After the heavens opened and threw the O2 Wireless festival into a near washout the American duo’s headlining set at Harewood House threw Leeds into a thunderous rock party.

A huge performance from Jack and Meg White showed why it was so important to catch them at their only UK festival performance this year.  The pair opened with ‘My Doorbell’ from their last album ‘Get Behind Me Satan’ before they shook the grounds with their latest single ‘Icky Thump’.  The mandatory, yet massive ‘Seven Nation Army’ saw the site explode into a thudding, bouncing melee of bodies and air guitars.

A blistering set from Queens Of The Stone Age was timed perfectly with the peak of the torrential rain.  Josh Homme and his band arrived on stage to perform hits ‘Nobody Knows’, ‘Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret’ before leaving a soaking Leeds with ‘Go With The Flow’.

Other highlights during the day included The Bees who bought a little bout of sunshine early in the day with their blend of funk, reggae and feel-good tunes.  Air put in a performance worthy of a mention with their tune ‘Sexy Boy’ a mud squelching success.

Perry Farrell’s new project Satellite Party complete with his dancing wife provided enough action for revellers to forget about the rain as did the Blondie-esque The Sounds who finished with their biggest hit ‘Tony The Beat’.

The White Stripes proved to be a success of the first day with a rampant performance because nobody expects any less anymore.  Tomorrow (Saturday) local lad Kaiser Chiefs are joined by Yorkshire band The Pigeon Detectives and The Cribs, while Daft Punk play the Hyde Park leg in London.