Immersive art, Yorkshire comedy and a rummage through a record fair
It’s time for cosy, wholesome times as the evenings draw in. We’re spoilt for choice this October, with loads of interactive exhibitions to explore, including my absolute favourite, Light Night. I can’t wait to don my hat and scarf, grab a hot chocolate, and mooch about the city, exploring through fresh eyes and taking in all the incredible light installations. There’s some world-class music to take advantage of too, plenty of big band action, and a lot of jazz.
Here are the events we’re looking forward to in October.
Enough Is Enough National Day Of Action | Leeds Train Station | 10am Saturday 1 October
I’m not sure we’ve ever included activism events here in the past, but this feels like an important one. This Saturday 1 October people are making a stand against rising energy costs and the politicians who haven’t done enough to protect people from the cost of living crisis. If you want to join, meet at the RMT Picket Line at Leeds Station at 10am. If you can't make it to Leeds in the day, Enough Is Enough encourages you to go down to your local picket line with homemade placards and banners. Find your local picket line here.
Leeds Train Station, New Station St, Leeds LS1 4DY
Brudenell Record Fair | Brudenell Social Club | Sunday October 2
Enjoy free entry all day long and pursue records from sellers across the UK. The fair is open between 10am and 3pm and will be spread over two rooms, so you’ll have plenty to browse, with records to suit all tastes and budgets.
Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queens Road, Leeds, LS6 1NY
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel The Exhibition | Versa Studios | Friday 30 September - Sunday October 9
If you’ve visited the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, you were probably anticipating a moment of stillness, to be swept up in the awe of one of the world's most astonishing feats of art. What you actually found - at least if you visited in the past 5 years - is security guards yelling ‘no photo!’ every 30 seconds while Instagrammers jostle one another for the best selfie. I know it wasn’t the transcendent experience I was hoping for. So I’m really looking forward to taking my time to explore this vast work in a unique digital exhibition. Download the app and take your headphones for an audio guide and get up close with Michelangelo’s remarkable masterpiece. Your visit will take around an hour and a half, with various times available throughout the day.
Stage 4, Versa Studios Leeds, Whitehall Road Parking, Holbeck, Leeds LS12 1AP
Van Gogh Alive | Regency Hall, Bradford | 13 October 2022 - 8 Jan 2023
“The world’s most visited immersive, multi-sensory experience” Van Gogh Alive will move into Bradford’s Grade II listed heritage events space, Regency Hall from 13 October 2022 – 8 January 2023. Van Gogh Alive has “delighted a global audience of over eight and a half million in 80 cities worldwide” so far including a successful run in Manchester which team Confidentials attended. Expect swirling, animated versions of Van Gogh’s greatest works set to music as well as the chance to take a photo of yourself inside his Bedroom in Arles painting. Early bird tickets are now on sale at £21 for adults - with various discounts for concessions, kids and groups.
142 E Parade, Bradford BD1 5BP
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience York | York St Mary’s Church | Daily, ends April 2023
If this new digital age of exhibitions floats your boat, maybe you’ll fancy making the short journey to York to check out Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. You’ll learn about the artist's life and works, experience "a day in the life" of the artist, journey through eight of the artist’s works and their sources of inspiration including, the meadows, the forest and Starry Night over the Rhone River, and even create your own drawing to be projected on the wall alongside the two-story projections of Van Gogh's most loved works.
York St Mary’s Church, The Coppergate Centre, Castlegate, York YO1 9RN
Marsden Fringe Festival | Various venues | Friday 7 October - Sunday 9 October
This independent music and arts festival operates alongside Marsden Jazz Festival and gives local businesses to host events. The festival is funded entirely by donations. Gigs will take place at venues across the town, with performances from the likes of Wakefield Big Band, the Soul Choir, and The John Taylor big band.
Check out the map for participating venues
Maisie Adams: Buzzed | City Varieties Music Hall | Friday 7 October
Stand-up comic Maisie Adams is a regular on panel shows including Mock The Week, QI, and Have I Got News For You. She’s a Yorkshire lass, and her Leeds show is set to be a hit. Her 2022 show Buzzed is “packed full of witty observations, high-octane energy and some right good jokes”.
City Varieties Music Hall, Swan St, Leeds LS1 6LW
Northern Swing Orchestra Glen Miller Tribute | City Varieties Music Hall | Saturday 8 October
Northern Swing Orchestra is a 16-piece big band. Their tribute to the great bandleader and musician Glenn Miller is sure to get you In The Mood. They promise to perform all your favourites, from the big hits to lesser-known tunes. The Leeds-based Northern Swing Orchestra was formed by Jonathan Wyatt, who has over 30 years of experience in running a big band. This is sure to be an evening that will get your toes tapping. The performance starts at 7.30pm, lasts two and a half hours with an interval, and tickets cost £25.50.
City Varieties Music Hall, Swan St, Leeds LS1 6LW
Light Night Leeds | Various locations across the city | Thursday 13 and Friday 14 October
For two nights every October, some of Leeds’ most recognisable spaces and buildings are transformed by spectacular artworks and captivating performances by local, national, and international artists. Previous years have seen a moon suspended over the canal, a huge dragon clamber across the Queens Hotel, and paddle boarders light up the city's waterways. The work on display spans large-scale light projections and interactive installations, to music, dance and street performances. Light Night is my favourite local event of the year.
Check out the event map and plan your evening
Make Your Own Clay Earrings | T & Cake | Friday 14 October
Clay & Palm is a small local business making unique jewellery from polymer clay. Business owner Hannah is hosting a workshop where she will teach you how to make your very own, and you’ll also enjoy a drink from the bar. This would make a great gift for any keen crafter, or you could even make a gift for someone else, Christmas is just around the corner - sorry to mention the C word. Tickets are £25.00, simply email Hannah to book, the event runs from 7pm to 9pm.
T & Cake, 91A Northgate, Almondbury, HD5 8RX
The New Master Sounds | Brudenell Social Club | Saturday 29 October
If you need some uplifting music so you can dance the night away, then The New Mastersounds are just the ticket. They’ve been delighting audiences with their infectious brand of funky soul-jazz since they formed in Leeds in 1999. In their early career they were regulars at the Jazz Café in London, before they began to turn heads on the funk scene in the US, where guitarist/producer/bandleader Eddie Roberts now lives. For over a decade they have been a staple act of the late-night scene during New Orleans’ annual Jazz Fest. They’ve collaborated with the likes of Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Corinne Bailey Rae, Art Neville, Bernard Purdie and Lou Donaldson. This talented quartet will have you tapping your toes in no time. Doors open at 7.30pm and advance tickets are just £13.
Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queens Road, Leeds, LS6 1NY
Opera North’s La Traviata | Leeds Grand Theatre | Friday 30 September - Saturday 29 October
Violette is the most glamorous courtesan in Paris, she’s no stranger to the ballrooms and bedrooms of society's elite. She falls in love with Alfredo, but their whirlwind romance takes a turn when her past catches up with her. This tale of scandal, forbidden love, and social climbing holds some of the most famous motifs in opera. It's a great option for those who haven’t experienced much opera in the past. The performance is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes with two intervals, and ticket prices start from £15.
Leeds Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
Main image: Van Gogh Experience York
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