What a way to say goodbye to an incredible summer of music.
Another August Bank Holiday weekend can only mean one thing...Leeds Festival takes over Bramham Park for three days of mud, mayhem and music.
Thousands of post-GCSE teens flocked to see a huge variety of acts, from global superstar Travis Scott to sequin spangled Chappell Roan - and let us tell you, it was an absolute triumph.
But let's talk about the camping first, this year's festival saw one of the biggest overhauls in Leeds Festival's history.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Campers said goodbye to soggy tents and smelly Portaloos and instead welcomed real flushing toilets (yes, really), decent showers and specially curated 'get ready with me' stations with plug sockets and soap.
There was even morning yoga sessions, film screenings and run clubs taking place at the five brand-new campsites designed to suit every style of camper.
So it's safe to say that baby wipe showers are a thing of the past, and we're sure that the majority of punters felt pretty chuffed about that.
Now, onto the music.
By 12pm on Friday, Bramham Park was a sea of bucket hats and £7 pints, with D-Block Europe and Trippie Redd laying down the bass-heavy groundwork on the Main Stage.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Amyl and the Sniffers got the mosh pits forming like clockwork whilst Girls Don't Sync and Sammy Virji turned the Chevron Stage into an electric rave full of nostalgia.
But it's safe to say, the night belonged to Travis Scott - a rare European festival exclusive - that delivered a firestorm of energy and enough pyros to make you think it's bonfire night.
A great start to a brilliant weekend.
Onto Saturday and the bucket hats turned into sparkly, sequinned, furry cowboy hats. Who for? Well the incredible Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan, of course.
Dripping in glitter, pride flags waving, and a stage presence that screamed nothing other than 'global superstar’, Chappell's set was a theatrical masterpiece and a frontrunner for the best of the weekend. Camp, chaotic and completely euphoric.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And if that wasn't enough, then came Hozier - the Irish singer-songwriter performed a politically-charged set that sent tingles down spines and tears into eyes, a really beautiful set that felt like a welcomed moment of stillness over the weekend.
Elsewhere, The Kooks had everyone shouting 'Naïve' like it was 2006 again, and AJ Tracey packed out the Chevron Stage with his blend of grime and swagger.
By Sunday it's safe to say there were a few jaded festival-goers trudging round the park, but that didn't stop an incredible crowd forming for Yorkshire's own Bring Me The Horizon.
Oli Sykes growled, screamed and shouted through a set that reminded us of their reputation as one of the best Rock bands in the country...and dare we say, the world?
Each song was performed like it was their last, complete with enough fire and confetti canons to match.
Before that, Limp Bizkit transported us back to the 90s whilst Becky Hill played banger after banger on the Chevron Stage as the sun went down over another fabulous Leeds Fest weekend.
So, same again next year?
To find out more about Leeds Festival 2026, take a look at their website.
West Yorkshire's very own Jane McDonald is coming to First Direct Arena in Leeds for a hometown show that's set to be spellbinding.
Making her British TV screen debut nearly 30 years ago on The Cruise, before joining the Loose Women panel and going on to present a whole host of travel shows including Cruising with Jane McDonald, now this Wakefield legend returns to First Direct Arena.
This latest tour titled after her 2026 LP Living The Dream, will see Jane singing hits from both past and present including a couple covers too.
Earlier this year, Jane's Mighty Hoopla performance went viral online after she commanded the stage in a red leather jacket, donning a singular rainbow hair extension while belting out RAYE's 'Where Is My Husband!'
Audio North even got the opportunity to interview this legendary lady when she visited her hometown HMV store in Wakefield for an exclusive album signing - Oh look, it's me!
The Wakefield wonder-woman's latest album Living The Dream was released in March and considering the tour is named after this impressive LP, we're sure fans can expect to hear quite a few tracks from this album.
Living The Dream
I'll Not Be Beaten
You Don't Know What You Got
Don't Mind If I Do
The Hand That Leads Me
Ain't Gonna Beg
I Will Always Love You
Islands in the Stream
Jolene
9 to 5
You're My World
Where Is My Husband!
Let the Light In
Cake by the Ocean
Jai Ho!
APT.
Right Where I Belong
How Do I Move On
Beautiful Soul
All By Myself
You Still Lead Me
Of course, Jane also loves to cover a tune or two, and we'll never forget her renditions of 'Cake By The Ocean', 'Jai Ho' or 'APT.'.
What are the stage times for Jane McDonald in Leeds?
The doors for Jane McDonald's Living The Dream Tour in Leeds are set for 6pm with the event set to start at 7.30pm.
First Direct Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you have enough time to dash home and eat 'Cake by the (Sofa)' before ringing in the new day.
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 LeedsÂ
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.
James Blunt announces huge European tour, kicking off in Leeds
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, kicking off a run of arena dates here in Leeds.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad 'You're Beautiful', is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour here in Leeds next spring, with a massive show at the First Direct Arena.
Then he'll head to more cities including Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be 'exhilarating'.
James has already released the first single, 'Tastes Like Summer', and 'Weight Of It All', with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who'll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: "Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury."
James Blunt will be at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 26 March, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.