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Leeds

Vibrant live music scene

Independent music meets famous festival

Everything is Brilliant in Leeds shouts the Kaiser Chiefs T Shirt. Indeed, the Yorkshire student city has been one of the most prominent British music cities since decades. Its music scene is massive, offering more live music venues and alternative bars than you can imagine.

Featured Experience

Breakfast at The Radisson Blu Hotel

The Chiefs in the Abbey

Sightseeing tour in Leeds

Choose the bike on a sunny morning and take a ride to historical place Kirkstall Abbey. Have the Kaiser Chiefs on your playlist for this subTOUR. Afterwards, time for antiques shopping before discovering Woodhouse Moore on the way to The Library. Put The Who on your earphones at the The Refectory, then visit Brudenell Social Club or The Faversham.

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Featured Experience

Festival season

Leeds Festival

Venues in Leeds

Leeds Festival alongside with its twin Reading Festival, marks one of the most iconic British music events. Basically a Rock festival, it also showcases a line-up that spans various genres including Metal, Punk, Indie, and House. It's a true Hall Of Fame that have graced Leeds Festival famous main stage. Among them AC/DC, Metallica, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Green Day, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, just to name a few.

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Featured Experience

Jumbo Records, Leeds

Jumbo Records

Stores in Leeds

Having originally opened in 1971, Jumbo Records is officially the oldest independent record shop left standing in the city of Leeds. A legend of the local music scene for over 30 years now, with a huge selection of vinyl and CDs as well as music magazines. Especially for vinyl addicts, Jumbo is a haven. There are loads of Rock, Indie, and Pop albums records to browse - added with the staff’s personal recommendations on them. Jumbo covers the whole spectrum of Dance, Soul, Jazz and Soundtracks, too. On top, the guys are fiercely committed to the region's music scene, providing a place for local musicians to have their home-produced records on sale to the public. 

You can also buy tickets for most local gigs and club nights. Don’t forget to explore the little corner providing leaflets about record fairs, concert posters, or a notice board if you are looking for band members or guitar lessons. Watch out for in-store shows as well.

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Featured Experience

Inside The Wardrobe Bar&Restaurant

Sights. Shops. Records. Venues.

Sightseeing tour in Leeds

The name says it all: get the best of central Leeds with this condensed walk. It's about sightseeing as well as shopping. It's about record stores as well as venue hopping. Along the way, discover some legendary spots in Rock history or the city's other hidden gems.

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Featured Experience

The Wardrobe Leeds

The Wardrobe

Venues in Leeds

The Wardrobe offers a full event calendar of gigs, combined with excellent drinks and food. Also a great choice if you are looking for smaller shows - whether music, comedy, or art performances. The basement venue hosts bigger, yet intimate live performances. As for the kitchen, The Wardrobe provides a delicious selection of pre or post gig snacks, salads, and burgers on its menu.

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Sightseeing inspired by music

Sightseeing inspired by music

subTOURING isn’t about mainstream sightseeing. It is travelling inspired by music. A hand-picked guide from passionate music lovers for enthusiasts of Rock, Indie, Metal, and Punk tunes. Offering a unique music travel experience in Leeds.

Get your authentic music experience in and around Leeds.

EXPLORE THE MUSIC MAPS

Guide around the gig

Guide around the gig

Up for a weekend trip with concert in Leeds? Check out the venue city guides focussing on before and after the concert. Get our best tips for accommodation and day activities including record stores as well as bars and restaurants.

Get the most music out of your trip. Hit the road. Follow your band.

GET YOUR GUIDE

MUSIC MAPS & SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing inspired by music

In Leeds, be prepared to be spoiled for the choice of live music nights. With small and intimate venues placed within throwing distance of each other, this city’s music scene favours the local over commercial. Take a glance around - it’s totally fine to wear your favourite band shirt when going out. Luckily, there’s even a good chance to hear these tunes when entering the next shop or restaurant. When attending Leeds Festival, why not stay here for one or two nights?

Explore hidden music gems when on tour. Discover music stories beyond the common sightseeing spots. Where history of Rock is revealed and brought to life again.

Sights. Shops. Records. Venues.

The name says it all: get the best of central Leeds with this condensed walk. It's about sightseeing as well as shopping. It's about record stores as well as venue hopping. Along the way, discover some legendary spots in Rock history or the city's other hidden gems.

EXPLORE

The Chiefs in the Abbey

Choose the bike on a sunny morning and take a ride to historical place Kirkstall Abbey. Have the Kaiser Chiefs on your playlist for this subTOUR. Afterwards, time for antiques shopping before discovering Woodhouse Moore on the way to The Library. Put The Who on your earphones at the The Refectory, then visit Brudenell Social Club or The Faversham.

EXPLORE

GUIDE AROUND THE GIG

Get your authentic music experience

LEEDS BANDS, ARTISTS & MUSIC

MUSIC HISTORY

One of England’s most important music cities

Leeds is one of England’s most important and influential music cities, having seen a broad range of bands and artists from genres as diverse as Rock, Punk, Indie, Hardcore, and Electronic. The city in West Yorkshire offers an immensely high standard of local bands, breeding a dynamic and creative music culture. Strongly identifying with the concept of local music, Leeds is home to a massive D.I.Y. phenomenon. Respective record labels and venues create a fresh counterpart to commercial music industry by hosting non-profit gigs encouraging authentic music growth party from financial motives.

Post Punk collective Gang Of Four came out of the city’s 70s Punk movement. The band plays a mix of Punk Rock, Funk, and Dub, focussing on the social and political ills of society. Gang Of Four are considered one of the leading bands of the late 70s Post Punk movement.

British-American The Mekons have also proved influential. Formed in 1977 by a group of University of Leeds art students, they are one of the longest-running and most prolific of the first-wave British Punk Rock bands. Their musical style has evolved through the years, including elements of Country or Folk. The band is currently based in Chicago, USA, still renowned for their raucous live shows.

Goth Rock was a popular movement in the city of Leeds during the early 1980s, but electronica pioneers Soft Cell brought Electro Pop on the city’s music scene. In the 90s Chumbawaba emerged into public consciousness, having a major chart hit throughout Europe with Tubthumping. The anarchist band constantly shifted in musical style, drawing on genres such as Punk, Pop, Folk, and Experimental before dissolving in 2012.

The 2010s saw the emergence of a number of second-wave Grunge bands, notably Pulled Apart by Horses, Dinosaur Pile-Up, and Holy State. In recent years Leeds has seen several of its bands rise to national and international success, none bigger than Alt-J or the Britpop revivalists Kaiser Chiefs, who bothered the top of the charts. Wild Beasts and The Pigeon Detectives have also achieved commercial success since.

Since 1999, Leeds has been the home of the hugely popular annual Leeds Festival, northern sibling to Reading Festival, where the biggest acts from the UK and around the world arrive to rock the city over the late August Bank Holiday.