A week where we are celebrating loved ones, catching live music and drinking copious amounts of Guinness.
This week is full of exciting days which are worth celebrating.
It's time to get out your green clobber and dust off your shamrocks as St Paddy's Day is closing off our working week and there's loads going on in the city to celebrate, including a bottomless Guinness Brunch.
Mother's Day is on the horizon and however you're celebrating, it's a perfect excuse to show some appreciation to our motherly figures. We've pulled together a list of our favourite spots where you can visit this Sunday.
Oh and there's also an incredible amount of live music taking place in Leeds this week, so get your dancing shoes on and have a good one.
The Backseat Lovers
Tuesday 14 March 2023 | Leeds University Stylus, Leeds
Image: Spotify
This American band from Utah massively blew up on TikTok for 2019 single KirbyGirl and we’ve been loving their laid back alt indie tunes ever since. Leeds marks the fifth stop on The Backseat Lovers tour across the UK and Europe before they head back to their home in the US to continue performing live across the country.
Tickets cost £18.16 each and available from See Ticketshere.
Bundobust Indo-Chinese Specials
All week | Bundobust, Mill Hill
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Bundobust Indo-Chinese specials returned last week and if you haven't been to try them yet, then you need to make it a priority as they are absolutely delicious. Returning this week for a 6-week run only, those looking to get their Gobi Toast and Salt & Pepper Okra Fries fix need to head down to Mill Hill ASAP.
Inspired by Kolkota’s legendary Chinatown dishes, each dish has been specially crafted as a homage to this great meeting of flavours, and sealed with a signature Bundo twist.
Returning to Leeds for the first time since Slam Dunk Festival last May, the hardcore punk band is bringing a night to remember to the O2 Academy. Expect hits like In between, Riptide and Hated to fill the night with plenty of mosh pits as these guys rip the roof off the O2″.
Wednesday 15 March 2023 | Candle House, Granary Wharf
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Every Wednesday night from 7pm there's the chance to win a £50 bar tab and test your knowledge with a quick-on-the-draw quiz at SALT Granary Wharf. Taking place on a smartphone, there's rounds of general knowledge, pop culture, sports and everything in between.
Make sure to assemble a team full of your smartest mates for this one, with a £50 bar tab on the line, every Wednesday is the most competitive you'll see this place.
£5 Safari Bar from Well Oiled
Thursday 16 March 2023 | Inside Meanwood Tavern, Meanwood
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Offering a carefully-selected menu of delicious Detroit-style pizzas, the popular pizza joint has everything you’d possibly want from a lunchtime snack or dinner time treat.
The popularity for the sellout pizzas speaks volumes for itself, but there’s never been a better time to head down to Meanwood Tavern and give these slices a taste-test with the return of the Slice Safari – which gives you access to any of the pizzas as a XXXL slice for a fiver.
Thursday 16 March 2023 | Leeds University Stylus, Leeds
Image: Sleeping With Sirens
Florida-born band Sleeping with Sirens continue to be the best of the Emo/Post Punk genre with two million monthly Spotify listeners and they’re back in Leeds to bring us more much-loved hits like If You Can’t Hang, Kick Me and If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn. This is one of those bands that any emo music lover will recognise from well over a decade ago- and their belters aren’t going anywhere anytime soon either.
Tickets are available via See Tickets here at £28.60 each.
Joesef
Friday 17 March 2023 | Leeds University Stylus, Leeds
Image: Spotify
Brought up on a “melting pot of good tunes”, an eclectic combination of old soul and 90s bangers, Joesef started making music in his bedroom. In a world where anyone can plug their guitar into a laptop and sing over FaceTime, it can be difficult to cut through the noise, but the soothing melodies of the Glasweigan singer are a Spotify favourite for good reason. Returning to Leeds for the first time since Live At Leeds: In The City 2022, the soul pop singer-songwriter is back with a whole new album to share with the city.
Tickets are still available on TicketWeb, priced at £22 each.
St Patrick's Day Bottomless Brunch
Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March 2023 | Revolution Electric Press
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Have you got plans for St Patrick’s Day yet? Well if you haven’t, then you’ll want to head down to Revolution Electric Press for their ultimate St Paddy’s Day Bottomless Guiness Brunch.
This Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March, Revs are really feeling the craic and will be transporting you to the streets of Dublin with live Irish bands, dancers and obviously loads of Guinness. For just £35 per person you can enjoy their Bottomless Brunch which gives you two full hours of unlimited drinks and a delicious brunch dish of your choice.
So what are you waiting for? Get your mates together and book your table here.
Celebrated Yorkshire vintage store is popping up everywhere these days. From a successful store in Sheffield to an ever-growing collection of one-off events, you’re likely to recognise this place for trendy, sustainable garms around the wider Yorkshire area.
Visiting Leeds this month at popular brunch spot Archive, you’ll be able to find some pretty incredible deals (think of combinations like £10 or two for £15, £15 or two for £25, £20 or two for £35) and a curated premium vintage boutique just a stone’s throw from the city centre.
Our parental figures, be it a mum that's biological, step, adopted or honorary, deserve to be treated way more than once a year... but since it's Mother's Day at the end of this week we thought we'd pull together a list of of our favourite places to celebrate.
One of our favourite ways to show our appreciation for our mother figures is to take them out for some lunch or find a quaint spot in the city centre to catch up over a drink or two, but there really are limitless ways to show your appreciation- starting with a thoughtful card and if in doubt, say it with food.
Pop hitmaker Rick Astley is playing a few UK shows and is treating Leeds to a night of live music as part of The Reflection Tour.
Newton-le-Willows-born singer Rick Astley has achieved worldwide success, most notably with his work in the 80s alongside songwriting and production duo Stock-Aitken and Waterman.
Astley's album Whenever You Need Somebody has amassed 15 million sales across the globe and is a pivotal record that many would use to define 80s music.
On this LP is his huge hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up' which dropped back in 1987, with the track gaining more attention courtesy of social media trickery.
The worldwide recognition of this hit is all down to people online who deliberately link to the music video for this song, with the term being coined 'The Rickroll'.
Now, Rick Astley is returning to Leeds and ready to play out to over 13,500 people at one of Leeds' biggest indoor arenas First Direct Arena this April.
Gig guide | Rick Astley at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all you need to know
Rick Astley is bringing The Reflection Tour to Leeds this April / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
Rick Astley UK tour dates
Fri 10 April - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Sat 11 April - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
Mon 13 April - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Tue 14 April - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Thu 16 April - Liverpool, UK - M&S Bank Arena
Fri 17 April - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Sat 18 April - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
Mon 20 April - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
Tue 21 April - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena
Wed 22 April - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Fri 24 April - Birmingham, UK - BP Pulse Live
Sat 25 April - London, UK - The O2
Fri 5 June - Scarborough, UK - Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Fri 19 June - Newport, UK - Isle of Wight Festival
Wed 24 June - Llangollen, UK - Llangollen Pavilion
Thu 25 June - Lincoln, UK - Lincoln Castle
Sat 27 June - Gloucester, UK - Westonbirt Arboretum
Fri 24 July - Ludlow, UK - Ludlow Castle
Sat 25 July - Sheffield, UK - Tramlines
Sat 30 August - Silverstone, UK - Carfest
Are there any tickets left for Rick Astley in Leeds?
No need to 'Cry For Help', there's plenty of tickets for Rick Astley's Leeds show at First Direct Arena and you can grab yours HERE.
It's been 'Driving Me Crazy' waiting for the right opportunity to do a little Rickrolling of my own - the actual tickets can be found HERE.
Rick Astley setlist for 2026 tour
The Reflection Tour sees Rick Astley play various shows and festivals across the UK / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
This year will mark Rick Astley's first official headline tour since 2024 meaning a full setlist is yet to be confirmed.
Here is a setlist from 2024 when the 80s performer played a series of festival sets:
Never Gonna Stop
Together Forever
Beautiful Life
It Would Take a Strong Strong Man
Dippin My Feet
Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones cover)
She Wants to Dance With Me
Juice (Lizzo cover)
Forever and More
Hold Me in Your Arms
Seventeen Going Under (Sam Fender cover)
Cry For Help
Dance
Angels On My Side
Whenever You Need Somebody (O 'Chi Brown cover)
Good Times (Chic cover)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
Maria Love
Never Gonna Give You Up
Stage times for Rick Astley and support act for First Direct Arena, Leeds
Doors for Rick Astley's The Reflection Tour are set to open from 6.30pm with an official starting time of 7.30pm.
Support for this show comes in the form of another celebrated UK performer who achieved prominence the decade after Astley - Gabrielle.
This R&B-pop singer is recognised for her 1993 hit 'Dreams' and is known for soundtracking the 90s and noughties with multiple chart entries throughout the decades.
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.
And about the rickrolling earlier... sorry not sorry.
Featured Images - Press shots via Peter Neill / Wikimedia Commons via Raph_PH
Leeds
Ireland’s famous fast food phenomenon, the spice bag, has landed in Leeds Kirkgate Market
Clementine Hall
You can now grab the ultimate hangover cure at our very own Kirkgate Market.
And it comes from none other than The Fisherman's Wife - a Leeds institution that has been serving up fantastic fish and chips for over 60 years.
But now, they're turning their attention to spice bags.
If you have no idea what we're talking about then allow us to fill you in. And we'd recommend pouring yourself an ice cold glass of water, because it's about to get real salty up in here.
The spice bag is an Irish delicacy that is often devoured after a few Guinness on the streets of Dublin, for example.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It consists of shredded and battered chicken, chips, onions and peppers - all deep fried, loaded into a bag and tossed in lashings of salt and pepper seasoning.
Oh, and of course dipped or lathered in a sauce of your choosing. The classic being curry sauce, obviously.
It's been available in Leeds once before at a pop-up in Trinity Kitchen, but now The Fisherman's Wife is here to make them a permanent option for anyone with that salty craving.
You've got a couple of flavours to choose from too, including peri-peri, plain, salt & chilli and of course the classic salt & pepper.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can then add a drizzle of sriracha, curry sauce (obviously) or sticky honey if you're looking for that sweet and salty balance.
The best part? They're selling these for just £6.50.
So next time you've had a few too many the night before, get yourself to The Fisherman's Wife inside Leeds Kirkgate Market's food hall and get yourself a spice bag. You'll be cured in no time.
Clementine Hall -
13th March 2023 
