Slam Dunk Festival are determined for us to fall even harder for them with an exciting giveaway this Valentine's Day.
The much-loved music festival showcasing some of the world's best rock, metal, pop-punk and more, hosted over at Temple Newsam Park, is back for 2025 and with a lineup as good as any past edition, the clamour for tickets is understandably crazy.
Slam Dunk sells out with ease every year, meaning those who love a mosh often miss out on tickets. Fortunately, because they love their three UK bases so much, they're giving gig-goers in Yorkshire and beyond an extra opportunity to be there this year.
Teaming up with a trio of music shops, one of those being Crash Records here in Leeds city centre, fans have the chance to give themselves the best gift of all this Valentine's: an unforgettable weekend featuring some of the best live acts in the genre.
Love is in the air and we’re cooking up a treat for you…
We’ve linked up with record stores in Slam Dunk stomping grounds Leeds, Hertfordshire and London to give away some very exciting prizes to celebrate Valentine’s Day this Friday.@Crash_Records@EmpireStAlbans… pic.twitter.com/WVCRT81NLV
Spreading love with this special one-day scavenger hunt, tickets for this year’s festival will be hidden at record stores like Crash in Leeds, as well as London and St Albans.
All Ages and Empire Records will be joining our local institution in hiding away a select few sets of free tickets to Slam Dunk 2025, but the fun doesn't stop there.
Even those who miss out on weekend passes could stumble across other goodies including merch vouchers and a special 25 years of The Used double vinyl - one of many exciting names playing the outdoor festival this year.
The Slam Dunk '25 line-up includes other massive names like A Day To Remember, Neck Deep, Electric Callboy, The Used, New Found Glory, Less Than Jake, Mouth Culture, Hot Milk, Hot Mulligan and lots more.
Remaining the UK’s biggest independent rock festival, Slam Dunk really is a must-attend on the British live music circuit.
And, you know, it goes without saying that you should pick the North over the South every single time.
Thankfully, for now, there are still tickets left even if you don't manage to land a freebie, but we'd act quickly if you want to be there. You grab yours HERE.
Taking place at Leeds Temple Newsam on 25 May 2025, we cannot wait to relive the scenes from last year. Run it back:
Featured Images — Supplied/The Hoot
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Ne-Yo and Akon announce huge joint arena show at Leeds’ First Direct Arena
Two R&B greats are heading out on a joint headline tour for the very first time, as Ne-Yo and Akon announced the Nights Like This global tour.
Both artists are Grammy Award winners, and each has a formidable back catalogue of chart-topping hits.
For Ne-Yo, that includes songs like Miss Independent, So Sick, and Closer; while for Akon, he's responsible for huge tracks like Smack That, Lonelty, and Right Now (Na Na Na).
Between them, they've shaped and defined radio, nightlife, and pop culture for decades.
This newly-announced tour will see the pair performing on the same stage - for Leeds, that's the First Direct Bank Arena.
They'll perform in a unique back-and-forth set throughout the show, visiting venues right across the UK and Europe, as well as heading across to the USA and Canada.
The nostalgic gigs will feature everything from slow jams to club anthems, with a party atmosphere throughout.
Ne-Yo and Akon will perform at the First Direct Bank Arena on Thursday 30 April 2026, with tickets on sale this Friday 30 January at 10am.
There will be an artist pre-sale on Wednesday 28 January at 10am.
Nights Like This EU/UK 2026 tour dates
Fri 24 Apr – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
Mon 27 Apr – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena Newcastle
Tue 28 Apr – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Thu 30 Apr – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
Fri 1 May – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 4 May – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Loyle Carner to headline Kirkstall Abbey as part of new all-day music event
Clementine Hall
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.
Danny Jones -
12th February 2025 
