The Walkmen Open Leeds Festival

New York-based five-piece the Walkmen officially opened Leeds Festival, their brooding post-punk providing a sharp contrast to the unexpected morning summer sun that greeted the Bramham Park crowd.

Taking to the main stage just before midday, the group were in a quiet mood throughout, black-clad lead singer Hamilton Leithauser saying little between songs save for thanking the crowd for coming to watch them. However, they did showcase three new songs from upcoming sixth album 'Lisbon,' opening with the slow, methodical build up of 'Juveniles' and also including the comparatively bright 'Angela Surf City' and 'Woe Is Me' -- the latter's chiming guitars in particular standing out as a potential highlight from the new record.

These made up part of a seven song set that unsurprisingly saw 'The Rat,' from 2004 album 'Bows + Arrows,' raise huge cheers from the audience, the band extending the song's opening motorik in an effort to whip up a frenzy. They then finished with now staple set closer 'In The New Year' from 2008's 'You & Me' before leaving the crowd to be jerked rather more forcibly awake by the Futureheads who were next on stage.