Witness Leeds in a new light as the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival returns to city centre tomorrow.
For two days only, Leeds Light Night will transform the city into an illuminated piece of artwork. Installations, exhibitions and performances can be found around every nook and corner across the city on Thursday 14 October and Friday 15 October.
This year, a particular focus will be on fighting climate change. All proceeds will go directly towards a local tree planting initiative to offset the festival's carbon footprint through the Leeds Woodland Creation Scheme.
Millenium Square
Expect spooky scenes ahead of Halloween at Millenium Square. / Image: Leeds Light Night
Try and catch a lightning bolt without being struck over at the Civic Hall. Leeds will be at the mercy of nature, being regularly hit by bolts of lightning during the festival.
This installation, amongst the four others at Millennium Square will be safe and enjoyable for all the family to get involved in. Other works will include giant neon dogs and larger-than-life insects at the City Museum.
Headrow
Feel as though you're in heaven down at Headrow, where installation On Earth (as it is in Heaven) portrays moments between worlds.
On Earth as it is in Heaven crosses the border between the visible and the invisible, the material and the spiritual, and is truly mesmerizing. Nature lovers will also have the chance to mimic a pollinating insect, moving from flower to flower installation at The Nectary installation.
Town Hall
The clock has previously featured in Glasgow, Korea and Kazakhstan. Image: Leeds Light Night
The most striking installation at this year's Light Night might just be the Climate Countdown Clock at Leeds Town Hall. The live clock counts down the critical time window for us to reach zero emission and tracks progress towards a safe climate future.
There's nothing like putting something into large-scale perspective to help us realise how important it is to reduce carbon consumption. There will also be two late-night openings at the Art Gallery and a spectacular audio visual show around the Town Hall.
Victoria
Peculiar tentacles have been spotted emerging from some familiar city centre buildings, but what planet are they from? The Creature Invasion! installation has been designed as a colourful and playful scene that will keep visitors of all ages looking up at the skies.
If you'd rather party to the beat of a DJ, head inside Kirkgate Market for the Flower Power Silent Disco and enjoy an evening of 70s music.
Briggate
Dear Leeds is a poem dedicated to revisiting 2020, understanding the present, and looking into the future with optimism. / Image: Light Night Leeds
Exhibitions at Briggate is all about looking forward to the future. The Dear Leeds installation is a giant poem hanging in two tonnes of neon to give a message of hope and solidarity.
The pandemic has been a pivotal moment in all of our lives and the poem pays homage to the people of Leeds that have kept us all going during this difficult time. Another interesting installation in Briggate is the Hourglass piece from Emergency Exit Arts. The sculptural piece maps an epic quest for safety where the young child at the centre of the story must migrate to find 'new hope'.
Station
Walk in wonder through this forest installation of oversized robotic flowers near the station in a futuristic exhibition called Digital Playground. The city oasis aims to remind us all to take it more slowly, breathe and play.
Rather than replacing nature with robotics, the installation reminds us of our relationship with the environment and its importance in our everyday lives. The environmental theme spans round the station with a lifesize polar bear sculpture on display and meditative projections.
Arena
Fly around space at the Gaia exhibition at Queen Square. / Image: Leeds Light Night
Gaia, at Queen Square, is an incredible replica of our planet, created using NASA imagery of the Earth's surface. The giant sculpture will give you an out-of-this-world experience, whilst also reminding us of the fragility of our planet.
The artist hopes this will inspire Leeds to protect the planet for future generations but if you're more interested in the relationship of light and the planet, the Entwined Light at Merrion Gardens clashes natural and the man-made to create a beautiful exhibition.
SOYO (Quarry Hill)
Quarry Hill will be full of character over the Light Nights: with performances from the Leeds Dance Partnership, Leeds City College, Choir of Leeds Minster and more. Shown three times each evening, Mutation Space is an immersive dance and visual experience exploring the nature of viruses and the human impact on our environment and health.
If you'd prefer a break from anything pandemic-related, the Quarry Hill campus will be focusing on the theme of getting back to nature with their If You Go Down To The Woods Tonight exhibition. Live performances, rooftop conversations and never-seen-before images will all be a part of the immersive experience.
Outside the centre
This sensory experience will be in Holbeck and Chapeltown. / Image: Leeds Light Night
Not all of the experiences are available in the city centre, but are certainly worth travelling for. The Mystery Bird, in particular, is a moving installation that represents the loss of freedom in 2020.
The inspiration for this exhibition came from the simplicity of lockdown, when. hearing birdsong at a time when the world was quietly held at a temporary standstill represented the change in lifestyle for us all. The installation will be in Holbeck on Thursday 14 October and Chapeltown Friday 15 October.
South Bank
What's eighteen metres long and looks like a whale? What could sound like the start of a bad joke is actually a huge kinetic light sculpture that recalls big marine mammals and fossil skeletons.
Witness the poetic dance of what could be the ghost of the last remaining whale on earth and take a moment to understand the impact of mankind on our biodiversity at this thought provoking installation. There will also be magical fibre optic water poured from cans and a number of other animal and agricultural-based installations around South Bank over the two days.
For more information on Leeds Light Night 2021, visit their website. The two-day event will take place on Thursday 14 October and Friday 15 October, but check in advance for timings of performances and installations as some will not be available across the entire festival.
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
Leeds
Ireland’s famous fast food phenomenon, the spice bag, has landed in Leeds Kirkgate Market
Clementine Hall
You can now grab the ultimate hangover cure at our very own Kirkgate Market.
And it comes from none other than The Fisherman's Wife - a Leeds institution that has been serving up fantastic fish and chips for over 60 years.
But now, they're turning their attention to spice bags.
If you have no idea what we're talking about then allow us to fill you in. And we'd recommend pouring yourself an ice cold glass of water, because it's about to get real salty up in here.
The spice bag is an Irish delicacy that is often devoured after a few Guinness on the streets of Dublin, for example.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It consists of shredded and battered chicken, chips, onions and peppers - all deep fried, loaded into a bag and tossed in lashings of salt and pepper seasoning.
Oh, and of course dipped or lathered in a sauce of your choosing. The classic being curry sauce, obviously.
It's been available in Leeds once before at a pop-up in Trinity Kitchen, but now The Fisherman's Wife is here to make them a permanent option for anyone with that salty craving.
You've got a couple of flavours to choose from too, including peri-peri, plain, salt & chilli and of course the classic salt & pepper.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can then add a drizzle of sriracha, curry sauce (obviously) or sticky honey if you're looking for that sweet and salty balance.
The best part? They're selling these for just £6.50.
So next time you've had a few too many the night before, get yourself to The Fisherman's Wife inside Leeds Kirkgate Market's food hall and get yourself a spice bag. You'll be cured in no time.
Sophie Smith -
13th October 2021 
