The Darkness

Leeds Festival 2004 review

By Luke Seagrave | Published: Thu 2nd Sep 2004

Leeds Festival 2004

Friday 27th to Sunday 29th August 2004
Bramham Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS23 6ND, England MAP
£105 for weekend (sold out), any day £45 (still available)
Daily capacity: 55,000

It’s amazing what a difference one year can make. The Darkness have probably and one of the most hectic years ever, after finishing a mid afternoon slot at last years Leeds festival and being able to walk around without being hassled in the audience, they embarked on their own headlining tour as well as releasing chart storming singles, as well as doing support slots with artistes like Meat Loaf.

For most bands that would be enough work to cause them to take a year out of the limelight. But not for The Darkness, who instead of taking it easy they decided to headline almost every festival going, (except Glastonbury, nuff said;-).

Walking around during the day with my Darkness emblazoned T-shirt got a mixed reaction. Some just laughed or shouted things like ‘they're crap’, a couple of cheeky sods fired water pistols at me to show that they disliked the Darkness. However it was going to be me who had the last laugh because I knew that the Darkness would silence all their doubters once the time came for them to play.

Sure enough as the instrumental music started for the imminent arrival of Justin and crew to the stage, the crowd began to realise that this was going to be something special.

Justin, Dan, Ed, and Frankie took to the stage to a thunderous applause, Justin dressed in his usual flamboyant way, started to command the stage in a way that to be honest only Freddie Mercury could ever do. The entire audience were mesmerised by The Darknesses every move.

The Darkness

This performance was nothing short of spectacular- this was your cliché rock spectacular- with all the stadium lighting and pyrotechnic explosions and even fireworks to accompany the music.

Justin was doing all the famous rock guitar poses, and thoroughly enjoying being up there on the stage as the headlining band- this was definitely one instance when the cat had finally got the cream!!!

Some people were doubtful if a band with just one album would be able to fill a headlining slot- well now we have our answer- yes they can!! The Darkness had proven all their critics wrong and even managed to win over the people who were being negative about them earlier in the day.

There is no doubting that The Darkness are the most impressive band in the UK to date!!
review by: Luke Seagrave

photos by: Luke Seagrave


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