Over the last decade, Leeds has become an increasingly popular place for locals to go and see live music. With the opening of several new venues, Leeds has very much put itself back on the musical map.
There have been some impressive and memorable gigs in Leeds in last decade. One of these was when local boys Kaiser Chiefs took to a makeshift stage at Elland Road stadium to perform to 35,000 fans back in 2009, supported by Yorkshire band The Cribs and DJ Mark Ronson.
In 2014, grunge legends Pearl Jam played the First Direct Arena (one of only two venues they played in the UK), powering through 36 songs and two encores, playing long past the curfew. The arena also hosted The Stone Roses for two nights back in June 2017.
There are plenty of gigs to look forward to in 2024 including the likes of Judas Priest, Simple Minds, UB40 ft. Ali Campbell, Take That, Girls Aloud and Tenacious D.
Until 2013, Leeds had no regular large venue for live music. This all changed with the opening of the First Direct Arena in September of that year, marked by Sir Elton John playing for a capacity audience of 13,000 fans. He returned to the venue in 2023 as part of his extensive global Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
The O2 Academy is another relatively recent addition to the city’s music scene. The Grade I listed building which used to be the legendary Town and Country Club reopened as the 2,300 capacity O2 Academy in 2008 with a sell-out gig from Kaiser Chiefs.
If you’re looking for an independent venue, the Brudenell Social Club hosts live music almost every night, a combination of local and national acts. It’s famous for hosting secret gigs from bands including Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand.
Kaiser Chiefs are probably the best-known band from Leeds, but others include Sisters of Mercy, Soft Cell, The Wedding Present and Utah Saints.
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