WINTER EVENTS
From an exclusive appearance from a Hollywood A-lister to a comic superstar and some of the biggest names in music, the final weeks of 2018 are looking pretty packed in Yorkshire.
1. An Experience with Robert De Niro:
We find it hard to believe too, but the legend who is Robert De Niro is coming to Leeds. Just one of two appearances in the UK, the man regularly dubbed the greatest actor of all time will be sharing stories and anecdotes from his life and career.
November 26th, anexperiencewith.com
2. Hepworth Prize for Sculpture:
See what persuaded judges who should walk off with the £30,000 biennial award. With the winner’s work showcased at Hepworth Wakefield alongside the other shortlisted artists, if you don’t agree cast your vote in the people’s prize.
To January 20th, hepworthwakefield.co.uk
3. Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott:
Having just released a new greatest hits album, The Last King of Pop, The Beautiful South and Housemartins frontman will be back on stage at Sheffield City Hall with his long-standing right-hand woman Jacqui Abbott.
November 26th, sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
4. Betway UK Snooker Championship:
Can Ronnie O’Sullivan win his record seventh title and forever cement his name among snooker legends? Bookies have him as favourite, but ever unpredictable, see for yourself with a day watching the event at the York Barbican.
November 27th to December 6th, worldsnooker.com
5. Sunrise in the Skyspace:
It means an early start, but it will be worth it. Watch sunrise in Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Deer Shelter Skypace. Created by American artist James Turrell, the park only holds these events every so often, so make it a date for your diary.
December 1st, ysp.org.uk
6. Leeds Vintage Fair:
What better venue for a retro showcase than Europe’s oldest market. Kirkgate in the heart of Leeds will play host to around 40 stalls from the finest purveyors of vintage and some free entertainment will be thrown in too.
December 1st, advantageous.co.uk
7. Mumford & Sons:
One of the few bands who can pull off wearing waistcoats on stage come to the Leeds First Direct Arena. With new album Delta just out, it’s the band’s biggest tour to date and they are due to perform in a brand new stage right in the middle of the arena.
December 1st, firstdirectarena.co.uk
8. Die Hard:
Who doesn’t want to see Bruce Willis’ finest moment replayed on the big screen? His first outing as John McClane was back in 1988 and there will be a chance to see him take on Hans Gruber at this screening at Leeds Central Library.
December 4th, leeds.gov.uk
9. Bronte Treasures by Candlelight
In this special hour-long session, there’s a rare chance to experience the historic rooms of Haworth’s Bronte Parsonage by candlelight. Places are limited to 12 so please book early to avoid disappointment.
December 7th, bronte.org.uk
10. James + The Charlatans:
They were both stalwarts of the 90s indie scene and the two Tims – Booth and Burgess – along with the rest of their bands join forces to prove that together they are even greater than the sum of their parts.
December 9th, firstdirectarena.co.uk
11. Badly Drawn Boy:
It was June 2000 when the Mercury Prize-winning The Hour of the Bewilderbeast announced the arrival of Damon Gough. Better known as Badly Drawn Boy, the Manchester native travels across the Pennines as one of the headline acts at Halifax’s Piece Hall this winter.
December 10th, piecehall.co.uk
12. Kevin Bridges:
He broke all box office records when he sold half a million tickets for his The Story Continues tour and the Scottish stand-up has lost none of his popularity. Appearing at Sheffield City Hall, if you can bag tickets, think of it as an early Christmas pressie.
December 10th, sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
13. All Saints:
To celebrate the release of their critically acclaimed fifth album Testament, All Saints have just embarked on a winter headline tour, stopping off at the O2 Academy in Leeds, where they’ll perform all their hits, as well as brand new tracks.
December 11th, academymusicgroup.com
14. Katie Melua:
The singer will be joined on stage at York Barbican by members of Gori Women’s Choir who featured on her 2016 album In Winter, which was recorded in her home country of Georgia and commanded some of the finest reviews of her career.
December 12th, yorkbarbican.co.uk
15. Ross Noble:
It’s always hard to know what to expect from the left-field Geordie with a tendency towards stream of consciousness. Laughs are guaranteed though and Noble is the perfect antidote to dark winter nights.
December 13th & 14th, leedstownhall.co.uk
16. Jools Holland
Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond will be appearing as Jools’s special guest, alongside vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall as well as original Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums.
December 14th, firstdirectarena.com
17. Phill Jupitus
Join stand-up comedian, poet, improviser, and TV stalwart Phil Jupitus for more than an hour of tales, laughs and diversions at Otley Courthouse as the veteran comic attempts to make order out of the chaos of his own life.
December 16th, otleycourthouse.org.uk
18. Razorlight:
There was a time when you couldn’t switch on the radio without hearing Golden Touch, but then Johnny Borrell and Co disappeared from view. Back performing at the Leeds O2 Academy, their first album in 10 years, Olympus Sleeping, is very much a return to form.
December 18th, academymusicgroup.com
19. Shrek The Musical:
As the larger-than-life production returns to Leeds Grand Theatre, join unlikely hero Shrek and his loyal steed Donkey as they embark on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from a fire-breathing, love-sick dragon.
December 18th to January 6th, leedsgrandtheatre.com
20. The Unthanks Sing Emily Bronte:
Leeds Town Hall hosts the world premiere of the folk favourites’ new Emily Brontë Song Cycle. Commissioned by the Brontë Society to mark Emily Brontë’s 200th Birthday, the group have turned a selection of poems into haunting songs.
