Leeds Music Scene

“Forget Manchester, Liverpool or Sheffield. Leeds has the most happening music scene outside of the capital” - The Observer

Leeds has a national and international reputation for music excellence and the College benefits from its position within a city that has a great musical heritage.

Whether you’re looking for experimental jazz, beat-box championships, international piano competitions, opera performances you can fit into your lunch-break or the latest NME-endorsed bands, you’re bound to find something to suit your musical tastes in Leeds.

From the pioneering approach of Opera North – England’s national opera company in the North – to the emergence of local bands and solo artists including Kaiser Chiefs, The Cribs and Corinne Bailey Rae, to the annual Leeds Festival, if you love music, you’ll love Leeds.

Leeds Jazz Scene

“The Leeds jazz scene is characterised by the new sense of energy, of pushing things out, striking new ground” The Observer

Leeds has a well-deserved reputation for its jazz scene, mainly due to the students from the College and the numerous jazz graduates who stay in the city.

Jazz gigs make up much of the live music happening in Leeds, with organisations including Jazz Yorkshire and LIMA (Leeds Improvised Music Association) hosting events at venues including Seven
Arts, The Wardrobe and Sela. Within the region, regular jazz nights are held in Huddersfield, Hull, Wakefield and Sheffield.

Polar Bear, Empirical, Tord Gustavsen Trio, Alan Barnes, Neil Cowley Trio, Stacey Kent, Jerry Bergonzi, Kenny Wheeler, Soweto Kinch, Jamie Cullum and Norma Winstone are just some ofthe major jazz artists to have recently performed in Leeds as part of the Concert Season at Leeds College of Music.

The alternative jazz scene in the city is represented by LIMA – a collective of avant-garde bands, composers, improvisers and sound manipulators featuring many Leeds College of Music alumni.

Classical Music

For fans of classical music, Leeds International Concert Season presents an annual season featuring orchestras, choirs and soloists from across the globe. Opera North brings to the city 30 years of experience in producing entertaining and exciting work that breathes new life into classics.

The Venue – Leeds College of Music’s performance space – has brought leading national and international artists to the city, including Michael Nyman, London Sinfonietta, Tasmin Little, Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, Apollo Saxophone Quartet and Endellion String Quartet.

Leeds is known throughout the world for the Leeds International Piano Competition, founded in 1963 by Dame Fanny Waterman. The triennial Leeds Conductors’ Competition, organised by Leeds City Council, is one of only a few in the UK and exists to support young British conductors at the start of their careers.

Live Music

“There’s a new music scene in Leeds…it has harsh guitars, anthemic lyrics, check shirts and a fiercely independent attitude” - The Guardian

You can catch live music all across the city, every night of the week, at venues ranging from the Victorian splendour of the City Varieties and the Town Hall to the best in jazz, funk and soul at The HiFi. The latest bands can be found at Leeds University, Leeds Met, Cockpit, The Faversham and The Brudenell Social Club. In September 2008, the O² Academy opened bringing high profile bands to the city; 2009 saw the opening of the Howard Assembly Room a new music/cultural space in the city and home to the Orchestra of Opera North.

Bands and singers to recently perform in the city have included Little Boots (pictured), Hot Chip, La Roux, The Ting Tings, Ladyhawke, Girls Aloud, Fleet Foxes, Bloc Party, Dizzee Rascal, Alela Diane and Joan As Policewoman.

Music lovers are particularly well catered for in the city centre. There are large branches of all the major music chain stores, as well as several independent and second-hand music shops. You can also find a wide range of sheet music, instruments, equipment and practical advice at a number of specialist stores in and around the centre.

Concert Season and Events

Leeds College of Music contributes significantly to the artistic life of the region. The Venue, our 350-seat concert space, hosts the majority of events in the College’s Concert Season, which runs from September to May each academic year.

The annual programme includes a wide variety of styles encompassing jazz, classical, contemporary and world music, ranging in scale from orchestras, choirs and big bands, to small ensembles and solo recitals/concerts. Concerts also take place in the College’s Recital Room. Full-time Leeds College of Music students are offered discounted tickets on many of the concerts in the season.

Many Leeds College of Music ensembles perform during the Concert Season including the Community Symphony Orchestra, Latin Bands, Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and Big Band. The Season also presents the opportunity to hear what some of our graduates have been up to, as we invite many of our alumni to perform during the year.

In conjunction with Leeds International Concert Season, Lunchtime Chamber Music is presented every Wednesday at The Venue as well as an International Chamber Series held throughout the year.

The Venue has brought leading national and international artists to the city, ranging from established artists to newcomers, including:

– Michael Nyman
– Jamie Cullum
– Courtney Pine
– Sir John Dankworth
– Soweto Kinch
– Dominic Miller
– Joanna MacGregor
– Enrico Rava
– Kenny Wheeler
– Solveig Slettahjell
– Tord Gustavsen Trio
– Tasmin Little
– Colin Towns
- Neil Cowley Trio
– Amy Winehouse
– Susheela Raman
– Bobo Stenson
– Claire Teal
– Tim Garland
– Norma Winstone

Fuse Leeds

Leeds College of Music is a founding partner in Fuse Leeds, a major music festival celebrating the wealth and diversity of today’s vibrant new music scene.

The festival features UK premieres, main programme events, free live music events, experimental new collaborations, specially commissioned works, live broadcasts, workshop opportunities, and film and video screenings. There are also numerous opportunities for Leeds College of Music students to get involved during the festival.

Highlights of the most recent fuse festival included Andy Sheppard, Eliza Carthy, David Gedge and the BBC Big Band, Ed Harcourt, Britten Sinfonia, Efterklang, A Hawk & A Hacksaw and Gavin Bryars.

www.fuseleeds.com

Leeds lieder+

Leeds Lieder+ celebrates the fusion of music and poetry found in Lieder and other classical art song traditions. Leeds Lieder+ was founded by Jane Anthony, Festival Director and Senior Lecturer (Classical Music) at Leeds College of Music.

After a successful start in 2005 the festival returned in 2007 and featured recitals by world famous singers, festival premieres, and prize winning young performers – including Elizabeth Watts, winner of the Cardiff Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Prize 2007 and Measha Brueggergosman (pictured). The next LeedsLieder+ festival will take place in October 2009.

www.leedslieder.org.uk

Image Credits

John Stanley Austin
www.jonstanleyaustin.com

Richard Moran
www.moranphoto.co.uk

Danny North
www.dannynorth.co.uk

Saffron Tree

Mike Jackson