Best Music Venues in Leeds

Live music is at the heart of Leeds' cultural landscape with plenty of brilliant venues offering stages for established and emerging talent to shine. 

As ICMP looks to launch our new Leeds Music School, we explore ten of the best music venues in the city, the bands that have played them and why they are such important spaces in the local music scene. 

Brudenell Social Club

Located in Hyde Park, the Brudenell is an iconic Leeds music venue, a lively space with an open music policy that has been in situ for more than 100 years.

The Brudenell Social and Recreational Club has a long history, having been first formed in December 1913. 

It's become a rough diamond in the crown of Leeds' music scene, famous for hosting secret gigs from the likes of Franz Ferdinand and local heroes Kaiser Chiefs and the Cribs. 

Commenting on the appeal of the venue when it marked its centenary in 2013, proprietor Nathan Clark said: "The Brudenell isn't like any other club. It isn't affiliated to any external bodies. We've now got a better spec than anywhere that's putting on similar gigs in the area, just because of the natural organic reinvestment, and new dressing rooms and toilets and showers and stuff like that. You can physically buy facilities, but you can't buy the model of reinvestment and I don't think you can replicate it either."

Find out more | Photo credit: Brudenell Social Club Facebook

Belgrave Music Hall 

Music lovers will be able to find the Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen in the Northern Quarter, a venue that was originally opened as Leeds Children's Palace in the thirties. This previous incarnation was as nursery offering childcare support and a far cry from the touring bands and DJs it now hosts. 

The venue was restored and reopened in 2013 and celebrated with live sets from Stormzy, Jorja Smith and The Fall. Spread over three floors, the event space is 300 capacity while it offers an array of drinks and food options too. 

Speaking ahead of the tenth anniversary celebrations in 2022, Simon Stevens, the venue's co-founder, said: "I'm really not sure what we expected when we first opened in 2013 but it's amazing to be making plans for our anniversary year."

"I think it was more good luck than good judgement but the city definitely felt ready for change in 2013 and we're incredibly appreciative to all the people that helped make it possible."

Find out more | Photo credit: Belgrave Music Hall X

Headrow House 

Based in the city centre, Headrow House is a big space with more intimate areas to enjoy live music with its 150 capacity venue, three bars and three outdoor venues for summer fun. 

The building it is housed in was formerly a textile mill with the event calendar focusing on new and emerging talents. It's a great space to catch an artist on the up before they migrate to one of the city's bigger venues. 

Forthcoming shows will see a diverse range of acts all performing - the programme inclues Freya Beer, Melenas and Gaika while past guests have seen Jungle, Simian Mobile Disco and Mount Kimbie taking to the stage. It's also in the heart of Leeds, making it an easily accessible space for gig goers. 

Find out more | Photo credit : Headrow House Facebook 

O2 Academy Leeds 

The O2 Academy Leeds has, like so many other music venues, enjoyed many previous lives. 

Originally the Coliseum building on Cookridge Street, the venue was opened in 1885 by the Prince and Princess of Wales and hosted everything from circus shows to religious gatherings. 

It was run as the Town and Country Club between 1992 and 2000, hosting gigs from Blur and INXS. A multi-million pound refurbishment followed with the venue re-opened by local heroes, the Kaiser Chiefs, in 2008. 

Ever since, the venue has been a regular tour stop for many of the best groups on live jaunts around the UK - the auditorium is theatre style and has a capacity of 2,300. The main space is also complimented by a 400 capacity second room known as the Underground.

Find out more | Photo credit : O2 Academy Leeds 

Wharf Chambers

This volunteer-run, cooperative venue is known for its alternative and diverse programming. It's especially popular for punk, experimental, and more out there-there acts and artists with a focus on the community the space has grown around it. 

The event calendar hosted by Wharf Chambers is one of the most exciting in the city - events range from a pro-wrestling drag cabaret night to alt-rock album fundraisers from local artists and a Madonna night.

Anyone looking to attend an event must be a member or a guest of a member with annual membership costs £2/year and a lifetime membership is just £15.

Wharf Chambers also runs a Radical Lending Library that hosts a collection of books on race, gender, sexuality, queerness, diaspora, class and radical political thought. Community, diversity and inclusion are all at its heart.

Find out more | Photo credit : Wharf Chambers Facebook 

Stylus 

Stylus is one of the many venues based at Leeds University Union, an award winning 1,000 capacity space which welcomes both students and non-students alike.

Following the installation of the L’Acoustics KARA sound system in the venue in 2011 (the only system of its kind in the UK at the time), Stylus has become a destination for many live bands and artists looking to make their mark.

Previous live shows and club nights have included SBTRKT, James Blake, Little Dragon, Trivium, M83, Vagabondz, Trilogy (Metropolis & Wax:On) while the union also runs its legendary student night Fruity here.

Welsh Pop Rock Band, Kids In Glass Houses and Azealia Banks have been among the most recent artists to take to the stage. 

Find out more | Photo credit : Leeds University website 

The Wardrobe 

Established in 1999, The Wardrobe is a bar, music venue, and arts space located in the heart of the cultural quarter in Leeds City Centre. 

Dance, jazz and world music regularly feature on The Wardrobe's gig calendar, while the venue hosts popular club nights and comedy too. The live events space can be found downstairs with a 400 capacity.

Amy Winehouse, First Aid Kit and Catfish and the Bottlemen are just a few of the talents who have passed through the venues doors on their way to the top.

With over 250 gigs and club nights a year, there's a huge amount going on, making it well worth checking out for any gig goers. 

Find out more | Photo credit: The Wardrobe

Oporto 

To be found on Call Lane in the city centre next to the Corn Exchange, Oporto has gained a reptutation as a great spot for gigs and good times. 

The venue is split between two spaces, a 120 capacity live room, then a hidden drinking den next door which is open late. 

Live music is often free with resident DJs and weekly live music curated by Dead Young Records. There are also ticketed events too with The Howlers, Crystal Tides and Good Looks among the emerging talents to have recently performed. Previous artists to have graced the Oporto stage include Jade Bird and Dutch Uncles. 

As one reviewer in the Yorkshire Evening Post wrote: "It's safe to say Oporto serves the timeless social function of being a place where one and all can come and be themselves". 

Find out more | Photo credit: Oporto

Howard Assembly Room

The Howard Assembly Room is firmly established as one of the finest purpose-designed music venues in Leeds. 

The space is part of the Opera North Centre and the second phase of a £32 million renovation which began with the overhaul of the Leeds Grand Centre. 

As the base for Opera North, there’s plenty of classical and operatic music for visitors to enjoy with the venue hosting the Leeds Lieder Festival. 

They also welcome a constant stream of touring artists, from PJ Harvey to Nils Frahm and Songhoy Blues alongside eclectic and innovative jazz artists including Robert Glasper and Chilly Gonzales.

Find out more | Photo credit: BDP

The Refectory  

A 2,100 capacity venue in the heart of the Student Union campus building, The Refectory has hosted many of popular music's most important acts since the late sixties.

The list of artists to grace its stage has included Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, James Brown, Muse and many more.

Perhaps most famously, the venue was where British rockers The Who recorded their live album 'Live at Leeds' back in 1970. The record is critically acclaimed as one of the best live rock performances of all time including a 14-minute version of the band's riotous call to arms, 'My Generation'.

A commemorative blue plaque has been placed at the campus venue at which it was recorded and the band even returned to perform on the same stage in 2006.