Now in its second year, Leeds International Festival can stake a claim for being the UK’s leading metropolitan festival of new ideas and innovation, lining up world-class speakers and compelling performers alongside local and home-grown talent. The showcase, which takes place annually (unlike our own, bi-annual Manchester International Festival) and the focus is broad, celebrating science, technology, interactive media, music, art, culture – and even fashion with events exploring the Marks and Spencer archive (Thu 3 May – and other times – tickets) – and much more. Spread over two weeks (15 days, to be exact), Leeds International Festival sees 52 events and 44 speakers take over various venues in the heart of the city. From a talk with the first Briton in Space, Helen Sharman (Sat 5 May, tickets), to the incorporation of the Live at Leeds gigs (Sat 5 May, tickets), a live set by cult indie band Yo Le Tengo (Thu 3 May, tickets) to ‘in conversation’ events featuring the likes of Viv Albertine of The Slits (Mon 7 May, tickets), this is one festival with real thinking behind it. With a goal to inspire and grow communities by bringing people together and promoting the discovery and exchange of ideas that inspire and challenge, you can be sure that you won’t leave empty headed. For more arts and culture events across the region, click here.
Sat 28 Apr – Sat 12 May, various venues, Leeds, times and prices vary, www.leedsinternationalfestival.com
- Words:
- Sarah-Clare Conlon
- Published on:
- Sat 28 Apr 2018
