With so many incredible venues attracting the biggest and best names and a huge pool of local musical talent, you don’t have to look far to find some live music in the city.
For that reason it’s no surprise that Leeds has attracted some iconic names in music over the years and been the scene for some truly iconic gigs. Whether it’s playing host to burgeoning music scenes or putting on mega concerts in the city’s parks, there has been more than a fair share of “I was there moments”.
Here we look at some of the most talked about and iconic shows in the city’s history:
7. Michael Jackson at Roundhay Park
While shows at Roundhay Park had become something of an annual event by 1988, Michael Jackson's concert on his 30th birthday was arguably the most well received. 90,000 people attended and the show was hailed at the time by critics as "perhaps the most dazzling two hours of showmanship ever witnessed in Britain" Photo: National World
8. Nirvana
Nirvana first played at the Duchess Of York in October 1989 when supporting Sub-Pop labelmates Tad, with the story going that Kurt Cobain spent the night on a sofa upstairs. The group would then return in November the next year to play a ferocious show at Leeds Polytechnic, during which they would play then-unreleased tracks from their next album, the era-defining Nevermind. Photo: YouTube
9. Bruce Springsteen at Roundhay Park
The Boss is still known for putting on incredible three-hour plus shows to this day, so it's no surprise that his show in front of 80,000 in Roundhay Park in July 1985 is remembered fondly by those in attendance. YEP photographer Steve Riding recalls: ""I had to capture The Boss when he first came on stage and I just remember him singing Born in the USA and the crowd just went wild. It was a great atmosphere," Photo: Steve Riding
10. David Bowie
David Bowie wowed crows with two shows in one day at the Kirkstall Rolarena (a converted ice skating rink, where the ITV studios are today), when he landed in Leeds clad as his alter ego Ziggy Stardust. He later played the Town and Country club - now the O2 Academy - in 1995, which the current leaseholders of the venue said in the aftermath of his death in 2016 "was a very iconic evening". Photo: Bruce Rollinson
11. Oasis at the Duchess Of York
While the site of Duchess Of York is now that of a Hugo Boss store, the Vicar Lane venue once hosted some of the biggest up and coming bands, including Coldplay, Muse and Blur. One of the most famous shows at the 300-capacity spot was that of Oasis, who sent the city abuzz and had eager fans queuing around the block to try and get a foot inside. Photo: National World
12. Prince at Leeds First Direct Arena
There was a strict ban on photographs and recordings taking place when Prince played Leeds for the very first time on May 23 2014 but those lucky enough to be in attendance (myself included) will remember that it was something special. Beginning with the incredible trio of Let's Go Crazy, Take Me With U and Raspberry Beret, the hits were relentless during the 33-song which finished with a stunning version of Sometimes It Snows In April. Photo: National World/PA