The top ten gigs, live music, comedy sketches and key note speakers to go to this month in Leeds.
Festival season is on its way out, the seasons are changing- but there's loads of live music, comedy performances and key speakers in Leeds this month to keep the feel-good summer feeling alive, even in the colder months.
Whether you're looking for an excuse to get back out as another Uni year begins or want to listen to serious key speakers discussing some of the most crucial questions of our time, we've got a range of live events for you to choose from.
Keep reading to find out more about the top ten events this month in Leeds.
Strand of Oaks
Wednesday 7 September 2022 | Brudenell Social Club, Queens Road, Burley
Image: Brudenell Social Club
Tim Showalter is bringing his eighth studio album to the Brudenell Social Club this month, and with it a performance that is set to be as heartbreaking as it is mesmerising. Described as a 'stunning, hopeful reflection on love, loss and enlightenment', In Heaven is the latest album that describes a strong narrative using vocals, featuring Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket, James Iha from The Smashing Pumpkins
Friday 9 September 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
Image: First Direct Arena
Award-winning writer and comedian Adam Kay is coming to Leeds, and bringing all of his diaries as a junior doctor with him. Expect a night of stand-up comedy and music, as well as new stories from Kay's upcoming book, Undoctored: The story of a medic who ran out of patients. Taking on First Direct Arena, seats are still available to book, as well as the option to add a signed copy of Undoctored to your order.
Saturday 17 September – Sunday 18 September 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
Image: Hanny Naibaho, Unsplash
Robbie Williams, Simple Minds, Tears For Fears, Elbow, Craig David, Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sara Coz, George Ezra, Mel C, Emeli Sande, Olly Murs, Heather Small (draws breath) and there’s even more artists playing this two-day festival to bring the BBC Radio 2 to life in Leeds. The event is said to have doubled in size from previous years and will feature a weekend to remember, regardless of which headliner you’re heading over for.
Wednesday 21 September 2022 | The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square
Image: Kodaline
Performing an intimate album launch show at The Wardrobe, Kodaline will be bringing their highly-anticipated Our Roots Run Deep to Leeds. The fifth album follows a series of top hits, including from their debut In A Perfect World, then Coming Up For Air, Politics of Living and more recently with the band's 2020 album, One Day at a Time. Door open at the earlier than usual time of 7pm for this one with a set shortly after, so make sure to get there on time.
Thursday 22 September – Sunday 25 September 2022 | Howard Assembly Room and Howard Opera Centre
This year we’ll be hearing from some of the UK’s biggest voices and beyond as panels and key speakers take on some of the most crucial questions of our time. For those unfamiliar with Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI), it’s quite simply a four-day festival that takes on important subjects and brings in experts from their chosen field to discuss their ideas in front of a live audience. There’s big names like Kevin McCloud, Mary Beard, Jon Hopkins, Yoyam Ottolenghi, Aisling Bea, David Olusoga, Christopher Wylie, Jamali Maddix and so many more in attendance, this will be real food for thought.
Friday 23 September – Saturday 24 September 2022 | Chow Down, Temple Arches
Image: Oktoberfest Leeds
Bringing the much-loved Bavarian music and steins to Leeds for Oktoberfest, the festival is back for another year. Famous for its electric atmosphere and guaranteed mayhem, expect steins of beer bigger than your head, traditional German eats and plenty of dancing. What better way to celebrate the end of the summer than with the world’s biggest beer celebration in Leeds’ biggest beer garden? It seems like a no brainer to us.
Find out more here.
Get tickets for Oktoberfest at Chow Down on Friday 23 September or Saturday 24 September here.
X Ambassadors
Thursday 29 September 2022 | Leeds University Stylus, Lifton Place, Woodhouse
Image: Ticketmaster
The New York pop-rock band will be making an appearance at Leeds University Stylus for Freshers, students and the wider population of Leeds to embrace a night of unforgettable music. Leeds marks the midway point of their six-stop tour across England, and the band is likely bringing hits like Unsteady, Jungle and Renegades to UK shows with just as much enthusiasm as ever.
Friday 30 September 2022 | Headrow House, The Headrow
Image: Brooke Combe
Having supported the likes of The Snuts and The Courteeners, Brooke Combe could be one of the UK's next big names and the last day of the month is bringing an opportunity to watch (and dance to) the singer in a small, intimate venue. Set to bring the house down at Headrow House, you won't want to miss this.
Find out more here.
Smoove and Turrell Live
Friday 30 September 2022 | Brudenell Social Club, Queens Road, Burley
Image: Smoove and Turrell
Returning with their sixth studio album, Stratos Bleu, Smoove and Turrell are bringing their analogue synths to the Brudenell Social Club this September- and it’s set to be a showstopper of an evening. With a fusion of early 90s clubbing music, reminiscent of hedonistic nights gone by, expect a night filled with conscious lyrics all to the steady beat of Mike Porter on the keyboard.
Tickets cost £17.00 each plus a booking fee.
Get tickets to see Smoove and Turrell Live at the Brudenell Social Club on Friday 30 September 2022 here.
Worried About Henry Presents Sleepless
Friday 30 September 2022 | O2 Academy, Cookridge Street
Image: Skiddle
Brought to you by Afterglow and Used To This producer Wilkinson, Worried About Henry Presents Sleepless is the night for Drum and Bass lovers in Leeds. With Ad-Apt as your MC for the night, listen to the latest mixes from Bou & Haribo; Serum & Inja; Polar & Bryson; Krakota; A Little Sound; Kara; Mozey; Katalyst and Ferguson, as well as a DJ set from Wilkinson himself. Please note this is an 18+ only event.
Tickets cost £23.25 each, plus a booking fee.
Get tickets for Worried About Henry Presents Sleepless at Leeds O2 Academy Leeds on Friday 30 September 2022 here.
Feature Image- Hanny Naibaho, Unsplash
Gig Guides
The Northern Music Awards are back for 2025 with an impressive lineup
After the inaugural event last year, the Northern Music Awards are back for 2025 and they've got an incredible lineup of live acts ready to soundtrack the night.
As if we Northerners needed any more excuses to celebrate and revel in our achievements, we now have an annual award show dedicated to celebrating our music, as we all know it's the best in the country. Ah, stuff your modesty, it's the best in the world.
Last year saw a stripped-back set by performances by Leeds very-won award winners English Teacher, Liam Fray, The Ks and a standing ovation for the first-ever 'Northern Icon', Lisa Stansfield.
Now returning for its sophomore ceremony, not only has the location been revealed but as per The Manc, so too has the lineup of live performers set to delight crowds on the night.
This time it's Merseyside who gets to welcome this important music night and it's taking place at the Liverpool Olympia, a stunning 2,000-cap room and one of the city's most historic live venues.
Performers, nominees, and winners alike will be seated in a venue packed with music royalty, as everyone from legends like The Beatles and New Order to contemporaries like Jake Bugg and hometown hero Jamie Webster have all played here.
One of the most anticipated performances of this year's show comes in the form of the Stockport superstars Blossoms, who have been touring up and down the country with their latest release, Gary.
Also helping provide entertainment is indie rockers, The Zutons, who are ready to raise the roof and celebrate Northern music in style, especially after a Richard Ashcroft opening slot last summer.
Chiedu Oraka, an upcoming rapper from Hull, is set to put on a high-octane performance and is also shortlisted for the Newcomer of the Year Award.
Similarly, rising artist and Liverpudlian actLuvcat is also shortlisted and taking to the stage, bringing her unique brand of jazz-influenced romantic rock to her home crowd.
Also nominated for this same title are The KTNA who opened for R'n'B masterclass Janelle Monáe last summer. Other names include Beth McCarthy, Pixey and Seb Lowe.
As Northern music champions, more or less every region is covered Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, all the way across the North East, Lake District and beyond.
There is once again a great focus being pushed onto festivals at this year's ceremony too, with the already coveted 'Festival of the Year' award going to Beat-Herder in Lancashire - but who will claim it this year and from which specific region?
Nominees include: Kendal Calling (Lake District), Tramlines (Sheffield), Neighbourhood (Manchester), Lytham Festival (Lytham Saint Annes), Parklife (Manchester) and Sound City (Liverpool).
The winner of this award championing live music festivals isn't picked by officials; instead, it's decided by public vote.
There are 16 awards in total with two new trophies courtesy of 'Album of the Year' and 'Industry Rising Star'. Here's a full list of the awards you can expect at the 2025 Northern Music Awards:
The Northern Music Award 2025, sponsored by Live Nation
Special Recognition Award, sponsored by SJM Concerts
Artist of the Year, sponsored by Ticketmaster
Band of the Year, sponsored by ASM Global
Album of the Year
Music Moment of the Year, sponsored by American Express
Disruptor in Music
Newcomer of the Year
Breakthrough Act of the Year
DJ of the Year
Music and Culture for Wellbeing
Festival of the Year, voted for by readers of The Guide Liverpool
Inspirational Venue of the Year Under 2,000 Capacity, sponsored by Seat Unique
Inspirational Venue of the Year Over 2,000 Capacity, sponsored by Seat Unique
The must-see gigs you need tickets for in Leeds next year
Clementine Hall
These are some of the best live shows coming to Leeds that have been hand-picked to help fill your concert calendar for 2025.
This year has been an absolute corker for live performances in the city, and luckily for us the year ahead is looking just as jam-packed.
We've rounded up a list of some of the best gigs in Leeds that you've got to get tickets for during 2025, we apologise in advance for the damage this may cause your bank account.
Sugababes, First Direct Arena
Credit: Publicity Picture
Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán better known as UK girl group Sugababes will be coming to Leeds on Friday 25 October and it's going to be a nostalgic night to remember.
They have accumulated a total six number one singles in the span of five years including ‘Push The Button’ and its infamous line which “I’ve been dropping so many hints and you’re just not getting it”.
These leading ladies have been a UK music staple with ‘Freak Like Me’ and ‘Round Round’ , if you’re going to this you’ll soon be up on your feet busting your best moves.
It’s ‘No Lie’, two of the 2000’s biggest names in music are linking up to put on a tour jam-packed with nothing but hits.
The Jamaican born dancehall act has seen chart success with ‘Temperature’, ‘Got 2 Luv U’ and ‘Get Busy’, Paul has been steadily soundtracking people’s lives since his debut.
Ashanti has her own roster such as ‘Rock Wit U’, ‘Foolish’ and ‘Baby’, the latter single by the New York R&B artist even got an Aitch remix in 2022.
You can get ready to grab your tickets for Sean Paul and Ashanti’s Leeds date HERE.
Mika, Millennium Square
Image: Press image
The Beirut-born, London-raised pop star will headline Millennium Square as part of the Sounds Of The City series.
Mika has released six studio albums to date, the latest being 2023’s ‘Que ta tête fleurisse toujours’.
Mika will take to the stage on Thursday 3 July, with special guests soon to be announced.
You can grab your tickets here via the Millennium Square website.
The Pogues, First Direct Arena
Image: Supplied
The Pogues have announced their first UK tour since the death of former frontman, Shane MacGowan, with Leeds one of just half a dozen cities chosen.
Kicking off the tour right here in Leeds, The Pogues will play at the O2 Academy on Thursday 1 May 2025.
It's going to be an emotional one that's for sure.
Two of the world’s greatest pop-punk bands, Busted and McFly, will be heading to Leeds as part of their unmissable head-to-head tour.
The two groups, which are collectively behind some of the biggest pop-rock hits of the last two decades, will be visiting some of the biggest venues around the UK.
Grab your tickets here for their Leeds gig on 27 September 2025.
Kaiser Chiefs, Temple Newsam
Image: Cal McIntyre
Yorkshire indie rock icons Kaiser Chiefs are set to play their biggest Leeds gig to date at a very special venue.
Next year marks 20 years since the release of their debut album ‘Employment’ and to celebrate, frontman Ricky Wilson and the rest of the group are coming to Temple Newsam.
The huge 20 year celebration is taking place on Saturday 31 May 2025 and sees Kaiser Chiefs and six special guests ready to raise the roof of the historical building next summer.
This one isn't to be missed, and tickets are available here.
Gracie Abrams, First Direct Arena
Image: Press image
Since making her debut in 2019, Gracie Abrams has made a name for herself as one of the most exciting singer-songwriters of her generation.
The rising star has announced the European leg of her headline tour, The Secret of Us Tour, and will play 18 dates kicking off in Madrid in February.
She will be stopping off in Leeds and performing at the First Direct Arena on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Sophie Smith -
6th September 2022 
