iconic tunes.

After a brief interval, the band returned to the stage, performing the last ‘Yummy‘ tune of the night, ‘Way Over Your Head‘, which finished off eight songs from the #1 album, with the bulk of them surely to remain on future set lists since they work so well live. The inevitable ‘Sit Down‘ followed suit; the chorus is belted out in pubs, clubs, and stadiums throughout the country, and that’s just via the speakers; picture what it was like during the band’s live performance. The room was filled with voices as everyone joined in, and the classic ‘Laid‘ closed the band’s much-anticipated return to Yorkshire.