Time to shake off the January blues Leeds, we've got a big month ahead!
It might be one of the quieter months of the year, but that by no means seems to be stopping musicians, DJs and singers in their truckloads from leaving their mark on the Leeds music scene this month.
From global sensations to born and bred bands headlining local bars, we've got quite the line-up for you to choose from this month.
Keep reading to find out our top ten gigs, live performances and nights out for January 2023.
King Violet
Saturday 7 January 2023 | Northern Guitars Bar, Call Lane
Image: King Violet
The St Alban's-based girlband is back at Northern Guitars for another round of Saturday night tunes- and you can expect a fun-filled night with interjections of heartbreak, guitar riffs and all-round catchy tunes will set the perfect scene for a Saturday night out in the city.
There's no tickets needed, entry is free of charge.
Monday 9 January 2023 | The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square
Image: Gabrielle Aplin, Facebook
To celebrate the release of her new album, Phosphorescent, The Power Of Love singer will be on stage at The Wardrobe for a special Intimate Launch show from 7pm and signing albums in the venue after her performance.
Tickets cost £19.99 and include the purchase of her new album CD
Saturday 14 January 2023 | First Direct Arena, Leeds city centre
What: The Scottish singer will be tackling a massive 31-date arena tour, including a night at the First Direct Arena in January. He also confirmed a new album is finally on the way, with Broken By Desire to be Heavenly Sent set for release on 19 May 2023. The Someone You Loved songwriter recently made his long-awaited return to music with the release of single Forget Me, which marked his third UK number one.
Tickets cost from £46.75 but are currently sold out.
Thursday 19 January 2023 | Brudenell Social Club, Burley
Image: See Tickets
Four albums have seen The Subways go from strength-to-strength over the years. Starting off in LA to record their debut album All Or Nothing back in 2008, journeying to their latest self-titled in 2015 which is noted by Q Magazine to be "On par with the best things they have ever written... and finds the band energized, focused and battle-ready".
Tickets cost £24.50 each and can be purchased through See Tickets.
Friday 20 January 2023 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
Image: Supplied
Reports began circulating earlier this year that the legendary Bolton-born comedian could finally be making his long-awaited return with a huge “comeback tour” in 2023, but it’s now been announced that the 49-year-old will be doing two massive shows at the First Direct Arena on Friday 20 January & Friday 19 May 2023.
Tickets are long gone, but keep an eye out for resale here.
Tosca
Saturday 21 January / Saturday 28 January 2023 | Opera North, Grand Theatre
Image: Richard H Smith
Opera North is known across the UK for its standout performances and ability to move an audience with beautiful melodies, so much so that it's one of the reasons why Leeds is one of the ‘top ten travel destinations to visit in 2023’, according to Rough Guides. Now bringing the Italian classic opera Tosca to life, it's the first time you'll get to see the talent on stage in 2023, and it's well worth a visit.
Tickets cost from £10 and there's a range of exclusive offers for members, young people and those trying out the opera for the first time.
Saturday 21 January / Saturday 28 January 2023 | O2 Academy, Millennium Square
Bringing back Saturday nights in the Academy for the new year, one of the North's leading events is back and still going strong after 10 years of production. The event is known to have 'the killer combination of unparalleled production, performers, resident DJs and very special guests'.
Tickets cost £5.50 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Monday 23 January 2023 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
The 1975. Credit: Samuel Bradley
Social media has been awash with videos from The 1975’s tour so far (notably Matty Healy’s autotune) and it’s not long until we get to see their At Their Very Best tour for ourselves. They’ll be going right across the country and tickets are still available from £46.50 at See Tickets.
Tickets were originally £40-£60 on See Tickets but sold out, look out for resale though.
Astoria
Thursday 26 January 2023 | The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square
Image: Astoria, Instagram
Playing their biggest show to date, Leeds-born rock and roll band, Astoria, is preparing for an intimate show to crowds like never before. Expect a night to remember featuring catching riffs, alt-rock ballads and heartfelt lyrics from Where The Light Lives, amongst other hits.
Tickets cost £7.70 and can be purchased through See Tickets.
Back on tour, Youth Sector is bringing upbeat melodies in bucketloads to Call Lane's own Oporto bar. Between finding themselves on BBC Introducing and recording new tunes in Brighton, the band has brought out a number of tunes you'll catch yourself humming along to long after you've heard them, including The Ball, No Fanfare and Is Blood.
Tickets cost £8.80 each and are available through See Tickets.
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
Affiliate
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 -
4th January 2023 
