I had a feeling that Aussie duo Royel Otis would bring the sunshine to Halifax. But I thought it would be a little more metaphorical than this…
As West Yorkshire melts in a record-breaking heatwave, and the sun sets over the magnificent Piece Hall, this feels like the perfect artist to be on this stage.
Their new wave, upbeat indie makes you feel like you've been plucked out of the UK and dunked straight into Byron Bay.
Royel Maddell cannonballs onto the stage with the energy of a man much more acclimatised to hot weather than us Brits, moving so fast we actually glimpse his face before it's lost again behind that signature mop of hair.
Then follows Otis Pavlovic, a languid, relaxed, but tightly note-perfect front man.
They're here to perform tracks from their two studio albums, including last year's Hickey, alongside the covers that rocketed them to fame.
Forget the commercial charts - the fan-voted Triple J Hottest 100 is the holy grail of music in Australia, and these guys have absolutely dominated it in recent years, for good reason.
Their cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder On The Dancefloor topped the alternative charts and reached number two on the Hottest 100, while their beautiful version of Linger by the Cranberries made it onto the soundtrack of the hit show The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Royel Otis at The Piece Hall in Halifax
For their show at The Piece Hall, Royel Otis whizz through an upbeat setlist of smooth indie hits. I Wanna Dance With You comes with a set of instructions displayed on the screen behind them.
"Dance with the person next to you. "Stop dancing. "Put your hands in the air."
And we do, because we're obedient, eager-to-please, slightly drunk idiots, and the instructions are fun.
Their live version of Murder On The Dancefloor is one of the most joyful sights I've ever seen at a gig. Everyone is dancing, and not your usual bobbing about in place - spinning, shimmying, holding hands, laughing in each others' faces.
Of course, their own music still hits hardest here. Sofa King, Who's Your Boyfriend, and Kool Aid are all crowd favourites, while Oysters In Your Pocket cements itself again as a timeless indie banger as it closes the show.
This was one of those shows where everything went just right - a happy crowd, stunning weather, and one of the most talented duos on the circuit right now.
If there’s one thing Leeds knows how to do, it’s produce a seriously talented bunch of emerging creatives. And this time, we’re swapping the usual indie gigs and late-night dance floors for a choir proving there’s nothing old-fashioned about singing together.
Meet LC Pop Choir, the Leeds-based group taking some of the biggest pop, rock and gospel hits and giving them a whole new lease of life.
Based at Leeds Conservatoire, the choir was founded in 2015 by Principal Lecturer Craig Lees and has since grown into a talented community of students and alumni who share a love of music and a good old singalong.
But don’t go thinking this is your typical Sunday afternoon choir. We’re talking huge vocals, impressive harmonies and the kind of performances that make you want to get up and join in. Think songs you already know by heart, reimagined with a whole room full of voices behind them.
In 2025, LC Pop Choir took to the stage on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, performing Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten. The anthem is practically impossible not to sing along to, and the choir gave it a powerful new spin, showing just how much a familiar pop hit can be transformed through the power of group vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxUjfRqvyks
It’s the sort of performance that reminds you why live music is so special. There’s something about hearing a song you’ve known for years delivered in a completely different way that makes you fall in love with it all over again.
LC Pop Choir is such an exciting part of Leeds’ creative community. They’re not just performing songs; they’re finding new ways to bring people together through music. And that’s something Leeds has always done particularly well.
What makes the group even more special is the talent behind the harmonies. Made up of emerging artists releasing their own music, touring around the country and even performing at major festivals, these are creatives making waves in their own right.
Yet, every Monday, they come together as a family of creatives, supporting one another, nurturing their talents and celebrating their shared love of music.
The music industry can be a competitive place, particularly for artists just starting out, so having a space to develop their skills, meet like-minded people and be part of something bigger is invaluable.
This Leeds pop choir is putting emerging musicians centre stage. Credit: Ian Hodgson
And that sense of community is exactly what makes groups like LC Pop Choir such an important part of Leeds’ cultural scene.
Whether you’re a musical theatre obsessive, a pop music fanatic or someone who simply loves a brilliant live performance, LC Pop Choir is one Leeds-based group worth keeping on your radar.
We have a feeling some of these young artists will be paving the way for the next generation of music in the North, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.
Clubland to celebrate 25 years with huge Leeds arena show
Clementine Hall
Clubland is heading to Leeds for a special arena-sized anniversary celebration next year.
The Clubland Arena Tour promises a night of the biggest artists and biggest anthems, giving fans the chance to come together for a celebration of the dance music brand.
Celebrating 25 years of Clubland, the tour will stop off at arenas in Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Aberdeen, and of course Leeds.
With the event set to take over one of Leeds' biggest live entertainment venues, anticipation is already building for what promises to be a nostalgic night of club classics and dancefloor favourites – even before the lineup is announced.
Image: Supplied
The full line-up is expected to be announced very soon, with fans encouraged to keep an eye out for further details.
Previous headliners at Clubland Live have included Cascada, Basshunter, Scooter, Ultrabeat, and Vengaboys, always guaranteeing a night of non-stop anthems.
For many dance music fans, Clubland has become synonymous with the sounds that dominated clubs, radio playlists and party nights throughout the 2000s.
Over the years, Clubland has continued to celebrate the artists and songs that helped define an era of dance music, giving fans the chance to experience their favourite tracks live alongside thousands of like-minded clubbers.
From infectious pop-dance hits to harder-hitting electronic anthems, its events tap into a sense of nostalgia while keeping the energy of a night out firmly at the centre of the experience.
The 25th anniversary tour looks set to build on that legacy, bringing a quarter-century of club classics to arenas across the UK.
The Clubland Arena Tour will be at the First Direct Bank Arena on Saturday 1 May 2027.
Daisy Jackson -
26th June 2026 
