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Loyle Carner to headline Kirkstall Abbey as part of new all-day music event

Is it summer yet?

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 26th January 2026

Loyle Carner has been announced as the headliner for ‘Above All Else’ a new curated event that will form part of the Live at Kirkstall Abbey concert series. 

Boy oh boy are we excited about this one.

An all-day celebration of music and culture is coming to Kirkstall Abbey, ‘Above All Else’ is a new event from independent Leeds promoters Futuresound with forward-thinking curation at its heart.

And who better to headline its debut than Loyle Carner.

Released last summer, Loyle Carner’s fourth full-length album Hopefully! reasserted his position at the forefront of the UK’s emotionally-charged hip hop movement.

Images: Supplied

First finding his voice in 2013 with the A Little Late EP, it was Loyle Carner’s debut album 2017’s Yesterday’s Gone that brought the artist to national attention and earned himself a Mercury Music Prize nomination and BRIT award nominations for British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist at just 23 years old.

Joining Loyle Carner at ‘Above All Else’ will be a full supporting line-up including acclaimed Grammy and Ivor-Novello award nominated songwriter Jordan Rakei and Kokoroko, the London based sextet.

Completing the line-up is much-hyped Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone and rising Dublin collective Bricknasty.

Also announced for Live At Kirkstall Abbey 2026 are revered British multi-hyphenates The Streets, reunited Leeds indie heroes The Sunshine Underground, art rock royalty The Maccabees will be performing their only northern gig and the hugely successful Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival is gearing up for a return featuring Dara Ó’Brien, Jason Manford, Lucy Beamount and more.

Kirkstall postcode pre-sale for local residents (LS4, LS5, LS13 & LS18) will open at 10am on Wednesday 28 January here with general sale opening at 10am on Friday 30 January here.

Read more: Arctic Monkeys release first song in four years as part of upcoming all-star War Child album

Featured image - Supplied

Audio

Audio North’s Artist of the Month: Cruz | July 2026

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

July already? We're Cruz-ing through the year. Meet this Northern Indie rock band who've been crowned Audio North's latest Artist of the Month.

Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known by band-name Cruz, are well and truly making a name for themselves with a whole host of gig dates scattered throughout the Summer.

Live music lovers are about to become very familiar with the 'Disco Colour Beams' songwriters, as Cruz' Summer schedule includes Isle of Wight Festival, Truck Festival and two Sheffield dates.

The Sheff-based shows are special for the fourpiece as they're hometown shows at both Everywhere At Once Festival and the incredible Tramlines Festival - Congrats lads.

Cruz are feeling the love, as the reason they're heading out to Tramlines is because they were voted the Fans' Pick, and this recognition continues as they've been chosen by Audio North to be our Artist of the Month.

An interview with Cruz | Audio North's Artist of the Month: July

Cruz-ing there way from festival to festival this Summer, the Sheffield band sat down with Audio North to talk Artist of the Month title / Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
Cruz-ing there way from festival to festival this Summer, the Sheffield band sat down with Audio North to talk Artist of the Month title / Credit: Press Shots (supplied)

For those who don't know, introduce us to Cruz

Tom and Sam were jamming in early 2022 before deciding to start a band while looking for other members, with Ethan and Jamie finding out through friends of friends.

Ahead of their first live gig, Cruz were drummer-less, Ethan's recruitment was lifesaving for the band as he stepped up a week before and never looked back since, four years strong.

How has Sheffield shaped you as a band?

It's such a rich city full of creatives, music-based as well as even broader to art and culture, Sheffield isn't just a city, it's a support system.

When we were starting out we got involved with all the local gig venues, who are always on the lookout to champion upcoming bands, it was so nice.

Do you feel any connection to this city's musical heritage?

Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and Richard Hawley of course, Human League and Def Leppard, the list goes on.

Growing up in Sheffield and going to gigs at The Leadmill was so incredible too.

What have been some of your favourite live shows so far?

Sidney and Matilda is prominent to us because it's where we played our very first headline date. We also supported Overpass, which was our fifth show ever as the band as we know it, then playing our headline in the same room was awesome.

Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known as Cruz, are making waves in the Sheffield music scene / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)
Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known as Cruz, are making waves in the Sheffield music scene / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)

If someone wanted to experience the Sheffield music scene, where would you take them?

The Washington does free shows with bands and acoustic sets, making it accessible for everyone. The majority of venues in Sheffield are always hosting gigs.

Kelham Island has a lot of free entry venues too, it's great, getting to watch four or five bands playing out all on one night in this current economy is top tier.

Tramlines and Tramlines Fringe is chaotic in the best way, you never know what to expect but you'll leave with a buzz of energy every single time.

Who are some Northern artists that you're enjoying listening to at the moment?

Leeds-based band The North, there's also The Rosadocs and Montello. We played a gig not too long ago with some class acts too, Bochum Parkway and Jessops, And we can't forget The Slates as well.

What's some of your favourite songs by these artists?

'Soundcheck Your Soul' by The North they've got so many great tunes, they're an amazing band. Montello's 'Suit and Tie', 'Runaway Instead' The Rosadocs.

Playing out at various festivals across the UK, for this Sheffield act it's Tramlines which is most important to them / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)
Playing out at various festivals across the UK, for this Sheffield act it's Tramlines which is the most important to them / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)

What's your favourite track off your newest EP?

Jamie picked 'Man of the People' quoting it as a 'Proper anthem', 'I Get By' is Ethan's pick, it's a track which has been in the works for a while but now the band have finally cracked the code.

While Sam's favourite song is 'Amsterdam' as it's the most personal to him and it's a chilled out number.

Read more: Sheffield’s Peddler Market to relaunch as FREE monthly mini music festival

Featured Images - Press Shots (supplied)

Audio

Leeds Festival announce biggest staging and area overhaul in the festival’s 27 year history

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds Festival introduce five new stages for 2026, making it the biggest overhaul in the festival's history.

Leeds Festival is just around the corner now, but maybe not quite as you know it.

Organisers have announced a completely revamped stage layout that marks the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival’s 27 year history.

This year, Leeds Festival will see five new stages take over Bramham Park, each with their own new identities offering an experience never seen before.

Let's break them down...

The Grid

The home of the festival’s main stage, The Grid is where iconic headline moments happen. Expect to witness headliners Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., Dave, Raye, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status alongside Sombr, Skepta, Role Model, Loyle Carner, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, Jade, Maisie Peters, Keo and more soundtracking The Grid this year.

Not only that, but Kasabian will be making history as the first ever Thursday night headliner of Leeds Festival.

The Gallery

A brand new stage for 2026, The Gallery is an undercover immersive stage. Innovative LED screen lights and immersive production runs throughout the entire stage.

The Gallery is ready to create iconic moments from Josh Baker, Geese, Kneecap, Skye Newman, Kettama and Holly Humberstone among others.

The Warehouse

The Warehouse is a brand-new purpose-built home for dance music with viewing platforms behind the decks, plus huge screen production welcoming special sets from Skepta b2b Prospa, Hybrid Minds, Hedex, Silva Bumpa and Rossi. 

The Ballroom

As the name might suggest, for the first-time ever Leeds Festival will have a transformed stage complete with unique chandeliers and draping that plays host to artists who are defining and dominating 2026.

The Ballroom is primed for legendary breakthrough sets from YT, Florence Road, Niko B, Paris Paloma, Bassvictim, Overpass, SPEED, Frost Children, Bleech 9:3, Westside Cowboy, Chloe Qisha, Radio Free Alice, dexter in the newsagent, WHATMORE and Clementine Douglas amongst others. 

The Canopy

The Canopy will welcome a new chapter for new music - with a stage dedicated to festival fans’ next favourite artists. It will play host to the likes of Violet Grohl, Villanelle, December 10, Camille Blackman, Kibo, Finessekid, Cruz Beckham and The Breakers and more. 

These new stages are joined at Leeds Festival by the return of fan favourites LS23 and Piccadilly Circus, with full programming to be revealed in the coming weeks.

We hope you're just as excited as we are, find out more here. We'll see you on the fields.

Read more: Even more names added to the already stacked lineup for Leeds Festival 2026

Featured image - Supplied




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