LEEDS FEST, NEW MUSIC AND GOOD VIBES: 10 CHAOTIC MINUTES WITH THE NORTH

INTERVIEW | THE NORTH by Gracie Erskine

Cast your mind back to summer, a mere couple of weeks if you can. The sun was somewhat out, shorts were still and advent calendars hadn’t started popping up in supermarkets. The closing day of Leeds Fest 2026 defied its social media accusations of not platforming smaller bands, and put one of the freshest bands at the forefront of everyone’s weekend – The North.

The Leeds locals managed to have fans lugging about on the Sunday with vinyl copies of their latest EP Coming of Age. Despite being one of the most popular rising indie acts, they are also the soundest band you’ll ever meet. Northern Exposure caught up with the quartet post-set at Leeds Fest for a chaotic ten minutes of trying to ask questions.

We were just chatting about your set earlier, how was it for you? 

Kobi: Quite a good reception, I’d say. It was pretty full as well on the ground. One of my favourites. 

It must feel quite special at Leeds Fest. I imagine you’d come before, being a Leeds band. 

Kobi: Yeah, I’ve been like three or four times, I think. Yeah. It was always kind of a dream to play. 

Can you kind of remember your first Leeds fest? Who was on, what were the general vibes?

Macca: I think Rage Against The Machine got cancelled and then The 1975 replaced them. I went to go and hate on The 1975 and then came out the biggest 1975 fan of all time. I don’t even know what happened. I was just sat there with my friends enjoying good music, and it was just a proper vibe. 

Billy: I remember 2024 was my first one. I remember some of it; we saw The Prodigy, I think. My mate Leon was saying he’s been at All Points East this weekend, and he said they were as big a mosh pit for Esdeekid as there was for The Prodigy. Which is really just mad in my head, because The Prodigy was one of the best sets I’ve ever been to. That was a good year. 

Aside from festival season, you’ve got a 16-date tour coming up at the back end. What’s the crack with that? What are we expecting? 

Billy: Hopefully some good vibes. That sounds quite chill that though. Nah, I mean like good vibes (aggressively, and comically, shakes fists in the air) is like them kinda good vibes. Chill vibes and good vibes are different vibes. 

You’re playing at Brudenell? Would you say it’s your favourite venue in Leeds, or if not, what is? 

Sian: I think it’s the most iconic one in Leeds really, isn’t it? It’s where we’ve wanted to play for a long time. I’m trying to think of other ones that I do like. I quite like the small ones. I like Northern Guitars; it’s where we met. I wouldn’t say it’s a venue, it’s just a little bar. I like their guitars. 

Billy: Oporto’s actually sick as well. The gig room is really good. And the DJ sets are actually really good. It’s like the only place in Leeds that plays good indie tunes that aren’t corny. 

We’re taking The Stone Roses Bar out of the equation there then?

Billy: The DJ there is kind of whack as well. I’m not going to try and violate any bands, but it’s like some of the mixes are a bit…

Macca: Just go to the one in York. Get on the train, go to York, go to that one. Yeah, the cocktails, wow. And they served triples at the York one. For like five quid as well. Stupid. 

Billy: We were once in Stone Roses, and someone got kicked out of the toilet because they were saying Oasis were shite. So that’s great. 

I did quite cheekily ask about an album earlier. Have we got any news, any update? What’s in the pipeline? 

Billy: There’s talk. I don’t know if we can give too much away. But there’s music coming. There’s music coming. 

And obviously you’re called The North and from the true heart of the North. But what would you define as the North? 

Macca: In my opinion, if you’re above Nottingham, you’re in the North. I think there’s a bit of a grey area between Nottingham and then south of Sheffield. Derby gets a bit grey. I lived in Brighton for three years, and I heard people refer to Milton Keynes as the North and that just got on my nerves.

Sian: I’m going to stay quiet because I was born down South. 

Billy: Anything above Nottingham, stopping at Scotland. 

The interview that was once brimming with off-topic anecdotes and laughs has been trimmed down to something slightly more digestible. Raw cuts and extra giggles can be found over on Northern Exposure socials.

Coming of Age by The North is out now! Listen now or check out your local independent record shop for an exclusive vinyl copy.

The North embarks on their sold-out winter tour in November; keep your eye out for extra tickets available here.