Leeds Festival 2009 kicks off in style

Enter Shikari, Mariachi El Bronx and more play

Frontman Rou Reynolds bounced around the stage like a Duracell bunny, as 'No Sleep Tonight', 'Step Up' and 'Juggernaut' shook an arena getting its rave on.

Earlier on in the day, Mariachi el Bronx made Leeds history by being the first ever (and probably the last ever) mariachi band to play the festival.

Even Bronx frontman Matt Caughthren seemed surprising by the soulful hand claps to the folk side of his day job, as the band brought the first break in the cloud.

Fightstar kept things ticking over with their epic rock, but it was The Eagles Of Death Metal who really charmed the crowd - or at least the female half.

They may have been nervous that this was their biggest crowd to date but they were determined to make this a "ladies night" an, erm, afternoon to remember.

Over on the NME Stage, Delphic made an electrifying start, even getting the old fogies to shake it, while Spinnerette's Brody Dalle shared the secret of a sexy biker chick rock - beer for breakfast.

Unfortunately, fellow femme-fronted rockers Metric proved that they're better off doing the Gray's Anatomy Soundtrack.

There was better luck for Patrick Wolf, whose Adam Ant-esque costume and tassled headwear had him swaggering like a true Prince Charming.

Meanwhile, The Lock Up's most natty-dressers award went to Devon hell-raisers The Computers, dressed all in white, but they didn't let that stop their frontman leaping into the crowd - bringing along the mic stand too.

Bass problems at the start didn't hamper Polar Bear Club's hard-edged indie punk in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.

A Wilhelm Scream asked for "a group of assholes out there who want to mosh and move things about a bit" - and there's more than a few bodies willing to oblige by the end of their hard, fast, don't-give-a-shit punk.

However, it was Municipal Waste who really brought the party - as well as their own backdrop - and wasted no time in ripping out some face-melting riffs for a crowd; proof that this is far too low a slot for the veteran metallers to be playing.

Leeds Festival 2009 continues with sets from Radiohead, Bloc Party and more.

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