Leeds' Millennium Square has long been the city's civic heart, but over the last two decades, it has also established itself as one of the North of England’s most vital and versatile outdoor concert venues.
Framed by the grand architecture of the Civic Hall, the Square has hosted everything from intimate punk festivals to massive disco revues, often as the flagship location for the annual Sounds of the City series.
Its concert history is a microcosm of modern music itself, showcasing generational icons, high-energy reunions, and artists at the peak of their creative powers.
From the emotional revival of The Specials and the indie edge of Thurston Moore, to the arena-sized anthems of Simple Minds and Richard Ashcroft, and the pure party energy of HAIM and Nile Rodgers & CHIC, the Square has consistently proved its capacity to provide an unforgettable soundtrack to the Leeds summer.
We’ve taken a look through the archives and Setlist.FM to remind you of some of the huge shows that have taken place in the space over the years—shows that you might have found yourself attending too!"
1. Bryan Adams - July 19 2002
One of the first big concerts to take place at Millennium Square, Bryan Adams brought his Here I Am tour to Leeds back in 2002, performing a stellar setlist of songs old and new, including favourites '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' and 'Summer of '69.' | FlashPic - Pool/Getty Images
2. Meatloaf - July 25 2002
As part of his Just Having Fun Tour, Meatloaf performed to a packed Millennium Square in July 2002, captivating audiences with timeless classics including 'Dead Ringer For Love' and, of course, 'I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).' | Gary Longbottom
3. Kaiser Chiefs - April 29 2006
It's safe to say you can't have a list of huge acts performing at Millennium Square without having Kaiser Chiefs on the list. The group took over the area in April 2006, a year before they released 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob', which topped the album charts in 2007. | Jonathan Gawthorpe
4. Fall Out Boy - May 27 2006
Riding the post-emo wave as one of the scene's flagbearers, Fall Out Boy performed at Millennium Square in May 2006, little under seven months before the band would release their third studio album, 'Infinity On High,' which was produced by, among other people, Babyface. | Getty Images for iHeartRadio
5. The Specials - May 24 2009
This show was part of The Specials' highly anticipated reunion tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their formation. The tour was completely sold out across the UK. At the time, this was a rare and highly promoted one-off outdoor headline show in Leeds for the tour, making it a major draw for fans across the North of England | SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images
6. Architects - May 23 2015
Millennium Square has hosted the Leeds edition of the Slam Dunk Festival over the years, and in 2015, Architects' performance was a highlight of the day. Unlike a standard outdoor gig, the Millennium Square location for Slam Dunk was part of a larger multi-venue festival format spread across the city centre, giving the Square an intense, high-energy festival atmosphere. | Getty images