Bacchanalia Magazine

by Willow Marie

On the evening of April 18th, we attended one of the most magnificent gigs of 2024 in the deep depths of Leeds – Over Here! Festival (Day 1). Hosted by Madina Latypova at The Attic, the show was certainly unforgettable for every attendee, featuring a whirlwind of artists that truly earned their time in the spotlight.

Despite being hidden away down a rather intriguing alley, the venue was absolutely breathtaking and immediately felt like home – disco balls shimmering high, warm fairy lights adorning every surface and various vintage knick knacks scattered perfectly. As guests poured in through the door, it was evident that each one had such an incredible sense of style, from lacey floral skirts to intricately placed jewellery and colourful crochet patterns. The audience immediately felt like a large community, all gathered together for an evening of music.

Lizzie Walmsley took the stage at 8, serenading the crowd with her harmonious voice alongside her acoustic guitar. Each song was packed with intense emotion, but for every tear shed was many eruptions of laughter from the audience (courtesy of Lizzie’s wonderful jokes between songs). Even whilst descending from the stage and waving goodbye for the night, her smile still managed to light up the whole room.

Next up was Floco, an incredibly mysterious and alluring artist who silenced the crowd without having to speak; her music spoke volumes and had everyone captivated within seconds. Floco’s set was extremely interesting and unique, with the use of clinking chains and all things mystical to craft each song before the audience. This ethereal artist is certainly one to have on your radar..

The final act of the night was Aunty Freeda, a creative Leeds based band (and a favourite here at Bacchanalia!). This band’s set was absolutely out of this world and they were undeniably a perfect pick for the headliner. ‘Evie’ was unquestionably a crowd favourite, it was hard to miss the smile on each audience member’s face as the band ascended into a crescendo of instruments and Anna’s siren-like vocals, chanting the Georgian lyric with every ounce of passion in her heart – An exquisite ending to a faultless, joyous night.

The event was hosted in collaboration with Come Play With Me, a non-profit music development organisation dedicated to supporting marginalised communities, and Bloom, a Leeds-based creative project devoted to shining a light on underrepresented artists including VENUS GRRRLS and tinyumbrellas.

Overall, the whole night was a massive success and will indubitably be on our minds for the next couple of weeks, if not longer. Be sure to have a listen to the aforementioned artists, it’s likely they could be your new favourite.

We owe huge thank you to Madina for inviting us to share this special event with her and a massive well done for being able to create such a wonderful experience for both the bands and the crowd!

Photography by Willow Marie