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.
Boyband and radio hitmakers The Script are coming to Leeds and are playing out alongside an equally big support act.
'For the First Time' in almost a year, The Script are playing a run of live shows across the UK including Leeds' First Direct Arena.
This Irish-based band have soundtracked generations with their hits spanning two decades including 'Hall of Fame', 'Breakeven', 'Superheroes' and more.
Consisting of lead vocalist Danny O'Donoghue with Benjamin Seargent on bass, guitarist Ben Weaver and drummer Adam Marcello, their music fuses pop and rock.
The Script has released three albums that have topped both UK and Ireland charts as well as four Top 10 singles and they're hoping to reign supreme on the charts once more with upcoming LP The User's Guide to Being Human.
Although the full album doesn't drop until August, Danny and the rest of the lads have dropped a single titled 'Man In The Arena'.
There's even a nod to the Northern music scene on the tracklist as one of the upcoming releases is labelled 'The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall'.
Other tracks on this LP include 'Living Our Life Without Me', 'I'm 100 Different People' and a song that's sure to get a few tears out of all of us - 'Grow Old with Grace'.
As well as announcing this new run of shows set for Winter 2026, The Script are joining Take That on a stadium tour titled The Circus Live across June and July.
Joining The Script on their latest UK tour this Winter is James Morrison known for similar ballad-like hits including 'Broken Strings' and 'Wonderful World'.
The Script UK tour dates
Mon 2 November - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Thu 5 November - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
Fri 6 November - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena
Sat 7 November - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Mon 9 November - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Tue 10 November - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
Thu 12 November - Aberdeen, UK - P&J Live
Fri 13 November - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Sat 14 November - Sheffield, UK - Utilita Arena
Mon 16 November - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
Thu 19 November - Liverpool, UK - M&S Bank Arena
Sat 21 November - London, UK - The O2
The Script are visiting First Direct Arena on Tuesday 10 November 2026 for their The Man In The Arena Tour with tickets and more info HERE.
Featured Image - Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Audio
A daytime rave where you can be in bed by 8pm is coming to Sheffield
Clementine Hall
The famous Day Fever is back and this time it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before.
If you haven’t heard of Day Fever before, then we are about to blow your mind.
Launched in early 2024 by actress Vicky McClure and frontman of Reverend & The Makers Jon McClure, Day Fever has become somewhat of a cultural sensation.
From its debut her in Sheffield to a tour that sees thousands of ravers hitting the dance floor each month, the message is clear: people want to dance and let loose, but still be in bed before 9pm. And to be honest, we don’t blame them.
Image: Supplied
Running from 3pm to 8pm, Day Fever provides a proper night out that doesn’t completely write you off for the entire weekend.
Heading to Sheffield City Hall on Saturday 6th June, this edition of Day Fever will be filled with nothing but wall-to-wall hits courtesy of DJs Stars & Stace, Olly Hayes and Christian Carlisle.
"If you look back at the first Sheffield one to what we are now, the evolution of it is amazing," says Vicky McClure. "It was still the same people that wanted the same thing; they just wanted to go out in the day… and just have a dance!"
Think less nightclub, more joyful chaos. “It feels like a massive house party at your nan’s,” Vicky laughs. “No drama, no egos, just people acting daft, getting dressed up, and having the best time."
Image: Supplied
"It’s stories that we hear that really sum up what it's about," says Vicky McClure. "We’ve had people going through chemotherapy… people grieving… and all of a sudden you just feel this room filled with love."
Declan Kelly -
20th October 2025 
