We're now into the final week of May, and we can't quite believe how fast this year is going.
Throughout the month of May so far, the Leeds social calendar has been jam-packed with exciting things to do.
And luckily, this isn't slowing down as we enter another Bank Holiday weekend.
Keep reading to find out what to get up to this week.
Leeds Jazz Festival
Thursday 23 May – Tuesday 28 May 2024 | Across Leeds
Images: Leeds Jazz Festival
Now in its third year, Leeds Jazz Festival is a ‘celebration of the musicians, venues, promoters, audiences and organisations who are part of the Leeds Jazz tapestry’ that truly finds the most imaginative ways to get us all involved in music.
This festival can be enjoyed in many of our amazing eclectic and independent venues across the city including Eat Your Greens, HiFi Club and the main outdoor stage on Cookridge Street where Sable Radio are curating live music and DJ sets.
Live At Leeds: In The Park is now in its third year and it’s showing no sign of slowing down any time soon. This year, we’ve got Wakefield’s own The Cribs to look forward to, plus The Kooks, Declan McKenna, The Mysterines and hot off the back of a stellar performance at Live At Leeds: In The City 2023, Antony Szmierek is swapping The Wardrobe for the fields to take to the summer portion of the festival by storm.
Sunday 26 May 2024 | Revolution Electric Press, Leeds City Centre
Image: Pup Up Cafe
Dachshund owners assemble, because pretty soon you’ll be able to take your pooch to a party like no other. That’s right, the Pup Up cafe at Revolution Electric Press is back… and this time it’s all about the sausage dogs.
Attracting attention across Leeds and beyond, the Pup Up Cafe is a true dog-lovers experience. Celebrating all things dogs, those heading over to Revs will walk through the doors into the fairground-themed bar and wander between stalls stocking everything your pup could ever want or need.
Find out more here.
Slam Dunk Festival
Sunday 26 May 2024 | Temple Newsam
Image: Slam Dunk Festival
The UK’s biggest independent rock festival is back for another year – and it’s going to be the last festival you’ll be able to seeYou Me At Six in the UK.
The 20-years-strong band said that they “couldn’t think of a better place to perform our last festival appearance than the festival that first ever booked us” and will be joined by the likes of The All American Rejects, Asking Alexandria, We The Kings, I Prevail and a great selection of pop-punk, emo, metal and alternative artists.
Following the success of its first Leeds event, award-winning Peddler Market is returning to Project House for the late May bank holiday.
The event, which is celebrating 10 years of operating in nearby Sheffield, will bring exciting street food, craft drinks, independent makers and quality family entertainment.
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month
Clementine Hall
A brand-new Christmas film is hitting cinemas nationwide next month - and it’s a proper Leeds success story.
Jack Spring directed his first feature film at just 19 years old and has spent the last decade carving out a career in independent film, as well as co-founding Leeds-based production company Shush Films.
His first movie, Destination: Dewsbury, was shot just down the road in - you guessed it - Dewsbury. And after moving to Leeds from Grimsby, Jack became determined to build his business from the city, putting down roots and growing his production company here.
Image: Supplied
Now, after years of working on independent projects, Jack has taken his biggest leap yet with a brand-new Christmas film, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint.
Set in Yorkshire, Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint follows Aubrey Flint, a reclusive model soldier painter with a lifelong hatred of Christmas, who is sentenced to community service at Willow Lodge - a retirement home on the brink of closure.
Roped into helping with a chaotic production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Aubrey clashes with its interesting set of residents...
And the cast is about as star-studded as it gets, featuring Richard E. Grant, John Bradley, Celia Imrie, Adjoa Andoh, Sophia Di Martino, Adrian Rawlins and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Image: Supplied
The heartwarming festive comedy will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday 6 November - a huge milestone for a Leeds-based director and production company, taking a homegrown Yorkshire story to audiences across the country.
You just can't beat a proper wholesome British Christmas film, so you can best believe we'll be watching in the cinema, popcorn in hand.
Clementine Hall -
20th May 2024 
