Ever fancied dipping your toes into the world of live event production?
The Academy of Live Technology is where the world's biggest artists go to rehearse before heading out on arena tours.
And whilst it's pretty impressive that you'll walk through the same halls as Kayne West, Arctic Monkeys, One Direction, Pink, ITV, Netflix and more, it's even more exciting that you can kickstart your career in the same space.
At degree and master level you can explore different specialist areas of live entertainment design and production, but for those looking for fast-paced, skills-based courses, there's also a number of Skills Bootcamps to get stuck into.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The idea of the Skills Bootcamps are to give those who are considering a career in the industry the opportunity to see what a real day-in-the-life in live events is all about, and a taster of the skills needed to be able to work on major projects around the world.
These might appeal to someone looking at starting on one of the Academy of Live Technology's degree courses and want to learn more before sending off their application; as well as post-graduates looking to find their specialist areas, or someone who would like to know more about changing the path of their career and want to learn all about the ins and outs of the industry.
These courses really do bring the best of both practical hands-on and theoretical sessions together and take an inclusive approach to ensure that all types of learners feel heard and understood throughout the courses.
At present, there's four different Skills Bootcamps that you can enrol in:
Skills Bootcamp in Event Management
Images: The Hoot Leeds
About the course: This five-week course covers all areas of Event Management, splitting into different areas of planning, as well as marketing strategy; communication and credentials; health and safety and professional etiquette.
Planning is split into multiple sections, including: strategic, stakeholder, sustainability, financial planning (and procurement), as well as exploring site management plans.
Start Dates: Monday 12 February and Monday 18 March 2024
More dates are expected to be released throughout the year here.
How to apply: You can register your interest and start the application process here.
To take part in the Events Management course, you must be aged 19 or over and live in West Yorkshire (including Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) and you cannot be in full-time education or undertaking an apprenticeship at the time of joining.
This course is fully-funded and free of charge to those that meet the criteria, but are limited to one per person, per year.
Skills Bootcamp in Event Production
Images: The Hoot Leeds
About the course: This bootcamp is designed to give you a flavour of four different areas of event production, over the course of five weeks. Giving an introduction to live sound engineering; rigging and event safety; show calling and stage, production and tour management, you'll train using the world-class facilities onsite that have already been tried and tested by the likes of Pink, Metallica, The Killers, Netflix, Amazon and ITV.
Start dates: Thursday 15 February and Monday 18 March 2024
More dates are expected to be released throughout the year here.
How to apply: You can register your interest and start the application process here.
To take part in the Events Production course, you must be aged 19 or over and live in West Yorkshire (including Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) and you cannot be in full-time education or undertaking an apprenticeship at the time of joining.
This course is fully-funded and free of charge to those that meet the criteria, but are limited to one per person, per year.
Skills Bootcamp in Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine, for those of us who aren't in the industry, is 'the most powerful real-time 3D creation tool' and a great up-skill to have under your belt if you're looking to carve a career in virtual production, live events, TV, film or even game design.
The five-week-long course takes you through the basics of using Unreal Engine and its application in game design, VFX, virtual production and immersive events, before you start to look at more technical skills like level design, lighting, materials, cinematics and camera, game mechanics, blueprint visual scripting, UI widgets and project development.
Start dates: Wednesday 14 February and Monday 18 March 2024
More dates are expected to be released throughout the year here.
How to apply: You can register your interest and start the application process here.
To take part in the Events Production course, you must be aged 19 or over and live in West Yorkshire (including Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) and you cannot be in full-time education at the time of joining.
This course is fully-funded for those that are unemployed, self-employed or in part-time education. If you are employed, the Academy of Live Technology will ask your employer to contribute 10% of fees for small and medium-sized enterprises, and 30% for large enterprises.
Skills Bootcamp in Virtual Production
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The virtual production course also covers the basics of Unreal Engine, but instead focuses on the specific application of the state-of-the-art software in the virtual production industry over a ten-week-long part time course.
There will be opportunity to learn all about materials, lighting, levels, cinematics, camera, storyboards, production design, and on-set virtual production skills and technical skills before you'll shoot your own virtual production project in groups, and understand the roles of Producers, Directors and Virtual Production logistics a well as post-production skills.
Course dates: 10-week course will run part-time from Monday 12 February - Monday 30 March 2024.
More dates are expected to be released throughout the year here.
How to apply: You can register your interest and start the application process here.
To take part in the Events Production course, you must be aged 19 or over and live in West Yorkshire (including Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) and you cannot be in full-time education at the time of joining.
This course is fully-funded for those that are unemployed, self-employed or in part time education. If you are employed, the Academy of Live Technology will ask your employer to contribute 10% of fees for small and medium-sized enterprises (£300), and 30% for large enterprises (£900).
July already? We're Cruz-ing through the year. Meet this Northern Indie rock band who've been crowned Audio North's latest Artist of the Month.
Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known by band-name Cruz, are well and truly making a name for themselves with a whole host of gig dates scattered throughout the Summer.
Live music lovers are about to become very familiar with the 'Disco Colour Beams' songwriters, as Cruz' Summer schedule includes Isle of Wight Festival, Truck Festival and two Sheffield dates.
The Sheff-based shows are special for the fourpiece as they're hometown shows at both Everywhere At Once Festival and the incredible Tramlines Festival - Congrats lads.
Cruz are feeling the love, as the reason they're heading out to Tramlines is because they were voted the Fans' Pick, and this recognition continues as they've been chosen by Audio North to be our Artist of the Month.
An interview with Cruz | Audio North's Artist of the Month: July
Cruz-ing there way from festival to festival this Summer, the Sheffield band sat down with Audio North to talk Artist of the Month title / Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
For those who don't know, introduce us to Cruz
Tom and Sam were jamming in early 2022 before deciding to start a band while looking for other members, with Ethan and Jamie finding out through friends of friends.
Ahead of their first live gig, Cruz were drummer-less, Ethan's recruitment was lifesaving for the band as he stepped up a week before and never looked back since, four years strong.
How has Sheffield shaped you as a band?
It's such a rich city full of creatives, music-based as well as even broader to art and culture, Sheffield isn't just a city, it's a support system.
When we were starting out we got involved with all the local gig venues, who are always on the lookout to champion upcoming bands, it was so nice.
Do you feel any connection to this city's musical heritage?
Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and Richard Hawley of course, Human League and Def Leppard, the list goes on.
Growing up in Sheffield and going to gigs at The Leadmill was so incredible too.
What have been some of your favourite live shows so far?
Sidney and Matilda is prominent to us because it's where we played our very first headline date. We also supported Overpass, which was our fifth show ever as the band as we know it, then playing our headline in the same room was awesome.
Sam, Tom, Jamie and Ethan, better known as Cruz, are making waves in the Sheffield music scene / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)
If someone wanted to experience the Sheffield music scene, where would you take them?
The Washington does free shows with bands and acoustic sets, making it accessible for everyone. The majority of venues in Sheffield are always hosting gigs.
Kelham Island has a lot of free entry venues too, it's great, getting to watch four or five bands playing out all on one night in this current economy is top tier.
Tramlines and Tramlines Fringe is chaotic in the best way, you never know what to expect but you'll leave with a buzz of energy every single time.
What's some of your favourite songs by these artists?
'Soundcheck Your Soul' by The North they've got so many great tunes, they're an amazing band. Montello's 'Suit and Tie', 'Runaway Instead' The Rosadocs.
Playing out at various festivals across the UK, for this Sheffield act it's Tramlines which is the most important to them / Credit: Press Shot (supplied)
What's your favourite track off your newest EP?
Jamie picked 'Man of the People' quoting it as a 'Proper anthem', 'I Get By' is Ethan's pick, it's a track which has been in the works for a while but now the band have finally cracked the code.
While Sam's favourite song is 'Amsterdam' as it's the most personal to him and it's a chilled out number.
Leeds Festival announce biggest staging and area overhaul in the festival’s 27 year history
Clementine Hall
Leeds Festival introduce five new stages for 2026, making it the biggest overhaul in the festival's history.
Leeds Festival is just around the corner now, but maybe not quite as you know it.
Organisers have announced a completely revamped stage layout that marks the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival’s 27 year history.
This year, Leeds Festival will see five new stages take over Bramham Park, each with their own new identities offering an experience never seen before.
Let's break them down...
The Grid
The home of the festival’s main stage, The Grid is where iconic headline moments happen. Expect to witness headliners Charli xcx, Fontaines D.C., Dave, Raye, Florence + The Machine and Chase & Status alongside Sombr, Skepta, Role Model, Loyle Carner, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, Jade, Maisie Peters, Keo and more soundtracking The Grid this year.
Not only that, but Kasabian will be making history as the first ever Thursday night headliner of Leeds Festival.
The Gallery
A brand new stage for 2026, The Gallery is an undercover immersive stage. Innovative LED screen lights and immersive production runs throughout the entire stage.
The Gallery is ready to create iconic moments from Josh Baker, Geese, Kneecap, Skye Newman, Kettama and Holly Humberstone among others.
The Warehouse
The Warehouse is a brand-new purpose-built home for dance music with viewing platforms behind the decks, plus huge screen production welcoming special sets from Skepta b2b Prospa, Hybrid Minds, Hedex, Silva Bumpa and Rossi.Â
As the name might suggest, for the first-time ever Leeds Festival will have a transformed stage complete with unique chandeliers and draping that plays host to artists who are defining and dominating 2026.
The Ballroom is primed for legendary breakthrough sets from YT, Florence Road, Niko B, Paris Paloma, Bassvictim, Overpass, SPEED, Frost Children, Bleech 9:3, Westside Cowboy, Chloe Qisha, Radio Free Alice, dexter in the newsagent, WHATMORE and Clementine Douglas amongst others.Â
The Canopy
The Canopy will welcome a new chapter for new music - with a stage dedicated to festival fans’ next favourite artists. It will play host to the likes of Violet Grohl, Villanelle, December 10, Camille Blackman, Kibo, Finessekid, Cruz Beckham and The Breakers and more.Â
These new stages are joined at Leeds Festival by the return of fan favourites LS23 and Piccadilly Circus, with full programming to be revealed in the coming weeks.
We hope you're just as excited as we are, find out more here. We'll see you on the fields.
Sophie Smith -
12th February 2024 
