Not that we need any excuse to head to Temple Newsam or any other huge green space and listen to live music from talent near and far- but the first official weekend of summer offers the perfect opportunity.
Bringing the first ‘normal’ festival season back since 2019, there’s plenty to choose from over the jubilee weekend.
Keep reading to find our top picks of music festivals across the city centre and beyond, as well as everything you need to know about headliners and tickets too...
Summertime Live
Wednesday 1 June 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
Image: Summertime Live
The Ibiza Classics gig, Summertime Live, is bringing the European sunshine to Leeds this June- and we’ve already got the day off for it. Conveniently falling on the Jubilee bank holiday, Thursday 1 June, there really is no excuse not to get tickets unless you’ve been invited to the Queen’s birthday bash.
There will be two Classic Ibiza sets throughout the evening, and in between live DJ sets will be filling in the interludes whilst you grab a drink from independent bars or get some glittery makeup from artists lining the sides.
Leeds isn’t the only city that you can see Summertime Live in action, if you’re visiting Windsor, Brighton or Newcastle, you can witness the same Classic Ibiza tunes live around the UK throughout the summer.
Headliners: Classic Ibiza, with sets from chart-topped DJs
Tickets: All tickets cost £35 plus a £3.98 booking fee. Upgrade to The Garden for £25 includes relaxed seating, premium toilets, street food and premium bars. All tickets can be booked on the Summertime Live website.
Slam Dunk Festival North
Friday 3 June 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
Image: Slam Dunk Festival
Slam Dunk Festival North is back for another year and there’s a huge line-up to look forward to. Set in the heart of Temple Newsam, one of Leeds’ best known festival venues is the hosting a one day set of metal, emo, punk and ska music from some of the industry’s biggest names.
The one-day festival kicks off on the bank holiday Friday, with live performances across five stages at Temple Newsam.
Headliners: Neck Deep, Sum41 and ALEXISONFIRE, amongst other exciting names (see below for the full list of acts).
Tickets: Tickets start at £69, but you’re likely to get a ticket priced over £85 as the date gets looms closer. Those looking for VIP entry tickets can pay £129 for entry to the VIP Guest area, VIP toilets and guest bar. All tickets can be purchased from the Slam Dunk Festival website.
Live at Leeds
Saturday 4 June 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
Image: Live at Leeds
The popular festival is usually held each year across the inner-city centre, with artists playing at a range of Leeds venues, but it was pushed back until October this year due to pandemic-related restrictions. As a result, the Live at Leeds team have decided that the multi-venue traditional Live at Leeds will be hosted in October 2022 and an outdoor one-day festival will take place in its usual May spot.
Joining the hefty line-up of rising Indie headliners: Alfie Templeman, The Pigeon Detectives, Cassia, Laruran Hibberd, Tribes and Dream Wife have all been confirmed to perform alongside The MYsterines, Kid Kapichi, Coach Party and Zuzu.
Headliners: The Vaccines, Holly Humberstone, Sports Team and The Snuts will be joining the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Arlo Parks, Easy Life and Sea Girls at Temple Newsam over the Queen’s Jubilee weekend. Nothing But Thieves were originally set to play but has since had to cancel and their headline slot will be replaced by The Vaccines on Saturday 4 June.
Tickets: Live at Leeds Tickets are now available on the Live at Leeds website for the 2022 one-day festival, with general admission priced at £60.50.
Saturday 4 June 2022 | Church Fenton Airfield, Selby, Leeds
Image: Made in Leeds
During the Bank Holiday Jubilee weekend, Made in Leeds Festival will return for another year of live music and entertainment from the city’s finest homegrown acts.
Local owner of Dollhouse and newly-opened club-dining experience, Playroom, Tom Zanetti will be returning to his home city for a Made in Leeds set.
Craig David’s legendary set, Craig David Presents TS5 is will be live from Leeds during the bank holiday weekend too. David started the project in 2012 after the artist hosted a series of parties for friends in his penthouse apartment.
Headliners: Craig David Presents TS5, Holy Goof, Nathan Dawe, Marc Kinchen, Hannah Wants, Low Steppa and Tom Zanetti.
Tickets: Made in Leeds has sold out of its first release tickets. Prices now start at £30.25 but will increase to up to £66 as the tiers sell out. Students can grab a ticket for just £16.50 and there’s a 3-for-2 deal too on Skiddle: bargain.
Wednesday 1 June – Sunday 5 June 2022 | Temple Arches, Leeds city center
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Okay so this might not be your typical music festival per se but with live events across a whopping five days, Chow Down will be hosting a Jubilee extravaganza like no other and it's well worth a visit. Expect Jubilee-themed cocktails, street food from Parmogeddon, Cleopatra’s Kitchen and Good Boy Bodega whilst listening to tunes from some of Chow Down’s favourite performers and brand-new musicians alike.
Performing on the Wednesday at a free-to-attend evening, Ninety Nine will take the stage whilst The List Festival will takeover the main stage on Thursday 2 June with Apricot Ballroom, James Holroyd, J Cub, Tom PBR Streetgang and Tracks Magazine.
Headliners:
Tickets: From £17.92 for a table of two. All tickets are available on the Chow Down website.
West Yorkshire's very own Jane McDonald is coming to First Direct Arena in Leeds for a hometown show that's set to be spellbinding.
Making her British TV screen debut nearly 30 years ago on The Cruise, before joining the Loose Women panel and going on to present a whole host of travel shows including Cruising with Jane McDonald, now this Wakefield legend returns to First Direct Arena.
This latest tour titled after her 2026 LP Living The Dream, will see Jane singing hits from both past and present including a couple covers too.
Earlier this year, Jane's Mighty Hoopla performance went viral online after she commanded the stage in a red leather jacket, donning a singular rainbow hair extension while belting out RAYE's 'Where Is My Husband!'
Audio North even got the opportunity to interview this legendary lady when she visited her hometown HMV store in Wakefield for an exclusive album signing - Oh look, it's me!
The Wakefield wonder-woman's latest album Living The Dream was released in March and considering the tour is named after this impressive LP, we're sure fans can expect to hear quite a few tracks from this album.
Living The Dream
I'll Not Be Beaten
You Don't Know What You Got
Don't Mind If I Do
The Hand That Leads Me
Ain't Gonna Beg
I Will Always Love You
Islands in the Stream
Jolene
9 to 5
You're My World
Where Is My Husband!
Let the Light In
Cake by the Ocean
Jai Ho!
APT.
Right Where I Belong
How Do I Move On
Beautiful Soul
All By Myself
You Still Lead Me
Of course, Jane also loves to cover a tune or two, and we'll never forget her renditions of 'Cake By The Ocean', 'Jai Ho' or 'APT.'.
What are the stage times for Jane McDonald in Leeds?
The doors for Jane McDonald's Living The Dream Tour in Leeds are set for 6pm with the event set to start at 7.30pm.
First Direct Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you have enough time to dash home and eat 'Cake by the (Sofa)' before ringing in the new day.
How to get to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
James Blunt announces huge European tour, kicking off in Leeds
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, kicking off a run of arena dates here in Leeds.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad 'You're Beautiful', is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour here in Leeds next spring, with a massive show at the First Direct Arena.
Then he'll head to more cities including Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be 'exhilarating'.
James has already released the first single, 'Tastes Like Summer', and 'Weight Of It All', with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who'll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: "Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury."
James Blunt will be at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 26 March, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Sophie Smith -
25th May 2022 
