THE long summer wait is almost over, the all-important exam results are out, and Leeds Festival is ready to take over Bramham Park, near Wetherby, for three days and nights of music and more from tomorrow until Sunday.
In the main-stage spotlight tomorrow will be co-headliners Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy in the exclusive UK festival top spots, as these unstoppable forces in alternative rock from both sides of the Atlantic take to the stage for an emphatic night of heavy riffs and melodies.
Looking forward to tomorrow, Fall Out Boy said: "It’s pretty surreal to hear we are going to be co-headlining Leeds. The Reading and Leeds Festivals were our first real festival experience outside of the U.S. and since the start we've buckled in and had an insane and memorable experience every time we have played. This is it, the big one for us and we're excited to be a part of it."
The Vaccines are in main-stage action too tomorrow after rising to the major leagues of British indie with three albums in five years, and they promise a set of choice cuts from English Graffiti and old favourites.
Blossoms, playing NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage on Sunday
Saturday's main stage has Foals at the pinnacle of its line-up, testament to a long build-up to such a status when festivals have been looking for bands to rise to the challenge of matching the likes of Coldplay, Radiohead and Muse in being a natural-born headliner.
Synth-pop revelations Chvrches will be on Saturday's main-stage list too, as will Disclosure, Nothing But Thieves and Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls.
The biggest wave of noise surrounds the much anticipated Sunday headline appearance by American veterans Red Hot Chili Peppers in the wake of the June release of The Getaway, their 11th studio album.
Sunday also serves up Imagine Dragons, Courteeners, Slaves, Skindred and Eagles Of Death Metal, the band who were playing the Bataclan on the night of the Paris terror attacks last November.
Russell Kane, in the comedy line-up for the Leeds Festival Alternative Stage on Friday
Away from the Main Stage, there is much to enjoy on the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage, where 2016 Mercury Prize nominees The 1975, The Wombats, Cage The Elephant, Savages and Rat Boy are tomorrow's prime attractions.
Jack U, Twenty One Pilots and Crystal Castles have Saturday slots and Two Door Cinema Club, Nas and Jack Garratt are in the Sunday limelight, although most attention may well fall on the rapidly rising Blossoms after this summer's release of their self-titled debut album.
The BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage, tomorrow's Lock Up Stage, Saturday and Sunday's The Pit stage, the Relentless Stage, the BBC Music Introducing Stage and the new Jack Rocks/This Feeling Stage all add to the festival's musical variety, while the Festival Republic Stage has The Temper Trap, Clean Cut Kid and Ezra Furman tomorrow; Maximo Park, Pulled Apart By Horses and Luh on Saturday; and Brian Fallon And The Crowes, Palace and Lapsley on Sunday.
Look out for another 2016 Mercury Prize nominee, grime act Kano, tomorrow on the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage and Grandmaster Flash headlining on the Alternative Stage tonight, yes tonight, before the comedy has its moment or two with the likes of Russell Kane, Holly Walsh and Mark Watson tomorrow; Russell Howard, Sara Pascoe and Mark Russell on Saturday and Bill Bailey, Marcus Brigstocke, Lee Nelson and Daniel Simonsen on Sunday. In a change from the originally announced line-up Wiley, rather than G-Eazy will headline the 1Xtra Stage on Saturday.
The Press will cover each day of Leeds Festival, with Rob McKelvey on site tomorrow, Joe Pickard on Saturday and Kate Neighbour on Sunday, while photographer David Harrison will be on duty on all three days.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here