Lime Garden @ Stylus, Leeds - 10th October 2026
Lime Garden are really hitting their stride right now. A sold-out show at Stylus is the latest stop on their successful UK tour, supporting their album Maybe Not Tonight, which dropped earlier this year.
Words and Photos - Huw Williams
The self-described “wonk pop” four-piece consists of Chloe Howard (vocals, guitar), Tippi Morgan (bass), Leila Deeley (guitar) and Annabel Whittle (drums). They’re leaning into the description, as the backdrop declares “Lime Garden: Your Favourite Wonk-Pop Band”, followed by “your favourite 6 Music band”! They know who they are and they’re happy to own it.
The room was packed well before the band took the stage. The crowd - a mix of the young women the band’s lyrics speak directly to and the 6 Music dads occupying the rear of the room, nodding sagely - was geared up for a great night.
The setlist was sharp and focused. 14 songs, drawn primarily from the latest album, were briskly ticked off in just under an hour. The focus on the album gave the set a clear narrative, with its themes of body positivity, relationships and the messiness of young adulthood delivered through the band’s lively indie sound.
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Opening with Body and Pop Star, the band explore the tension between confidence and self-image, and the pressure to be seen. Lifestyle follows with a drive and energy that establishes the rhythm for the whole night.
The sound and quality of the music seem to take priority over tearing around the stage and creating a spectacle that way. The songs have an infectious personality, but that doesn’t always translate visually. Howard occasionally steps out from behind her guitar, offering glimpses of a more animated frontwoman.
In the crowd, though, the woozy, dancey indie-pop vibes land well, with people bobbing and swaying together, shoulders moving happily in time. The music lends itself to this, with Morgan’s catchy basslines and Deeley’s spiky sonic flourishes bringing the crowd along for the ride.
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The compact set crescendos with Love Song, their breakout track from the debut album, where they’re joined on stage by the brilliant opener, Sarah Crean, followed by a couple of extended versions from the new record. Cross My Heart is a highlight, reminiscent of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Heads Will Roll. It’s an LCD Soundsystem-esque indie-dance finale, with 23 and Morgan’s propulsive groove sending the crowd out on a high.
The band stick around afterwards to pose for photos and sign things for the crowd, maintaining the accessible feel that these venues still allow. That said, this could become more difficult as they’re surely on a trajectory towards much bigger venues in the coming years.
They’re not a band that dances around the stage, but their music is certainly doing the talking right now.
