Leeds Festival shuts two stages as Storm Lilian hits

Two stages at Leeds Festival have closed for the day due to high winds caused by Storm Lilian.

Liam Gallagher is due to headline the music festival in Bramham Park on Friday evening, as Reading and Leeds Festivals get under way for three days of music over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Strong winds of up to 80mph are forecast in northern parts of England and Wales on Friday – with travel disruption, flooding, power cuts, and dangerous conditions near coastal areas likely.

On X, organisers announced that both the BBC Radio 1 Stage and Aux Stage would be “lost” at the West Yorkshire festival, and added they “remain hopeful that everything else will continue as planned”.

The post said: “We can see an end in sight to the high winds.

“We definitely won’t be opening the arena at 11am, but we are targeting as soon as possible after that and we will update you further.

“However, we have definitely lost the BBC Radio 1 stage today, and there will be no performances on it.

“We have also lost the Aux stage today, and there will be no performances on it.

“We remain hopeful that everything else will continue as planned and that we will still have an amazing weekend. Please await further information.”

A yellow wind warning issued by the Met Office was in place across northern England and north Wales until 11am on Friday, with the storm bringing gusts of around 50-60mph in the region.

Earlier on Friday morning, Reading and Leeds Festivals encouraged revellers based in Leeds to stay in their tents while the site was hit by strong winds.

A post said: “Everybody can see and feel that we’re suffering from the winds currently.

“We’re urging you to stay in your tents if you are onsite and feel safe to do so. If you are in your car, please remain there.

“If you are not yet at the festival site, please delay your arrival.

“We’re expecting it to ease up at 10am and we will update you in 30 minutes.

“Your safety is our number one priority. Remember to look out for each other.”

Acts including indie singer Beabadoobee and US star Ashnikko were due to play the BBC Radio 1 Stage at Leeds on Friday evening, while podcasts Antics With Ash and The Useless Hotline were billed for the Aux Stage.

Blink 182 are headlining Reading Festival on the Friday night while acts including Gerry Cinnamon, Two Door Cinema Club and The Prodigy will also take to the stage.

According to the Met Office weather forecast for Reading, festival-goers can expect “long sunny spells” by midday and a maximum temperature of 24C.