An insider’s guide to Leeds
Live at Leeds In The City returns to venues around the North’s musical metropolis this autumn bringing together enduring talent with exciting newcomers. A sister event to the summer In The Park series, for this edition the festival shifts their focus to future headliners alongside much-loved regulars.
The full lineup sees longevous favourites like Everything Everything and Marika Hackman sharing stages with rising acts like jasmine.4.t, Heartworms and Human Interest.
Best Fit will be hosting a stage at The Wardrobe and there’s plenty of space in the programming to support the city's finest talent. Ahead of the event, we asked some of the scene’s most knowledgeable music industry insiders for their tips on the best new acts and spots to check out.
Local artist and producer Spielmann
Lucky Iris (pictured) have been plugging away for a while around Leeds making massive hooky pop/hyper-pop adjacent bangers and are now getting the recognition they deserve getting played on Radio 1 and stuff like that. They're two of the hardest working people around and are also just really nice people, which helps. They also recently did a rework of my song "10,000 Hours" which I highly recommend, obviously. If you want to go feel some things whilst also having a good dance, check them out.
While it's not technically in Leeds, I highly recommend a trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, just a couple of junctions down the M1. If you like art and sculptures it's got a load of that going on; if you want to blow out the cobwebs with a good walk, whilst looking at aforementioned sculptures, you can do that; if you like lunch, they've got a great canteen. A perfect day out for displaying how cultured you are, even if you aren't that cultured.
Leeds duo Jellyskin
Wire Worms play a strange, switched-on version of drone-folk, complete with throat singing, concertina, and pummelling beats. Their live shows are super energetic, and they use about seventeen different instruments. Wire Worms supported us on the Leeds date of our tour earlier in the year, and they were absolutely excellent. For fans of Lankum, Tristwch Y Fenywod, and the "Bully in the Alley" sea shanty. Their debut album is out today too.
On Sundays, Outlaws Yacht Club do 2-for-1 bloody marys and we have made heavy use of this deal over the years. These cocktails are spicy, full-bodied, and extremely delicious. The struggle to wrench yourself from your sofa on a Sunday morning (where doubtless you lie prone, bleary-eyed and sick-bellied) is completely worth it when the piquant red ambrosia hits your gullet. Prepare for complete and total rejuvenation.
Claire Hamilton, project coordinator at Launchpad+ and Music: Local
Everybody should know about Silver Tongued Rascals (pictured) , the Leeds based ‘social commentators with dance-floor detonators’. The pure joy they radiate, on and off the stage, is something I’ve not felt often in the city – they totally meet you on the dancefloor, and welcome you with open arms! But of course, it helps that the music slaps.
I could eat the fettuccini with wild mushrooms and marsala cream from Sarto for every meal (although my heart wouldn’t thank me). It’s creamy, salty, and oozing in luxury. A friend who used to work there once brought me a deconstructed version to make at home, including homemade pasta, which ensured he’d be in my good books for life.
Emily Pilbeam, BBC Introducing in Leeds and Sheffield/6 Music DJ
My artist tip has got to be dance-rock band Adult DVD (pictured). This band first uploaded to us back in 2021 with their debut single 'Broken English' and we've been obsessed with them ever since. It has been an absolute joy seeing more and more people get on board with Adult DVD over the past year, they really do deserve every inch of success they're getting. Their latest EP Next Day Shipping is full to the brim of belters and opening track "Do Something" does a good job in replicating the chaos of their live show. You simply must see Adult DVD live when you get the chance, there ain't no party like an Adult DVD party.
If you're after a big night in Leeds, the best place to go – the only place, really – is Wax Bar. It's a tiny little orange coloured bar nestled away on New Briggate that is guaranteed to be full on a Friday or Saturday night of everyone you've ever met that works in music in Leeds. It's my favourite place to go after a gig in Leeds, and it appears to be everyone else's too. Expect good tequila and good music. Also shout-out The Chemic Tavern in Woodhouse for a chilled mid-week pint, Whitelocks for a great Guinness and Thai Aroy Dee for delicious Thai food.
Thea Hudson-Davies, A&R/label manager and NTS DJ
I’m really into what Jack Donnison (pictured) has been doing. Super dark sprawling experimental tracks if you’re in the market for getting unsettled. Jack’s also been writing music for indie films for a while - definitely worth checking out.
My tip is of course Cosmic Slop and MAP Charity for an evening. Endless great selections and a night you’ll remember. MAP are doing great things for the music community in Leeds, so a party in celebration of that every other week is essential. Otherwise, I’d say get out to the Dales and have a pint in the Craven Arms in Appletreewick.
Eva Davies, artist manager
I don’t remember the first time I saw or heard Fuzz Lightyear (pictured), most likely at Mabgate Bleach a few years ago. They’ve been grafting hard for a long time, and seeing them start to get the recognition they deserve is incredibly exciting!
My favourite venue has to be the Brudenell. I first went there with my parents as a kid to see Cabbage and somehow managed to persuade them to keep giving me and my mates lifts over to Leeds so we could all see our favourite bands there. It continues to be the epicentre of the Leeds music scene, championing local music and creating a vital environment for Northern bands to start their journey into the industry.
Interdisciplinary Leeds-based artist Hang Linton
Jellyskin (pictured) are the musical equivalent of riding a giant sea beast; both terrifying and exhilarating. Their live shows are a whirlpool of genres, from dance punk and techno to Britpop, all wrapped up in a psychedelic package. They'll take you on a wild ride, then dry you off and offer a tasty snack for the journey home.
When I'm not getting lost in a sea of sound, I love exploring Leeds. The Thackray Museum's late-night events are a must visit. They offer a unique blend of workshops, performances, and talks, all wrapped up in a cosy community vibe. And let's not forget the ultimate LS9 treat: a samosa chaat from Anand Sweets. It's just around the corner and their menu is an absolute triumph.
Toby Womack, promoter at The Wardrobe/Futuresound
A big staple of the Leeds scene over the past years has been the wonderful Nadia Kadek. Not only is she one of the nicest people on the scene (I’m sure most people will attest to that) but her music will stop you in your tracks. I’ve been lucky enough to see her at most Leeds venues (the most recent four being The Wardrobe, Hyde Park Book Club, Stylus and Brudenell) and watched her captivate audiences on every size of stage. She’ll be a household name very soon.
English Teacher needs no introduction, they represent everything we love about the Leeds scene and everyone here is genuinely proud to have them flying the flag for our city. I’ve managed to see them more times than I can count, but seeing their Live at Leeds journey from early Brudenell 2021, to secret special guest at The Wardrobe 2023, to one of our festival headliners in 2024 really puts into perspective just how quickly English Teacher are taking over.
One of my favourite spots in the city is Eat your Greens. Perhaps the friendliest bunch of people I’ve come across, always happy to welcome anyone into their hangout. They specialise in responsibly sourced organic food and genuinely great coffee for any coffee snobs. There’s also an organic veg shop where I managed to find a fennel as big as my head for £2. Mad really.”
Carpet aka Rob Slater, artist and producer at Greenmount Studios
My current favourite Leeds artist is Kevin Lycett, a visual artist perhaps best known as a founding member of The Mekons (pictured), whom I discovered by living in the same building as him. We just recently went to see his latest solo show “shut eyes open eyes”, a display of the last four-ish years of his work, and it was really, truly beautiful. To my eye he presents a very thoughtful view on a full spectrum of nature. From landscapes and nature for nature’s sake, to incredibly dark, perhaps even more beautiful, detailing of death and the end of things. All presented without comment and with incredible use of texture to create an amazing sort of physicality to the pieces.
My main church in Leeds is Thai Aroy Dee, but I feel like a lot of people know about that place, so I’ll again keep it local and talk about Piassa in Chapeltown. Incredible Ethiopian food with a really, really friendly vibe. Got a slight sort of holiday sports bar thing going on, and I’m gonna say the coldest, frostiest pint of Stella that I know of in Leeds. That paired with the lava pot in the centre of the veggie plate makes me incredibly happy. We asked the owner once how he made it and he replied ‘chickpeas’. We asked how he made the chickpeas taste so good and he sort of shrugged and said, ‘spices’. Very, very lovely clever people.
Live at Leeds in the City runs on Saturday, 16 November. Find out more at liveatleeds.com/city.
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