Leeds fans can join in with the excitement of the Eurovision Song Contest from a huge BBC Fanzone at Millennium Square next weekend.
Since the announcement that the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 would be held in the United Kingdom, the buzz around the event has been bigger than ever. Although Leeds lost out on the chance to host the event, a huge Fanzone will be erected at Millennium Square so the city can join in on the nationwide party.
There will be live screenings of the semi-finals and the final on a big screen along with live music and DJ sets to help celebrate. The event will take place in a specially created area with different seating options available on a first-come-first-serve.
The space will also have a fully stocked licensed bar, delicious hot food stalls and drink concession stalls. All tickets will be provided on a pay-as-you-decide basis and all funds raised will be donated to Leeds City Council's Leeds Together For Ukraine appeal.
Michael Rice performing at Eurovision 2019.
After the main event on Saturday May 13, fans can enjoy incredible live performances from British pop artist Michael Rice who represented the United Kingdom at the song contest back in 2019. The star will be performing his UK Top 10 single 'Bigger Than Us' as well as brand-new single 'Gotta Go Dancing'.
It wouldn't be a Eurovison celebration without our favourite 70's Sweddish band, so of course the UK's leading ABBA tribute band Planet Abba will be taking to the stage. Performing the legendary winning song for Eurovision 1974 'Waterloo' along with classic party anthems such as 'Dancing Queen' and 'Mamma Mia.'
Hosting and DJ'ing the event will be International multi-award-winning drag queen St Sordid Secret alongside 2010 Drag Idol Leeds winner Cherry Pops.
Ali Liaqat, Director of Leeds Pride, said: “We are thrilled that Leeds has been chosen as an official Eurovision Fanzone and we were asked by Leeds City Council to help put together a live music programme including 2019 Eurovision contestant Michael Rice.
"This is going to be such a great occasion for the city to come together to celebrate one the greatest shows on earth and we can’t wait to get the party started in style with all the best Eurovision hits from renowned DJs and hosts St Sordid Secret and Cherry Pops”.
The event will take place at Millennium Square. Supplied - Millennium Square
Leeds was one of seven cities in the United Kingdom shortlisted to host the contest and was subsequently chosen to host an official fanzone. Liverpool was chosen as the venue for the contest after it was decided last year’s winners Ukraine would be sadly unable to host.
The fanzone is completely free to attend on Tuesday May 9th and Thursday May 11th with live coverage of the event from 8pm-10pm. The celebrations for the final on May 13 will start with entertainment from 4:30pm with coverage from the BBC starting from 7:30pm.
Eurovision will be giving fans a chance to donate to the Leeds Together for Ukraine appeal, as the UK is hosting on the county's behalf.
E-tickets will be available online from Tuesday, May 2 at 12pm and are limited to four per person. A number of tickets will also be made available on the door for those wishing to attend on the day on a strictly first come first served basis. All persons under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
You can get tickets here or contact Leeds Ticket Hub on 0113 376 0318.
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two new arena dates have been added to their forthcoming UK tour, after selling out the entire run within two hours.
Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.
The now sold-out arena run starts in Europe in November before now arriving in Leeds on Sunday 30 November.
The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmereis the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.
However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.
Image: Supplied
With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is alsothebeginning of a new phase.
Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.
The album itself drops on this Friday 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.
As for the arena show, tickets will go on sale this Thursday 27 March at 10am.
Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.
The Hoot -
28th April 2023 
