Welcome to Leeds January 2023

Hello January. Hello 2023. The year 2023 has been etched into the Leeds cultural calendar and minds of the creative scene for over 5 years and now it’s finally here. The year when we were meant to take on the mantle as European Capital of Culture but instead we have planned and created our very own Leeds Year of Culture. Well, the time is upon us, so let the games begin.

7 Jan | Insights Lecture Series - Ancient Wisdom in Modern Medicine

Established by Thackray’s co-founder Professor Monty Losowsky, the annual Insights Series celebrates his legacy, exploring the lives touched by medical innovations both past and present. Every session includes two lectures delving deep into eye-opening topics and those that offer a different take on current public debate. On Saturday 7th January, Dr Nick Summerton will speak about Greco-Roman Medicine and What It Can Teach Us Today and Professor May Lewis about Little Voices: Palaeopaediatrics and the importance of understanding child health in the past. These lectures are always fascinating and if you haven’t been to one yet then you are missing out. For more lecture details see the Thackray website. Tickets are £10 for a single lecture.

7 Jan | 2023: The Awakening | 5.30 - 7pm

The Awakening will kick-start LEEDS 2023’s Year of Culture at Headingley Stadium. Doors open at 3.30pm, followed by the live countdown with Richard Stead and Rima Ahmed at 5pm leading on to the 90 minute, family friendly, main event. You’re encouraged to bring your friends, family, children and nan to kickstart our Year of Culture!

14 Jan | Lewis Capaldi at First Direct Arena

The billboards and posters promoting Capaldi have been pretty hard to miss around Leeds so we’re looking forward to seeing him in the flesh at First Direct Arena. Lewis Capaldi is, finally, back writing and singing the songs that speak from his heart. For all the craziness and intensity of the three years prior to that cut-short arena tour, after two years’ enforced isolation, he’s bursting to share his music, his feelings, once again. If his first album made him an international star, with his second it’s nothing less than superstardom that beckons. And now, having put in the hard yards with the writing and recording, he’s ready to put in the miles all round the world.

“I want to give these songs the best chance possible to reach people. I’ve spent so much time on them. And so many people have put so much work into it, not just me, but the label, the team, the guys I’ve worked with. I owe it to them, to the fans, and to all the people who helped us on the first one as well, to show up and do everything. I’m ready,” he concludes, champing at the bit to get back out there, “and so are the songs.” Limited tickets still available. Grab yours while you can.

14 Jan | True Grit Wrestling presents Redemption at LeftBank

Pro Wrestling is coming to LeftBank Leeds for the first time EVER! Established in 2014, True Grit Wrestling has a long history of putting on entertaining wrestling shows that will have you on the edge of your seat all evening. The shows aim to combine entertainment, drama and comedy with unparalleled feats of athleticism. Be up close and personal to the ring as the competitors take each other on in this exciting event. You will see unbelievable acts of strength, jaw-dropping high-flying and hard-hitting action all with a touch of flamboyance that only pro wrestling can provide. Whether you are a life-long fan of wrestling or just want something a bit different for an evening, ‘True Grit Wrestling: Redemption’ offers a not to be missed show for everyone! Get your tickets here.

19 Jan | EMF and The Subways at Brudenell Social Club

Two throwback gigs on the same night. The legendary Brudenell Social Club will host two very different music nights on the 19th Jan. Yes, The Brude has lots of amazing shows all the time, but these stood out for us.

Epsom Mad Funkers (EMF)  are a British dance-rock quintet formed in 1989.  All five original members were veterans of the local music scene before  founding the group whose name was widely speculated that the initials instead represented  “Ecstasy Mother Fuckers”. Their debut album, SCHUBERT DIP (released in May 1991) went platinum. By the end of 1991, their infectious debut single “Unbelievable” had  conquered the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, hitting #1 on the  Billboard Hot 100 and #3 in the UK. In 2020, the band released a career-spanning vinyl box set and spent most of the following two years doing festivals and live shows.The band surprised fans by telling them that profits from the merchandise  sold was being used to record a new album, Go Go Sapien, released April 2022. It’s the first album of all new material since 1995. Grab your tickets now. £20 + booking fee.

If you want more rock n roll bangers than ecstasy-esque dancing, The Subways gig is for you. Guaranteed high energy and a bouncing crowd, the three piece band are still delivering the goods 18 years on. The band have released four albums to date. Their sophomore, “All Or Nothing” (2008), was recorded in LA with heavyweight producer Butch Vig and, is “Buoyed with emotional heft and supernova guitar riffs, wired around a maturing song craft” (Mojo). The tracks were written at a time when Billy was battling to save his voice following surgery to remove nodules from his vocal cords. Their self-titled 4th album saw the emergence of singer and songwriter Billy Lunn as a producer, as he took control of engineering and mixing duties and is “On par with the best things they have ever written… and finds the band energized, focused and battle-ready” (Q Magazine). Tickets here.

25 Jan | Burns Night Whisky Tasting at The Tetley

From sold out gala dinners (Swine That Dines and Ox Club) to Whisky tastings, Leeds has gone Scotch crazy in honour of Robert Burns. One that still has plenty of  tickets available is the Latitude Wines x Rolling Social event at The Tetley in Leeds. Celebrating Burns Night with an appropriately whisky-soaked Sip Along, Rolling Social Events is working once again with Latitude Wine and Spirit Merchants. The pair have put together an evening of superb whisky, highlighting a lineup of newer distilleries that are often overlooked. Tickets are £40 and include a welcome cocktail, a guided tasting tour of Scotland through Speyside, the Highlands and the Hebrides plus their twist on the classic haggis, neeps and tatties in the form of a top-tier snack board. Dave’s Pies have created a pie exclusively for the event. To find out more about the whiskies you’ll be sampling, head to the Rolling Social Events website.

26-27 Jan | Strictly Live Show at First Direct Arena

Strictly is back in Leeds! When Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal perform the live show in Leeds, the audience will get to see the newly crowned Strictly champions for the first time. Our very own Helen Skelton is also participating, along with the previously announced Will Mellor, Fleur East, and many more. It’s worth noting that both Hamza and Helen had planned to appear at Leeds International Festival of Ideas in 2022, but they postponed their appearances to focus on the Strictly and what a journey!

Leeds will get to see the brand new Strictly champions as Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal take to the stage for the live version of the show. Other celebs taking part include our very own Helen Skelton, with Will Mellor, Fleur East and many more to be announced. Interesting note, Both Hamza and Helen were due to take part in Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022, but had to pull out so that they could do Strictly.

Helen Skelton said: “Strictly has been the adventure of a lifetime and I’m so happy that it will continue next year on the live tour. I’m really looking forward to seeing the fans across the country and performing my favourite dances from the series. I can’t wait!”

Each performance of the tour will host a British Sign Language interpreter, who will be displayed on two very large screens either side of the stage so that attendees can book tickets and sit almost anywhere in the arena to enjoy the experience with family and friends. Get your tickets now. Doors 6pm.

28 and 29 Jan | David O’Doherty at City Varieties

Leeds is pretty comedy heavy with Peter Kay and the Laugh Out Loud Comedy club taking place this January at the arena. Our pick of the bunch is this one at City Varieties. Presented by Chambers Touring Ltd, David O’Doherty: Whoa is Me will be at Leeds City Varieties for two nights in January. Comedian, flâneur and 1990 East Leinster under 14 triple jump bronze medalist. As seen on Channel 4’s Along for the Ride with David O’Doherty, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and BBC’s Live at the Apollo.

Here he comes again, trotting on to the stage with all of the misplaced confidence of a waiter with no pad. There’ll be lots of talking, some apologising and some songs on a glued together plastic keyboard from 1986. Tickets are £24.60. Limited availability.

Veganuary

We know that plant based and cruelty free options  are good for our bodies and good for the planet all year round, but veganuary can be a great way to kick start the year and help to open up the possibilities of being environmentally aware in other ways. 

On 28 Jan Vegan Market Co will take over the market kitchen at Kirkgate Market. The event will bring together a huge variety of artisan bakers, craft brewers, ethical jewellers, sustainable chandlers, local artists, zero-waste champions, environmental charities and loads more.

There are also a huge number of street food vendors within the Market Kitchen who will be offering enhanced vegan menus during the event.

Get down there from 10.30am. Open until 4pm.

So keep an eye out on all the bars and restaurants doing specials throughout January too. January has never been so tasty…

Try something new

New Year, new… no we won’t say that but why not try something new?

Opening 6 Jan | Things in Bread

Following the success of their shop on Trevelyan Sq, Doh’hut are opening a second site just around the corner, this time turning their baking skills to something more savoury. Named ‘Things in Bread’, the owners will be transforming what was once the Nicholas Deakin store on Boar Lane into a dedicated sandwich store. We can expect classic proper British Sandwiches like Egg & Cress, BLT , Ham and Cheese…. sounds basic but these will be anything but! 

Tom Stafford, founder and owner of Doh’hut, said, “Last year, we found a growing demand for our doughnuts and decided to stop our sandwiches and pasta, so we could focus on making more doughnuts as space is limited in the Trevelyan Square shop. We basically needed to narrow our focus to fulfil the demand. But I’ve always had a love of sandwiches. Who doesn’t? So opening our new shop fulfils my dream.”

9 Jan - 6 Mar | Introduction to Printmaking - 5 Week Course

Leeds Print Workshop is starting a five week course from January as an Introduction To Printmaking. Explore some of the processes you can access and learn the basic skills to continue to use after the course has finished. Tutors will demonstrate monoprinting, collograph, drypoint and linocut. Students will learn each of the processes in a supportive environment with all equipment and materials provided. This course is suitable for complete beginners or people who have done some printmaking before but want a refresher. A course costs £135 and runs on Monday evenings. They also have a one day course on (10.30am – 4pm, 24 Jan, £60) for Mono Screen Printing which involves applying or painting colour directly onto an open screen in order to create unique prints. Students will experiment with the application of paint and pastels exploring how different effects can be achieved. Both courses look really fun. For full course details and to buy tickets see their website.

7 Jan | Rise Rumble at The Brudenell

RISE brings England’s Maddest Wrestling Show home to the Brudenell Social Club for the RISE RUMBLE 2023! An over-the-top-rope extravaganza which will see the biggest stars in British Wrestling battle it out for a chance at the prestigious RISE Championship. This 18+ underground variety show mixes sports, comedy, stunts, and utter chaos to deliver an unforgettable night out.

Born at The Brudenell in 2017, the RISE Rumble has sold out 4 consecutive events and returns for the first time since 2020. With three years of insanity to make up for, this promises to be the most unmissable yet! Tickets are £20 + booking fee.