Featured image: Credit: Humber Street Sesh/Jamie Collins
Countless bands hail from Yorkshire; the region is a melting pot for culture, music genres, and creativity. So, it should come as no surprise that this area of the country is also home to a fantastic array of music festivals – some new, some old – that attract all kinds of music lovers to this beautiful landscape.
There are many you may have heard of, as well as smaller events that deserve just as much recognition, as they bring together local musicians and big names. These are great places to catch your favourite artists and discover new music.
Need some inspiration? Here’s our list of the best Yorkshire music festivals.
In a hurry?
Don’t want to read the whole list? Here are our favourite festivals in Yorkshire:
- Leeds Festival – Leeds
- Humber Street Sesh – Hull
- Tramlines – Sheffield
Best Yorkshire music festivals
1. Leeds Festival – Leeds
When you think of live music in Yorkshire, chances are Leeds Festival comes to mind. Since 1999, this event – the sister to Reading Festival – has been welcoming some of the most prominent music artists, from The Charlatans, Blur, and Red Hot Chili Peppers for its debut weekend to Chappell Roan, Travis Scott, Hozier, and Bring Me the Horizon taking to the stage this year.
The festival takes place at Bramham Park over the August bank holiday – four full days of rock, pop, alternative, hip-hop, and electronic music.
2. Humber Street Sesh – Hull
Humber Street Sesh brings Hull’s marina to life with an eclectic mix of the best local up-and-coming musicians around. There’s folk, rock, pop, R&B, and so much more on offer. And it’s not just an outdoor event – you’ll find an endless array of independent cafés and bars to wander into, each with its own live music to enjoy.
This year sees The Howl & The Hum headline the main stage; other acts include Divorce, Fiona-Lee, and Casino.
3. Tramlines – Sheffield
Tramlines first took place in 2009, and since then, it’s become one of the most popular family-friendly festivals in Yorkshire. The event sees 40,000 music fans flocking to Hillsborough Park in Sheffield for three days of electrifying performances and culture. But it wasn’t always held there – from 2009 to 2018, it was a city-wide event that filled venues throughout Sheffield. Now, it’s all in one place – a hive of arts and culture.
Creative Commons License by Tramlines Festival
4. Live at Leeds: In the City – Leeds
Leeds is a catalyst for live music. It attracts the most creative of musicians and widely devoted music fans to its rich, cultural scene, and there’s nothing more symbolic of this than Live at Leeds: In the City. Held in over 20 venues across Leeds, the festival is incredibly diverse and provides a great opportunity to discover new music.
5. Live at Leeds: In the Park – Leeds
If you want that traditional stand-in-a-field, sun (or rain)-on-your-face feel, Live at Leeds: In the Park is the place to be. It takes place during the May bank holiday and has welcomed some big names over the years. This year saw Bloc Party headlining, last year had The Kooks, and 2023 brought out Two Door Cinema Club – a real hub for indie music lovers.
6. Slam Dunk – Leeds
The northern side of Slam Dunk Festival is held at Temple Newsam, Leeds, where all punk, emo, and rock fans unite for a day of head-banging, beer-spilling music. This year’s event welcomed the likes of A Day to Remember, Alkaline Trio, and Electric Callboy. We caught up with drummer Frank Zummo, previously of Sum41, now of Electric Callboy, at Slam Dunk – read our interview here.
7. Deer Shed – Topcliffe
Deer Shed organisers pride the event on being a “wonderland of creativity” – and it certainly is that. This family-friendly festival, held in Topcliffe, always has a diverse and exciting line-up. This year saw Wunderhouse, Kae Tempest, and The Big Moon; last year saw The Coral, Bombay Bicycle Club, and CMAT.
Beyond music, the venue hosts a wide range of events to suit all interests, from comedy to science to special shows for under 5s.
8. Leeds Jazz Festival – Leeds
If jazz is more your thing, this celebration of the genre is the place to be. Leeds Jazz Festival has only been going for three years, but it’s become an eclectic hub for local and international music. You’ll find performances all around the city, from Belgrave Music Hall to Headrow House to even the city’s train station.
9. York Blues Festival – York
York Blues Festival is held at The Crescent, one of York’s staple grassroots music venues that lies at the heart of the city’s music scene. You don’t have to be a die-hard blues fan to enjoy this event; the atmosphere in the packed-out venue is enough to keep you fixed to each band’s set. Traditional and contemporary blues are celebrated here by a fantastic mix of local and internationally recognised musicians.
10. MiNT Festival – Leeds
For a weekend in May, Newsam Green Farm is taken over by a blanket of dance music fans and six stages, housing a lineup of drum and bass, techno, house music, and much more. Since 2012, Mint festival has been the place to be for local talent wanting to get their music heard by the masses, internationally renowned DJs and producers, and music lovers who just want to go and let loose for two days.
11. Get Together – Sheffield
Get Together is Sheffield’s hub for indie music lovers. For just one day, it brings some big names and local talent to a variety of venues across Kelham Island and Neepsend. This year welcomed English Teacher, BC Camplight, Katy J Pearson, and many more.
12. Scarborough Punk Festival – Scarborough
The East Coast becomes a glorious celebration of all things punk at Scarborough Punk Festival. Held at Scarborough Spa, the event welcomes legends of the punk scene; 2025, for example, saw The Skids, Cockney Rejects, and many more.
13. Goodlife Festival – Leeds
Goodlife Festival made its debut in June 2025, and it’s already a hit. The festival is located in the picturesque grounds of Harewood House, where it hosts a fantastic array of house, disco, funk, and soul music artists. If you’re after a feel-good event in a breathtaking landscape, this is it.
14. Whitby Folk Week – Whitby
Heading back to the North Sea, we come to Whitby Folk Week, a joyful celebration of traditional music, dance, and storytelling. You’ll find more than just music here; there are parades, workshops, and a Music and Craft Fair as well as dance displays and concerts. If creativity is your thing and you want to learn something new, Whitby Folk Week will have something for you.
15. Ryedale Festival – North Yorkshire
Ryedale Festival was founded in 1981, and since then, it has welcomed audiences captivated by the beauty of classical music. Performances are held at over 30 venues across North Yorkshire throughout July – so there’s a lot to discover. The event makes classical music extremely accessible, with top-class musicians from all over the world uniting in Yorkshire in these breathtaking spaces.
There are also jazz and folk performances, as well as poetry, talks, masterclasses, and much more.
16. HACS Harrogate Music Festival – Harrogate
HACS Harrogate Music Festival takes place in venues across Harrogate, showcasing wonderfully unique classical, jazz, folk, and dance music. From budding musicians at the start of their career to internationally recognised artists, the line-up is always exciting and inspiring.
17. TribFest – Driffield
You’ll know all the lyrics here. TribFest brings out some of the best tribute bands, from ABBA Revival to Oaces to Totally Tina. Held at Sledmere House in Driffield, you’ll find your favourite band here… just not quite the real thing.
18. Towerfest – Selby
Country music comes to Selby in Yorkshire’s Towerfest, an open-air event located in the grounds of Drax Power Station. It’s a fantastic celebration of music, with great food and a lively, friendly atmosphere.
19. Staxtonbury Music Festival – Scarborough
Another family-friendly event, Scarborough’s Staxtonbury festival has a lot to offer. It’s not limited to one style of music; rather, it focuses on creating a brilliant, joyous vibe with a variety of music acts to catch. There’s local talent, tribute bands, plenty of food and drink… basically, something for everyone and every family!
FAQs
What famous bands come from Yorkshire?
There are plenty of famous bands that come from Yorkshire, including:
- Arctic Monkeys
- Pulp
- Soft Cell
- Bring Me the Horizon
- Kaiser Chiefs
Where is the best music scene in the UK?
The best music scenes can be found in many cities, including:
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Edinburgh
- Newcastle
What are the UK’s biggest festivals?
Some of the biggest festivals in the UK include:
- Glastonbury
- Reading & Leeds
- Download
- Victorious
- Creamfields
Final thoughts
Ah, humble Yorkshire! There’s so much to love! And with such an array of excellent events throughout the year, you’re never short of great music to discover. Keep this list of the best Yorkshire music festivals in mind when planning next year’s activities – there’s something for everyone!
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