From uni stages to arena headliners: Squeeze’s Chris Difford on 50 years of Leeds shows and new album Trixies
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Fifty years on from their first Leeds gig in a tiny university room, Squeeze co-founder Chris Difford reflects on headlining First Direct Arena, revisiting 1974 teenage demos for new album Trixies, and why backing grassroots music matters now more than ever
In 1976, a burgeoning south London band called Squeeze loaded their gear onto a tiny stage at a Leeds university venue, opening for rock group Family.
Five decades later, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook are preparing to step onto the stage at First Direct Bank Arena on November 20 - this time as headliners.
.png?trim=0,0,0,0&width=640&quality=65)
"We’ve progressed over the years to different places to play, and in Leeds we’ve played the arena a couple of times supporting Madness," Chris explains to the Yorkshire Evening Post. "Here we are headlining, so it’s a bit of a scoop for us."
For Chris, returning to West Yorkshire is a familiar routine, often making Harrogate his base while touring the region. "I’m a fan of Yorkshire, I’ve got lots of friends living around Leeds and Harrogate," he details.
"It’s a great place to be. It’s changed quite a lot recently - like lots of major cities, it’s been replenished, and I think for the better."
At the centre of their current headline run is their 16th studio album, Trixies.
The record is built around long-lost demo tapes Difford and Tilbrook wrote as teenagers back in 1974, bringing songs penned half a century ago into a modern studio setting.
"It was emotional to witness those young songwriters," Chris reflects on revisiting his 19-year-old self. "They were brilliant - they had ambition, and they had no mobile phones to distract them."
The band perform the album in its entirety as a 43-minute centrepiece during the current tour, sandwiched between two blocks of classic hits. "I was very nervous about doing it at first," Chris admits. "I thought people were just going to be twiddling their thumbs, but that wasn't the case.
“We picked up where we left off and didn't really change anything, but they just sound ten times better because they're produced brilliantly."
Beyond celebrating their legacy, the tour carries an explicit community focus.
Squeeze are donating £1 from every ticket sold to support grassroots venues, artists, and promoters via the LIVE Trust, while partnering with Trussell to collect non-perishable food donations at every arena entrance.
Chris draws a stark parallel between the modern live circuit and high street commercialisation. "If you look at every city you tour in these days, shopping malls have taken the place of the corner shop, and it’s just the same for live music," he observes.
"Live music used to be the corner shop, and now it isn't. It's sad, but I’m glad I’m not starting out now."
Squeeze perform live at Leeds First Direct Bank Arena (Arena Way, Leeds, LS2 8BY) on Friday 20th November 2026 alongside special guest Billy Bragg. Tickets are available to book now through all leading ticketing agents, including Ticketmaster. Squeeze's latest album Trixies is out now.