These are some of the best live shows coming to Leeds that have been hand-picked to help fill your concert calendar for 2025.
This year has been an absolute corker for live performances in the city, and luckily for us the year ahead is looking just as jam-packed.
We've rounded up a list of some of the best gigs in Leeds that you've got to get tickets for during 2025, we apologise in advance for the damage this may cause your bank account.
Sugababes, First Direct Arena
Credit: Publicity Picture
Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán better known as UK girl group Sugababes will be coming to Leeds on Friday 25 October and it's going to be a nostalgic night to remember.
They have accumulated a total six number one singles in the span of five years including ‘Push The Button’ and its infamous line which “I’ve been dropping so many hints and you’re just not getting it”.
These leading ladies have been a UK music staple with ‘Freak Like Me’ and ‘Round Round’ , if you’re going to this you’ll soon be up on your feet busting your best moves.
It’s ‘No Lie’, two of the 2000’s biggest names in music are linking up to put on a tour jam-packed with nothing but hits.
The Jamaican born dancehall act has seen chart success with ‘Temperature’, ‘Got 2 Luv U’ and ‘Get Busy’, Paul has been steadily soundtracking people’s lives since his debut.
Ashanti has her own roster such as ‘Rock Wit U’, ‘Foolish’ and ‘Baby’, the latter single by the New York R&B artist even got an Aitch remix in 2022.
You can get ready to grab your tickets for Sean Paul and Ashanti’s Leeds date HERE.
Mika, Millennium Square
Image: Press image
The Beirut-born, London-raised pop star will headline Millennium Square as part of the Sounds Of The City series.
Mika has released six studio albums to date, the latest being 2023’s ‘Que ta tête fleurisse toujours’.
Mika will take to the stage on Thursday 3 July, with special guests soon to be announced.
You can grab your tickets here via the Millennium Square website.
The Pogues, First Direct Arena
Image: Supplied
The Pogues have announced their first UK tour since the death of former frontman, Shane MacGowan, with Leeds one of just half a dozen cities chosen.
Kicking off the tour right here in Leeds, The Pogues will play at the O2 Academy on Thursday 1 May 2025.
It's going to be an emotional one that's for sure.
Two of the world’s greatest pop-punk bands, Busted and McFly, will be heading to Leeds as part of their unmissable head-to-head tour.
The two groups, which are collectively behind some of the biggest pop-rock hits of the last two decades, will be visiting some of the biggest venues around the UK.
Grab your tickets here for their Leeds gig on 27 September 2025.
Kaiser Chiefs, Temple Newsam
Image: Cal McIntyre
Yorkshire indie rock icons Kaiser Chiefs are set to play their biggest Leeds gig to date at a very special venue.
Next year marks 20 years since the release of their debut album ‘Employment’ and to celebrate, frontman Ricky Wilson and the rest of the group are coming to Temple Newsam.
The huge 20 year celebration is taking place on Saturday 31 May 2025 and sees Kaiser Chiefs and six special guests ready to raise the roof of the historical building next summer.
This one isn't to be missed, and tickets are available here.
Gracie Abrams, First Direct Arena
Image: Press image
Since making her debut in 2019, Gracie Abrams has made a name for herself as one of the most exciting singer-songwriters of her generation.
The rising star has announced the European leg of her headline tour, The Secret of Us Tour, and will play 18 dates kicking off in Madrid in February.
She will be stopping off in Leeds and performing at the First Direct Arena on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Here's your first look at the new and improved TESTBED music venue in Leeds city centre.
Gearing up to relaunch this September, the landmark Leeds venue will reopen its doors to showcase permanent structural improvements and major upgrades across sound, lighting and overall customer experience.
With a capacity of a very impressive 2,500, there's no denying that TESTBED is preparing to relaunch at the forefront of Leeds’ vibrant creative culture.
The venue is expanding from 10,000 sq ft to 23,000 sq ft, guests will now enter through a new lobby where they can enjoy a brand-new 5,000 sq ft mezzanine level with customisable seating and a view of the dance floor from a brand-new balcony.
Image: Supplied
There will be a new upstairs bar that will continue TESTBED’s commitment to support local brands and suppliers.
Downstairs, the custom-built stage allows for a 360-degree crowd and a room two is also underway for a 2027 reveal, creating a multi-purpose space and chill-out area.
Image: Supplied
The newly designed lighting includes multiple moving lights and strobes, together with a large LED ceiling installation and bespoke under-balcony display of LED strips and curves, complemented by a high-res 8m x 4m LED video wall.
Guests will also keep cool thanks to significant upgrades to ventilation and air circulation, with powerful high-capacity fans creating a fresher, more comfortable environment throughout.
Image: Supplied
Now onto the important stuff... the portaloos are gone and replaced by four brand new toilet blocks, doubling capacity and of course - comfort.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you on the dance floor at the brand-new TESTBED when it opens its doors again this September.
Full lineups and opening details will be announced soon, we'll keep you posted as and when we find out more.
Nostalgic rock icons Weezer announce huge arena show in Leeds
Daisy Jackson
Weezer have announced a massive gig in Leeds as part of an upcoming arena tour, celebrating a brand-new album release.
The nostalgic rock icons will be playing at the First Direct Bank arena next spring, alongside gigs in UK cities including Manchester, Newcastle, and Glasgow.
The American rockers have announced The Gathering 2027 World Tour and released the music video for C.E.O, starring Tony Hawk, Curry Barker, and more.
They’ll also be releasing a self-titled new album, Weezer, on 21 August, which Rolling Stone has already called ‘one of the best Weezer albums of this century’.
It’s set to be their 20th (twentieth!!!!) studio album, joining chart-topping records like Make Believe, Maladroit, and the Green Album.
Weezer will be performing hits from their huge back catalogue, including Buddy Holly, Hash Pipe, and Say It Ain’t So.
The huge tour will kick off in the States in February next year before heading across to Japan and Europe.
And Weezer will have some huge support in the form of fellow American rock group, Taking Back Sunday.
Weezer will be performing at the First Direct Bank arena on Monday 17 May 2027.
You can pre-order the new album from the Weezer webstore before 3pm on Monday 10 August to get pre-sale access.
Weezer, The Gathering World Tour – UK and European dates in full
Wed 12 May – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Fri 14 May – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Sat 25 May – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 17 May – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
Wed 19 May – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Fri 21 May – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Sat 22 May – London, UK – Alexandra Palace
Sun 23 May – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
Tues 25 May – Paris, France – Zenith
Wed 26 May – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – AFAS Live
Sat May 29 – Oslo, Norway – Spectrum
Sun 30 May – Stockholm, Sweden – Hovet
Tues 1 June – Helsinki, Finland – Veikkaus
Then the general sale begins from 10am on Friday 14 August, with tickets on sale HERE.
Clementine Hall -
30th December 2024 
