The Best Music Venues in Leeds Showcasing the Finest Acts
Leeds is a city that has music running through its veins. Whether you’re into a bit of opera to tug at the heartstrings or a full-blown mosh pit, there’s something happening every month.
And the best bit? Concerts or gigs here are all set in top-tier music venues. We’re talking Brudenell Social Club and O2 Academy—joints as legendary as the names that graced them.
Mind you, those places don’t have the spotlight all to themselves. There’s a whole stack of other spectacular locations, and you’ll get them all below.
O2 Academy Leeds
– From o2academyleeds
Address: 55 Cookridge St
Contact Details: 0113 389 1555
The O2 Academy, once known as the Town and Country Club, is a multi-million-pound testament to Leeds’ deep love for music. Stars like Slayer, Sam Smith, Kaiser Chiefs, and Clean Bandit have all rocked the stage here.
This place has space to spare too, with a 2,500-capacity main room and the Underground, a 400-seater second room. Just do yourself a favour by trying to get sloshed before you go; booze here is pricey.
Tip: There is no parking space, but you can park in the Woodhouse Lane car park, which is open 24/7.
Brudenell Social Club
– From nath_brudenell
Address: 33 Queen’s Rd, Burley
Contact Details: 0113 275 2411
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 12 am
Ask any local about their favourite music spot, and you’ll probably get Brudenell Social Club as the answer. Once a working men’s club, this 1950-themed venue pulls in crowds from all walks of life, our team included.
It has also attracted massive acts like Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand, both throwing legendary secret gigs in the past. The sweetest part is that they keep things intimate and wallet-friendly!
Tip: Lots of parking spaces await outside the venue, though you must be early to secure one.
City Varieties Music Hall
– From cityvarieties
Address: Swan St
Contact Details: 0113 243 0808
Operating Hours:
City Varieties Music Hall has been rocking Leeds since 1865, making it one of the city’s oldest and most beloved venues. It’s a real treat to the eyes too, with its beautifully restored 19th-century decor giving it that old-school grandeur.
As for performers, icons like Frankie Vaughan and The Zombies have brought the house down. Indie artists like Badly Drawn Boy have also performed recently, while classics-turned-musicals like A Christmas Carol are scheduled for November 2025.
Tip: Call 0113 297 7040 or email [email protected] if you’re a group of 10+ looking for a discount.
Headrow House
– From headrowhouse
Address: 19a The Headrow
Contact Details: 0113 245 9370
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 4 pm to 11 pm
- Fri – 2 pm to 2 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 2 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 11 pm
Headrow House always delivers the goods, and our last visit was no exception. We knocked back budget-friendly booze, enjoyed the close-knit atmosphere, and moshed our hearts out to killer tracks of post-punk savants, A Certain Radio.
If you’re not into gritty riffs, there’s no need to skip. This 150-capacity haunt embraces all sorts of genres, with past acts like Simian Mobile Disco and Loyle Carner.
Tip: There are spaces here that you can hire privately.
Belgrave Music Hall
– From belgravemusichall
Address: Cross Belgrave St
Contact Details: 0113 242 2066
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 12 pm to 12 am
- Tue – 12 pm to 12:30 am
- Wed – 12 pm to 1 am
- Thu – 12 pm to 1:30 am
- Fri – 12 pm to 2:30 am
- Sat – 11 am to 3 am
- Sun – 11 am to 12 am
Whether you’re keen on dancing to DJ beats or jamming with some indie bops, the 3-storey Belgrave Music Hall has a show for you. The first floor alone can hold 300 diehards, usually here for hip-hop, rock, and everything in between.
On our last trip, we caught grunge rock newcomers Miserabilia smashing it with fellow youngbloods Gazelles and Silverfish. However, don’t peg this joint as just for rising stars; heavyweights like Stormzy and The Fall have performed on its hallowed stage.
Tip: If you want half-priced pizza per slice, visit on Thursdays to Sundays (12 pm to 7 pm) or Fridays and Saturdays (12 pm to 5 pm).
Leeds Grand Theatre
– From grandtheatrels1
Address: 46 New Briggate
Contact Details: 0113 243 0808
Leeds Grand Theatre, lovingly dubbed the ‘Grand Old Lady of Leeds,’ is where musicals and operas crank it up to eleven. Recent gems like The Girls (2015) and Band of Gold (2019) prove this.
This Romanesque-Victorian Gothic stunner seats a casual 1,466, so you’ll rarely be stuck standing. And the acoustics are proper mint. Every high note and low hum sounds crisp, whether you’re catching Shrek’s musical or Mozart’s timeless The Magic Flute.
Tip: Join their membership scheme for perks like discounted tickets and a dedicated phone line.
First Direct Arena
– From firstdirectarena
Address: Arena Way
Contact Details: 0844 248 1585
Big hitters like Bruce Springsteen and Prince have absolutely smashed it at First Direct Arena in its first decade, so you know it’s a music venue befitting Leeds. The 13,500 capacity alone is a tell-tale sign of its grandeur.
Its finest aspect, though, is the genius fan-shaped layout, courtesy of the esteemed firm, Popoulous. The design lets fans get banging acoustics and prime views no matter where they’re seated.
Tip: Save up by coming to the venue with a full stomach. Outside food isn’t allowed, and grub sold at the arena can be expensive.
The Wardrobe
– From thewardrobeleeds
Address: 6 St Peter’s Square
Contact Details: 0113 383 8800
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
Since 1999, The Wardrobe has been the go-to spot for catching the freshest indie talent, from post-punk prodigies Gravy or the genre-bending Everyone You Know. What’s more, yearly gigs reach up to 250, so we always have new tunes to wrap our ears around.
That said, it’s not just for the next big thing. This 400-seater cultural hub has seen absolute icons roll through, including First Aid Kit and the late, great Amy Winehouse.
Tip: Email [email protected] in advance if you need a free personal assistant ticket.
Wharf Chambers
– From wharfchamberscc
Address: 23-25 Wharf St
Contact Details: 07523 307089
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Thu – 5 pm to 11:30 am
- Fri to Sat – 3 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 3 pm to 11 pm
Wharf Chambers isn’t just your regular Tuesday gig spot. This one is an inclusive cooperative that’s run by the people, for the people.
The best part? If you want to be a part of it, a lifetime membership is a measly £15, or £2 if you’re just sticking around for the year.
Members enjoy a yearly feast for the ears, courtesy of artists under punk, techno, and even acid. To top it off, they get access to other musical events like drag cabarets and album fundraisers.
Tip: Parking spaces are available, but you must call the number above to secure it.
Seven Arts
– From sevenartsleeds
Address: 31A Harrogate Rd, Chapel Allerton
Contact Details: 0113 262 6777
Our last jaunt to the snug 100-seater Seven Arts was ‘jazzy.’ From 2 to 4 pm, we were bobbing our heads to the silky-smooth tunes of JazzLeeds House Band, all for a pay-what-you-feel-price.
The venue isn’t just for cosy afternoon jazz, mind. It also dabbles in flamenco, folk, theatre, and even classical nights.
Tip: Parking is limited outside, so we recommend going straight to Harrogate Road for free parking.
Millennium Square
– From millsqleeds
Address: Millennium Square
Contact Details: 0113 376 0318
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
The buzz at Millennium Square during 2024’s Sound of the City was so thick we could’ve bottled it. One day, we were vibing to Anne-Marie’s pop, and by the finale, we were raving to Hacienda Classical’s mad mix of electro’s energy and classical music’s drama.
It’s not just for one show, either. The 8,000-capacity square also hosts programmes like 80s classics and Opera North in the City!
Tip: Going via train is a no-brainer. Millennium Square is a 5-minute walk from Leeds Station.
The Domino Club
– From dominoclubleeds
Address: 7 Grand Arcade
Contact Details: 0113 513 2086
Operating Hours:
- Wed – 8 pm to 1 am
- Thu – 6 pm to 1 am
- Fri to Sat – 6 pm to 2 am
- Sun – 7 pm to 12 am
Walking into underground The Domino Club was like stumbling into a slice of New Orleans tucked under Leeds. The night kicked off with sultry jazz before morphing into Flat Moon’s psychedelic funk rock, which was as trippy and groovy as we’d hoped.
What seals our high praise, though, is this joint’s activity, averaging 40 acts a month. Jazz, soul, and blues dominate, but hip-hop is also no stranger. Just ask our teammates who witnessed MC-Jive’s 2018 performance!
Tip: If you want to enjoy free gigs, pop by on a Wednesday or Sunday.
Smokestack
– From smokestackleeds
Address: 159A Lower Briggate
Contact Details: 0113 245 2222
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Wed – 5 pm to 3 am
- Thu – 5 pm to 4 am
- Fri – 4 pm to 4 am
- Sat – 3 pm to 4 am
- Sun – 5 pm to 3 am
Sexy is the best way to describe Smokestack. Spanning 2 floors of overflowing sounds and cocktails, it’s perfect for folks who want to unwind post-grinding.
Downstairs brings that ‘chiller’ vibe, with candlelight and blues harmonising beautifully. Upstairs, it gets slightly rowdier, thanks to the expansive dancefloor and boogie-inducing bops.
Tip: Check if a music event coincides with your birthday to score free cocktails!
The Leeds Irish Centre
– From leedsirishcentre
Address: York Rd
Contact Details: 0113 248 0887
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 1 am
- Sun – 11 am to 12 am
Think the Leeds Irish Centre’s all about Irish folk tunes? Think again. Sure, traditional Irish music gets most of the spotlight, but you can also stumble upon pop-punk, country, or even a metal and emo band crushing it here.
This 400-capacity haunt also does tribute acts that are often packed, whether it’s a Green Day or a Bee Gees tribute gig. No need to sell your kidney, too. Tickets usually run at £25, with early bird promos lowering the fee to about £15!
Tip: You can order merch by calling their number above.
Leeds University Union
– From fruity_fridays
Address: University of Leeds, Lifton Pl, Woodhouse
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 8:30 am to 10:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 10 am to 10:30 pm
Leeds University Union didn’t get a Blue Plaque out of sheer luck. This place is a goldmine for live music, from the 1,000-capacity Stylus to the massive 2,100-seater The Refectory.
It’s hard to deny their star power either, as global showstoppers like The Who, Arctic Monkeys, and David Bowie have performed here. Nowadays, the same thing is true, with national and international acts dominating the venue’s schedule.
Tip: You can swing by with a bike. Bike racks are scattered throughout the campus.