Johnny Depp left fans open-mouthed at a gig in Sheffield on Sunday night after making a surprise appearance on stage alongside his good friend Jeff Beck.
Beck, who is currently touring the UK, invited Depp on stage to perform alongside him just days after the closing arguments were heard in the actor's high-profile case against Amber Heard.
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor surprised and delighted fans with the shock appearance, which saw him rock out on stage at Sheffield City Hall seemingly out of nowhere, reports The Sheff.
The 58-year-old actor - who has been keeping a low profile throughout the court case - appeared triumphantly alongside his good friend Jeff Beck during a concert held on Sunday night.
The pair then proceeded to rock out to their 2020 hit 'Isolation' - a remake of John Lennon's original hit, first released in the 1970s - with Depp delivering a funky electric guitar solo, before performing renditions of Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing' and Marvin Gaye's classic 'What's Going On.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orB9bmgR18s
Video: Youtube
Fans erupted online with excitement at seeing Depp take to the stage with his guitar and close friend, just days after the closing arguments were heard in his highly publicised court case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
Sharing a picture of the gig on Instagram, one person wrote ‘Wasn’t expecting this, I thought he was in court but turns out he’s in Sheffield with Jeff Beck.'
Before becoming a famous actor, Depp had begun his career as a musician. His mother gave him his first guitar aged 12, at which point he began playing in various bands.
Image: @salveogvm/Twitter
He later dropped out of high school, aged 16, to become a rock musician. before ultimately making it in Hollywood as a famous actor eight years later, when his career was launched by his role as a teen heartthrob in 21 Jump Street.
Despite his success as an actor he has continued to pursue his music and, alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, went on to form the supergroup Hollywood Vampires in 2015.
Depp has kept a low profile throughout his court cart with his ex-wife, reportedly going to stay at Joshua Tree due to the 'stress' of it, so it came as a shock to many to see him taking to the stage ...and in Sheffield, of all places.'
He is currently suing Amber Heard for Defamation after she wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about her experiences with Domestic Abuse in 2018.
The court case has been live-streamed throughout its procedures, leading to huge amounts of media coverage and fan speculation.
Both parties lawyers made their closing arguments on May 24 and the jury has since been sent away to deliberate. They are expected to return to continue discussions on Tuesday, May 31.
Feature image - @salveogvm/Twitter
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This Leeds pop choir is putting emerging musicians centre stage
If there’s one thing Leeds knows how to do, it’s produce a seriously talented bunch of emerging creatives. And this time, we’re swapping the usual indie gigs and late-night dance floors for a choir proving there’s nothing old-fashioned about singing together.
Meet LC Pop Choir, the Leeds-based group taking some of the biggest pop, rock and gospel hits and giving them a whole new lease of life.
Based at Leeds Conservatoire, the choir was founded in 2015 by Principal Lecturer Craig Lees and has since grown into a talented community of students and alumni who share a love of music and a good old singalong.
But don’t go thinking this is your typical Sunday afternoon choir. We’re talking huge vocals, impressive harmonies and the kind of performances that make you want to get up and join in. Think songs you already know by heart, reimagined with a whole room full of voices behind them.
In 2025, LC Pop Choir took to the stage on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, performing Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten. The anthem is practically impossible not to sing along to, and the choir gave it a powerful new spin, showing just how much a familiar pop hit can be transformed through the power of group vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxUjfRqvyks
It’s the sort of performance that reminds you why live music is so special. There’s something about hearing a song you’ve known for years delivered in a completely different way that makes you fall in love with it all over again.
LC Pop Choir is such an exciting part of Leeds’ creative community. They’re not just performing songs; they’re finding new ways to bring people together through music. And that’s something Leeds has always done particularly well.
What makes the group even more special is the talent behind the harmonies. Made up of emerging artists releasing their own music, touring around the country and even performing at major festivals, these are creatives making waves in their own right.
Yet, every Monday, they come together as a family of creatives, supporting one another, nurturing their talents and celebrating their shared love of music.
The music industry can be a competitive place, particularly for artists just starting out, so having a space to develop their skills, meet like-minded people and be part of something bigger is invaluable.
This Leeds pop choir is putting emerging musicians centre stage. Credit: Ian Hodgson
And that sense of community is exactly what makes groups like LC Pop Choir such an important part of Leeds’ cultural scene.
Whether you’re a musical theatre obsessive, a pop music fanatic or someone who simply loves a brilliant live performance, LC Pop Choir is one Leeds-based group worth keeping on your radar.
We have a feeling some of these young artists will be paving the way for the next generation of music in the North, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.
Clubland to celebrate 25 years with huge Leeds arena show
Clementine Hall
Clubland is heading to Leeds for a special arena-sized anniversary celebration next year.
The Clubland Arena Tour promises a night of the biggest artists and biggest anthems, giving fans the chance to come together for a celebration of the dance music brand.
Celebrating 25 years of Clubland, the tour will stop off at arenas in Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Aberdeen, and of course Leeds.
With the event set to take over one of Leeds' biggest live entertainment venues, anticipation is already building for what promises to be a nostalgic night of club classics and dancefloor favourites – even before the lineup is announced.
Image: Supplied
The full line-up is expected to be announced very soon, with fans encouraged to keep an eye out for further details.
Previous headliners at Clubland Live have included Cascada, Basshunter, Scooter, Ultrabeat, and Vengaboys, always guaranteeing a night of non-stop anthems.
For many dance music fans, Clubland has become synonymous with the sounds that dominated clubs, radio playlists and party nights throughout the 2000s.
Over the years, Clubland has continued to celebrate the artists and songs that helped define an era of dance music, giving fans the chance to experience their favourite tracks live alongside thousands of like-minded clubbers.
From infectious pop-dance hits to harder-hitting electronic anthems, its events tap into a sense of nostalgia while keeping the energy of a night out firmly at the centre of the experience.
The 25th anniversary tour looks set to build on that legacy, bringing a quarter-century of club classics to arenas across the UK.
The Clubland Arena Tour will be at the First Direct Bank Arena on Saturday 1 May 2027.
Georgina Pellant -
30th May 2022 
