Joining the lineup at this year's Leeds International Festival of Ideas, BAFTA nominated Christopher Eccleston will be taking to the stage as the final headline speaker on Saturday 30 September 2023.
The renowned actor will be sharing his story as a working class actor and how voices such as his need to be kept alive across the arts and culture scene in an event entitled 'Arts and Culture – For the many; or the few?'.
Christopher Eccleston joins LIFI. / Image: Supplied, C81
Another exciting new addition to the festival will be celebrated broadcaster Naga Munchetty, who will host 'Other Side of the Coin' a fireside chat with Sir Jon Cunliffe and Tom Duff Gordon disussing the future of currency.
Meanwhile BBC journalist Lotty Leeming will host Rob Rinder's 'Invisible Rule of Law', hoping to shed light on the topic and challenge convensional notions.
Speaker and podcaster Sarah Powell is also announced today as the host for Ruby Wax OBE's conversation around wellness, self-help and mindfullness.
Steven Bartlett's talk about 'A New Generation of Entrepreneurism' has already sold out but those with tickets can looking forward to the new host announcement of Anisa Morridadi.
Meanwhile fellow RuPaul's Drag Race queen, actor and singer Divina De Campo will be hosting an insightful chat with headline speaker Bimini to talk about 'A World Beyond The Binary'.
Image: Divina De Campo is announced as the host for 'A World Beyond The Binary' with Bimini. / Image: Chapter 81
And finally with the new headline speaker announcement comes a new host announcement: Leeds' own writer and producer Lisa Holdsworth will be chatting to newly announced Christopher Eccleston about arts and culture, bringing an insightful dialogue that will 'allow attendees to explore the interplay between art, society, and personal experiences.'
Martin Dickson, Leeds International Festival of Ideas has commented on the new additions: “We are over the moon to have someone like Christoper Eccleston headline this year’s festival. We think it will be a very telling event based around class and socio-economic background as barriers to culture. We have also just announced Naga Munchetty to lead the chat on digital currency with two already heavyweight contributors on the subject. Throwing in some real journalistic hosts and people at the top of their game, this year’s festival is going to be really special.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas Full Lineup
The full programme schedule is as followed:
Wednesday 27 September 2023
Davina McCall will be on the panel for ‘when will women’s health be taken seriously’. / Image: Chapter 81
7pmPanel: When will women’s health be taken seriously? with Davina McCall, Dr Christine Ekechi Lauren Mahon, Cherry Healey, Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin and Kenny Ethan Jones
7.30pmFireside chat: A New Generation Of Entrepreneurism with Steven Bartlett
Leeds International Festival of Ideas has announced its full festival lineup, and it’s combining some of the UK’s most influential speakers with some of the most important questions of our time.
Working in partnership with LeedsBID, The Hoot Leeds and Weightmans, the idea of the festival is to bring conversations to the surface, using a combination of panels, fireside chats and speeches to inspire, provoke and encourage discussions.
Questions vary from ‘what’s our obsession with true crime?’ to ‘who does our political system benefit?’ and ‘how do we talk about grief?’ – and this year’s lineup is perfectly certainly won’t be shying away from the hard questions.
The four day festival will take place from Wednesday 27 September - Saturday 30 September 2023
Feature Image - Supplied, C81
Audio
Muse announced as first headline act for Roundhay Festival 2027
After a triumphant debut year, Roundhay Festival is coming back with a bang.
And this time, British rock legends Muse will be taking to the stage as they are revealed as the first headline act.
Held over three days in July this year and organised by AEG Presents in collaboration with Leeds City Council, Roundhay Festival went down an absolute treat this year.
From thousands of bald-cap wearing Pitbull fans flocking to the scene to Lewis Capaldi making sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house, the inaugural festival was a booming success and we can't wait to welcome it back.
Muse will headline Roundhay Park on Sunday 27 June 2027, joined by a very special line-up including guests Nothing But Thieves and other acts yet to be announced.
Jim King, CEO of AEG Presents UK & European Festivals, says “Following the success of our first year at Roundhay Park, we’re delighted to be returning to Leeds with one of the most incredible live bands in the world.
"Muse’s legendary outdoor performances and unrivalled production values continue to set the benchmark for live music, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to Roundhay for what promises to be a truly spectacular event.”
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This festival is a great example of how concerts and other cultural events and celebrations can act as a hugely positive showcase for Leeds.
“Bringing the music world’s top names to our city and giving them the opportunity to play in the breathtaking setting of Roundhay Park allows us to connect with new national and international audiences, while at the same time supporting the local economy.
“Local residents and businesses can also be assured that the council, alongside AEG Presents, will be working hard to keep them informed about road closures and the other traffic and travel arrangements that are required for the safe and smooth operation of an event on this scale.”
Tickets for Muse’s American Express presents Roundhay Festival date go on general sale at 10am this Friday 13 November. Find out more here.
Audio North’s Artist of the Month – The Wranglers | November 2026
Declan Kelly
It’s time to bring a whole lot of country music to the North.
Country music might traditionally have you thinking of Nashville, cowboy boots, and American highways, but there's a new generation of artists proving you don't have to cross the Atlantic to find a good country tune.
Meet The Wranglers - a Leeds-based band who are bringing a whole lot of country to the North's music scene, with big vocals, infectious energy, and a sound that feels just as at home in a packed festival field as it does in a Nashville honky-tonk.
Formed in April 2024, the independent band have wasted little time making their mark on the UK's growing country music scene. The Wranglers have been championing the sort of live performances that are about more than simply playing a setlist, inviting audiences into a world of storytelling, freedom, heart and a little bit of country-rock chaos.
Their sound takes inspiration from some of music's biggest names (think Bruce Springsteen, Journey, and Foreigner) while bringing in the more modern country influences of Luke Combs, The Shires, and Lady A.
It's this combination of classic rock influences and contemporary country that gives the band their own identity. Whether it's a summer anthem, a power ballad, or something exploring darker themes of lust and betrayal, their songwriting is rooted in storytelling and the ability to make people feel something.
And if there's one thing The Wranglers want you to know, it's that their music is best experienced live.
Credit: SuppliedCredit: Supplied
With lead vocalists Milly Ballington and Leo Hicks at the front, alongside Dylan Wilson on lead guitar, Sian Keates on drums, and Sean Robinson on bass, the five-piece put showmanship at the heart of everything they do. Expect plenty of audience participation, powerful vocals, and the kind of stage presence that makes it difficult to stand still.
Since forming, they've already found themselves performing at some of the UK's most exciting country music destinations, including The Long Road Festival and Lil' Nashville in London, while continuing to build a dedicated following back home in Leeds.
Their debut single, 'Rewind', arrived in 2025, giving listeners an introduction to their original sound. They've since continued to build on that momentum with 'Freedom in the Rain', released in August 2026, and their latest single 'Ghost', showing there's plenty more to come from the band.
It's not just about getting their music out there, either. With a headline show at Leeds' Oporto among their recent milestones, The Wranglers are continuing to put their hometown firmly on the map as they take their country sound further afield.
For a band that only came together in 2024, there's already plenty to shout about. But with new music, live performances and a growing audience behind them, it feels like they're only just getting started.
So, if you've been looking for your next country music obsession, it might be time to give The Wranglers a listen. After all, you don't need to be in Nashville to have a little bit of country in your life.
Sophie Smith -
8th June 2023 
