Unexpected surprises

[joe_strummer]

... over the years, the following bands gave me great pleasure when i stumbled across seeing them live by accident in the smaller stages.. but never really went on to become huge.

Symposium

Dot Allison

Mojave 3

Raveonettes

My Morning Jacket

Cooper Temple Clause

TAT

Gold Blade

anyone else want to share their discoveries?

[Dropkick Murphy]

Metallica.

I know that sounds crazy but i'm a punk guy and never really been into metal. But when I saw Metallica in 2002 at Leeds, they blew me away!

[mooseofblyth]

this is ironic considering the posters name above, but dropkick murphys in 2005. they were on the main stage, it was a lush afternoon, and it was before it used to get mega busy...so i was at the front and they were just immense. Ive been a masseev fan eversince and got to see them at necastle a while back, and then again at leeds last year :-)

[robsadler]

dropkick murphy's for me too, i was well surprised how much i enjoyed them!

embrace were really good too in about 2000. although i liked them anyway i was surprised how good they were. epic stuff!

marilyn mansons show from a few back was excellent too, despite not really caring much for him.

from last year......future of the left were brilliant and for me glasvegas were one of the highlights of the festival despite not expecting much from either.

robx

[JameSemajj]

Arctic Monkeys, carling tent 2005.

[scottt]

Last year, even though they only played 2 songs, Avenged sounded awesome and that really got me into them. I mean id heard of them before but never really was into them.

Same with Metallica really

[Budweiser]

Goldfinger

Gallows

Metallica

[scottt]

Goldfinger

Gallows

Metallica

[mrf1shie]

Billy Talent in 2007, hadn't really heard them before but they put on an awsome show.

[MEGABOWL]

Editors and Nine Black Alps early on NME Stage Sunday at Leeds 2005

The Manchester Orchestra in 2007

Edited April 9, 2009 by MEGABOWL

[rossg123]

The Whigs, very unknown band turned out to be a highlight. Anyone else heard of them?

[funkymp]

The Whigs, very unknown band turned out to be a highlight. Anyone else heard of them?

[tomdsjames]

Flogging Molly

Although I'd already heard them so knew I liked them I'd never seen them live before and thought they were probably the best band I saw last year

[The_Functions]

Bombay Bicycle Clud 2007 Carling Tent.

Never heard of them but they were well good and so so young.

[pink_triangle]

Biffy clyro, ben kweller, easyworld and brendan benson. All amazing in the carling tent.

[fantomas]

The Roots, Andrew WK, Blink 182 (in there earlier days) and Dropkick Murphys are all Reading finds. Had many more at glasto however.

[Morello]

Natty last year

[moz4pm]

eighties matchbox b line disaster in 04

[brighteyes]

Metallica

Keane

Limp Bizkit

Hungry Ghosts

[metalupyourass]

Alexisonfire Mainstage last year.Took me completely by surprise!

Cajun Dance Party were also pretty good last year in the nme tent

[smeebob]

sounds weird, but i'd never heard arcade fire properly before '07. and i was very impressed!

[Im_in_a_tent]

2008

frank turner

blood red shoes

2007

capdown

hadouken

[VCK]

Not Leeds but Oxegen '05. Discovered the sexual joys of Eagles Of Death Metal.

[TheOneCurlyFry]

two spot gobi - supported jason mraz

late of the pier - got dragged along by friends, it was £10 so seemed worth going.

[MJMilz14]

two spot gobi