Live Entertainment in Yorkshire

Live Music Yorkshire

Gigs in Yorkshire can be found in a number of unusual places. Yorkshire racecourses and sports stadiums such as the Don Valley Stadium make great live concert venues. Sheffield Arena is the region's premier live music venue and Hull Arena also features a great range of well-known pop acts. Larger Yorkshire gigs have taken place at Roundhay Park in Leeds (Robbie Williams, U2) and Bramham Park, home of the famous Leeds festival. Yorkshire offers a great number of more intimate live entertainment locations, the famous Leadmill in Sheffield being one such example. Sheffield in particular is somewhat famous for the live bands Yorkshire has produced. There are a great number of well-known Sheffield bands, such as Pulp, the Human League and the Arctic Monkeys. Other rock venues in Yorkshire include The Picturedrome in Holmfirth and Barfly in York. The O2 Academy is a popular venue for Leeds gigs and Sheffield gigs. For a live band or live music in York, Fibbers is a prime spot hosting top rock bands, indie groups and tribute bands. These are just a few of the types of bands York has to offer.

Alternative and traditional music scenes in Yorkshire are widely represented and all tastes are catered for by Yorkshire bands. For example, it is easy to find Yorkshire folk music, jazz music in Yorkshire, and as the Brass Band tradition has Yorkshire roots, brass bands in Yorkshire are also common. Folk music in Yorkshire can be found in the Yorkshire folk clubs such as the BBC award winning Black Swan Folk Club in York, based at the Black Swan Inn. This venue also hosts monthly jazz nights and is just one example of the live jazz music Yorkshire has to offer. Classical live concerts in Yorkshire are abundant. The York Early Music Festival is a popular event. The Grand Theatre in Leeds is the home of Opera North, and plays host to a variety of opera and also popular stage musicals.  For classical music in Sheffield, look no further than premier music venue Sheffield City Hall. There are also many Yorkshire pubs and bars offering live music and entertainment. Click for more on Yorkshire entertainment venues.

Yorkshire Theatre

Theatre in Yorkshire is another facet of the county's arts scene. Fans of drama and dance will appreciate the numerous Yorkshire theatres and performing arts venues. The Grand Theatre Leeds, although primarily a Yorkshire opera venue also features classic plays, children's shows and comedy acts in its programme. Northern Ballet Theatre is also based in Leeds, often performing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Other local Yorkshire theatres include the Victoria Theatre Halifax, Harrogate Theatre, and for theatre in the Yorkshire Dales, Richmond's historic Georgian Theatre Royal is a good choice.

Live Sport in Yorkshire

If performing arts are not to your taste, why not visit one of the many Yorkshire sports venues for Yorkshire entertainment? Headingley Carnegie Stadium in Leeds is home to some of the county's top sports clubs: Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds Rhinos rugby league team and Leeds Tykes rugby union club. The Crucible theatre hosts the annual Sheffield live event of the World Snooker Championships. The area is also rich in horse racing venues. Racecourses in Yorkshire include Ripon Racecourse, Beverley Racecourse, Catterick Racecourse, Thirsk Racecourse, Doncaster Racecourse, Pontefract Racecourse, Wetherby Racecourse and of course the famous award-winning York racecourse, which hosts the Ebor Festival amongst many others.