Easter week is upon us and here are our top picks of what to do.
We are well into April now and with Easter kindly gifting us a 4 day weekend, there is lots to do this week to make the most out of the festivities. Of course we will all be indulging in chocolate on Sunday, that goes without saying. But if you're looking for something else to do then here are our top picks of what's happening in and around Leeds.
From Yorkshire's biggest Easter Egg hunt to award-winning theatre, there's something for everyone in this week's What's On.
Chow Down Opening
Temple Arches, Leeds | Opening Thursday 14th April 2022.
Image: Chow Down
The beloved outdoor food and drink bonanza, Chow Down, is back for the Summer and opening on Thursday 14th April.
From April to September, Temple Arches will be transformed into a Summer-themed haven with a new food village, three-tier sun terrace, DJ huts and much more. There will even be a nine-hole alfresco crazy golf course where you can challenge your mates whilst sipping on your favourite cocktail. There will be a host of street food vendors to cater to all tastes which will change every few weeks to keep you coming back for more.
Chow Down will officially reopen on Thursday 14 April, opening 4.30pm – 11 pm on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the season. On the weekends, the venue will open 12pm – 11pm on Saturdays and Sunday 12pm – 9pm. Tickets can be purchased here and we encourage you to not miss out, this is a unique experience which is truly unmatched in Leeds.
Bradford trio Bad Boy Chiller Crew are coming to Leeds and performing at the 02 Academy on the 13th and 14th April. The British group began by uploading comedy and prank videos onto Youtube before producing music influenced by the UK Bassline scene. They quickly rose to fame and have a loyal fanbase, especially in the Yorkshire region.
These gigs are sure to have an electric atmosphere in this intimate venue and are not to be missed. Tickets are running low so if you want to party with the chiller crew, you best me quick. Find them at thislink.
Eggcelent Easter Egg Hunt
Thackray Museum of Medicine, Harehills | Monday 4 April – Friday 22 April 2022.
Image: Chapter 81
This Easter, the Thackray Museum of Medicine is hosting a whole range of egg-citing activity programmes to bring the Easter holidays to life. Visitors are invited to explore the museum as part of the ‘Eggcellent Easter Egg Hunt’, in which several eggs will be hidden throughout the exhibitions, and participants asked to complete a trail to get their hands on a mini Easter treat.
Suitable for even young children, there will even be an ‘Egg and Sperm Race’, where players will compete to reach the egg first, and an ‘Absolutely Smashing Matching Hatching Game’, which will put your knowledge of eggs and growth in the animal kingdom to the test. Please note that parental supervision required at these events.
Monday 4 April – Friday 22 April 2022. Find out morehere.
Yorkshire's Biggest Easter Egg Hunt
Multiple locations across Yorkshire | Friday 15th April – Sunday 17th April 2022.
Image: Jason Jarrach, Unsplash
Provenance Inns and Hotels will be hiding chocolate eggs across the county this month in the lead-up to Easter.The event is thought to bring ‘Yorkshire’s biggest Easter egg hunt’, spanning across Harogate, Moulton, Helperby and other Yorkshire hotspots. Lucky hunters who seek out the eggs will be able to enjoy a free drink at any Provenance site and there will be a host of Easter-themed dishes on the menu for those looking for a little more than a chocolate egg to satisfy their hunger.
Raising money for the Red Cross, Yorkshire’s biggest Easter egg hunt is set to take place across the bank holiday weekend, beginning on Good Friday and running until Easter Sunday. The idea is that clues will be dropped across Provenance Inns social media pages and those successful in finding the eggs can then redeem a free drink from the bar.
Leeds Grand Theatre | Tuesday 12 April – Saturday 16 April 2022.
Image: Brinkhoff/Mögenburg
The National Theatre’s Olivier and Tony Award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns to Leeds this April for one week only.
This life-affirming and unmissable production follows the story of Christopher, a 15 year old boy with an extraordinary brain. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbour’s dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world. Become immersed into Christopher's world and experience theatre at it's very best.
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
News
Audio North’s Artist of the Month: Sharan | April 2026
Thomas Melia
Why have one northern city when you can have two? Sharan, our latest Artist of the Month, was born in Leeds and is now based in Liverpool.
Giving herself the titles of DJ, workshop facilitator and community advocate while also balancing life as a cardiac physiologist – is there anything Sharan can’t do?
This multi-talented music maker has played sets for Crop Radio, supported Sammy Virji, Barry Can’t Swim, SBTRKT and even soundtracked Liverpool FC’s official store ahead of a new kit launch.
Her sets cover all different music genres, meaning she can fit and curate any vibe, including UK funk, Amapiano, house and more.
Images: Press shots
An interview with Sharan – Audio North’s Artist of the Month
Now, the Leeds-born DJ takes a break from the decks, community programmes and medical assistance to chat about being Audio North‘s latest Artist of the Month.
What music did you grow up listening to?
I’ve always been around music. My Dad brought me up on Queen and then when I got to school my best friend listened to Bassline, UK Funky and I downloaded all these songs onto my Blackberry.
Annie Mac and Hannah Wants were real inspirations for me growing up and seeing female DJs in the media is great.
Tell us about the work you do in the DJ community?
I’m originally from Leeds but moved to Liverpool for work four years ago and I’ve become quite heavily involved in the DJ community. I do workshops through ‘Decks in the City‘; I’m a DJ Programmer for Dishoom and I play gigs across the North too.
Why do you want to give back to the DJ scene?
I joined a charity called Getaway Girls, who I still am with today, and I joined a music group through them and I remember decks being in the corner of the room and being intrigued. Then, at 14 I started going to their music workshops.
They’re the reason I got into music and inspired me to want to make the music industry a fairer place for women as well as advocating for women in music.
I love teaching women how to get into music or giving them the opportunity they wouldn’t necessarily have.
What do you hope to achieve through your DJ workshops?
I believe everyone should have the chance to try out being a DJ, or more broadly just have a go at learning a new skill in relation to music.
I want to give everyone a fair and equal chance to learn how to DJ and that’s why the courses I do are accessible and affordable.
As a South Asian DJ who’s also a woman, I want to encourage women and anyone from underrepresented communities to get involved.
In the long run, I’d love to improve festival line-ups and make the distribution of live music opportunities fairer.
What have been some of your favourite experiences as a DJ so far?
Alongside my community work, I’ve played at Leeds Festival for JD Sports and supported some big acts including Barry Can’t Swim, Virji, SBTRKT and Girls Don’t Sync.
What’s one fun fact about you?
I’m not just a DJ, I’m also a cardiac physiologist. It’s a really big part of my life aside from being a DJ. I balance the two together, I’m passionate about both.
How does your heritage influence your work?
I’m South Asian and I remember the Bend It Like Beckham soundtrack so vividly growing up. It fused British pop with Bhangra and Bollywood, it was revolutionary.
Even the storyline of the film itself resonates with me, watching the girl pursuing football against her parents wishes, something I’m doing by going against ‘the norm’ through following my dream of being a DJ.
I love this film and soundtrack so much that I wrote an article about this which explores the soundtrack and its impact on British Asian Youth.
Featured Images – The Manc Group/Press Shots (supplied via Liam Heeley)
Clementine Hall -
11th April 2022 
