What's On in Leeds

Dance Music Archive - 006 — The Howard Assembly Room is one of Leeds's most beautifully unusual venues — a grand, ornate space that feels like it was built specifically to make music sound extraordinary — and Dance Music Archive are making the most of every inch of it for their sixth instalment. Kicking off at 5:00pm, this is a rare chance to experience electronic music with a sense of history and curation behind it, somewhere that rewards curiosity as much as a love of the dancefloor. Tickets are £15–£25 and this one has a habit of selling out, so do not leave it to chance.

The Afghan Whigs — Few bands carry quite the same brooding, cinematic intensity as The Afghan Whigs, and catching them live at Stylus from 6:00pm is the kind of opportunity that serious music fans circle on the calendar months in advance. Greg Dulli and the band have lost none of their fire over the decades, and their live show remains a masterclass in atmosphere and controlled menace. Check the website for ticket availability and do not sleep on this one — rooms like Stylus suit them perfectly.

Mabgate Fundraiser ~ Vehicle, Speedway Star, Elwell, Bedworm — For a tenner you get four bands, a proper cause, and an evening inside Mabgate Bleach — one of Leeds's most beloved grassroots music spaces — starting at 7:30pm. This is the kind of sweaty, earnest, community-powered night that reminds you why local music scenes matter, with Vehicle, Speedway Star, Elwell, and Bedworm all bringing their own energy to a lineup that promises plenty of discovery. Come early, buy a drink, and leave having found at least one new favourite band.

Comedy Club with Sean Percival & Guests — The HIFI Club might be best known for its music credentials, but on Saturday evening it transforms into a comedy room from 5:30pm, with Sean Percival headlining and a supporting cast of guests to keep the laughs coming. At £19 for a proper stand-up night in an intimate, atmospheric venue, this is a genuinely excellent deal — the kind of evening that reminds you comedy is best experienced live, in a room full of strangers who are all in on the joke together.

Ben Hemsley - Leeds — One of the most talked-about names in UK house music right now, Ben Hemsley takes over The Warehouse from 10:00pm for what is set to be a landmark night in Leeds's electronic calendar. The Warehouse is practically purpose-built for this sort of thing — raw, loud, and utterly committed to the dancefloor — and Hemsley's ability to move between euphoric melody and deep, driving house makes him a DJ who plays to entire rooms rather than just the front row. Tickets are £15–£25, and if you only make one late-night call this weekend, make it this one.

Big Screen | The Colour of Zero| Shine Path | TITBH — The Lending Room has built a well-deserved reputation as the beating heart of Leeds's alternative and indie underground, and this four-band bill from 7:00pm is a perfect example of why. Big Screen, The Colour of Zero, Shine Path, and TITBH make for a genuinely exciting lineup across an evening that feels more like a celebration of the local scene than a straightforward gig. At just £8 on the door, it is also one of the day's best-value tickets.