Leeds weekend gig guide: Shawn Colvin, Lime Garden, LIFE, Apollo Junction and more in the city

The nights might be drawing in as autumn arrives - but that’s just all the more reason to swap the outdoor festival fields for the dark, intimate indoor venues that make our city’s music scene so special, right?

As the autumn gig calendar hits full stride across Leeds and West Yorkshire, music fans are spoiled for choice with a stacked weekend of live performances.

We have Grammy-winning folk legends and hometown indie champions to blistering post-punk and high-energy jungle raves; stages across the region are packed over the next three days.

Whether you are settling into iconic historic halls like the City Varieties, heading to student staples like Stylus, or soaking up the atmosphere at beloved local haunts such as the Brudenell Social Club, Project House, and the O2 Academy - plus nearby stages—there is no shortage of live music to catch.

From acoustic storytelling and heavy guitar riffs to late-night club sets, here is your guide to who is playing where in the city this weekend.

This weekend's gig highlights

Shawn Colvin (City Varieties Music Hall - Friday)

Legendary Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin returns to Leeds for a rare, intimate performance at the historic City Varieties Music Hall.

Best known for her nineties folk-pop masterpiece ‘Sunny Came Home’ and multi-award-winning albums like A Few Small Repairs, Colvin brings her masterful fingerstyle acoustic guitar work, wry humour, and decades of rich storytelling to one of the city's most iconic music venues.

LIFE (Brudenell Social Club - Friday)

Hull post-punk outfit LIFE bring their blistering live energy, sharp-witted commentary, and relentless guitar hooks back to Hyde Park's premier venue.

Following a string of acclaimed releases, widespread BBC Radio 6 Music support, and relentless international touring, the band land at the Brudenell Social Club for a chaotic, passionate headline set that stands as one of the weekend's absolute must-see guitar shows.

Lime Garden (Stlyus - Saturday)

Fast-rising Brighton indie-post-punk four-piece Lime Garden step up to Leeds University Stylus as part of their major UK headline tour.

Off the back of widespread critical acclaim for their genre-bending debut record One More Thing - which fuses bouncy indie riffs, disco beats, and dry, observational lyricism - the band arrive in Leeds alongside support from Irish singer-songwriter Sarah Crean for a standout Saturday night show.

Apollo Junction (Brudenell Social Club - Saturday)

Leeds’ very own anthem-indie champions Apollo Junction return home for a major headline show at the Brudenell Social Club.

Renowned for their soaring choruses, synth-infused hooks, and fiercely loyal grassroots following, the local five-piece are guaranteed to pack out the main room for an electric hometown celebration, with support from rising alternative outfit No Fit State.

Leeds weekend gig guide: October 9 – 11

Friday

• Shawn Colvin - City Varieties Music Hall
• LIFE - Brudenell Social Club
• Yonaka, SNAYX, KNIFE BRIDE - Leeds Beckett University Students' Union
• PJ Morton - The Wardrobe
• 4am Kru - O2 Academy Leeds
• The Clockworks, BLUAI - Brudenell Social Club
• nimino, Montee (GER) - Project House
• Fanfare Ciocarlia - The Warehouse Leeds
• Obskür, Wheats - Testbed
• Deadwax, Frozemode, THIRD KULTURE - The Key Club
• Martin Taylor - Otley Courthouse
• Marsolo, Annie Errez, Local Dub, Bobby ODonnell, Trip, Hidde van Wee - Mint XL
• Telepathy, L.O.E (Last Of Eden), Chonky Dogg - Wharf Chambers (membership required)
• James Sebastian, K-OtiK - Santiago Bar

Saturday

• Lime Garden, Sarah Crean - Leeds University Stylus
• Apollo Junction, No Fit State - Brudenell Social Club
• The Coral, Mozart Estate - Project House
• Transvision Vamp - O2 Academy Leeds
• Jembaa Groove - Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen
• The Long Ryders - The Old Woollen (Farsley)
• Chantel McGregor, Billy Walton Band - Brudenell Social Club
• Alice Costelloe, Tungz - Headrow House
• Evil Blizzard, The Battery Farm - The Key Club
• Hecate Enthroned - Boom
• Tre Reynolds, Ryan Resso, Chopper - The Warehouse
• Selecta J, Born On Road, Kelvin 373 - Beaverworks
• Jason Byrne – Harrogate Theatre
• Natalie Holmes, Boci - The Barn Meanwood
• The Luddite Collective - Morley Live CIC

Sunday

• Crash Test Dummies - Brudenell Social Club
• Batzorig Vaanchig - O2 Academy Leeds
• Cheap Thrills, Kid Nowhere - Oporto
• Pixie McCann - Hyde Park Book Club
• Gum Disease, Lavender Gray - The Key Club
• Kae Kurd - The Wardrobe
• The Flukes – The Grove Inn

All information correct as of the time of writing.

In the event of any last minute changes, please refer to the venues social media channels for further information.