Midway through Fred Again’s electrifying closing set on Sunday night in Leeds, I had a sudden realization: I was surrounded by a sea of festival-goers who weren’t even born when I first stepped foot on these grounds back in 1999. Back then, I was one of them—a bright-eyed teenager, invincible against sleep deprivation and immune to the hangovers that now have me questioning my life choices. It felt like my festival, with Blur, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Charlatans anchoring the lineup, and acts like The Offspring, Echo & The Bunnymen, and The Flaming Lips tapping directly into the late-‘90s zeitgeist. It was a weekend that felt tailor-made for us.

Fast forward 25 years, and I spent much of this weekend wondering what had become of the indie-rock festival of my youth. It wasn’t until Fred Again took the stage that it hit me: Leeds Festival has never been static. It’s always been a reflection of youth culture, effortlessly shifting its focus to capture the tastes of the new generation. Sure, I might not be able to pick 21 Savage or Reneé Rapp out of a lineup, but the kids who’ve staked out the front row for them certainly could. And really, that’s the point—this festival isn’t mine anymore; it’s theirs, and I’m just here for the ride.

There were still echoes of the old guard. Liam Gallagher’s blistering performance of Oasis’s debut album Definitely Maybe on Friday night was nothing short of spectacular, but it lacked the wild, beer-fueled camaraderie that his solo shows usually ignite. Blink-182, a band that has practically grown up alongside this festival, made a triumphant return, and The Prodigy’s headlining set on the new Chevron dance stage was a nostalgic nod to their long-standing relationship with Leeds. But these moments, while thrilling, weren’t the heart of the festival.

No, this festival belongs to the acts that aren’t climbing the charts through traditional means. They’re blowing up on TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, and while their names might not ring any bells for those of us with a few more candles on our birthday cakes, they’re drawing massive crowds of 90,000-strong who know every word. Even The Wombats, who might seem like an unlikely headliner, packed out their Sunday night set thanks to a TikTok-fueled resurgence of their 2015 single “Greek Tragedy.” And honestly? They were always an indie powerhouse. If you doubt it, just give “Kill The Director” a spin and see if you can resist tapping your feet.

The weekend’s true standout, though, was Lana Del Rey, who took the stage just before Fred Again on Sunday night. Opening with “Without You” and winding through a set that spanned her entire career, Lana delivered an almost spiritual experience that culminated in a closing trio of “Video Games,” “A&W,” and “Young and Beautiful.” It’s the kind of setlist most artists would kill to have one song from, let alone three. Seeing them back-to-back only underscored just how iconic Lana Del Rey has become.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The storm that ravaged the site on Thursday forced the cancellation of large swathes of the lineup, and two stages remained out of action for the rest of the weekend. While Friday’s day ticket holders might feel short-changed, those who stuck it out were rewarded with a jam-packed Saturday and Sunday. Special mention goes to 21 Savage’s DJ and hype man, who were left scrambling when he showed up 40 minutes late for his 50-minute set. Honestly, he could have phoned it in from his car, and it would’ve felt more engaging. Props to the stage manager for pulling the plug on time.

Even with the festival’s evolution, guitars weren’t entirely extinct. Delilah Bon and Viagra Boys injected their own flavors of punk into the smaller stages, while Pendulum and Fontaines D.C. staked a claim for rock on the main stage, delivering vastly different but equally compelling sets. 

Leeds may have changed over the past 25 years, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a festival with its finger firmly on the pulse of what today’s youth are listening to, and it caters to them brilliantly. If I were 16 again, fresh off the back of my exam results, I can’t think of a better place to celebrate.

Words and photos: Thomas Jackson