Local band Biffy Clyro perform exclusive gig for charity
The band will headline Leeds Festival this summer
Kilmarnock rock band Biffy Clyro have perfomed an exclusive, intimate charity gig ahead of headlining the Leeds and Reading Festivals this summer.
The band volunteered to play in Leeds to help raise money for the children's charity Martin's House, with all proceeds being matched by Leeds Festival.
The gig was held at Headrow House in Leeds and festival ticket holders had to enter a ballot for a chance to win the tickets.
Frontman Simon Neil revealed that it was something he wanted to do as Leeds Festival had been their first big gig.
"Last time Leeds was the first big big festival we'd headlined and we were nervous on the way up, the first few songs were sketchy and it felt like we hadn’t settled, it was raining and everything then the PA cut out then as it came back in, the crowd just went mental and that’s the moment I’ll always remember.
"It’s been one of the most glorious feelings we’ve ever had as a band. From feeling like ‘oh no this could end right now’ to the crowd being even stronger, it felt like we were all in it together."
Their new album Ellipsis is out next month but the frontman admitted that creating it has been a difficult process.
"I struggled with it for the first time with this record, normally I have a backlog of songs and I never struggle being creative.
"We toured Opposites for a good couple of years and the shows kept getting bigger and that stopped me feeling inspired for a couple of months. I had to forget about writing songs for Biffy and just take the pressure away from myself."
Biffy Clyro are made up of Simon Neil and Kilmarnock brothers Ben and James Johnston.
They're one of five headliners for this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foals, Disclosure and Fall Out Boy.
Their new album Ellipsis is out on the 8th July.
[Gallery: Biffy Clyro perform charity gig at Headrow House in Leeds.