The First Direct Arena in Leeds is set to become a beacon of musical brilliance this November and December as it hosts an electrifying lineup of artists across various genres. From the soulful melodies of Paul Heaton to the enigmatic sounds of Sleep Token, the arena promises unforgettable performances. Music legends like Culture Club and The Human League will take the stage, alongside dynamic acts such as Slipknot and Fontaines D.C. With the return of Elf The Musical and a 90's nostalgia trip courtesy of Kubix on Tour, the upcoming months are a celebration of artistic diversity and musical excellence.

A Sonic Journey: Music Icons Illuminate First Direct Arena

First Direct Arena is set to host an eclectic array of performances from February to April 2025. This season promises a vibrant mix of musical legends, tribute acts, and entertainment spectacles that cater to all tastes. From Craig David's nostalgic hits to the awe-inspiring reenactment of ABBA's music and Queen's iconic songs brought back to life, the lineup is nothing short of impressive. Dive into a world of rock, pop, and even ice-skating Disney characters as we explore what these months have to offer at this beloved venue.

A Melodic Journey: February to April Events at First Direct Arena

Get ready for an unforgettable series of events at the First Direct Arena! From the emotive melodies of Gracie Abrams to the awe-inspiring tricks of the Harlem Globetrotters, there's something for everyone. Indulge in the magic of Disney On Ice, the indie rock vibes of The Wombats, and the grand tales of Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds. With Europe's Strongest Man competition, the return of Sugababes, and the immersive PlayStation: The Concert, this lineup promises thrilling entertainment for all ages.

A Spectacular Lineup at First Direct Arena: Music, Sports, and More!

Prepare yourself for a vibrant lineup of events at First Direct Arena in 2025, featuring an eclectic mix of indie rock, thrilling musicals, sports spectacles, and iconic musical acts. From the electric performances of The Wombats and Sugababes to the riveting stories brought to life by Jeff Wayne and the athletic prowess displayed in Europe's Strongest Man event, there's something for everyone. This year's events promise unforgettable experiences, whether you're a rock enthusiast, a theatrical aficionado, or a sports fan seeking adrenaline-pumping action.

Unveiling 2025's Spectacular Events at First Direct Arena

Prepare to immerse yourself in a dynamic array of events this spring at the First Direct Arena! From Jeff Wayne's iconic 'War of the Worlds' in 3D holography, to the strongman feats of Europe's Strongest Man, the pop sensations of Sugababes, and the unique collaboration of Michael Ball & Alfie Boe, these events promise a diverse celebration of music, entertainment, and awe-inspiring athleticism. Whether you're a fan of musical theater, pop hits, or thrilling sports, the 2025 lineup is crafted to captivate and entertain audiences of all tastes and ages.

Experience an Unforgettable Spring of Arts, Music, and Spectacle at First Direct Arena 2025!

Get ready for an unforgettable year of live music as 2025 kicks off with an exciting lineup of legendary artists taking the stage at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. From the soulful tunes of Billy Ocean celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark album 'Suddenly', to the sensational Simply Red marking their 40th milestone, music lovers are in for a treat. Not to mention the thrilling head-to-head tour of pop rock icons Busted and McFly, Marti Pellow celebrating three decades of 'Love Is All Around', and Hans Zimmer making his first-ever appearance in Leeds.

Celebrating Legends: An Epic Lineup of Tours in 2025

2025 is set to be a spectacular year for music lovers in the UK and Ireland, with an array of iconic bands and artists gearing up for landmark performances. Simply Red celebrates its 40th anniversary, Busted and McFly join forces for an epic tour face-off, Marti Pellow commemorates three decades of 'Love Is All Around', and Hans Zimmer brings his cinematic scores to life on stage. Join us as we dive into the heart of these momentous events, each promising a unique experience amidst a backdrop of nostalgia and musical brilliance.

A Symphony of Legends: UK's Unforgettable Musical Milestones of 2025

Highly celebrated composer and hugely decorated musician, Hans Zimmer will be coming to Leeds on 23 November, 2025 for his first ever appearance at first direct arena.

Famed for his music score of movies such as Gladiator, Interstellar, Pirates of the Carribean (Curse of the Black Pearl) and many many more, Hans Zimmer has dominated the cinemas, tv screens and computer consoles with his composition magic for decades.

Hans Zimmer Live

First Direct Arena

In celebration of one of the generation's most iconic songs, Marti Pellow has announced he will be gracing the stage at first direct arena on Wednesday 29 October, 2025 marking a monumental 30 years since the release of his timeless hit, Love Is All Around. This song, which became the defining track of the 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral soundtrack and went on to dominate the charts, is still beloved by fans around the world – and Marti is ready to celebrate this anniversary in a big way.

Marti Pellow

Pop rock legends Busted stormed the stage at McFly’s sold out 21st birthday headline show to announce they will be going head to head on tour together next year! Fans got to hear first-hand the exciting news of, no doubt, one of the most highly anticipated tours of 2025.

Busted vs McFly

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK & Ireland arena tour for September & October 2025. 
 

"Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall.

Simply Red

Following the 40th anniversary of his landmark album ‘Suddenly’ and special vinyl re-release, Billy Ocean has announced a huge UK tour. ‘The Very Best of Billy Ocean’ will see him perform all of his greatest hits and fan favourites at first direct arena, Leeds on 21 June, 2025. 

Before 'Suddenly', Billy Ocean had two #2 hits ("Love Really Hurts Without You," "Red Light Spells Danger"), but the album catapulted him to stardom. Its lead single "Caribbean Queen" topped the U.S. charts and earned him a Grammy, with follow-up hits like "Loverboy" and the title track also achieving global success. 

Billy Ocean

Bryan Adams has the reputation of being one the most exciting live musicians in the world, he will join us at first direct arena on Saturday 10 May, 2025. He is set to embark on his ‘Roll With The Punches’ world tour in 2025, named after his soon to be announced new studio album.

The tour will see Adams and his band performing across the globe throughout the entire year and follows closely on the heels of his successful ‘So Happy It Hurts’ tour. The tour, which spanned three years, included performances in over sixteen countries across North America, Europe and Asia.

Bryan Adams

Fresh from his nationwide tour as special guest to Take That earlier this year, Olly Murs has announced a massive UK Arena tour for next Spring. Get ready to party with a set that features all the hits and more!

 

Blue will be special guests on this must see show coming to first direct arena on 9 May, 2025 

 

The British pop and TV icon is making another trip to Yorkshire to showcase his mass of amazing hits to all of his fans from Leeds and surrounding areas.  If you're a fan of mega hits 'Dear Darlin', 'Heart Skips a Beat' and Troublemaker' then you're in for a massive treat.


Olly Murs

Bet MGM Premier League Darts is returning to first direct arena in 2025!  The new 2025 Premier League will be staged on Thursday nights with the tour heading to Leeds on 8 May, as the sport’s top stars - including reigning champion Luke Littler and world number one Luke Humphries - battle it out for the coveted title and £1m in prize money.

Bet MGM Premier League Darts

Prepare for a truly groundbreaking live music event at first direct arena that blends the awe-inspiring music from PlayStation’s most iconic games with cutting-edge visuals and the latest in production technology.

 

A troupe of virtuous soloists will bring the music to life in a way that you have not experienced before. The concert will feature fan-favourite games including God of War, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon and others.

PlayStation: The Concert

Prepare for an electrifying experience as the iconic Harlem Globetrotters announce their highly anticipated 2025 UK tour, promising unmatched basketball innovation and unparalleled fan engagement in arenas nationwide.

The Harlem Globetrotters 2025 World Tour is set to deliver an unparalleled spectacle! With their trademark basketball wizardry, outrageous athleticism, and endless entertainment, your favourite Globetrotter stars will captivate audiences like never before. Prepare for an unforgettable showdown as they face off against their perennial rivals, the Washington Generals, in a battle for supremacy!

Harlem Globetrotters 2025

Michael Ball & Alfie Boe will take to the road on their brand new tour 'Together At Home' in a 12-date marathon across the UK, stopping at first direct arena on Thursday 10 April 2025!

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe are back, and this time it’s personal. Together At Home, the namesake of the tour is the pair’s brand new sixth studio album, marking their 10th year making music together and is the much-loved collaborators’ hymn to the people and places that mean the most to them – and to their army of fans.

Together At Home follows the phenomenal success of the duo’s previous five duet albums; Their debut Together, became the UK’s best-selling album of 2016, followed by Together Again, which brought the pair yet another No.1 album in 2017. Ball and Boe went on to release Back Together in 2019 which reached No.2, before a third No.1 album, Together at Christmas in 2020.


Join us for a simply mesmerising show brought to you by two fantastic legends of theatre.

Michael Ball & Alfie Boe

Sugababes announce their biggest UK tour for Spring 2025, stopping at first direct arena on Tuesday 8 April, 2025. With six-number-one singles and millions of global sales, the iconic trio - Siobhan Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan are back and bigger than ever, continuing their triumphant comeback.

Sugababes

Europe’s Strongest Man returns to First Direct Arena Leeds on Saturday 5 April 2025 in what promises to be yet another Strongman spectacle. 

 

Bringing the THRILL of Strongman sport to tens of thousands of fans every year, nothing quite matches the adrenaline rush of seeing these real-life GIANTS carry, lift, hulk, drag and throw barely believable weights, mere feet from your seat

Europe's Strongest Man 2025

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds is back with a monumental new 17-date (19 shows) UK and Ireland arena tour, arriving just in time to celebrate 130 years since the publication of HG WELLS’ dark Victorian tale. Conducted by Jeff Wayne and featuring Liam Neeson in 3D holography as The Journalist, who recounts his story of survival from the Martian invasion of 1898.  


Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage!

Indie guitar trio, The Wombats are back with a new tour and a visit to first direct arena on Wednesday 26th March, 2025!

The Liverpudlian formed indie rock sensations have been stallwarts on the festival circuit with regular appearances at major events rights across the UK and wider a field.  Now they're back on tour with dates across the UK including Leeds, bringing their mass array of hits including, 'Moving to New York', 'Lets' Dance to Joy Divison' and more on the back of their latest release, 'Sorry I'm Late I Didnt' Want To Come'.

With a new album imminent, the band are drawing crowds bigger than ever before!

The Wombats will be supported on tour by art rock legends, Everything Everything and Merseyside rockers Red Rum Club.

The Wombats

Join us from 20 - 23 March, 2025 to celebrate with Mickey, Minnie, and their Disney friends while reliving the adventures of your favourite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents 100 Years of Wonder.

Set sail with Moana and Maui to save the island of Motunui, and see Mirabel and the stars of Encanto live on ice as they learn everyone has a special gift. Bring back summer with Anna, Elsa, and Olaf, and sing and dance as the Disney Princesses make their dreams come true. And be inspired by the true friendships of the Toy Story gang, and Dory and Nemo.

Disney On Ice

American singer-songwriter, Gracie Abrams is known for her emotive and introspective music and gained popularity by sharing her music on social media, gaining attention for her heartfelt lyrics and distinctive voice.

In 2019, she released her debut single ‘Mean It,’ which quickly garnered a following and critical acclaim​.  In 2020, Abrams released her debut EP, "Minor," which includes the popular tracks ‘21’ and ‘I Miss You, I'm Sorry.’  With a further EP release in 2021, her debut album ‘Good Riddance’ followed in 2023 establishing her as a prominent figure in contemporary music.

Gracie Abrams

Pantera is regarded as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. The uncompromising quartet of singer Philip Anselmo, guitarist Dimebag Darrell, his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul and bassist Rex Brown quickly rose to massive global success in the 1990s with multiple gold and platinum albums, sold out tours, ferocious live performances, and four Grammy® nominations.

Pantera

Queen Extravaganza, the only official Queen tribute band, produced by Roger Taylor and Brian May, brings its own ‘kind of magic’ back into venues around the UK and Ireland in 2025 with a triumphant celebration of 50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody.

This spectacular 90-minute show features more than 20 fan favourites drawn from Queen’s biggest hits including We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Another One Bites the Dust, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and the phenomenal anthem Bohemian Rhapsody.

Queen Extravaganza

James Blunt will be joining us at first direct arena on Feb 13, 2025 on his special run of UK arena dates for the ‘Back To Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour’; where he will perform the remastered Back To Bedlam album in its entirety, along with other classic hits from his career. 

James Blunt

Waterloo A Tribute To ABBA - The Arena Show looks back at the sensational rise to 

stardom of the Swedish pop group ABBA, capturing their unique ABBA sound and 

feel with incredible attention to detail.  

 

So join us as we celebrate 50 years of ABBA with this arena scale production 

featuring a full live cast and band, stunning visuals, incredible costumes and breath-

taking choreography. From the iconic Waterloo, Mamma Mia and Voulez Vouz and 

so much more, this sensational show is an experience not to be missed by any 

ABBA fan. 

 

Disclaimer: Please note that this is a tribute production and is not affiliated or endorsed by the Abba Estate. 

Waterloo - A Tribute to ABBA

23 years since the critically acclaimed album, ‘Born To Do It’ changed his life, Craig has since catapulted back into the charts and into the nation’s hearts with a string of chart hits and a Number 1 album. This marked the beginning of his triumphant return and Craig has since leapt from strength to strength, both on our airwaves and on our TV screens and on the live circuit ever since. 

Craig David

After sell-out arena tours and a record breaking two West End seasons at The Dominion, the musical arena spectacular version of the hilarious hit movie ELF returns to first direct arena, Leeds, where it will play from Monday 23 – Tuesday 24 December.

The arena spectacular version of ‘Elf The Musical' features Santa’s magical flying sleigh, an audience snowball fight, and a giant candy cane journey from the North Pole, amongst many spectacular scenes all set against amazing video-film backdrops on a large LED screen.

Elf The Musical

One of the biggest Festival Brands in the North East, Kubix Festival, is going on tour and bringing a huge night of 90’s and 00’s superstars to 4 arenas across the Country this December including the First Direct Arena Leeds on the 21st December.

 

Headlined by The Vengaboys alongside boyband heartthrobs 5ive and 911, alongside dance superstars Ultrabeat, Alice Deejay, Flip N Fill, Lasgo, and 2 Unlimited it is going to be a huge night of sing-along and dance-along classics from the 90’s and 00’s! Also on the line up is Kroud Karaoke who will be having you singing along to all your favourite anthems and pop power ballads in between acts!

Kubix on Tour

Musical maestro Jools Holland and his revered Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have announced the run of dates and special guests of their 2024 Autumn/Winter UK tour, gracing the stage at first direct arena on December 20.

Renowned as one of the UK’s most popular tours, this year the show will feature the legendary, Marc Almond. Audiences will also be treated to the supreme talent of blues guitar prodigy and social media sensation, Toby Lee.

Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

There was never a band like SLIPKNOT. Like a spore out of the Midwest, they’ve quietly bloomed into the most uncompromising, undeniable, and unique presence on the planet whose influence transcends genres and generations.

Since sowing the seeds for revolution in Iowa during 1999, these musical outliers have captured a GRAMMY Award alongside 10 nominations, scored 12 Platinum / 41 Gold album certifications around the world, and logged over 8.5 billion global streams and3.5 billion video views to date - unprecedented for a rock act in this generation or any other. 

Slipknot

English synth-pop band, The Human League will bring the Generations Tour to first direct arena, Friday 13th December 2024, with support from Sophie Ellis Bextor and T'Pau.

Formed in Sheffield during the late 1970s by Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, The Human League evolved into one of the seminal '80s electro pop bands. Now fronted by Philip Oakey, and featuring Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, the band went on to record some of the most influential songs of the decade.

The Human League

Music icons Boy George and Culture Club are thrilled to announce a major UK and Ireland arena tour this December, celebrating their first two monumental albums,‘Kissing to Be Clever’ and ‘Colour by Numbers’

 

The prolific band will perform these landmark albums in their entirety on 06 December 2024 at first direct arena. Fans can expect to hear all the classic hits, including "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," "Karma Chameleon," "Time (Clock of the Heart)”, "Church of the Poison Mind", right up to their current releases.

Culture Club

Sam Fender is very pleased to announce an arena tour this December, his first UK tour since Spring 2022. The seven-date run, sees Sam returning to the stage at first direct arena, Leeds on Wed 4 December 2024.

£1 from every ticket sold for the UK dates will be donated to the Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues.

Sam Fender

After announcing full details of their highly-anticipated fourth album ROMANCE, Irish post-punk legends, Fontaines D.C. today confirm a new run of UK & Ireland tour dates for Autumn 2024.

The ROMANCE tour sees the band travelling to Leeds, first direct arena for their headline show on Tuesday 3 December

Fontaines D.C.

2023 saw a remarkable ascension for the enigmatic phenomenon known as Sleep Token. Unconstrained by genre, the innovative third album ‘Take Me Back To Eden’ saw the band melding post-rock, post-classical and post-metal tropes with soulful vocals, and delivering a sonic landscape like no one else.

Sleep Token

To celebrate the release of Paul Heaton's brand new solo album 'The Mighty Several', Paul Heaton is embarking on a huge November/December UK tour.

 

Gracing the stage of first direct arena on 30 November 2024, Paul Heaton is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters, with five No 1 albums and some 15 million album sales under his belt. He first came to prominence in the early 80s as front man of The Housemartins and released two albums. In ’88 Paul Heaton formed The Beautiful South, who released 10 hugely successful albums - taking a break from The Beautiful South in 2001, Paul Heaton released his first solo album 'Fat Chance'. After The Beautiful South called it a day in 2007, Paul Heaton went on to release two further albums: 'The Cross-Eyed Rambler' and 'Acid Country'. Paul later teamed up with Jacqui Abbott and went on to record five acclaimed albums as a duo.

Paul Heaton

Irish band The Script are one of the most influential groups of their generation. Known for their powerful live performances and strong connection with their fans, The Script have amassed 6 Number One UK albums, 10 billion streams, sold over 4 million concert tickets worldwide and were recently honoured with a BRITs Billion Award in honour of a billion domestic streams.

The Script

Star of stage and screen and singing sensation Jane McDonald will head to Leeds as part of her new tour for 2024.

 

With All My Love will see Jane travel to more than 20 theatres and arenas across the UK performing the songs you love as well as new material penned by Jane herself, and the tour will close with a spectacular grand finale at First Direct Arena on Friday November 22.

Jane McDonald

Courteeners are coming to Leeds!!  Formed in Manchester, in 2006. The band is known for their distinctive blend of rock and indie music, infused with an alternative edge. They quickly gained a dedicated following thanks to their energetic live performances and relatable lyrics penned by frontman Liam Fray.

The band's debut album, "St. Jude" (2008), was a critical and commercial success, featuring hit singles like "Not Nineteen Forever" and "What Took You So Long?". This album established Courteeners as a prominent name in the British music scene. Courteeners music is characterized by catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and anthemic choruses, combined with their loyal fan base, the band are often celebrated for their connection with the audience and the raw energy they bring to their performances.

Courteeners

Prepare to embark on a musical and visual journey as Within Temptation, one of Europe's most iconic rock bands, proudly unveils the 'Bleed Out 2024 Tour.'

Their latest album "Bleed Out" due to be released on October 20th, Within Temptation have ventured deeper into the enigmatic realm of their music, crafting an opus that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. It's a journey that will make your spirit soar, your heart race, and your soul resonate with the echoes of the sublime.

Within Temptation

UB40 are back for a 2024 arena tour with very special guest Soul II Soul.  These two mighty multi-million album selling groups come together for an evening of tireless chart hits.

With over 45 years of renowned reggae magic, UB40 return in fine form with songs that envelop their pure working-class roots.

UB40 & Soul II Soul

With a body of work spanning seven decades, Deep Purple has helped pioneer and define the hard rock genre while progressively moving into new areas, both keeping their sound fresh and attracting new fans to the legions who have remained loyal since the band’s inception. The celebrated MKII line up of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore were responsible for creating many of the defining rock albums of the early 70’s, including “Made In Japan”, universally accepted as one of the most important and influential live albums of all time.

Deep Purple

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds announce their first headline tour of the UK and Europe since 2017, with 27 shows across 17 countries this Autumn. The band is widely regarded as one of the greatest live acts in the world today, and these shows promise to be some of the most hotly anticipated of 2024.

 

Kicking off on 2nd November at first direct arena Leeds the tour will follow the release of their 18th studio album ‘Wild God’ on 30th August. The band will play new material along with songs from their extensive catalogue. 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

After selling 100,000 tickets last year with its theatre tour, including sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium and other UK venues, Queen of the Night – A Tribute to Whitney Houston is back bigger than ever with the 2024 Arena Tour!

 

Welcome to the biggest celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of all time: Whitney Houston. Experience her remarkable musical repertoire with an arena-scale production that honours her timeless songs, with sensational vocalists and a full live band.

Queen of the Night - A Tribute to Whitney Houston

Sum 41 never fit in. They didn’t give a s**t or try to either! Instead, they came out of the gate swinging with a signature style punctuated by pop punk singalongs and hard-hitting heavy metal proficiency.

 

As a result, they’ve cast an unmatched shadow over popular culture, their music has surged through major franchises, ranging from Spider-Man to American Pie and Bring It On.

Sum 41

Take a journey back in time to remember Michael Jackson – the man, the music and the magic. 

MichaelⓇ Starring Ben is a hit theatre production starring the UK's ultimate Michael Jackson tribute star, Ben Bowman. Not only does he look and sound like the King of Pop, but he's honed his routine so carefully that audiences truly believe they are watching Michael Jackson himself.

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Nov 23, 2025

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