Photo + Words: Philippa Revitt
There’s something sacred about The Leadmill and on a Tuesday night — a Tuesday! — Sheffield showed up for a triple threat of chaotic energy, communal sweat, and Scottish charm. With Twin Atlantic headlining their long-standing love letter to UK rock, and Dead Pony and Jet Ski getting the crowd good and ready, the night was a full-bodied celebration of the venue’s legacy and the power of live music.
Jetski opened the night with a bang. These Sheffield indie rockers are tight. Not just musically tight, but chemistry tight. From husky, raw vocals to gorgeously full harmonies (more mics for drummers, please), they were a joy to watch. It was a tender moment of frontman storytelling that hit hardest — a reflection on Leadmill’s role in his life: “My mum and dad got together on this dance floor in 1990… we can’t stop what happened but we can be thankful we got to be here when this place existed.” Goosebumps. They’re endemic, enthusiastic, and honestly, smooth harmonies aside, these guys have a lot to give and its under now dissolution that they’re going to keep bringing it every time they perform.
Next up, Dead Pony brought the fire and the fury — straight off the Download stage and into Leadmill’s loving arms. Their sound? Loud. Their energy? Louder. Frontwoman Anna Shields is a force: tiny, mighty, and completely unstoppable. Eye contact? Weaponised. Between barrelling across the stage, twirling like it’s a fever dream, and climbing the barriers to scream in fans’ faces, she gave everything — and the crowd gave it back tenfold. ‘Freak Like Me‘ was a standout, and when she demanded another mosh pit, as she rightly should, there’s always time for a mosh pit. Sheffield obliged with the same chaos-meets-care ethos that defines the best shows. Their connection on stage is enviable — smiles, banter, and boot-kicking euphoria. Dead Pony aren’t just playing gigs; they’re throwing full-blown punk parties.
Then came the main event. Twin Atlantic, Scotland’s alt-rock sweethearts, strolled on stage like they owned the place, and who could blame them, filled with charisma, impeccable stage presence and songs that span over two decades, they’re a staple of the UK rock scene. With multiple Leadmill shows under their belt, the band delivered a perfectly calibrated set of singalongs, sweat, and storytelling. Within the first two songs, frontman Sam McTrusty was straddling the barrier, “ooooo”s echoing through the venue, and the crowd was eating it up, as they rightly should.
From dedicating ‘a song ‘Yes, I Was Drunk‘ to Jetski frontman Charles Fitzgerald’s parents (romance is alive) to cheeky quips about waving your hands like it’s an arena (“since it’s the final week”), they struck that perfect balance of nostalgic and send-off during these final shows at the venue. Twin Atlantic closed the night with full command and pure energy and in typical fashion that ‘Heart and Soul‘ always brings. – It might not have been an arena show bit they sure took to the stage like it was.
A night of mosh pits, memories, and music that mattered — The Leadmill did what it’s always done: it gave us a night we won’t forget.
Taped Magazine 