Roundhay Park is set for a renaissance, as the home of some of Leeds’ biggest shows in history has been granted a license allowing more fans to attend events in the space. It means larger shows are back on the horizon for those in the city and slightly further afield.
With names including Lewis Capaldi and Pitbull some of the first acts to take advantage of the new capacity rules, it led us to ask our readers about some of their favourite concerts that have passed through our city over the years. More importantly than that, we also asked them how much it cost to see the likes of Madonna, U2 and The Rolling Stones ‘back in the day’.
The response was huge, with hundreds of you sharing your stories - with some recalling seeing punk legends Ramones performing at Leeds University, while other ‘90s kids remembered seeing Nirvana perform at the Student Union at Leeds Polytechnic back in 1990.
We looked over your comments on Facebook and pulled 11 concerts that were frequently mentioned as some of your fondest gig-going moments, coupled with the prices it cost you to attend.
Were you at any of these shows yourself, and how much did you spend to see some of music’s finest in Leeds?
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5. Rolling Stones (Roundhay Park, 1982)
In the early '80s, seeing the Stones was remarkably cheap. Fans recalled prices that averaged out to around £6.67, with Mags Bamford specifically stating: "Rolling Stones. £5 - 1982." It’s hard to imagine catching one of the biggest rock bands in the world at Roundhay Park for the price of a coffee today. | Yorkshire Post Newspapers
6. AC/DC (Queens Hall, 1982)
Hard rock fans were also getting great value, as Tim Wilkinson recalled: "Queens Hall £5.30 to see AC/DC and Y&T." This ticket price for a major international rock band in a UK venue shows that £5 was a key price point for a legendary night out in Leeds. | YEP
7. Whitesnake and Samson (Queens Hall, 1982)
Just two months later, another hard rock line-up at Queens Hall was available for a similar low price. Tim Wilkinson recalled paying "a fiver to see Whitesnake and Samson." This consistent £5 price point proves that rock royalty was highly accessible in the city in the early 80s. | kpa/United Archives via Getty Images
8. Bruce Springsteen (Roundhay Park, 1985)
When The Boss came to Roundhay Park, his ticket price was around £15. Reader Paul Cameron provided a great comparison for this show: "Bruce Springsteen at Roundhay Park in 1985, ticket was £15... A bit dearer to see him again in 2023 in Edinburgh £90!!" | YEP