Music in Leeds
Encyclopedia
Leeds
has a thriving musical scene, and has produced many notable artists. These include both national chart topping bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, but also smaller, more local bands who play small venues around the city and make up the majority of the music scene.
The Herman's Hermits
Guitarist Derek Leckenby
was born in Leeds.
The Mekons and the influential Gang of Four
came out of the 1970s punk
movement, with the early eighties
the punk/oi!
groups Abrasive Wheels
, The Underdogs and The Expelled
who all shared the same record label, Bristol's
Riot City
.
In the early to mid-eighties the city was home to a large goth
scene and many local bands who went on to have some degree of success nationally and internationally including The March Violets
, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
, The Sisters of Mercy
and Salvation (who were formed by The Sisters of Mercy roadies) .
The avant-garde art scene centred around Leeds Metropolitan University
's (then Leeds Polytechnic) Fine Art course led to the formation of early 80s electronic pioneers Soft Cell
.
The Late eighties and early nineties saw success for John Peel
favourites, and regular Festive 50 botherers, The Wedding Present
, agitprop
band Chumbawumba and indie rock
group Cud
.
In more recent times Leeds has gone some way to catching up cities with a richer musical heritage such as Manchester
and Sheffield
in terms of the number of bands originating from the city, and Leeds based bands such as Kaiser Chiefs
, The Music, The Pigeon Detectives
, Your Vegas
, Record Department
, Duels
, ¡Forward, Russia!
, Buen Chico; iLiKETRAiNS
, The Sunshine Underground
and singer Corinne Bailey Rae
have achieved varying degrees of success - some in the national charts, others by gathering small but devoted followings in the area. The NME named Leeds as its number 1 musical hot-spot in 2004.
The late 2000s saw the emergence of a number of grunge bands. Most notably Pulled Apart By Horses
, Dinosaur Pile-Up
and Holy State.
had a big impact on Leeds when it arrived in the late 1980s. Early house nights included Downbeat at the Warehouse, Meltdown at the Astoria in Roundhay
, and Joy and Kaos at various temporary venues, along with a thriving Shebeen
or "Blues" scene in Chapeltown
.
Along with Sheffield
and Bradford
, Leeds was a centre for the Yorkshire Bleeps and Bass scene in 1989–1990, with influential local bands such as LFO, Nightmares on Wax
, Ital Rockers, Unit 93 and Juno on Sheffield's Warp Records
and Leeds' Bassic Records
.
Dance
band Utah Saints
hit the top ten several times between 1991 and 1993.
International Djs and Producers like Paul Woolford, Ralph Lawson and Riley & Durrant
have their studios in the city.
The earlier underground house scene developed into the Leeds club scene of the 1990s, when for a while Leeds held the title of Britain's clubbing capital. Both Back to Basics and mixed gay night Vague
enjoyed the title of best club in Britain at different points in the decade, whilst The Orbit in Morley
was an internationally recognised techno mecca (Orbit closed in 2003 and was replaced by a restaurant).
In 2007, Leeds is emerging as a city with one of the most creative and diverse electronic music scenes in the UK. Club nights and collectives such as Gonzo http://www.gonzoworldwide.com and Room 237 hold regular events in the city and have been the catalyst for a rapidly growing electronic music scene which follows a more forward thinking, eclectic and sometimes experimental path. Artists such as Headcleaner
, Chris Kubex, Gwylo, Micoland and Ant Orange are current leading lights in the scene, with local D.I.Y record labels such as Gonzo run Dirtload Records and breakcore
label Marionette
providing an oulet for the wealth of electroncic music coming out of Leeds. Dirtyload Records has recently seen support from Radio One's Mary Anne Hobbs
, who featured a number of the labels artists in a special Breezeblock show about Leeds electronic music.
scene, encompassing the genres of punk
, skate punk
, hardcore
, post-hardcore
, post-punk
, noise rock
, dub reggae, dubstep and electronic music
among others. There is a vibrant and active community based around the DIY ethic
, supported in part by Cops and Robbers, a monthly guide to DIY events in and around Leeds, and Leeds Music Scene, a guide to the city's independent music scene.
The Moor Music Festival
http://www.moormusicfestival.co.uk takes place yearly in July on Addingham Moorside near Ilkley
, and regularly plays host to artists from the city.
In 1996 Leeds played host to the BBC Radio 1 Sound City festival.
Leeds initially played host to the northern leg of the V festival
between 1996 and 1998 before the event moved to Weston Park
, Staffordshire
.
In 2000, Leeds played host to the first ever Radio 1 Love Parade
at Roundhay Park.
Since 1999 the Leeds Festival
, a northern leg of the well established Reading Festival, has taken place on August bank holiday
weekend. The event was initially held at Temple Newsam
(the venue for the Leeds V Festival) before protests from residents forced a move to Bramham Park
.
Leeds is also home to the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition
which is regarded highly. It was established in 1963 by Fanny Waterman
with the 15th competition starting in September 2006.
West Yorkshire Playhouse
(along with several other smaller venues) plays host to the annual Fuseleeds festival showcasing an eclectic mix of more left-field music.
In 2006 and 2007 the two-day Wireless Festival
took place at Harewood House
. Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs
headlined the festival in 2007.
Live at Leeds
is an annual multi-venue festival that takes place each May. The first Live At Leeds event took place in May 2007 to coincide with the city's 800th birthday celebrations.
refectory http://www.leedstickets.com (where The Who
recorded their 1970 live album Live at Leeds
), Leeds Metropolitan University
http://www.leedsmetevents.co.uk, The Cockpit, Brudenell Social Club
http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk, The Faversham http://www.thefav.co.uk/, The Hi-Fi club http://www.thehificlub.co.uk, The Well http://www.thewellleeds.com, The Wardrobe, Irish Centre, New Roscoe http://www.newroscoe.co.uk, The Cardigan Arms, The Fenton, and The Packhorse among others.
The O2 Academy Leeds
opened in October 2008 on the site of the former Town & County Club music venue. The 2,300 capacity venue is run by the Academy Music Group and follows in-line with their other music venues around the UK.
Occasional gigs are held in Millennium Square in the city centre (including the Kaiser Chiefs
in 2006), Roundhay Park
(which was home to Love Parade
in 2000 and has hosted gigs by Madonna
, U2
, Robbie Williams
, Michael Jackson
and The Rolling Stones
), Harewood House
, Leeds Town Hall
, Leeds Holy Trinity Church and Leeds Parish Church
.
In November 2008, plans were approved to build the Leeds Arena
on Claypit Lane in Leeds city centre. Funding was approved in December 2009 and work commenced on the site in September 2010. Completion of the 12,500 capacity venue is expected in November 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-11236349.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
has a thriving musical scene, and has produced many notable artists. These include both national chart topping bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, but also smaller, more local bands who play small venues around the city and make up the majority of the music scene.
Bands
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
Guitarist Derek Leckenby
Derek Leckenby
Derek "Lek" Leckenby was an English musician and lead guitarist, most famous for his work with English pop group Herman's Hermits.-Early life:Leckenby was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire...
was born in Leeds.
The Mekons and the influential Gang of Four
Gang of Four (band)
Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
came out of the 1970s punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
movement, with the early eighties
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
the punk/oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
groups Abrasive Wheels
Abrasive Wheels
Abrasive Wheels were a punk rock band of the late 1970s/early 1980s. They hailed from Leeds, England and were seldom out of the Independent charts between 1980 and 1984 when the band split. The band were Shonna Rzonca - vocals, Dave Ryan - guitar, Harry Harrison - bass, Nev Nevison - drums...
, The Underdogs and The Expelled
The Expelled
The Expelled are a punk rock band first formed in July 1981 in Leeds, England. The original line-up consisted of Jo Ball , Tim Ramsden , Craig 'Macca' McEvoy and Rick Fox ....
who all shared the same record label, Bristol's
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
Riot City
Riot City Records
Riot City was a British record label based in Bristol, active between 1980 and 1988, and run by Heartbeat Records boss Simon Edwards along with Dave Bateman and Shane Baldwin from the band Vice Squad...
.
In the early to mid-eighties the city was home to a large goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
scene and many local bands who went on to have some degree of success nationally and internationally including The March Violets
The March Violets
The March Violets are an English goth rock band of the 1980s, incorporating singers of both sexes, drum machine rhythms and echo laden electric guitar, much in the way of scene mates The Sisters of Mercy, who also originated from the city of Leeds...
, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry are a rock band that were formed in Leeds, England in early 1981.- History :The band was formed by guitarist/songwriter Chris Reed and vocalist Mark Sweeney, along with bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown...
, The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
and Salvation (who were formed by The Sisters of Mercy roadies) .
The avant-garde art scene centred around Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
's (then Leeds Polytechnic) Fine Art course led to the formation of early 80s electronic pioneers Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
.
The Late eighties and early nineties saw success for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
favourites, and regular Festive 50 botherers, The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
, agitprop
Agitprop
Agitprop is derived from agitation and propaganda, and describes stage plays, pamphlets, motion pictures and other art forms with an explicitly political message....
band Chumbawumba and indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group Cud
Cud (band)
Cud are a British indie rock band formed in Leeds, England in 1987, consisting of vocalist Carl Puttnam , guitarist/keyboardist Mike Dunphy , bassist William Potter , and drummer Steve Goodwin .Though an indie rock band, their music incorporated elements of funk...
.
In more recent times Leeds has gone some way to catching up cities with a richer musical heritage such as Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in terms of the number of bands originating from the city, and Leeds based bands such as Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
, The Music, The Pigeon Detectives
The Pigeon Detectives
The Pigeon Detectives are an English indie rock band from Rothwell, West Yorkshire, who formed in 2004. They have been championed by such well known DJs as Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, and performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2006, where they were tagged "the band most likely to leap to...
, Your Vegas
Your Vegas
Your Vegas are a British rock band from Leeds, England.-Background:The band started playing music together while attending Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley, West Yorkshire. Their first band was called Orka but they later changed their name to Salvadore...
, Record Department
Record Department
Record Department are a band from the UK, formed in Leeds where its founding members met whilst studying at university. Currently the band is made up of: Jonny Price , Jon Burrow , Ryan Abbt and Christopher Fox .Previous members include Tim, Dominic Bristow and Sarah Pinnell.The name was chosen as...
, Duels
Duels (band)
Duels are an English indie band from Leeds formed in 2005. They have been described by The Guardian as "one of Britains most ambitious groups"...
, ¡Forward, Russia!
¡Forward, Russia!
¡Forward, Russia! were an English alternative band from Leeds, formed in early 2004, though are currently on hiatus. Until 2006, the band only named tracks with numbers, in the order that they were written...
, Buen Chico; iLiKETRAiNS
ILiKETRAiNS
I Like Trains are an alternative/post-rock band from Leeds, England. The group play brooding songs featuring sparse piano and guitar, baritone vocals, uplifting choral passages and reverberant orchestral crescendos...
, The Sunshine Underground
The Sunshine Underground
The Sunshine Underground are an English, Leeds based indie rock band. The Sunshine Underground play a variety of punk, funk and indie, featured on their debut album, Raise the Alarm, released by City Rockers on August 28, 2006...
and singer Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist from Leeds, who released her debut album Corinne Bailey Rae in February 2006....
have achieved varying degrees of success - some in the national charts, others by gathering small but devoted followings in the area. The NME named Leeds as its number 1 musical hot-spot in 2004.
The late 2000s saw the emergence of a number of grunge bands. Most notably Pulled Apart By Horses
Pulled apart by horses
Pulled Apart by Horses are an alternative rock band from Leeds, England. They formed in late 2007, and released their debut self-titled album Pulled Apart By Horses on 21 June 2010.- Formation and debut release "Meat Balloon" :...
, Dinosaur Pile-Up
Dinosaur Pile-Up
Dinosaur Pile-Up are an English alternative rock band hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire composing of lead singer and guitarist Matt Bigland, with bassist Harry Johns and drummer Mike Sheils. Matt Bigland was originally with Mother Vulpine and former members include bassist Tom Dunford and drummer...
and Holy State.
Electronic music and the clubbing scene
House musicHouse music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
had a big impact on Leeds when it arrived in the late 1980s. Early house nights included Downbeat at the Warehouse, Meltdown at the Astoria in Roundhay
Roundhay
Roundhay is a large suburb and City Council ward of north-east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, largely within the LS8 postcode. The ward boundary is the A6120 ring road on the north and the A58 Wetherby Road on the south and east. The boundary follows Gledhow Valley Road to the west before heading...
, and Joy and Kaos at various temporary venues, along with a thriving Shebeen
Shebeen
A shebeen was originally an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages were sold without a licence.The term has spread far from its origins in Ireland, to Scotland, Canada, the United States, England,...
or "Blues" scene in Chapeltown
Chapeltown, West Yorkshire
Chapeltown is a suburb of north-east Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England, and is the centre of the city's British African-Caribbean community. It is approximately one mile north of Leeds city centre...
.
Along with Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Leeds was a centre for the Yorkshire Bleeps and Bass scene in 1989–1990, with influential local bands such as LFO, Nightmares on Wax
Nightmares on Wax
George Evelyn, better known as Nightmares on Wax and also known as DJ EASE , is a DJ from Leeds, UK. His music is released on Warp Records and was one of the first releases on the label. Evelyn got his start in the music industry through an interest in hip hop and on joining a local breakdancing crew...
, Ital Rockers, Unit 93 and Juno on Sheffield's Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
and Leeds' Bassic Records
Bassic Records
Bassic Records was a short-lived Leeds techno record label set up in 1990 and folded in 1991. The label, along with Sheffield's Warp Records, was an essential part of the Yorkshire Bleeps and Bass scene.-Releases:...
.
Dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
band Utah Saints
Utah Saints
Utah Saints is a dance band based in Leeds, England. The music is produced by Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt, who are joined on-stage by other musicians whenever the band plays live...
hit the top ten several times between 1991 and 1993.
International Djs and Producers like Paul Woolford, Ralph Lawson and Riley & Durrant
Riley & Durrant
Riley & Durrant are an electronic music production and DJ duo based in Leeds, UKAndi Durrant and Nick Riley met whilst DJing together at Sheffield super-club Gatecrasher in 2002 and have been producing music since 2003....
have their studios in the city.
The earlier underground house scene developed into the Leeds club scene of the 1990s, when for a while Leeds held the title of Britain's clubbing capital. Both Back to Basics and mixed gay night Vague
Vague club, Leeds
Vague was a regular night at The Warehouse nightclub in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, from 1993 to 1996. It was originated by Suzy Mason and , in association with Nick Raphael, as the former High Flyers club in Leeds on 10 April 1993, moving to The Warehouse a month later...
enjoyed the title of best club in Britain at different points in the decade, whilst The Orbit in Morley
Morley, West Yorkshire
Morley is a market town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately south-west of Leeds city centre. Together with Drighlington, Gildersome, Churwell, Tingley and East/West Ardsley, the town had a population of 47,579 in...
was an internationally recognised techno mecca (Orbit closed in 2003 and was replaced by a restaurant).
In 2007, Leeds is emerging as a city with one of the most creative and diverse electronic music scenes in the UK. Club nights and collectives such as Gonzo http://www.gonzoworldwide.com and Room 237 hold regular events in the city and have been the catalyst for a rapidly growing electronic music scene which follows a more forward thinking, eclectic and sometimes experimental path. Artists such as Headcleaner
Headcleaner
Headcleaner is a compilation album from The Lime Spiders, released in 1988 through Virgin Records.-Track listing:# "25th Hour" - 3:11# "Can't Wait Long" - 3:17...
, Chris Kubex, Gwylo, Micoland and Ant Orange are current leading lights in the scene, with local D.I.Y record labels such as Gonzo run Dirtload Records and breakcore
Breakcore
Breakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums , break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a...
label Marionette
Marionette
A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a manipulator. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden or revealed to an audience by using a vertical or horizontal control bar in different forms...
providing an oulet for the wealth of electroncic music coming out of Leeds. Dirtyload Records has recently seen support from Radio One's Mary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs is an English DJ and music journalist from Garstang, Lancashire. She launched a new Primetime show on Xfm on 9 July 2011-Early career:...
, who featured a number of the labels artists in a special Breezeblock show about Leeds electronic music.
DIY scene
Leeds is very well known for its current DIY underground musicUnderground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
scene, encompassing the genres of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, skate punk
Skate punk
Skate punk is a sub genre of punk rock, originally a derivative of the West Coast hardcore punk scene, that is named after its popularity among skateboarders and association with skateboarding culture. Skate punk most commonly describes the sound of melodic hardcore bands from the 1990s with an...
, hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
, post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
, dub reggae, dubstep and electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
among others. There is a vibrant and active community based around the DIY ethic
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
, supported in part by Cops and Robbers, a monthly guide to DIY events in and around Leeds, and Leeds Music Scene, a guide to the city's independent music scene.
Festivals
Moor Music Festival
The Moor Music Festival is an annual music festival held on a farm in Addingham Moorside, near the town of Ilkley, West Yorkshire.The festival has artists playing from the local area and beyond, many being prominent artists in the New Yorkshire music scene...
http://www.moormusicfestival.co.uk takes place yearly in July on Addingham Moorside near Ilkley
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the metropolitan borough of Bradford. Approximately north of Bradford, the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe...
, and regularly plays host to artists from the city.
In 1996 Leeds played host to the BBC Radio 1 Sound City festival.
Leeds initially played host to the northern leg of the V festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
between 1996 and 1998 before the event moved to Weston Park
Weston Park
Weston Park is a country house in Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire, England, set in more than of park landscaped by Capability Brown. The park is located north-west of Wolverhampton, and north-east of Telford, close to the border with Shropshire...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.
In 2000, Leeds played host to the first ever Radio 1 Love Parade
Love Parade
The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It was held in Germany annually between 1989 and 2003 in Berlin, and then from 2006 to 2010 in the Ruhr region...
at Roundhay Park.
Since 1999 the Leeds Festival
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
, a northern leg of the well established Reading Festival, has taken place on August bank holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
weekend. The event was initially held at Temple Newsam
Temple Newsam
Temple Newsam is a Tudor-Jacobean house with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
(the venue for the Leeds V Festival) before protests from residents forced a move to Bramham Park
Bramham Park
Bramham Park is a country house between Leeds and Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England. The Baroque mansion was built in 1698 by Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley. It has remained in the ownership of Benson's descendents since its completion in 1710...
.
Leeds is also home to the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition
Leeds International Pianoforte Competition
The Leeds International Piano Competition informally known as The Leeds takes place every three years in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1961 by Marion, Countess of Harewood and Fanny Waterman, who is today its Chairman and Artistic Director. The competition was first held in 1963...
which is regarded highly. It was established in 1963 by Fanny Waterman
Fanny Waterman
Dame Fanny Waterman, DBE is a piano teacher, and the founder, Chairman and Artistic Director of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition. She is also president of the Harrogate International Music Fesitval.-Life:...
with the 15th competition starting in September 2006.
West Yorkshire Playhouse
West Yorkshire Playhouse
The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, England is a theatre which opened in March 1990 as part of the regeneration of the Quarry Hill area of the city...
(along with several other smaller venues) plays host to the annual Fuseleeds festival showcasing an eclectic mix of more left-field music.
In 2006 and 2007 the two-day Wireless Festival
Wireless Festival
The Wireless Festival is a music festival in England that takes place every year in Hyde Park, London, and took place at Harewood House, Leeds in 2006 and 2007. It is owned and managed by Live Nation....
took place at Harewood House
Harewood House
Harewood House is a country house located in Harewood , near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a member of Treasure Houses of England, a marketing consortium for nine of the foremost stately homes in England...
. Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
headlined the festival in 2007.
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds (festival)
Live at Leeds is a music festival that takes place across various venues in Leeds, England on the weekend of the May Day bank holiday.The festival began in 2007 to mark the city of Leeds's 800th birthday and was jointly hosted by Leeds City Council and music promotion company Futuresound...
is an annual multi-venue festival that takes place each May. The first Live At Leeds event took place in May 2007 to coincide with the city's 800th birthday celebrations.
Venues
Leeds plays host to many venues, currently including Leeds UniversityUniversity of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
refectory http://www.leedstickets.com (where The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
recorded their 1970 live album Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds is The Who's first live album, and is the only live album that was released while the group were still recording and performing regularly. Initially released in the United States on 16 May 1970, by Decca and MCA and the United Kingdom on 23 May 1970, by Track and Polydor, the album...
), Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
http://www.leedsmetevents.co.uk, The Cockpit, Brudenell Social Club
Brudenell Social Club
The Brudenell Social Club is a social club in the Hyde Park area of Leeds, England. It is best known as a venue for live music.The Brudenell was formed as a 'gentleman's social and recreational club' in 1913 and originally was a social club for cabaret and bingo...
http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk, The Faversham http://www.thefav.co.uk/, The Hi-Fi club http://www.thehificlub.co.uk, The Well http://www.thewellleeds.com, The Wardrobe, Irish Centre, New Roscoe http://www.newroscoe.co.uk, The Cardigan Arms, The Fenton, and The Packhorse among others.
The O2 Academy Leeds
O2 Academy Leeds
The O2 Academy Leeds is a music venue situated in Leeds intended as a larger music venue for the city. It is run by the Academy Music Group and follows in-line with their other music venues around the UK...
opened in October 2008 on the site of the former Town & County Club music venue. The 2,300 capacity venue is run by the Academy Music Group and follows in-line with their other music venues around the UK.
Occasional gigs are held in Millennium Square in the city centre (including the Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
in 2006), Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is one of the biggest city parks in Europe. It has over of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens which are owned by Leeds City Council. The park is one of the most popular attractions in Leeds, nearly a million people visit each year...
(which was home to Love Parade
Love Parade
The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It was held in Germany annually between 1989 and 2003 in Berlin, and then from 2006 to 2010 in the Ruhr region...
in 2000 and has hosted gigs by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
), Harewood House
Harewood House
Harewood House is a country house located in Harewood , near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a member of Treasure Houses of England, a marketing consortium for nine of the foremost stately homes in England...
, Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall was built between 1853 and 1858 on Park Lane , Leeds, West Yorkshire, England to a design by architect Cuthbert Brodrick.-Background:...
, Leeds Holy Trinity Church and Leeds Parish Church
Leeds Parish Church
Leeds Parish Church, or the Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds, in Leeds, West Yorkshire is a large Church of England parish church of major architectural and liturgical significance. It has been designated a grade I listed building by English Heritage...
.
In November 2008, plans were approved to build the Leeds Arena
Leeds Arena
Leeds Arena is the name of an under-construction arena in the city centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The Leeds Arena will be a 13,500 capacity entertainment focussed arena, and will be the first in the United Kingdom to have a fan-shaped orientation....
on Claypit Lane in Leeds city centre. Funding was approved in December 2009 and work commenced on the site in September 2010. Completion of the 12,500 capacity venue is expected in November 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-11236349.
See also
- List of bands originating in Leeds
- New YorkshireNew YorkshireNew Yorkshire is a musical movement identified by UK music magazine NME in 2005, in response to the success of Yorkshire bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, and Kaiser Chiefs....
- Bands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East EnglandBands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East EnglandThe following is a list of towns and cities in Yorkshire and the north east of England, each with the bands and musicians to have charted in them included...
External links
- Leeds Music Scene - profiles on over 1,000 current Leeds bands.
- Leeds Gig Guide - free Leeds gig listings and venue guide.
- Leeds Hip Hop Scene - free Leeds gig listings and music reviews.
- Leeds Festival Chorus - info on concerts and events
- "New York, eat your heart out" - article about the Leeds music scene, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, August 31, 2005 - Gonzo - Leeds electronic music collective Gonzo and home of Dirtyload Records and http://www.dead-channel.com.
- Leeds University Dance Band - Leeds University Dance Band - Fantastic players perfect for any event!