A huge night out is coming to Leeds with a full orchestra and iconic 80s singers next month.
80's icons Jimmy Somerville, Nik Kershaw, Go West, Carol Decker, and Yorkshire’s own John Parr will be landing in Leeds next month for a special orchestra rendition of some of the era's greatest hits.
The rescheduled 80s Classical event comes to Leeds Millennium Square in September, taking place on Friday 10.
Those attending will be treated to chart-topping sounds from one of the most momentous decades performed by a 60 piece orchestra, accompanied by some of the decade's original performing artists.
Jimmy Somerville first performed at the event in 2019, and is now preparing to return next month with renditions of hits including Never Can Say Goodbye, Don't Leave Me This Way and Smalltown Boy.
2019's event was a huge hit in Leeds / Image: 80s Classic Leeds
Speaking on his upcoming performance, he said: “The first 80s Classical was such a memorable evening, and after everything that we have all been through over the past two years I can’t wait to perform to a packed live audience in Millennium Square once again – it is going to be truly special."
Yorkshire's own John Parr will be in attendance, playing hit St Elmo’s Fire from the cult 80s movie.
Also returning in September is synth-pop superstar Nik Kershaw, who'll be performing his like Wouldn't It Be Good and I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, as well as songwriter Carol Decker with favourites Heart and Soul and China In Your Hand.
Brit Award-winning duo Go West is also set to make an appearance. Lead singer Peter Cox and rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Richard Drummie will perform Pretty Woman hit King of Wishful Thinking as part of a ten-track smash hit setlist.
This year's event takes place at Millenium Square on 10 September / Image: 80's Classical Leeds
Backing vocalists Bianca Claxton, Gavin Condor and Adetoun Anibi will also perform a selection of crowd-pleasing 80s favourites like Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Toto’s Africa and The Jacksons’ Can You Feel It,
“We have all so dearly missed live music and to be able to work once again with such iconic singers and the amazing Orchestra of Opera North in front a live audience is going to be such a magical feeling and provide a night full of pure joy, drama and excitement,” said Musical Director Steve Anderson, whose credits include Kylie Minogue, Emeli Sandé and Leona Lewis.
The event takes place at Millenium Square on 10 September, with doors from 6.30pm. Liverpool-based club and 80s event specialist DJs Sonic Yootha will be on the ones and twos from 6.45 pm to warm the crowd up, before main performances start at 8.15 pm.
Standing tickets start from £33 and can be purchased here.
Leeds
Wakefield set to be the first city outside of London to display the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt
The UK Aids Memorial Quilt is set to go on display across Wakefield this summer.
The quilt - consisting of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels, representing over 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS - will go on display at WX Wakefield from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 June 2026.
All 42 quilts will be on display, with WX working in partnership with the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservation Partnership.
Across the same weekend, selected individual panels will be displayed at different venues across the city including The Hepworth Wakefield, The Art House Wakefield, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Pontefract Castle and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Part of the world’s largest community art project, this is a huge opportunity for the city of Wakefield. The project started in the USA back in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones, commemorating friends, family and loved ones lost to AIDS.
Individual panels were then stitched together to create larger quilts, which were shown outdoors as a form of protest to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Today, the quilt stands as a crucial reminder of those who were lost and of the continuing affect that HIV and AIDS has on the people of today.
At WX Wakefield, viewing the quilt is completely free and on Friday 5 June there will be a special late night opening up until 10:30pm to view the exhibition.
And on Saturday 6 June at 2:30pm, there will be a very special and poignant reading of the names of those commemorated on the quilt.
Featured image - UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, installation view at Tate Modern, June 2025. Photo: AM Hanson
Leeds
Leeds’ first frozen yoghurt bar is opening in Headingley this weekend
Clementine Hall
The frozen yoghurt craze is on its way to Leeds as Kefiyo is set to open in Headingley in just a few days.
It's a phenomenon that has caught the attention of the TikTok and Instagram girlies as of late, with frozen yoghurt bars popping up in Manchester and going viral online.
The ice cold sweet treat is supposedly 'healthy' and with a slogan of 'eat Clean. feel Light. live Better.' - this new spot in Leeds seems to be going down that route too.
Kefiyo will be opening in the old Sixes site on Ash Road in Headingley, and they've just announced that they'll be soft launching this Sunday 19 April 2026.
The space is already sporting a super cute pastel green and pink exterior, and it's exactly matching the aesthetic that you'd expect with froyo.
Kefiyo will offer a range of frozen yoghurt flavours with a whole bunch of toppings for you to customise to your tastebuds, as well as fresh acai bowls.
Situated slap bang in the centre of Headingley, we've got a feeling it'll be very busy with students on their way to their morning lecture or at night for those looking for a sweet treat that doesn't feel too naughty.
We'll keep you updated on more Kefiyo updates as and when we find out.
But in the meantime, you can keep an eye on their socials here. We'll see you soon for a scoop Leeds.
Georgina Pellant -
12th August 2021 
