28 November 2009
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Blast

Matt from Pigeon Detectives

Across the Tracks

By Harry Aslam
As a brand new, city-centre, music festival played out on the waterfront at Granary Wharf, Across the Tracks attracted top international musical talent as well as providing a showcase for up-and-coming Leeds artists.

With two outdoor stages along with an indoor stage under the railway arches at Blank Canvas, there was a diverse range of music playing all weekend. It was under the arches that Leeds band iLikeTrains performed a dark yet captivating set in front of a packed home audience. This Et Al, followed with a set that raised the tone and tempo, leading to the atmosphere to be just right for The Pigeon Detectives to hit the stage and hype the crowd, which they duly did.

Matt and the bouncer: a loving embrace

Straight out of Leeds, The Pigeon Detectives are tipped to follow the Kaiser Chiefs on the road that goes direct from Leeds to big things. The chemistry between band and audience was evident from the moment The Pigeon Detectives walked on stage - lead vocalist Matt, instantly hyping the crowd with his calls for the stage to be rushed, was a massive hit and a clear crowd favourite.

Matt was far from static as he climbed all over the stage props, leapt everywhere and even brawled a bit with the bouncers as they tried to restrain him from climbing over the barriers to get into the crowd. At the end of the set, Matt and a massive, meat-head bouncer who had been especially vigorous toward him, both reconciled their differences to pose for a picture.

Screaming at your mum, punching your dad

Midlands trio The Young Knives were up on the main stage on Saturday afternoon, performing songs with the most passion (or maybe anger, I couldn’t really tell) of all the weekend’s acts. With so many song lyrics having roots in the songwriter’s own personal experience, looking at The Young Knives repeatedly scream out the lyric ‘You were screaming at your mum and I was punching your dad!’ I was left with an interesting mental image.

Almost all festival goers turned out in front of the main stage to see Jose Gonzalez perform for the first time in Leeds. Even technical problems with the sound didn’t take away from Jose’s flawless performance.

Underground under the arches.

It was Saturday night, and from under the arches out came The Sunshine Underground. Despite not originating in Leeds, the group originally from Shrewsbury now base themselves in the city to form part of the fertile Leeds music scene. Another tip for going on to big things, The Sunshine Underground attracted a full house with their eclectic style of music.

Sunday was opened by the First Word Allstars, a collective of some of the best artists signed to Leeds record label First Word. A one-off, unique performance, the cosmopolitan and diverse talents of the artists were reflected in a set that combined elements of hip hop, funk, jazz and soul.

Shlomo rocks the mic

If there was one man that stole the show then it was Leeds’ own human beat-box Shlomo. Part of the Foreign Beggars crew, Shlomo had to start the show solo as the rest of the crew were late to arrive. Unfazed, he hyped the crowd with an unbelievable performance, creating an impossible range of beats and sounds using solely his mouth and voice.

The rest of the Foreign Beggars crew arrived, giving Across the Tracks its strongest single dose of hip hop. The crowd of mostly rock fans expressed their appreciation for an alternative art form, a sight which embodied what Across The Tracks was all about - stepping over the usually defined genres of music, crossing musical boundaries.

Music wasn’t all that was on display at the festival – graffiti art was featured as graffiti artists worked on a wall under the arches to produce a ‘live’ work of graffiti.

What a weekend it was, something totally different, totally new for Leeds. Teething problems for a new event of this size were minimal, fans and artists were happy – and already there are plans afoot for Across the Tracks 2007.

last updated: 01/08/06

Have Your Say

How do you feel about a music festival right in the middle of Leeds?

Kate
Maybe I'm spoilt from going to Glastonbury for the last years but I thought this festival was pretty poor. The music was good, but the set up and organisation was pretty shoddy. When the acoustics acts were on the main stage you could still hear the pounding beats coming from the dance stage. Quite a few of the acts were clearly put off by this. The food choices were limited and poor. We wanted to go out for food (and the toilet) but were trapped inside. The queues for the food and the toilets were huge. One of my friends is pregnant and had to leave the festival (for good - no re-entry!) because she couldn't cope with all the queuing for the toliets. One of the beer tents ran out of beer, and the next day ran out of cider. All in all a bad set up.

luci
i worked at across the tracks - for free as a volunteer and it was well good!the music was amazin, the atmosphere really good and very very few ppl had anything bad to say on the way out apart from a few, obnoxious drunks - if pass outs had been allowed it would be hell with security and ruin the festival atmosphere cos the place would not be that full!roll on next year, will def be there again!

Grant
I thought the local bands came up trumps in this. Surely The Lodger deserved better than first on - absolutely sound band with great songs I Like Trains & Pigeon Dectectives - top notch. Have to agree about no pass outs - rank bad. what's the point?

Davross
I just went for the Sunday session and had one of the best Sundays I've had for ages. Don't know why people are moaning - there was plenty of food, beer and a cash point by the toilets. Great day had by all our crew, bring on next year!!!

Lindsay
it was great being able to catch a bus to this festival and then go home for a good nights sleep and shower (i must be getting old) before returning again the next day. Value for money was pretty good, Sunday was the best day, a really good mixture of bands and performances. The line up for the whole weekend was really good though. Just a few moans, sililar to the other people really. The drinks on offer were very limited, should have had wine, bitter and perhaps some of the black stuff, I didnt like any of the drinks on offer and you weren't allowed to bring any in, they ran out of lager and food (at most stalls) on saturday which was very unorganised but you couldn't get out to go and get some food and drink else where. You were only allowed mixers & ice with spirits as they didnt have enough. Could do with some fake grass or something cos it was really dusty and horrible sat on the concrete. And last of all the sound on the main stage was rather dodgy..... If they can overcome these teething problems it will be a brilliant little festival!!

nez
i am well happy that i can see this type of thing happening in the middle of Leeds City centre. really hope the planned building on this site does not ruin a very special area of leeds music futre.

Clare
"Teething problems for a new event of this size were minimal". This is not true. Across the tracks was quite frankly the worst music festival I have ever attended. The main problem was the positioning of the main stage - which hosted mainly acoustic bands, in close proximity to the dance tent. The consequence was that all the music on the main stage was drowned out by the pounding beats resonating across the tiny site. This was disconcerting for both the audience, and for many acts, most of which commented on stage about this problem, and the artists I spoke to afterwards reiterated this fact. Another problem, as stated by others on this site, was that once in the festival, you were not allowed out and back in. Given the hour long queues for the toilets, the distinct lack of choice for food and huge queues for the few stalls there, and the fact that the beer tents ran out of beer on Saturday afternoon, this was just ridiculous, and had the affect of making one feel quite claustrophobic. I have been to better free festivals, and given the £60 we each paid for the tickets it was a disgrace. I have contacted the organisers, and will be interested to hear their response, if any.

Rebecca
There is so much happening in Leeds at the moment. Party in the Park was great fun. I went to the Shakespeare Festival at Kirkstall Abbey to see Sean Brosnan. Fabulous! Having a music festival in the middle of Leeds seems a great idea.

Jonathan - LEEDS
The concept of 'Across the Tracks' was great, the selection of bands, and the layout of the arena was very good. We were very much enjoying the day until it became apparent that we were confined to the event. There were no passes out so we were unable to go for a meal as planned and the only alternative was the dire offerings of three under stocked stalls with endless queues. The security were rude and insulting so we left. Its a shame because this could have been a great day only to be spoilt by realising that the event was just another money making scheme and less about the enjoyment of music.

Glen
It was great I watched it for free from the station. Won't they have built on that car park by next year - or are the council going to landscape it into a useful bit of inner city parkland?

russ
the worst live music event i've ever had the misfortune to witness... the accoustic acts couldn't be heard due to the interference from the dance stage- Jose finished 20mins early and the magic numbers st(r)opped altogether at one point. no cash machines, no re-admittance, not enough food, nothing to do between the sets, nowhere to sit down due to the car park venue... the list goes on. Yes it was the first year but given that the full weekend ticket was roughly half that of the 4-5 days of magic that can be had at any of the other fests this summer it was an absolute shambles. thoughts pretty much reflected by everyone i've spoken to.. I can only presume that your reviewer is wrangling for future free gig tickets, or had jumped to the front of the beer tent queues once too often. altogether rather surprising given the hands of the fantastic faversham and hifi venues were involved.

Mark
It was an excellent idea - great to be able to get a bus into town & be right there. It was an excellent mix of bands. I thought the atmosphere in the Blank Canvas (apart from being damp & smokey) was excellent. iLikeTrains & the Pigeon Detectives were superb. I reckon the Young Knives would've been better in there to. Only gripe was not being able to get out of the place until the end - to get some decent food & drink. But will definitely go again next year

em
I went to the festival on saturday and was utterly disappointed. A lack of facilities (food, areas to chill out in, loos), an amateur stage set-up and sound problems all the way through on the main stage resulted in no atmosphere, bands getting visibly stroppy and when they ran out of food and no re-entry was allowed, we called it a day and left well before the end! Try planning the next one a bit better...

Adam Walters
It was a wicked festival. Very diverse but one of the best atmosphere of any festival i have ever been to. The bouncers next to the water taps where the best ever