All the biggest gigs to look forward to in Leeds, Sheffield, Halifax, Scarborough and more....
It's that time of the year where we all start to review the year ahead and book in some adventures - and lucky for us in Yorkshire, we won't have to travel far.
The four ridings has plenty of homegrown talent on tour this year, as well as space for some of the world's biggest names - and that's all just in the first half of the year.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the biggest gigs of 2024...
The Sheffield alternative-rock band recently parted ways with keyboardist Jordan Fish, but still plan to tour from next month, with a special homecoming gig planned in Sheffield.
Tickets: £56.70 each, join the waitlist via See Tickets here
Strictly Come Dancing
23 January - 2 February 2024 | Utilita Arena, Sheffield / First Direct Arena, Leeds
Image: Strictly Come Dancing
Get your paddles at the ready because Strictly Come Dancing is coming to Yorkshire, stopping in Leeds and Sheffield for four shows across three nights.
When: Tuesday 23 January 2024 in Sheffield, 1 - 2 February 2024 in Leeds
Where: Utilita Arena Sheffield, 45 Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2DF / First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: From £53.50 and available via the Strictly Come Dancing Tour website here
Wednesday 7 February 2024 | Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Image: MOBO Awards
The UK’s biggest celebration of black music and culture will kick off the 2024 awards season in God’s Own County this year. When: Wednesday 7 February 2024
Pete Doherty and Co. will be performing to just 400 people at The Wardrobe's intimate gig this February as part of the venue's 25 year anniversary shows.
When: Thursday 15 February 2024
Where: The Wardrobe, 6 St Peter's Square, Leeds LS9 8AH
Sunday 11 February 2023 | First Direct Arena, Leeds
Image: Noah Kahan via Facebook
It might not quite be the Season Of The Sticks when Noah Kahan comes back to Leeds, but the breakthrough artist has gone from selling out the SU and heading for a pint at Dry Dock to booking an already sold-out show at the Arena just months on.
When: Sunday 11 February 2023
Where: First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: Either £39.81 and £48.25, join the waitlist via See Tickets here
The Never Gonna Give You Up singer has not one, not two, but three shows planned across Yorkshire for 2024, including a stop here in Leeds' own First Direct Arena.
When: Saturday 24 February 2024 in Leeds; 5 July in Scarborough and 7 July in Halifax
Where: First Direct Arena, Scarborough Open Air Theatre and The Piece Hall, Halifax
Tickets: Last few seats at the First Direct are available for £38.80 via See Tickets here
Find out more here.
Ne-Yo
8 March 2024 | First Direct Arena, Leeds
Image: Spotify
The Closer singer is going back on tour this year with Champagne & Roses with special guest Mario along for the ride too
When: 8 March 2024
Where: First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: Last few seats are available via See Tickets for £64.55 here
Where: First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: From £42.30 - £527 if you want a VIP experience, including the chance to make a TikTok with Jason Derulo himself. All available via See Tickets here
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen are heading back on tour for another year - and as with all Take That gigs, there's a lot of hype around the six-day leg in Yorkshire.
When: 13 - 14 April in Sheffield, then 17 -20 April 2024 in Leeds
Where: Utilita Arena Sheffield, 45 Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2DF / First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: From £69.05 for seats - £241.95 for VIP package, all available via See Tickets here
Find out more here.
Elbow
12 May 2024 | First Direct Arena, Leeds
Image: Ticketmaster
The 25-year-strong rock band have dates across the UK booked for 2024 and Leeds is lucky enough to be slap bang in the middle of it. The Waeve, featuring Blur's Graham Coxon, Rose Elinor Dougall, will be special guests.
When: Sunday 12 May 2024
Where: First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: From £49.50 for seats and £55 standing, all available via See Tickets here.
The Kooks, Declan McKenna, The Cribs, Future Islands, Slow Readers Club, the list goes on! Leeds' huge indie day festival kicks off the May bank holiday weekend with some much-loved favourites.
The UK’s biggest independent rock music festival returns to Temple Newsam for another year, and has already announced names like You Me At Six, The All American Rejects, BoysLikeGirls, We The Kings, State Champs and more.
Tickets: All dates across the entire tour sold out within minutes - sorry!
Find out more here.
Girls Aloud
28 May / 15-16 June 2024 | Utilita Arena Sheffield / First Direct Arena Leeds
Image: Supplied
Could this be the biggest reunion of 2024? Entitled ‘The Girls Aloud Show’, the band have confirmed the tour will not feature any new music, but will instead “be a celebration of Girls Aloud’s rich back catalogue and all the ground-breaking success they have achieved as a band.”
When: 28 May 2024 in Sheffield and 15 - 16 May 2024 in Leeds
Where: Utilita Arena Sheffield, 45 Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2DF / First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Tickets: There's still a handful available via Ticketmaster here
Sir Tom Jones has got quite the summer planned. There's stops across the UK at some of the fanciest open air venues about - including The Piece Hall and Scarborough Open Air Theatre.
When: Wednesday 26 June and Friday 12 July 2024
Where: Scarborough Open Air Theatre and The Piece Hall, Halifax
Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster here with hotel packages available
Pop hitmaker Rick Astley is playing a few UK shows and is treating Leeds to a night of live music as part of The Reflection Tour.
Newton-le-Willows-born singer Rick Astley has achieved worldwide success, most notably with his work in the 80s alongside songwriting and production duo Stock-Aitken and Waterman.
Astley's album Whenever You Need Somebody has amassed 15 million sales across the globe and is a pivotal record that many would use to define 80s music.
On this LP is his huge hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up' which dropped back in 1987, with the track gaining more attention courtesy of social media trickery.
The worldwide recognition of this hit is all down to people online who deliberately link to the music video for this song, with the term being coined 'The Rickroll'.
Now, Rick Astley is returning to Leeds and ready to play out to over 13,500 people at one of Leeds' biggest indoor arenas First Direct Arena this April.
Gig guide | Rick Astley at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all you need to know
Rick Astley is bringing The Reflection Tour to Leeds this April / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
Rick Astley UK tour dates
Fri 10 April - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Sat 11 April - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
Mon 13 April - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Tue 14 April - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Thu 16 April - Liverpool, UK - M&S Bank Arena
Fri 17 April - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Sat 18 April - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
Mon 20 April - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
Tue 21 April - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena
Wed 22 April - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Fri 24 April - Birmingham, UK - BP Pulse Live
Sat 25 April - London, UK - The O2
Fri 5 June - Scarborough, UK - Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Fri 19 June - Newport, UK - Isle of Wight Festival
Wed 24 June - Llangollen, UK - Llangollen Pavilion
Thu 25 June - Lincoln, UK - Lincoln Castle
Sat 27 June - Gloucester, UK - Westonbirt Arboretum
Fri 24 July - Ludlow, UK - Ludlow Castle
Sat 25 July - Sheffield, UK - Tramlines
Sat 30 August - Silverstone, UK - Carfest
Are there any tickets left for Rick Astley in Leeds?
No need to 'Cry For Help', there's plenty of tickets for Rick Astley's Leeds show at First Direct Arena and you can grab yours HERE.
It's been 'Driving Me Crazy' waiting for the right opportunity to do a little Rickrolling of my own - the actual tickets can be found HERE.
Rick Astley setlist for 2026 tour
The Reflection Tour sees Rick Astley play various shows and festivals across the UK / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
This year will mark Rick Astley's first official headline tour since 2024 meaning a full setlist is yet to be confirmed.
Here is a setlist from 2024 when the 80s performer played a series of festival sets:
Never Gonna Stop
Together Forever
Beautiful Life
It Would Take a Strong Strong Man
Dippin My Feet
Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones cover)
She Wants to Dance With Me
Juice (Lizzo cover)
Forever and More
Hold Me in Your Arms
Seventeen Going Under (Sam Fender cover)
Cry For Help
Dance
Angels On My Side
Whenever You Need Somebody (O 'Chi Brown cover)
Good Times (Chic cover)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
Maria Love
Never Gonna Give You Up
Stage times for Rick Astley and support act for First Direct Arena, Leeds
Doors for Rick Astley's The Reflection Tour are set to open from 6.30pm with an official starting time of 7.30pm.
Support for this show comes in the form of another celebrated UK performer who achieved prominence the decade after Astley - Gabrielle.
This R&B-pop singer is recognised for her 1993 hit 'Dreams' and is known for soundtracking the 90s and noughties with multiple chart entries throughout the decades.
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.
And about the rickrolling earlier... sorry not sorry.
Featured Images - Press shots via Peter Neill / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
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Leeds Festival announces second wave of artists including Skepta b2b set
Thomas Melia
One of West Yorkshire's biggest live music events , Leeds Festival, has announced its second wave of artists including a Skepta DJ set.
Back in December, Leeds Festival announced some impressive acts would be headlining like Fontaines D.C., Florence and the Machine, Charli xcx, Raye, Dave, and Chase & Status.
Leeds Festival 2026 also marks the first time this live music extended-weekender will have a Thursday night headliner courtesy of rock band Kasabian.
Alongside the stellar headliners, this year's line-up also sees Skepta, Sombr, Skye Newman, Role Model, Kneecap and more major acts performing next August.
Leeds Festival 2026 announces second wave of artists with over 60 new names / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Now, Leeds Festival has dropped its second wave of artists with over 60 names that are just as hard-hitting and extraordinary as the previously mentioned music moguls.
Headliner RAYE is making her Leeds Festival headline slot a family affair by bringing along her amazing sisters along for the ride too as Amma and Absolutely are now playing sets.
Violet Grohl, the eldest daughter of Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl, is making her first ever festival appearance and bringing her alternative-indie sound to Leeds.
Skepta announced for a b2b set and Violet Grohl makes festival performance debut / Credit: @henrygoodfell0w / Press Shot via supplied
Get ready for Cruz Beckham and The Breakers to step out for a set like no other too, as they prepare a performance all 'for your love' and attention.
There's even a brand-new stage titled The Warehouse which will act as the home for all things dance music, with exclusive b2b sets, DJ performances and a club-like experience.
The acts taking to this stage include Skepta b2b with East End Dubs, Omar +, Bou, Hedex, Rossi, Mall Grab and lots more.
More artists ready to wow the Bramham Park crowd include Arthur Hill, The Lathums, Duke Dumont, Slayyyter, The K's, Paris Paloma, Holly Humberstone and more.
Leeds Festival is taking place from 27 August to 30 August at Bramham Park and to find a full line-up HERE.
If you're after getting your hands on tickets for one of West Yorkshire's biggest festivals when it returns this August, you can do so HERE.
Sophie Smith -
3rd January 2024 
