Head banging, crowd surfing, mosh pits and thousands of like-minded music lovers.
Slam Dunk Festival North is back for another year and there's a huge line-up to look forward to. Set in the heart of Temple Newsam, one of Leeds' best known festival venues is the hosting a one day set of metal, emo, punk and ska music from some of the industry's biggest names.
Dates for the diary...
The actual festival itself takes place over a single day, but there's a full two days of alternative music and festival antics to get through before the day itself.
Wednesday 1 June- You Me At Six at Temple Newsam.
Popular band You Me At Six will take over the Temple Newsam site to perform a special one-off set in honour of the ten year anniversary of their album Sinners Never Sleep. This might not be affiliated with SDF itself, but the 2021 headliners are long standing favourites of the festival so the band are certain to set the scene for the weekend's festivities.
Thursday 2 June - SDF22 North Launch Party Club Night at Leeds Beckett Student Union.
Mayday Parade, Real Friends and As It Is will be bringing irock/alt/emo/indie-pop tunes to Leeds the night before at Leeds Beckett SU. This incredible lineup will unite long-time music lovers with groupie newbies for one night only- and entry is under £10.
Friday 3 June - Slam Dunk Festival 2022 North at Temple Newsam.
The one-day festival kicks off on the bank holiday Friday, with live performances across five stages at Temple Newsam. Expect huge headline acts like Neck Deep, Sum41 and ALEXISONFIRE, amongst other exciting names (see below for the full list of acts).
The Wonder Years will be playing songs from their Upsides album at Slam Dunk Festival North (Leeds) whilst their album Suburbia will be played instead at the festival's southern location exclusively).
Streetlight Manifesto, Point North, Pinkshift, will perform make their European festival debuts whilst Smrtdeath, Meet Me At The Altar, Kennyhoopla and Deathbyromy will experience their first UK or UK festival respectively. For emo-infused alternative-rock Beauty School, the band will be making their first-ever festival performance.
Slam Dunk Festival is also hosting an array of exciting new talent, and for many this will be their first performance this side of the pond.
Tickets
Image: Slam Dunk Music
Tickets start at £69, but you're likely to get a ticket priced over £85 as the date gets looms closer.
Those looking for VIP entry tickets can pay £129 for entry to the VIP Guest area, VIP toilets and guest bar.
Big Green Coach Services is providing the coach travel for those trekking from further afield, but for us in Leeds, shuttle buses will be available from Sovereign Street in the city centre with a choice of booking in advance or on the day.
Car parking at Temple Newsam costs £5 per vehicle.
Leeds' famous Santa Dash is returning for 2026, and it's set to be 'bigger and better' than ever.
Back by popular demand with the festive season around the corner, The Trinity Leeds Santa Dash has confirmed its return for 2026 this December, with thousands of Santas set to hit the streets of the city centre with festive fun, Christmas cheer, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
No matter whether you're taking part with your family, friends, colleagues, or little ones, organisers say it's the 'perfect way' to kick-start your festive season.
This iconic event welcomes everyone to take part - you can either jog, walk, or wheel your way around the 5K route, soaking up the sights and sounds of the city as you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, and prams are also welcome too, making it a fantastic festive day out for all ages and abilities.
And this year, it's set to be bigger and better than ever, as there's an exciting new city centre route.
All Santa suits are provided (except for those under three) with your race entry, and you'll also get an exclusive Trinity Leeds Santa Dash finisher medal once you make it over the line, as well as a festive chocolate treat to nibble on.
So, gather your fellow Santas, embrace the Christmas magic, and get ready to join one of Leeds' most joyful festive traditions.
The Trinity Leeds Santa Dash returns for 2026 on Sunday 6 December, and you can find out more and enter to take part in the race online here.
Featured Image - Run For All
Leeds
Jane McDonald at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
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 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 -
29th April 2022 
