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.
July already? We're Cruz-ing through the year. Meet this Northern Indie rock band who've been crowned Audio North's latest Artist of the Month.
Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known by band-name Cruz, are well and truly making a name for themselves with a whole host of gig dates scattered throughout the Summer.
Live music lovers are about to become very familiar with the 'Disco Colour Beams' songwriters, as Cruz' Summer schedule includes Isle of Wight Festival, Truck Festival and two Sheffield dates.
The Sheff-based shows are special for the fourpiece as they're hometown shows at both Everywhere At Once Festival and the incredible Tramlines Festival - Congrats lads.
Cruz are feeling the love, as the reason they're heading out to Tramlines is because they were voted the Fans' Pick, and this recognition continues as they've been chosen by Audio North to be our Artist of the Month.
An interview with Cruz | Audio North's Artist of the Month: July
Cruz-ing there way from festival to festival this Summer, the Sheffield band sat down with Audio North to talk Artist of the Month title / Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
For those who don't know, introduce us to Cruz
Tom and Sam were jamming in early 2022 before deciding to start a band while looking for other members, with Ethan and Jamie finding out through friends of friends.
Ahead of their first live gig, Cruz were drummer-less, Ethan's recruitment was lifesaving for the band as he stepped up a week before and never looked back since, four years strong.
How has Sheffield shaped you as a band?
It's such a rich city full of creatives, music-based as well as even broader to art and culture, Sheffield isn't just a city, it's a support system.
When we were starting out we got involved with all the local gig venues, who are always on the lookout to champion upcoming bands, it was so nice.
Do you feel any connection to this city's musical heritage?
Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and Richard Hawley of course, Human League and Def Leppard, the list goes on.
Growing up in Sheffield and going to gigs at The Leadmill was so incredible too.
What have been some of your favourite live shows so far?
Sidney and Matilda is prominent to us because it's where we played our very first headline date. We also supported Overpass, which was our fifth show ever as the band as we know it, then playing our headline in the same room was awesome.
Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known as Cruz, are making waves in the Sheffield music scene / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)
If someone wanted to experience the Sheffield music scene, where would you take them?
The Washington does free shows with bands and acoustic sets, making it accessible for everyone. The majority of venues in Sheffield are always hosting gigs.
Kelham Island has a lot of free entry venues too, it's great, getting to watch four or five bands playing out all on one night in this current economy is top tier.
Tramlines and Tramlines Fringe is chaotic in the best way, you never know what to expect but you'll leave with a buzz of energy every single time.
What's some of your favourite songs by these artists?
'Soundcheck Your Soul' by The North they've got so many great tunes, they're an amazing band. Montello's 'Suit and Tie', 'Runaway Instead' The Rosadocs.
Playing out at various festivals across the UK, for this Sheffield act it's Tramlines which is the most important to them / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)
What's your favourite track off your newest EP?
Jamie picked 'Man of the People' quoting it as a 'Proper anthem', 'I Get By' is Ethan's pick, it's a track which has been in the works for a while but now the band have finally cracked the code.
While Sam's favourite song is 'Amsterdam' as it's the most personal to him and it's a chilled out number.
Leeds Festival announce biggest staging and area overhaul in the festival’s 27 year history
Clementine Hall
Leeds Festival introduce five new stages for 2026, making it the biggest overhaul in the festival's history.
Leeds Festival is just around the corner now, but maybe not quite as you know it.
Organisers have announced a completely revamped stage layout that marks the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival’s 27 year history.
This year, Leeds Festival will see five new stages take over Bramham Park, each with their own new identities offering an experience never seen before.
Let's break them down...
The Grid
The home of the festival’s main stage, The Grid is where iconic headline moments happen. Expect to witness headliners Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., Dave, Raye, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status alongside Sombr, Skepta, Role Model, Loyle Carner, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, Jade, Maisie Peters, Keo and more soundtracking The Grid this year.
Not only that, but Kasabian will be making history as the first ever Thursday night headliner of Leeds Festival.
The Gallery
A brand new stage for 2026, The Gallery is an undercover immersive stage. Innovative LED screen lights and immersive production runs throughout the entire stage.
The Gallery is ready to create iconic moments from Josh Baker, Geese, Kneecap, Skye Newman, Kettama and Holly Humberstone among others.
The Warehouse
The Warehouse is a brand-new purpose-built home for dance music with viewing platforms behind the decks, plus huge screen production welcoming special sets from Skepta b2b Prospa, Hybrid Minds, Hedex, Silva Bumpa and Rossi.
As the name might suggest, for the first-time ever Leeds Festival will have a transformed stage complete with unique chandeliers and draping that plays host to artists who are defining and dominating 2026.
The Ballroom is primed for legendary breakthrough sets from YT, Florence Road, Niko B, Paris Paloma, Bassvictim, Overpass, SPEED, Frost Children, Bleech 9:3, Westside Cowboy, Chloe Qisha, Radio Free Alice, dexter in the newsagent, WHATMORE and Clementine Douglas amongst others.
The Canopy
The Canopy will welcome a new chapter for new music - with a stage dedicated to festival fans’ next favourite artists. It will play host to the likes of Violet Grohl, Villanelle, December 10, Camille Blackman, Kibo, Finessekid, Cruz Beckham and The Breakers and more.
These new stages are joined at Leeds Festival by the return of fan favourites LS23 and Piccadilly Circus, with full programming to be revealed in the coming weeks.
We hope you're just as excited as we are, find out more here. We'll see you on the fields.
Sophie Smith -
25th May 2022 
