Leeds Festival 2026: three homegrown(ish) acts you can check out performing at Bramham Park this year
Head to Leeds Festival next week? Here’s three acts you might have seen in passing in the city previously
It's T-minus seven days until the first performances take place at Bramham Park, as Leeds Festival makes its return to West Yorkshire for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Headlined by Charli XCX, Dave, and Florence + The Machine, while the BBC Introducing stage is no longer part of this year's festivities, there are still a number of bands from the region that you may want to invest some time in between 'big' acts.
We've highlighted three local artists that will be key talking points at Bramham Park.
While we pore through the official timetable now that it has dropped, here is a look at three local acts you'll be able to catch next weekend across the stages.
Three Leeds acts you can catch at Leeds Festival 2026
The North (Leeds)
- Stage: The Ballroom
- Day: Sunday - 1:45pm - 2:25pm
Fronted by Billy Memphis alongside drummer Sîan Keates, guitarist Kobi Griggs, and bassist Macca Boylan, Leeds alternative outfit The North have rapidly carved out a reputation as one of the region's most formidable new live acts.
Memphis famously persuaded his family to relocate from Scarborough to Leeds when he was just 16 to throw himself into the West Yorkshire music scene, eventually hand-picking his bandmates three years later.
The lineup came together in classic grassroots fashion: Keates was recruited after Memphis spotted her playing her first-ever bar gig, Griggs was discovered playing Stone Roses covers on TikTok, and Boylan reconnected via the city's underground punk circuit.
That raw chemistry quickly paid off, leading to a sold-out UK tour, support slots with Sundara Karma, and a major deal with Communion Records - the label behind Wunderhorse and Catfish and the Bottlemen.
Their latest EP, Coming of Age, was helmed by acclaimed producer Kev Jones (Wunderhorse's Cub) and showcases a driving, anthemic sound deeply rooted in local life.
Breakthrough single ‘Soundtrack Your Soul’ was penned by Memphis while running for a train at Leeds Station, inspired by watching everyday commuters plug into headphones to soundtrack their daily routine.
- Discography: Coming of Age (EP, 2026), Blood Orange (EP, 2025). Key singles include "Can't Sleep" (2026), "Underlying Melancholy" (2025), "Soundtrack Your Soul", and "Trainspotting".
Soul Mass Transit System (Leeds)
- Stage: LS23
- Day: Sunday - 1:45am - 3am
Leading the charge for West Yorkshire’s electronic music scene, Leeds-based duo Soul Mass Transit System have become one of the most vital names in the UK’s speed garage and bassline revival.
Rooted firmly in the city’s underground club ecosystem, the pair have built a formidable reputation for high-octane, sub-heavy sets that draw a direct line from 1990s rave culture to modern dancefloors.
Their signature sound—defined by rapid-fire 4x4 drums, infectious organ stabs, and nostalgic vocal chops—has made them staples at iconic regional haunts like Beaver Works and Mint Warehouse.
Their rise from local heroes to international club selectors has been cemented by a series of heavy-hitting releases on premier underground dance labels, including Time Is Now, Shall Not Fade, and ec2a.
Earning nominations from DJ Mag and widespread support across the global DJ circuit, their production style balances classic UK club energy with undeniable low-end power. Standout cuts like "Freak-ee" and "Talking Nonsense" highlight their knack for flipping retro samples into certified peak-time anthems.
When they take over the LS23 stage at Bramham Park next weekend, festival-goers can expect a masterclass in modern Northern dance culture designed to send late-night crowds into overdrive.
Their growing discography features essential club EPs including 2026's HAUSDOGS002, 2022's Need Someone EP, and seminal 2021 records All I Need and The Dubble Trubble EP—solidifying their place at the very forefront of Leeds' booming electronic renaissance.
- Discography: HAUSDOGS002 (EP, 2026), Need Someone EP (EP, 2022), All I Need (EP, 2021), and The Dubble Trubble EP (EP, 2021). Key singles include "Freak-ee", "Talking Nonsense", "Feel Da Vibe", and "All I Need (Deepa Inside)".
Silva Bumpa (Sheffield/Leeds)
- Stage: The Warehouse
- Day: Sunday - 1:30pm - 2:45pm
Operating right at the intersection of South and West Yorkshire's thriving dance circuits,
Sheffield-born DJ and producer Silva Bumpa (Joshua Silva) has rapidly established himself as one of the region’s most in-demand selectors. A regular fixture across Leeds dancefloors—from Mint Festival and Beaver Works to high-energy back-to-back sets alongside Soul Mass Transit System—his signature sound bridges the gap between bouncy organ house, heavy speed garage, and classic UKG.
His meteoric rise through the club scene caught the attention of major industry tastemakers, securing him releases on the legendary UK garage imprint Locked On Records as well as Columbia’s Room 2 label.
Celebrated for his high-velocity sets, infectious basslines, and crowd-pleasing vocal edits, Silva Bumpa has become a central driving force behind the North's contemporary garage renaissance. His performance at Bramham Park promises a masterclass in raw Northern club energy, making his stage takeover an essential destination for festival ravers.
- Discography: What About The DJ? EP (EP, 2024), HARD13 (EP, 2023), and Feel Aight / Wickedest (EP, 2023). Key singles include "On 2nite" (2026), "Slow Burner" (with Carla Monroe, 2025), "Wanna Party" (feat. Dennis G, 2025), and "Automatic" (2024).