Strong winds from Storm Lilian wreaked havoc at Leeds Festival on Friday morning, causing damage to two stages that will remain closed throughout the weekend. The BBC Radio 1 stage, the Aux stage, and the Chevron stage were all affected by gusts of about 60mph, forcing organisers to keep them shut.
Despite the setbacks, the arena at Bramham Park eventually opened at 14:00 BST, with rap artist Bru-C kicking off the performances. However, the festival’s health and safety team deemed it unsafe to open the BBC Radio 1 and Aux stages on Saturday and Sunday. They hoped to have the Chevron stage ready by noon on Saturday.
Disappointed festival-goers took to social media to express their sadness over the cancellations. Artists like Beabadoobee and Alfie Templeman shared their disappointment at not being able to perform as planned. Beabadoobee even mentioned having a whole outfit planned for her performance.
Campers at Bramham Park were warned by the Met Office to secure their tents due to the strong winds. Roads around the festival site were closed for the duration of the event, which is expected to draw around 90,000 people over the bank holiday weekend.
Despite the challenges, acts like Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and 21 Savage were still scheduled to perform, with other big names like The Prodigy, Blink 182, and Lana Del Rey set to take the stage over the weekend.
The unexpected turn of events due to the wind serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of outdoor events and the importance of prioritizing safety. Stay tuned for more updates on Leeds Festival as the weekend unfolds.
