After two long years of empty arenas, Stormzy returned to Leeds' First Direct Arena with two-hour set of his best hits- and it was well worth the wait.
Headlining the First Direct Arena yesterday evening was none other than the UK's favourite grime artist, Stormzy.
The original Heavy is the Head UK tour was due to commence in 2020, but we all know how that ended. After a long two year hiatus of absent music, empty stadiums and lost fans, the music industry is slowly returning to its former glory- with no expense spared.
You can tell that Leeds' been itching to return to the arena. Live music has been a legal activity for quite some time now, but it's taken a good few months- or perhaps just the need for a huge headline act to bring the city out of its reclusive state and into a music venue once more.
The Hoot was lucky enough to experience Stormzy's return to the stage from the First Direct Suite. The private suites host up to sixteen spots with a prime view of the stage.
Before we watched Stormzy entertain the crowd, we rubbed shoulders with Leeds United legend Kalvin Phillips (who we later found out was on his way to meet the headliner himself); sipped on drinks from the private booth and shared nervous-excited giggles with some of Leeds' best-known socialites whilst waiting for the two hour performance to begin.
As for the show itself, we've never experienced such an incredible performance in the luxury of the VIP suite.
Ever-humbling, Stormzy shared the limelight with his sister all evening long. Gig-goers arrived to the beat of sibling Rachel Anson's DJ set, hasting grabbing drinks whilst eager teens practised lyrics to the headliner's act as they swarmed the standing area with hours to spare and a nervous buzz echoed around the arena. Still, without fault, all eyes remained on the stage, waiting for the grime icon to appear on stage.
Stormzy is known for his incredible live performances, steeped in political agendas that unite crowds, even at gigs as large as Glastonbury.
Back in 2019, his memorable Glastonbury set featured a speech by the politician David Lammy, discussions of black and minority ethnic groups in the British criminal justice system. His Glasto debut was the same performance that featured the singer dressed in a Union Jack stab vest designed and the crowd sang the synonymous lines "f**k the government and f**k Boris" all afternoon long.
The same team have been a huge part of the Heavy is the Head UK tour and the two years of preparation was an obvious triumph from the organisers. Minuscule details like lighting changes and lavish backdrops effortlessly changed with each beat and asserted the performers' reputation as the UK's biggest rapper.
The third night of the rappers long-awaited UK and Ireland tour kicked off in Leeds with Big Michael, the opening track of his latest album as he stood, taking in the 13,000 strong crowd, whilst descending into the First Direct Arena.
The well-rehearsed set transcended into a pyrotechnic performance of his best-selling hits, featuring verse-upon-verse of fast paced, effortless rap. Flirting between his original grime tracks that projected the artist to fame and his soulful, heartfelt performances of smash-hits like Heavy is the Head that slowed the tempo and provided ample opportunity of backup singers, a saxophonist and a trumpeter to announce their influence on the genre.
Throughout the set, the London-based artist payed homage to the city of Leeds, reminding the audience that his last performance in our city was at Leeds Festival 2021, where we're certain that the internationally-acclaimed artist would have experienced the unique atmosphere and sensational crowds that the bestselling festival greets every headline act with.
With this in mind, Stormzy graciously complementing Leeds as a city, as well as a festival destination, deeming it one his favourite cities to perform in. The crowd was roaring and rewarded the rapper's kind words with applause and an increased enthusiasm for the rest of the set.
Like any international artist, his most popular singles were saved for the encore. Stormzy's final five songs had the crowd on their feet without faltering as they shouted the words to Clash, Big for your Boots and Shut Up before the artist made an announcement about his third studio album.
The concert finished with a soulful performance of Blinded By Your Grace Pt. 2 with interludes from a gospel choir before Stormzy closed the show with Vossi Bop, once again showcasing his talent in a variety of rap styles.
Stormzy is continuing his tour across the UK and Ireland, performing on Friday 18 March in Sheffield before travelling to Manchester on Saturday and finishing his weekend at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.
The countdown is really on now to one of the biggest sporting events of the year - the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will land in Leeds in just a few weeks’ time.
The upcoming cricket tournament has already shattered all previous ticket sales records, ahead of what promises to be the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.
With just two weeks to go to the opening match between England and Sri Lanka, ticket sales have already surpassed 155,000.
And anticipation is growing for the sporting event of the summer, a 24-day spectacle played across seven iconic venues in England and Wales.
Headingley will play its part in this record-breaking tournament this summer, hosting several major games.
The action kicks off here in Leeds on Wednesday 17 June, with a double-header featuring Australia v Bangladesh and India v Netherlands.
Headingley will also host one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures - England v Scotland on Saturday 20 June.
So if you’re planning to go down for all the action, or just want to know what’s in store, here’s the essential info you need for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Leeds dates for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
The T20 trophy on a tour of Leeds
Headingley will welcome eight teams across five fixtures in June, including England, Scotland, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and India, plus tournament newcomers Netherlands.
Wednesday 17 June - Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley - 10.30am
Wednesday 17 June - India v Netherlands, Headingley - 2.30pm
Thursday 18 June - West Indies v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
Saturday 20 June - England v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
Tuesday 23 June - Australia v Pakistan, Headingley - 6.30pm
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
This year’s ticket sales have surpassed the total fan attendance of 136,549 recorded across the entirety of the 2020 edition in Australia, highlighting the extraordinary momentum behind women’s cricket and the growing global demand for the women’s game.
Adult tickets start from just £15 in Headingley, you can grab tickets for games HERE.
What else is on?
Spirit Week has been driving up the excitement even further, with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy currently on a tour around the UK - including a great day out here in Leeds.
And when it’s England v Scotland here in Headingley, there’ll be all sorts of activations and activities across town to get everyone in the spirit of the World Cup.
The ICC and UNICEF will also be delivering Cricket 4 Good clinics in local communities, with cricketing stars giving young cricketers tips and skills training.
What the ICC have said
Headingley will host a number of T20 Women's World Cup fixtures
ICC General Manager - Events and Corporate Communications, Gaurav Saxena said: “The 2026 edition becoming the highest-selling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ever is another milestone for the women’s game.
“It not only highlights the incredible momentum behind women’s cricket but also reflects the strong cultural pull of an ICC pinnacle event, appeal for which is not limited to only the sports fans.
“This edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be our biggest tournament till date and is expected to smash attendance and viewership records in the UK and around the world. This milestone is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved and has been almost a year in the making.
“The response from fans is a testament to the bold, creative and well-executed marketing efforts of both the ICC and the ECB in the run-up to the tournament, more of which are to follow over the next four weeks.
“We look forward to welcoming fans from across the globe to England and Wales for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said: “Surpassing 155,000 ticket sales is an incredible milestone and a powerful signal of the momentum behind the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. To have exceeded the previous record set in Australia, before a ball has been bowled, shows just how much excitement there is for this tournament and for women’s cricket globally.
“We’ve always believed this tournament has the potential to be the biggest women’s cricket event in history, and the response from fans has been extraordinary. It reflects the growing profile of the women’s game, the strength of the teams and players on show, and the appetite for world-class sporting events across England and Wales as we build towards an unforgettable summer in 2026.”
The family-run neighbourhood Leeds restaurant that’s about more than just pizza – it’s about community
Declan Kelly
It doesn’t take long to see why this place has become such a firm favourite with the Farsley crowd.
We finally took a trip to Grumpy's Bar and Wood Fired Pizza and safe to say, you were absolutely right about this one.
Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.
Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From supporting local community events to creating a genuinely welcoming space where you can rock up in trainers or stay for hours without realising, it feels like much more than just somewhere to grab food. It feels like part of the neighbourhood’s personality.
And then there’s the pizza.
Everything is made fresh in-house, and watching the team stretch out the dough before piling on all the toppings adds a bit of theatre to the whole experience.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The wood-fired pizzas are definitely the stars of the show, coming out with that perfect crispy base, soft airy crust, and smoky finish that makes you immediately think, “yeah, that’s the good stuff.”
They also offer a gluten-free base, so there’s something on the menu for everyone to dig into.
But the small plates deserve their flowers too. Dishes like their burrata are a proper crowd-pleaser, served with fresh seasonal tomatoes and bread perfect for scooping up every last bit of creamy goodness.
Add in dough balls and arancini, and suddenly the table starts looking less like a couple of starters and more like a full-on sharing feast.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One thing we loved? The personality behind the menu. A lot of the pizzas are named after famously grumpy TV and film characters, which gives the whole place a bit of humour and fits the vibe perfectly.
And while we came for the pizza, one surprise standout was the banana split dessert. Fun, nostalgic, slightly over-the-top in the best way, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t think you’ll order… until it shows up and suddenly everyone’s fighting for the last spoonful.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
What makes Grumpy’s special, though, is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard - it’s casual, friendly, and welcoming.
Add in the sunny terrace, a few drinks, and a table full of pizzas shared between mates, and it’s easy to see why people end up staying way longer than planned.
There’s no rush here, just good food, good company, and a place that quietly gets everything right without making a fuss about it.
We finally get why Grumpy's Bar + Wood Fired Pizza is such a Farsley favourite… and trust us, we’ll definitely be back.
Sophie Smith -
17th March 2022 
