Big things are happening in Wakefield for the Northern music scene.
On Saturday, the city witnessed something truly special with the launch of the new live music series WX Live at Wakefield Exchange, kicking off in spectacular style as Leeds’ own Grammy Award-winner Corinne Bailey Rae opened the programme with an unforgettable performance.
The vision behind WX Live is ambitious yet beautifully clear: to bring world-class artists to the heart of Wakefield and firmly place the city on the UK’s live music map.
More than that, it’s about giving the North its rightful place in the national spotlight offering a stage where both international and local talent can shine. For Wakefield, Leeds, and the wider region, it represents a beacon of creativity and community, a space where the arts can truly flourish.
From the very first notes, Corinne Bailey Rae reminds the audience exactly why her voice remains one of the most captivating in contemporary music. With smooth, soulful phrasing and quiet yet commanding power, she draws listeners into every lyric.
From timeless hits like “Put Your Records On” and “Like a Star” to newer material brimming with vitality, Rae reimagines her songs with subtle tempo shifts, unexpected vocal flourishes, and a sense that she's living every word in real time.
Corinne Bailey Rae performing at WX Live in Wakefield. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Her performance is steeped in bluesy storytelling and emotional honesty. Between songs, Rae offers glimpses into her life, from her upbringing in Leeds to her time in America, to the loss of her first husband.
She speaks candidly about her experiences as a young Black British artist navigating the music world, adding raw emotion and intimacy that makes the evening feel deeply personal and profoundly moving.
The atmosphere inside Wakefield Exchange is electric yet intimate. With no need for grand theatrics, the focus stays firmly on the music and Rae’s graceful stage presence. Her band provides perfectly measured support, letting each arrangement breathe. When the lights dim and the pace slows, her voice fills the room with warmth and power songs not just performed, but felt.
By the end of the night, it's clear that Rae has done more than simply open WX Live; she has set an extraordinarily high bar for what’s to come. Her set is a masterclass in soul, subtlety, and sincerity, reaffirming her status as one of the defining voices of her generation.
Having Wakefield Exchange is a huge stepping stone not just for the city, but for northern music as a whole. It’s a venue that encourages footfall, fosters creativity, and opens up new opportunities for artists to perform and grow. WX Live is the perfect way to bring world-class entertainment and musical excellence to West Yorkshire.
And with Wakefield just a 15-minute train ride from Leeds, it’s practically next door, helping to expand and strengthen the region’s ever-growing music scene. The venue itself is impressive, holding a capacity of around 1,500, and with local food vendors on-site, it offers the full experience of a vibrant space where music, community, and culture come together.
Next up on WX Live are Skinny Living, bringing their SL9 Tour to the Exchange on 13 December 2025. If Saturday night is anything to go by, Wakefield’s music scene is entering an exciting new era.
American chart topper Jason Derulo is visiting Leeds for a night of radio bangers that will get stuck 'In My Head' and yours too.
Known for soundtracking the early 2010s and beyond, Derulo is heading back to Leeds playing out at the iconic First Direct Arena.
The Florida-born performer has five UK number one singles to his name, so it's safe to say his setlist will be stacked with massive hits sure to 'Take You Dancing' all night long.
His latest effort The Last Dance is an eight track EP featuring collaborations with INNA and Melody as well as the bouncy lead single 'Sexy For Me'.
This leg of shows is titled after this project and Derulo is asking anyone going to wear their best futuristic or metallic attire and accessories - You might end up being his 'It Girl'.
Jason Derulo gig guide
Jason Derulo is coming to First Direct Arena Leeds on 6 February / Credit: Supplied via Wikimedia Commons
Jason Derulo UK tour dates
Fri 30 Jan - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena
Sat 31 Jan - London, UK - The O2
Mon 2 Feb - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena
Tue 3 Feb - Brighton, UK - The Brighton Centre
Thu 5 Feb - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
Fri 6 Feb - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
Sat 7 Feb - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Mon 9 Feb - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Jason Derulo tickets for First Direct Arena gig
If you want to see Jason Derulo 'Talk Dirty' to a huge 13,000 arena crowd over some 'Trumpets' then you'll want to get tickets to this event.
Luckily there's plenty of opportunities for you to see Mr. Derulo 'Wiggle' right in front of your eyes as there's tickets available HERE.
Jason Derulo setlist
Although the tour hasn't kicked off yet, here's one of the Pop/ R&B champs latest sets from September last year which contains some 2010s classics and big belters.
Swalla
Wiggle
Take You Dancing
Acapulco
Savage Love
Whatcha Say
Who Hurt You
Tip Toe
Breathing
In My Head
Ridin' Solo
Spicy Margarita
Love Tonight
The Other Side
Dame Un Grrr
Talk Dirty
Want to Want Me
Don't Wanna Go Home / Shots
Who Hurt You
What are the stage times for Jason Derulo in Leeds?
The 'It Girl' hitmaker is visiting the UK for his The Last Dance Tour / Credit: Supplied via Wikimedia Commons
First Direct Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning as much as we ′Don't Wanna Go Home', at least we'll be tucked up in bed before the early hours.
Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6.30pm with a kick-off time expected to be 7.30pm with support from Czech rising star THERA and Manchester EDM group LZ7.
How to get to first direct arena
Bus Station
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.
First wave of special releases for Record Store Day UK 2026 have been announced
Danny Jones
Yes, it’s nearly time for Record Store Day 2026, and the list of the first dozen or so limited edition releases here in the UK has just been announced.
With a fair few familiar and, more importantly, Northern names on there (but of course), #RSDUK26 is set to be another great one.
A total of 15 songs have been named on the lineup for this year so far, and yet again, the drops are in support of War Child, who will also be hosting a number of very special and intimate charity gigs during BRITs Week.
The two organisations have collaborated for the sixth time after having first joined forces back in 2020, and it feels like both the annual observance and its catalogue have only got better ever since.
Plenty that have caught our attention already, and there’s only more set to come…
As detailed in the post on social media, the Record Store Day team have retierated that “£1 from every single copy sold of these releases will be donated to the charity, helping to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of the children who are living through conflict around the world.”
We quickly noticed the likes of The Cure, Fleetwood Mac, Kaiser Chiefs, Mark Knopfler and Bring Me The Horizon, just to name a few.
Once more, here is the RSD 2026 release list in full:
Record Store Day release list | 2026
Corinne Bailey Rae – Live In New York
The Cure – Greatest Hits and Acoustic Hits (compilations)
Divorce – Live at Get Together 2025 for War Child
Dr Feelgood – Oily City Confidential (OST)
Fleetwood Mac – The Original Fleetwood Mac (compilation)
James Dean Bradfield – The Great Western
Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval
Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris – ‘All The Roadrunning’
Nicky Wire – Intimism
Primal Scream – Echo Dek
Rory Gallagher – Calling Card
Sigrid x BMTH – ‘Bad Life’
The Streets – Computers & Blues
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect…. Demos and B-sides
As always, all of these titles will be available behind the counter exclusively at indie record shops all over the country on Saturday, 18 April to celebrate Record Store Day UK 2026.
Declan Kelly -
20th October 2025 
