From the second Pitbull emerges onto the Roundhay Festival stage, suited, sunglasses firmly in place, there was only ever going to be one outcome - a field full of thousands of people completely surrendering to the party.
A few years ago, Pitbull's resurgence was treated by some as a bit of an internet joke. The memes were everywhere. The bald cap. The "Mr Worldwide" catchphrase. The nostalgia.
But those people who still think this is a novelty have clearly never been to a Pitbull concert.
While party anthems are often dismissed as throwaway pop, these hits are anything but - Pitbull writes songs that still get you dancing 20 years since their release, songs that reach into your brain and switch off the part that normally tells you to stand still with your drink.
Whether the tracks first exploded onto playlists in the late 2000s or the early 2010s, they still trigger the same involuntary reaction: arms in the air, hips moving, and strangers suddenly becoming your dance partners.
Pitbull is also a genuinely exceptional showman, dancing and jumping so freely we end up with a camera roll of photos where he appears to be levitating.
Backed by a phenomenal live band, every song feels bigger, louder and more celebratory than its studio version, while slick choreography and booming production transforms Roundhay's open fields into a full-blown fiesta.
Giant video screens whisk the audience from Miami to Cuba, Rio Carnival to Tijuana, with plenty of lively pyrotechnics making it all the more mental.
The Hoot in a sea of PitbullsPitbull on stage at Roundhay Festival
Even the inevitable costume changes (... jacket changes) became part of the experience.
Rather than letting the atmosphere dip, Pitbull hands the stage over to a DJ armed with wall-to-wall singalong classics. Instead of checking phones or heading for the bar, the crowd just… keeps dancing.
The whole spectacle thrives on glorious excess. There's the surreal contrast of Pitbull, impeccably dressed in a tuxedo jacket, standing centre stage while dancers perform around him in impossibly tiny leotards. It's flamboyant, unapologetic and entirely committed to the bit. There really isn't another live show quite like it, and that's probably for the best.
Amid all the catchphrases, the relentless positivity and what feels like several hundred uses of the word "party", Pitbull also finds time to remind the audience of the work his foundation has done, including helping build schools and providing education for thousands of young people. It's a brief but welcome reminder that beneath the larger-than-life persona is someone who has invested heavily in giving opportunities to others.
Of course, nobody is really here for a TED Talk. We're here to lose ourselves for 90 minutes in hit after hit, and that's exactly what we get.
Pitbull understands something many artists don't: joy is a skill. Creating an atmosphere where thousands of strangers forget about work, bills and bad news long enough to dance without embarrassment isn't easy. But somehow he makes it look effortless.
For one night, Roundhay Park wasn't just another festival site. It was the biggest party in Yorkshire.
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.
Daisy Jackson -
4th July 2026 
