What's On in Leeds

Dark Arts: Heartworms, Walt Disco, and More — Belgrave Music Hall kicks off Halloween in genuinely thrilling style, with post-punk provocateur Heartworms and the gloriously theatrical Walt Disco leading a line-up that feels purpose-built for those who want their Halloween with a sharp, art-school edge. Doors open at 12:00pm, so you can get your fix of dark, danceable guitar music before the rest of the city has even laced up its costume. Check the website for tickets and pricing — this one will sell out fast.

Tim Burton's Universe by Mystery Ensemble — Imagine the candlelit stone interior of St George's Centre Leeds filling with the swirling, gothic orchestral scores of Danny Elfman — the music behind Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas — performed live by Mystery Ensemble. Starting at 6:00pm, this is the Halloween event for anyone who considers themselves a lover of cinema, of atmosphere, or of genuinely spine-tingling live music, and at £23–£28 it is an absolute steal for the experience on offer.

DR John Cooper Clarke — The original punk poet, the Bard of Salford, the man who made verse feel like a leather jacket — John Cooper Clarke takes the historic stage of City Varieties Music Hall at 7:00pm on the one night of the year that truly suits his singular vision of the darkly comic and the brilliantly strange. This is a rare chance to see a genuine cultural icon in an intimate, ornate Victorian theatre, and on Halloween of all nights it feels almost cosmically right. Check the website for tickets.

OCTAINE Presents: SANCTUM — Left Bank Church — a stunning deconsecrated Victorian church in Burley — becomes the setting for SANCTUM, an immersive nightlife experience from OCTAINE that promises to be as dramatic as its surroundings. Starting at 4:00pm with tickets from £0–£36, this is the kind of event where the venue does half the work for you, and the music does the rest. Whether you are a seasoned clubber or just curious what it feels like to dance beneath stained glass, this one is not to be missed.

Comedy Club with Mike Ferry & Guests — If you would rather spend your Halloween in stitches of laughter than genuine terror, The HIFI Club has you covered from 5:30pm with a full comedy night headlined by the razor-sharp Mike Ferry and a supporting cast of guests. At £19 for a night of proper stand-up in one of Leeds's most beloved music venues, this is the antidote to the fancy-dress chaos outside — sit down, order a drink, and let someone else do the entertaining.

Beaver Works Halloween w/ Y U QT b2b Saint Ludo, Gray + more — Beaver Works has been the beating heart of Leeds underground club culture for years, and their Halloween special from 10:00pm promises to be one of those sweaty, euphoric nights that people talk about for months afterwards. With Y U QT b2b Saint Ludo and Gray among the names on the bill, expect a heavyweight programme of electronic music in the raw, industrial space that does this kind of thing better than almost anywhere else in the country. Tickets are £8–£24, so get in early and get in cheap.