We've had festival line-up announcements by the day recently, but it still feels as if summer is a long time away.
Still, in Leeds, there's plenty of live music to get stuck into this month. From the long-awaited performance from Florence & The Machine to a Valentine's Day special from Easy Life and intimate shows over at Leeds University Union - there's truly something for everyone this month.
Keep reading to find out about our top ten picks for the month....
Florence & The Machine
Saturday 4 February 2023 | First Direct Arena
Florence + The Machine. / Image: Publicity picture
What: Florence & The Machine will finally be able to crack on with their scheduled Leeds show after lead singer Florence Welch broke her foot on stage. The rescheduled tour is in support of recent album Dance Party.
Where: First Direct Arena, Arena Way, LS2 8BY
Tickets: Still available, surprisingly! From £42.45 with See Tickets.
Mom Jeans
Monday 6 February 2023 | Leeds University Stylus
Image: Mom Jeans, Facebook
What: The California-based band embarking on a world tour. With three albums under their belts, expect a combination of alternative indie rock and 'midwest emo' tunes with sweet melodies.
Where: University Union, Stylus, Lifton Place, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JZ
What: In their 24 years, Mogwai have packed in nine studio albums (and an additional live one), four compilations, four soundtracks and a record label. Focusing on a minimalistic approach to emotive music, the interludes continue to draw crowds across the UK and beyond.
Where: 55 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 3AW
Tickets: £37.25 for seated or balcony via See Tickets
Easy Life
Thursday 14 February 2023 | O2 Academy
Image: Wikicommons
What: The band's most notable song for us in Leeds, LS6, might be about homesickness, but no doubt after Easy Life's appearance in the city they'll be feeling the love. With two albums and plenty of mixtapes to bring to the stage, alt-indie band will be putting on quite a show this Valentine's Day.
Where: 55 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 3AW
Tickets: There's only balcony seat left, priced at £29 each via See Tickets
Inhaler
Thursday 16 February 2023 | O2 Academy
Image: Inhaler
What: The Irish rock band have been together for over a decade, but have gained popularity in the last few years after coming fifth in the BBC's Sound Of... poll, an annual survey that asks critics and industry figures who is the most promising new talent - and they weren't wrong. Fronted by Elijah Hewson, son of Bono, the four piece indie-rock band is bringing the feel-good tunes to Leeds this month, with hits from two studio albums and ten singles to bring to life at the Academy.
Where: 55 Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 3AW
Tickets: Around the £25 - £28 mark on resale via Ticketmaster
Ariadne auf Naxos
Saturday 18 February 2023 | Leeds Grand Theatre
Photos from rehearsal. / Image: Opera North
What: Directed by multi-award nominated Rodula Gaitanou and performed with Opera North, this humorous, romantic, and drama-filled production will tell the tale of a bustling 1950s Italian studio where two films are about to be made. One’s a heartbreaking myth, the other a light-hearted comedy – imagine the mischief that unfolds when disaster strikes and the films suddenly become one…
Where: Leeds Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
Tickets: Available on the Opera North website and span from free to £78, there's also two additional dates in February on Tuesday 21 February and Friday 24 February
The Murder Capital
Monday 20 February 2023 | Leeds University Union
Image: Spotify
What: An Irish post-punk band that set up their own record label back in 2018. One of the best descriptions of the five-piece comes from The Guardian's Damien Morris, who described The Murder Capoital as "reaching back to Joy Division's drum tattoos, interlocking with surging, wave-break bass". The Leeds show is likely to feature much of the band's latest album, Gigi's Recovery, which was released just a few weeks ago.
Tickets: £16.50 and includes the booking fee via See Tickets
Dream State
Thursday 23 February 2023 | The Key Club
Image: Spotify
What: Post-hardcore, alt-rock and a string of successful tunes that draw have been drawing crowds for almost a decade. You might recognise their cover of Linkin Park's Crawling for charity compilation album Songs That Saved My Life in aid of mental health and suicide prevention charities, single White Lies first played in our city at Leeds Festival 2017.
Where: The Key Club, 66 Merrion Street, Leeds LS2 8LW
Tickets: Still available! Costing £14.30, including a booking fee via See Tickets.
Lissie
Thursday 23 February 2023 | The Wardrobe
Image: Lissie
What: Launching to fame in the late 00s after Lenny Kravitz was tipped off about Lissie's MySpace page (as you did in 2008) and invited her on tour, Lissie has continued to fuse rock, country folk and pop across five albums. Her most recent release, Carving Canyons, is likely to feature on tour in Leeds, having only just been released last year.
Where: 6 St Peter's Square, Leeds, LS9 8AH
Tickets: £27.50 for regular tickets, available via See Ticketsand there's also Meet and Greet tickets are also available here viaSee Tickets.
Leeds Festival is returning to Bramham Park for perhaps its biggest lineup yet, and here’s everything you need to know ahead of this huge live music weekend.
The enormous annual festival - twinned with Reading down south - will this year welcome headline performances from Fontaines DC, Florence & The Machine, Dave, Raye, Charli XCX, and Chase & Status.
But the wider lineup will cover everything from hip hop to pure pop, indie rock to metal, because if there’s one thing that Leeds Festival boasts, it’s an eclectic and diverse music soundscape for all to enjoy.
Leeds Festival has been providing Yorkshire residents and festival-goers from across the UK with some cracking acts and performers since 1999 - and this year is no different.
Here's everything you need to know if you're going to Leeds Festival 2026.
Leeds Festival 2026 lineup
Fontaines DC are one of the headliners of Leeds Festival 2026
Headliners for Leeds Fest 2026 will include Charli XCX, Chase & Status Live, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE, with Kasabian making history as the first-ever Thursday night headliner at Leeds Festival.
They are joined across the weekend by the likes of Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, JADE, Maisie Peters, Keo, Kneecap, Geese, Kettama, Holly Humberstone and many more.
The 2026 festival will also look very different on site, with The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Ballroom and The Canopy making up the new-look stage offering, alongside returning late-night favourite LS23.
The revamped layout is being billed as the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival's history.
Leeds Festival 2026 stage times - Thursday 27 August
The Grid
7pm – Arkayla
7:55pm – The Lathums
9:20pm – Kasabian
LS23
10pm – CamUKG
11:15pm – Halfpint
12:30am – C100
2am – Lens
Friday 28 August
Chase & Status will perform at Leeds Festival 2026Florence and the Machine will perform at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:15pm – 54 Ultra
1:30pm – Dylan John Thomas
2:45pm – Arthur Hill
3:55pm – Blossoms
5:25pm – Role Model
7:20pm – Florence + The Machine
9:30pm – Chase & Status Live
The Gallery
12pm – Mulaa Joans
12:50pm – After
1:40pm – Holly Humberstone
2:45pm – Julia Wolf
4pm – Duke Dumont
5:30pm – The K’s
7:15pm – Kettama
9:40pm – Kneecap
The Warehouse
12:25pm – [IVY]
1:25pm – Saint Ludo
2:55pm – Hamdi
3:55pm – Notion
5:25pm – SOTA
6:25pm – Hedex
7:25pm – Hybrid Minds
The Ballroom
12:40pm – Betty
1:45pm – Westside Cowboy
2:55pm – Dexter In The Newsagent
4:10pm – The Clause
5:45pm – WHATMORE
7:20pm – Bassvictim
9:30pm – Paris Paloma
The Canopy
12pm – Alex Spencer
12:40pm – She’s Green
1:20pm – Raynor
2pm – December 10
2:50pm – Untitled
3:40pm – Kilu
4:35pm – Violet Grohl
5:55pm – F3miii
LS23
11pm – ZERO
12:30am – 1991
1:45am – CROSSY
Saturday 29 August
Charli XCX is a Saturday headliner
The Grid
12:30pm – Beth McCarthy
1:25pm – Keo
2:35pm – James Marriott
3:45pm – Declan McKenna
5:15pm – Skepta
7:10pm – Charli XCX
9:20pm – Fontaines D.C.
The Gallery
12pm – JD Cliffe
12:30pm – DJ EJ
1:30pm – Rose Gray
2:45pm – ADELA
4pm – Skye Newman
5:20pm – Geese
7:20pm – SINN6R
9:05pm – 4AM Kru
The Warehouse
12pm – Meeshy
1:15pm – Djammin
2:30pm – Julian Fijma
3:30pm – Omar+
5pm – Locky
7pm – Alisha
9:05pm – Skepta B2B East End Dubs
The Ballroom
12:20pm – Bleech 9:3
1:30pm – Cardinals
2:40pm – Clementine Douglas
4pm – Overpass
5:30pm – Florence Road
7:15pm – Unpeople
9:15pm – YT
The Canopy
12pm – Tooth
12:40pm – Lamb
1:20pm – Florentenes
2pm – The Guest List
3pm – People I’ve Met
4:05pm – Day We Ran
5:05pm – Villanelle
6:05pm – Camille Blackman
LS23
11pm – Delilah
12:30am – Osmosis Jones
1:45am – Soul Mass Transit System
Sunday 30 August
Raye and Dave headline Sunday at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:05pm – Absolutely
1:35pm – Slayyyter
3pm – Maisie Peters
4:15pm – JADE
5:50pm – Sombr
7:35pm – RAYE
9:35pm – Dave
The Gallery
12pm – M60
12:45pm – Say Now
1:50pm – Clara La San
3:05pm – Kingfishr
4:15pm – Niko B
5:50pm – Nine Vicious
7:20pm – Jamie Webster
9:25pm – Josh Baker
The Warehouse
12pm – Jack Marlow
1:30pm – Silva Bumpa
2:45pm – In Parallel
4pm – Riordan
5:30pm – Mall Grab
7:15pm – Rossi.
The Ballroom
12:30pm – Garage Flower
1:45pm – The North
3pm – Basht.
4:15pm – Bar Italia
5:45pm – The Lilacs
7:40pm – SPEED
The Canopy
12pm – Sade Olutola
12:40pm – Pozzy
1:25pm – Amma
2:05pm – Ruby Roberts
3pm – Cruz Beckham And The Breakers
4pm – Kibo
4:50pm – Finessekid
6pm – Gurriers
LS23
11pm – Megra
12:30am – Pretty Girl
1:45am – Riria
Where can I get tickets for Leeds Festival 2026?
Tickets are available through the official Leeds Festival website and Ticketmaster, with weekend camping, non-camping, and individual day tickets among the options.
At the time of writing, official prices include £325 for weekend camping, £295 for weekend non-camping, £55 for Thursday, £125 for Friday, £155 for Saturday, and £125 for Sunday.
Two-day non-camping tickets are also available at £230.
You can see the latest availability and buy tickets HERE.
Where is Leeds Festival?
Leeds Festival 2026 headliners announced. Credit: Georgina Hurdsfield
Of course you may be thinking this is a silly question to ask considering its location is mentioned in the festival title, however Leeds Festival actually isn’t in the city centre.
Located in Bramham Park, this bank holiday weekend music destination is a 30 minute drive from the city centre.
The full address is: Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Leeds, England, LS23 6ND.
How to get there
From Leeds City Centre
If you’re travelling from Leeds city centre, the easiest option is to head to Leeds Train Station and catch the dedicated Leeds Festival shuttle bus to Bramham Park.
The festival shuttle operates from Sovereign Square Park, next to Leeds Train Station, from Wednesday 26 August through to Monday 31 August. Tickets can be bought through the First Bus app.
Leeds Train Station is around a 30-minute drive from the festival site, although journey times can vary considerably during the festival due to traffic.
There are regular trains into Leeds from major UK cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and London, making the train-and-shuttle combination one of the simplest ways to reach Bramham Park without driving.
From around the UK
If you're travelling from further afield, the official festival travel partner Big Green Coach is offering return coaches to Leeds Festival from dozens of locations around the UK. Weekend services can arrive on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and return on Monday, while day-return services are available for Thursday through Sunday.
For those driving, festival parking is included with tickets. Drivers should head towards the A1, M1 or A1(M) and then follow the festival's temporary signage, as routes into Bramham Park vary depending on where you're travelling from. The festival advises following the on-the-ground signage rather than relying on old sat-nav directions or printed maps.
If you're being dropped off or collected, use the dedicated Pick Up and Drop Off zone off York Road (A64). There is no pick-up or drop-off facility near Yellow Gate, and the festival warns against stopping or waiting on the A64 or access roads.
For those flying in, Leeds Bradford International Airport is around a 30-minute drive from Bramham Park. You can take the 757 bus into Leeds and then use the festival shuttle from Leeds Train Station, or take a taxi to the station before continuing to the site.
‘Unprecedented’ El Niño to batter UK with storms when it arrives this autumn
Emily Sergeant
This autumn, the UK is being told to brace for a series of storms when the 'unprecedented' El Niño weather event arrives.
It's already been a summer of extremes for the country, with multiple heatwaves over the past couple of months, but now it appears that autumn and winter are set to have some extremes of their own, as the Met Office is warning that this upcoming El Niño could be one of the most significant in recent memory.
El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average, which therefore impacts global rainfall patterns and average temperatures.
The natural warming of sea temperatures is forecast to reach more than 3°C in the coming months, according to the Met Office, making this year’s weather event have the potential to be 'the largest since the 19th century'.
El Niño will create a heightened risk of drought in the tropics, southern Africa, and north eastern Australia, but over in north western Europe - including the UK - it means we are likely to experience wetter and stormier conditions.
The UK, and of course Yorkshire, is absolutely no stranger to a storm around this time of year, but forecasters say this could be an entirely different beast.
The UK is set to be battered by storms as 'unprecedented' El Niño arrives this autumn / Credit: Johannes Plenio (via Unsplash)
"We should be clear that this is an unprecedented event," warned Professor Adam Scaife, who is the Head of Long Range Forecasting at the Met Office.
"I have never seen an El Nino signal this intense in our forecasts."
Professor Scaife concluded: "A typical El Nino leads to an equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperature rise of between one to 2°C, with 2°C being a really big event. This implies that, if the forecast is accurate, and other forecast systems show similar extreme values, then 2026 will far exceed our recent experience of El Niño and its worldwide climate influences.'
Forecasters and officials, however, have warned that it could take months of sustained rainfall before rivers, reservoirs, and groundwaters are 'completely replenished' - which is when a drought can officially be declared as over.
It also warned drought conditions could persist into the new year as, despite El Niño, as current forecasts do not suggest this autumn will have the amount of rainfall needed to drive recovery.
Sophie Smith -
3rd February 2023 
