Leeds band win right to open Lock Up at Leeds Festival

Festival Republic, Centre Stage and Futuresound have announced the winners of this year’s competitions, where winners The Mallrats and Calls Landing will play across the Bank Holiday weekend at this year’s Leeds and Reading Festival.

Centre Stage Competition gives young bands a chance to play at this year’s Leeds and Reading, while raising vital funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Since its initial launch in 2009, Centre Stage has so far provided a platform for over 170 young, Yorkshire acts and raised over £180,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice.

The competition has a longstanding relationship with Festival Republic, with both Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn and Jon Mcildowie being part of the judging process over the years.

This year’s winners are alt-grunge trio The Mallrats who will be performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Leeds and Reading Festival 2015.

The prestigious Futuresound Competition also returned this year, offering winners the coveted opening slot on the Lock Up Stage and five runners-up the chance to perform on the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds and Reading Festival.

This year’s winners are alternative rock/emo four piece Calls Landing, from Leeds. Having battled it out against 40 other bands, they will play the Lock Up stage alongside the likes of New Found Glory, Ghost and Refused.

Joining them over the bank holiday weekend and all performing on the BBC Introducing stage will be runners-up Where Fires Are, Samuel S.Parkes, Happy Daggers, Treason Kings and NARCS.