The top ten gigs, live music, comedy sketches and key note speakers to go to this month in Leeds.
Festival season is on its way out, the seasons are changing- but there's loads of live music, comedy performances and key speakers in Leeds this month to keep the feel-good summer feeling alive, even in the colder months.
Whether you're looking for an excuse to get back out as another Uni year begins or want to listen to serious key speakers discussing some of the most crucial questions of our time, we've got a range of live events for you to choose from.
Keep reading to find out more about the top ten events this month in Leeds.
Strand of Oaks
Wednesday 7 September 2022 | Brudenell Social Club, Queens Road, Burley
Image: Brudenell Social Club
Tim Showalter is bringing his eighth studio album to the Brudenell Social Club this month, and with it a performance that is set to be as heartbreaking as it is mesmerising. Described as a 'stunning, hopeful reflection on love, loss and enlightenment', In Heaven is the latest album that describes a strong narrative using vocals, featuring Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket, James Iha from The Smashing Pumpkins
Friday 9 September 2022 | First Direct Arena, Arena Way
Image: First Direct Arena
Award-winning writer and comedian Adam Kay is coming to Leeds, and bringing all of his diaries as a junior doctor with him. Expect a night of stand-up comedy and music, as well as new stories from Kay's upcoming book, Undoctored: The story of a medic who ran out of patients. Taking on First Direct Arena, seats are still available to book, as well as the option to add a signed copy of Undoctored to your order.
Saturday 17 September – Sunday 18 September 2022 | Temple Newsam, Leeds
Image: Hanny Naibaho, Unsplash
Robbie Williams, Simple Minds, Tears For Fears, Elbow, Craig David, Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sara Coz, George Ezra, Mel C, Emeli Sande, Olly Murs, Heather Small (draws breath) and there’s even more artists playing this two-day festival to bring the BBC Radio 2 to life in Leeds. The event is said to have doubled in size from previous years and will feature a weekend to remember, regardless of which headliner you’re heading over for.
Wednesday 21 September 2022 | The Wardrobe, St Peter's Square
Image: Kodaline
Performing an intimate album launch show at The Wardrobe, Kodaline will be bringing their highly-anticipated Our Roots Run Deep to Leeds. The fifth album follows a series of top hits, including from their debut In A Perfect World, then Coming Up For Air, Politics of Living and more recently with the band's 2020 album, One Day at a Time. Door open at the earlier than usual time of 7pm for this one with a set shortly after, so make sure to get there on time.
Thursday 22 September – Sunday 25 September 2022 | Howard Assembly Room and Howard Opera Centre
This year we’ll be hearing from some of the UK’s biggest voices and beyond as panels and key speakers take on some of the most crucial questions of our time. For those unfamiliar with Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI), it’s quite simply a four-day festival that takes on important subjects and brings in experts from their chosen field to discuss their ideas in front of a live audience. There’s big names like Kevin McCloud, Mary Beard, Jon Hopkins, Yoyam Ottolenghi, Aisling Bea, David Olusoga, Christopher Wylie, Jamali Maddix and so many more in attendance, this will be real food for thought.
Friday 23 September – Saturday 24 September 2022 | Chow Down, Temple Arches
Image: Oktoberfest Leeds
Bringing the much-loved Bavarian music and steins to Leeds for Oktoberfest, the festival is back for another year. Famous for its electric atmosphere and guaranteed mayhem, expect steins of beer bigger than your head, traditional German eats and plenty of dancing. What better way to celebrate the end of the summer than with the world’s biggest beer celebration in Leeds’ biggest beer garden? It seems like a no brainer to us.
Find out more here.
Get tickets for Oktoberfest at Chow Down on Friday 23 September or Saturday 24 September here.
X Ambassadors
Thursday 29 September 2022 | Leeds University Stylus, Lifton Place, Woodhouse
Image: Ticketmaster
The New York pop-rock band will be making an appearance at Leeds University Stylus for Freshers, students and the wider population of Leeds to embrace a night of unforgettable music. Leeds marks the midway point of their six-stop tour across England, and the band is likely bringing hits like Unsteady, Jungle and Renegades to UK shows with just as much enthusiasm as ever.
Friday 30 September 2022 | Headrow House, The Headrow
Image: Brooke Combe
Having supported the likes of The Snuts and The Courteeners, Brooke Combe could be one of the UK's next big names and the last day of the month is bringing an opportunity to watch (and dance to) the singer in a small, intimate venue. Set to bring the house down at Headrow House, you won't want to miss this.
Find out more here.
Smoove and Turrell Live
Friday 30 September 2022 | Brudenell Social Club, Queens Road, Burley
Image: Smoove and Turrell
Returning with their sixth studio album, Stratos Bleu, Smoove and Turrell are bringing their analogue synths to the Brudenell Social Club this September- and it’s set to be a showstopper of an evening. With a fusion of early 90s clubbing music, reminiscent of hedonistic nights gone by, expect a night filled with conscious lyrics all to the steady beat of Mike Porter on the keyboard.
Tickets cost £17.00 each plus a booking fee.
Get tickets to see Smoove and Turrell Live at the Brudenell Social Club on Friday 30 September 2022 here.
Worried About Henry Presents Sleepless
Friday 30 September 2022 | O2 Academy, Cookridge Street
Image: Skiddle
Brought to you by Afterglow and Used To This producer Wilkinson, Worried About Henry Presents Sleepless is the night for Drum and Bass lovers in Leeds. With Ad-Apt as your MC for the night, listen to the latest mixes from Bou & Haribo; Serum & Inja; Polar & Bryson; Krakota; A Little Sound; Kara; Mozey; Katalyst and Ferguson, as well as a DJ set from Wilkinson himself. Please note this is an 18+ only event.
Tickets cost £23.25 each, plus a booking fee.
Get tickets for Worried About Henry Presents Sleepless at Leeds O2 Academy Leeds on Friday 30 September 2022 here.
Feature Image- Hanny Naibaho, Unsplash
Concerts and Nightlife
Pop royalty S Club announce new arena tour, with huge Leeds and Sheffield gigs
S Club will be heading back toYorkshire on a newly-announced 13-date arena tour next year.
The pop icons have announced the Ain’t No Party Like A S Club Party tour, which will see Bradley, Jo, Jon, Rachel and Tina back on stage for the ultimate pop party.
The huge tour includes a night at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, a night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, as well as two gigs at the O2 in London.
S Club are one of Britain’s most successful pop groups, formerly known as S Club 7, who went on to become a cultural phenomenon with their own TV series – one of which, L.A. 7, remains the highest-rated programme of all time on CBBC.
Their smash hits include Reach, Don’t Stop Movin, Bring It All Back, Never Had A Dream Come True, and S Club Party.
In 2023, S Club celebrated their 25th anniversary with a sellout UK and US tour, shortly after the tragic death of former member Paul Cattermole.
Now, five of the original seven are ready to bring the party back to Manchester, as S Club return to the stage.
They’ll have very special guests supporting on the tour too, announcing Boyzlife, the supergroup made up of the former Boyzone and Westlife members Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden.
S Club say: “We can’t wait to get back out on tour, see you all and celebrate the songs, memories and moments we’ve shared together over the years.
“It’s going to be one BIG party, and we want you all to be part of it!”
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 6 November HERE.
Manic Street Preachers and Suede at First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds – stage times, setlists, and more
Daisy Jackson
Beloved British bands Manic Street Preachers and Suede are back on the road with another co-headline UK tour, including a massive Leeds date.
The two seasoned UK rock artists have teamed up for a huge run of live shows, which will bring them to the First Direct Bank Arena this week.
Both will be playing tracks from their newest releases – as well as a fair few of the hits.
The Welsh rock icons and the long-standing 1990s favourites from the London scene have more than 75 years of experience between them, with both outfits forming in the mid to late 80s.
This co-headline arena tour marks the biggest collaboration to date for both legendary bands and offers a unique opportunity to experience their renowned live performances.
If you’re heading to see Manic Street Preachers and Suede in Manchester, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know.
Manic Street Preachers and Suede UK tour dates
Wednesday 28 October – Glasgow OVO Hydro
Friday 30 October – Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
Saturday 31 October – Manchester Co-op Live
Tuesday 3 November – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Wednesday 4 November – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Friday 6 November – London The O2
Saturday 7 November – Birmingham Utilita Arena
Wednesday 11 November – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Thursday 12 November – Bournemouth International Centre
Tickets for Manic Street Preachers and Suede in Leeds
If you’ve not yet snapped up tickets to see Manic Street Preachers and Suede, worry not – there are still some on sale even this close to the show.
Floor standing tickets are available for £70.90 each, or seat are priced at £70.90 or £87.95 each.
You can see the latest availability and grab tickets HERE.
Suede and Manic Street Preachers are on a joint tour and coming to Manchester. Credit: Publicity picture
Stage times for Manic Street Preachers and Suede
First Direct Bank Arena hasn’t yet confirmed stage times for the show, other than the general admission doors will open at 6pm.
The bands are actually taking it in turns as to who plays first and who closes out the show – but apparently for Leeds it will be Manic Street Preachers first, Suede second.
Setlist for Suede
Disintegrate
Dancing With the Europeans
Trash
Animal Nitrate
We Are the Pigs
Personality Disorder
The 2 of Us
My City
Filmstar
Antidepressants
June Rain
She Still Leads Me On
Trance State
The Wild Ones
So Young
Metal Mickey
Beautiful Ones
Setlist for Manic Street Preachers
Motorcycle Emptiness
Ocean Spray
Faster
Decline & Fall
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Everything Must Go
Walk Me to the Bridge
No Surface All Feeling
Autumnsong
A Design for Life
From Despair to Where
The Everlasting
Slash ‘n’ Burn
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Die in the Summertime
You Love Us
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
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.
Sophie Smith -
6th September 2022 
