Audio
The Hoot Meets: Joesef, a new alt-indie artist on Mel B, Hyde Park and his debut album
"I was a late bloomer I didn’t think I would be a singer but aye just in my bedroom making turn and now here we are at Live at Leeds".
Elton John played Joesef's tunes on Rocket Hour, earlier this month- and if that isn't a high enough recommendation for an artist that's yet to release their debut album, we're not sure what else is.
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.
Effortlessly fusing soul and pop comes naturally to the independent artist, but Joesef never intended to set out to become the rising singer-songwriter packing out crowds across the UK, including last weekend at Leeds' own Live At Leeds: In The City festival, where we were lucky enough to catch up with the artist.
"I was a late bloomer I didn’t think I would be a singer but aye just in my bedroom making turn and now here we are at Live at Leeds".
Inspired by the works of The Cure, Mamas and Papas and Joy Division, three years on from putting out his first single, Limbo, Joesef is now preparing to release the highly anticipated debut album Permanent Damage- which pays homage to the evolution of his musical career to date.
Ever humble, Joesef describes the album as "more of an evolved sound than people have ever heard before", having been recorded in a professional studio, rather than just plugging his guitar into a laptop, grinning at the countdown to the album release in just a few short months.
Permanent Damage will hit the shelves on Friday 13 January 2023, blowing away the new year blues with never-heard-before soulful melodies. Naturally, the alt-indie singer will be back in Leeds to bring the album to one of "the closest crowds to Glasgow"- a huge compliment given the musical talent of Joesef's home city.
"The energy is just unmatched [in Leeds] and it feels like we’re all mates, I think it’s just a northern thing […] my first Leeds gig I had people crying and that it was so funny, I can’t remember which venue it was at but we were on the floor and basically we were standing at the same level I could see everyone [...] Leeds crowd is amazing man, they always show up."
Joesef went on to explain that having played at Brudenell, Hyde Park and now headlining Live At Leeds: In The City on the Belgrave Music Hall stage, he's constantly watching the Yorkshire crowds evolve, with a solid fan base of those returning time-after-time to catch new tunes in different venues.
"I’m starting to really recognise people as well I did a wee session at Hyde Park Book Club and I’ve seen the crowd at the front at previous gigs"
Read More: Live At Leeds In The City: the day-festival celebrating the best of indie artists
We don't need telling twice that Yorkshire is full of musical talent, from Bring Me The Horizon and Alex Turner over in Sheffield to our own Kaiser Chiefs here in Leeds, but for Joesef, there was one name that outshone the rest: Mel B.
"Honestly zig-a-zig-ah! When I was a wee kid that was me and my mums first obsession and my brothers were with Oasis and we had my mum dances Spice Girls, so big up to Mel B!"
"Mel B aye she’s a Leeds icon but obviously in Yorkshire you’ve got Arctic Monkeys and that cannae knock them, cannae knock them, they’ve done alright haven’t they!"
You can catch Joesef at Stylus at Leeds University Union on Friday 17 March 2023. For more information about the upcoming tour, visit Joesef's website.
Thankyou to Live At Leeds: In The City Festival for organising this interview.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Audio
Jarvis Cocker and Kim Sion to curate special art exhibition titled ‘The Hodge Podge’ at The Hepworth Wakefield
Clementine Hall
The Hepworth Wakefield is joining forces with Jarvis Cocker and his wife Kim Sion to create a one-of-a-kind art exhibition.
And it's got the best name ever, titled 'The Hodge Podge'.
This exciting new exhibition (opening in May 2027) will include artists who have challenged mainstream ideas about what can be considered 'art'.
It will invite unlikely conversations between artists such as Jeremy Deller, Peter Doig, Barbara Hepworth, Klara Kristalova, Emma Kunz, Mark Leckey and Agnes Pelton, as well as unknown outsider and visionary artists never exhibited before in UK public museums.
Focusing on alternative means of expression, the structures of class and how communities are able to come together outside of religious or high-brow contexts, Cocker and Sion are keen to explore alternative spiritualities, psychedelia, fandom, dreams, poetry and music.
Laura Smith, Artistic Director of The Hepworth Wakefield comments: "Jarvis Cocker has a long-held interest in art, attending St Martin’s College of Art & Design in the early 1990s, and as a Yorkshireman, felt like the ideal person to work with to consider a fresh way of thinking about and experiencing art.
"The art that he and Kim have gathered together in The Hodge Podge will encourage the feelings of joy, marvel and curiosity that great works of art can inspire and offer our audiences an expanded idea of creativity and community. We are thrilled to be working with Jarvis and Kim on this incredibly exciting exhibition."
In Cocker and Sion’s The Hodge Podge Manifesto, the couple state that te exhibition provides
‘an opportunity to understand where that creative urge comes from and what it can do for
you… You’d be a fool to miss it.’
Tickets for The Hodge Podge: Jarvis Cocker & Kim Sion curate The Hepworth Wakefield go on sale later this year and you can find them here.
Read more: Leeds International Festival of Ideas announces first wave of BIG names for 2026 festival
Featured image - Supplied
Audio
Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two R&B greats are heading out on a joint headline tour for the first time, as Ne-Yo and Akon visit Leeds' First Direct Arena.
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 2026 tour will see the pair performing on the same stage – for Leeds that's the First Direct Arena – for a co-headline Nights Like This tour.
Tonight, Thursday 30 April, they’ll perform in a unique back-and-forth set throughout the show.
You might have already seen some pretty iconic videos of their tour already circulating the internet, so it's safe to say you're in for a treat.
The nostalgic gigs will feature everything from slow jams to club anthems, with a party atmosphere throughout.
Are there tickets left for Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena?
It looks like tickets are limited for tonight, but you may be able to grab a few last minute ones HERE via Ticketmaster.
Ne-yo and Akon setlist for 2026 tour
Judging by previous nights of the tour, the current set list is looking like this...
Ne-Yo
- The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson cover) (Snippet)
- Miss Independent
- Because Of You
- Nobody
- Champagne Life
- One in a Million
Akon
- Akon's Beautiful Day
- Smack That
- I'm So Paid
- Locked Up
- Soul Survivor (Jeezy cover)
Ne-Yo
- She Knows
- Single
- Mirror
- Sexy Love
Akon
- Bananza (Belly Dancer)
- Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) (Wyclef Jean cover)
- Bartender (T‐Pain cover)
- Body on me (Ashanti cover)
- Dangerous (Kardinal Offishall cover)
Songs Ne-Yo/Akon Produced
- Let Me Love You (Mario cover)
- Titanium (David Guetta/Sia Cover) / Take A Bow (Rihanna Cover) / Drunk In Love (Beyoncé Cover) / Irreplaceable (Beyoncé Cover) / Just Dance (Lady Gaga)
Akon
- Don't Matter
- Danza Kuduro (Remix)
- The Sweet Escape (Gwen Stefani song)
- Shut It Down (Pitbull song)
- Angel
- Ghetto
- Sorry, Blame It On Me
- Lonely
Ne-Yo
- So Sick
- Mad
- NIGHTS LIKE THESE
- Simple Things
- Up Out & Gone
- Beautiful Monster
- Closer
Akon
- QUE CALOR (Akon crowd surfs in an inflatable ball)
- I Wanna Love You
- Right Now (Na Na Na)
- Beautiful
- Sexy Bitch (David Guetta cover)
- Til the Sun Rise Up (Bob Sinclair cover)
Ne-Yo
- Let's Go
- Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)
- Time of Our Lives
- Give Me Everything
Encore:
Play Hard (David Guetta cover) - Akon & Ne-Yo on stage
Stage times for Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena
- Doors open: 6.30pm
- Gig starts: 8pm
- Gig ends: 11pm
How to get to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
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.
Read more: Yorkshire veterans Shed Seven set for 10th anniversary of Shedcember shows
Featured image: Publicity picture
Sophie Smith -
25th October 2022 
