Leeds Academy

Infobox music venue
name = Leeds Academy


caption =
location = Cookridge Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
type =
genres = Rock, comedy
years_active = 2008 — present
capacity = 2,700
owner = Academy Music Group
promotions =
website = [http://www.leeds-academy.co.uk/ www.leeds-academy.co.uk] The Leeds Academy [cite web |url=http://www.leeds-academy.co.uk/ |title=Leeds Academy |accessdate=2008-08-19 |publisher=Leeds Academy Official Site ] is a music venue situated in Leeds intended as a larger music venue for the city. It is run by the Academy Music Group and follows in-line with their other music venues around the UK.

Building History

The venue for the Leeds Academy on Cookridge street in the city was originally opened in 1885 by Prince Albert [cite web |url=http://www.clubzone.com/c/Leeds/Nightclub/Creation.html |title=Creation Leeds (Nightclub) |accessdate=2008-08-19 |publisher=ClubZone ] and is a grade I listed gothic building.cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/38580 |title=Leeds Academy set to open this autumn |accessdate=2008-08-19 |publisher=NME |date=2008-08-01 ] Known originally as the Coliseum it hosted many different events during the early 20th century such as political meetings and circus shows.cite web |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/music-gigs/Leeds-Town-and-Country-Club.3500528.jp |title=Leeds Town and Country Club back |accessdate=2008-08-19 |work=Paul Robinson |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=2007-11-19 ] Between the 1930s and 1990s the building accommodated a cinema, television studio and bingo hall.

The venue opened in 1992 as the "Town and Country Club" and between 1992 and 2000 staged gigs by artists such as Blur, David Bowie, Robbie Williams, The Stereophonics [cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/stereophonics/943 |title=Stereophonics - Leeds Town & Country Club |accessdate=2008-08-19 |publisher=NME |date=1999-03-30 ] and The Stone Roses. [cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/band2/bffh/boots.html |title=Bootleg Trade List |accessdate=2008-08-19 |date=2005-11-08 ] The venue however closed in 2000.

In 2001 after a £7 million re-development of the venue by Luminar Leisure it opened as Creation Nightclub, however after six years this closed in February 2007. The licence was acquired by AMG from Luminar and plans put in place for the new Leeds Academy in November 2007.

The Venue

The Venue itself has a large room accommodating 2,300 guests, including a balcony which can hold 500 people. There is also a side room for gigs by up and coming bands which will accommodate 400 guests. The Kaiser Chiefs opened the venue with a gig on 8 October 2008cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/kaiser-chiefs/39050 |title=Kaiser Chiefs to launch Leeds Academy |accessdate=2008-08-19 |publisher=NME |date=2008-08-19 ] with gigs by Foals, Last Shadow Puppets, The Pigeon Detectives, MGMT and Hot Chip to follow.

References

External links

* [http://www.leeds-academy.co.uk/ Official Website]