After a break in proceedings during the summer, the amazing Howard Assembly Room, or, as I like to call it, home, is back with its usual mix of all kinds of music and special events. The season kicks off on Friday, 8th September with Resonance Showcase which will give an opportunity for performers supported through…
Read More
Autumn at Northern Ballet
Northern Ballet are providing us with a small, but beautifully formed, selection of performances between now and the end of the year. From 8th – 16th September they present Generations: Three Short Ballets, on their home ground in Leeds, at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre. This event breaks new ground in several senses as…
Read More
Autumn at Leeds Playhouse
As usual, Leeds Playhouse brings us shows and events which are a little out of the ordinary. The range is enhanced even more this year with their hosting of one of the most significant festivals in the country. We begin, however, on 13th – 16th September with a play in the Courtyard called The House…
Read More
Autumn at Leeds City Varieties Music Hall
The back end of the year is a busy time for this iconic Leeds institution. There are no less than 53 visitors to its (steeply forward sloping) stage between now and the New Year. I must apologise to artists I don’t mention for only being able to pick what I consider to be highlights. You…
Read More
Autumn at Leeds Grand Theatre
Now that we are getting a spell of good weather it is obviously time to look forward to dark nights and cold days. I must say that I think autumn is my favourite time of year, when days are days and nights are nights, but most of all the theatres are in full swing with…
Read More
Mokoomba at Howard Assembly Room, Leeds
It’s been a while since my last visit to the gorgeous Howard Assembly Room when I saw an amazing act from Mali. Tonight we moved across Africa to Zimbabwe, the home of Mokoomba, a six-piece band which plays everything from rock to a cappella. I also think that we could solve the energy crisis by…
Read More
42nd Street at Leeds Grand Theatre
For one week only, New Briggate turns into The Great White Way as the glamour of Broadway comes to Leeds. Actually, because of the fabulous upgrades of Howard Assembly Room and Kino Restaurant, this block which is completed by the beautiful Grand Theatre far outshines anything New York has to offer in its Theatre District.…
Read More
In Dreams at Leeds Playhouse
Of all the artists I have witnessed live, I think that Roy Orbison is the one I have seen the most often. In the 1960s he would regularly appear at Leeds Odeon where they had occasional pop concerts comprising about half a dozen groups of the day, who would perform their hits for about fifteen…
Read More
Sarangi Legacy: An Evening of 100 Musical Colours at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton.
What a surprise, well, two surprises really. I was sitting at home on Thursday, minding my own business, for once, when I received a mystery email from Sherin Sara Alex at South Asian Arts asking if I would like to join them for a concert at Seven Arts in Chapel Allerton the following evening. After…
Read More
Strictly Ballroom: The Musical at Leeds Grand Theatre
Well, it seems that my rethink on stage musicals adapted from the film versions has paid off, in that I now ‘get’ the formula; dumb down on the story and concentrate on the music. The problem here is that there are no blockbuster songs, except for Love Is In The Air, which doesn’t surface until…
Read More
Tyke It To The Limit 