70s and 80s English rock band Squeeze have announced a huge arena tour next year, featuring a Leeds gig at First Direct Arena.
Known for anthems like 'Up The Junction', 'Cool For Cats' and 'Tempted', now the exceptional rockers are heading back out on the road in 2026 for a nationwide tour.
This announcement comes one week after the rock act announced their discography would be growing once more, with a brand-new album titled Trixies expected to arrive in March 2026.
So far, anyone wanting to listen to a glimpse of the upcoming record can do so in the form of newly-release single 'Trixies Pt.1', a three minute number inspired by 20s and 30s speakeasy culture, which sets a precedent for the forthcoming album.
Fronting the band and known for their long-standing partnership to eachother and the band itself is Squeeze founding fathers, Chris Difford and Glenn Tillbrook.
If Lily Allen's 2025 LP WestEndGirl was anything to go off, it's very clear that UK audiences are after some quintessential British storytelling, something Squeeze have in abundance.
The band are known for sharing their views on current affairs which ultimately led them to release an EP in 2022 titled FoodForThought as a response to the ongoing cost of living crisis in the UK.
Support for this upcoming 2026 Squeeze tour is very fitting as it's none other than musician and political activist Billy Bragg, who's well recognised for his folk and rock-fused tracks including 'Between the Wars'.
Squeeze are coming to First Direct Arena in Leeds on Friday 20 November 2026 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Although the line-up has been ever-changing since they entered the music scene in the 70s, one thing fans are guaranteed is a night full of Squeeze's timeless classics.
Squeeze are visiting First Direct Arena in Leeds on Friday 20 November 2026 and you can grab tickets on Friday 28 November at 9.30 during general sale HERE.
Two R&B greats are heading out on a joint headline tour for the very first time, as Ne-Yo and Akon announced the Nights Like This global tour.
Both artists are Grammy Award winners, and each has a formidable back catalogue of chart-topping hits.
For Ne-Yo, that includes songs like Miss Independent, So Sick, and Closer; while for Akon, he's responsible for huge tracks like Smack That, Lonelty, and Right Now (Na Na Na).
Between them, they've shaped and defined radio, nightlife, and pop culture for decades.
This newly-announced tour will see the pair performing on the same stage - for Leeds, that's the First Direct Bank Arena.
They'll perform in a unique back-and-forth set throughout the show, visiting venues right across the UK and Europe, as well as heading across to the USA and Canada.
The nostalgic gigs will feature everything from slow jams to club anthems, with a party atmosphere throughout.
Ne-Yo and Akon will perform at the First Direct Bank Arena on Thursday 30 April 2026, with tickets on sale this Friday 30 January at 10am.
There will be an artist pre-sale on Wednesday 28 January at 10am.
Nights Like This EU/UK 2026 tour dates
Fri 24 Apr – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
Mon 27 Apr – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena Newcastle
Tue 28 Apr – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Thu 30 Apr – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
Fri 1 May – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 4 May – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Loyle Carner to headline Kirkstall Abbey as part of new all-day music event
Clementine Hall
Loyle Carner has been announced as the headliner for ‘Above All Else’ a new curated event that will form part of the Live at Kirkstall Abbey concert series.Â
Boy oh boy are we excited about this one.
An all-day celebration of music and culture is coming to Kirkstall Abbey, ‘Above All Else’ is a new event from independent Leeds promoters Futuresound with forward-thinking curation at its heart.
And who better to headline its debut than Loyle Carner.
Released last summer, Loyle Carner’s fourth full-length album Hopefully! reasserted his position at the forefront of the UK’s emotionally-charged hip hop movement.
Images: Supplied
First finding his voice in 2013 with the A Little Late EP, it was Loyle Carner’s debut album 2017’s Yesterday’s Gone that brought the artist to national attention and earned himself a Mercury Music Prize nomination and BRIT award nominations for British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist at just 23 years old.
Joining Loyle Carner at ‘Above All Else’ will be a full supporting line-up including acclaimed Grammy and Ivor-Novello award nominated songwriter Jordan Rakei and Kokoroko, the London based sextet.
Completing the line-up is much-hyped Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone and rising Dublin collective Bricknasty.
Also announced for Live At Kirkstall Abbey 2026 are revered British multi-hyphenates The Streets, reunited Leeds indie heroes The Sunshine Underground, art rock royalty The Maccabees will be performing their only northern gig and the hugely successful Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival is gearing up for a return featuring Dara Ó’Brien, Jason Manford, Lucy Beamount and more.
Kirkstall postcode pre-sale for local residents (LS4, LS5, LS13 & LS18) will open at 10am on Wednesday 28 January here with general sale opening at 10am on Friday 30 January here.
Thomas Melia -
21st November 2025 
