A history of shows at Leeds' Roundhay Park

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With the news that Roundhay Park in Leeds is set to expand its capacity, becoming the largest outdoor venue in the United Kingdom in the process, take a look at some of the huge concerts that have already taken place at the location - from Michael Jackson to Ed Sheeran.

Transcript

00:00Ayo, guess what, it turns out that Roundhay Park is seeing an increase in its capacity.

00:10Now the news broke earlier this week, it's set for that massive capacity increase, potentially

00:16making it the UK's biggest outdoor venue, and it's not just a big deal, it's pretty

00:21much a game changer for live music in the north.

00:24But to truly understand where we're going, let's take a look back at the incredible

00:28pack to have already graced this hallow ground.

00:32Take for example the Rolling Stones back in 1982, they brought the legendary Tattoo U Tour

00:38in Leeds, drawing over 80,000 fans and cementing the park's reputation from the outset.

00:45Then just 5 years later in 1987, the Queen of Pop herself Madonna made Roundhay Park the

00:51site of her first ever major UK tour date, commanding an incredible crowd with her Who's

00:58that girl's spectacle.

00:59The late, great Michael Jackson also chose Roundhay Park, performing here twice.

01:05Once in 1988 and again in 1992, dazzling tens of thousands with his unparalleled showmanship.

01:13And of course U2 graced the park in both 1993 and 1997, bringing their innovative ZooTV and

01:22Popmart tours to the area, proving the venue could even handle groundbreaking production.

01:28Now you want to get a little more recent?

01:31Sure, no problems.

01:33How about 2019 when Ed Sheeran performed two record breaking nights showing the park's enduring

01:38appeal in the modern era?

01:40But if you want to go back and have the history running a little bit deeper, I hear you flicking

01:45through your vinyls there.

01:46How about we go to 1985 when the boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, brought his legendary Born

01:52in the USA tour to Leeds.

01:54Now imagine the energy, the anthems, the sheer scale of that show.

01:59Thousands singing along to Dancing in the Dark and probably chants of Yorkshire,

02:03Yorkshire as well.

02:04But Springsteen's powerful marathon performances perfectly suited the vast open space, creating

02:11an unforgettable experience for an estimated 80,000 fans.

02:16And then just two years later, progressive rock giants Genesis delivered their meticulously

02:21crafted show.

02:22Now they're known for their intricate musicianship and theatrical staging.

02:26Their performance showcased the park's versatility.

02:29Proveniquitous acts with complex production needs beyond just the traditional get-up-and-play-on-stage.

02:36And then in 1989, Scottish legend Simple Minds took the stage at the height of their global fame,

02:42delivering hits like Don't You Forget About Me.

02:45They brought their soaring stadium rock to Roundhay, and these weren't just concerts,

02:50these were cultural moments, each adding another layer to the park's incredible live music tapestry.

02:57It would be akin to, say, some of us of a certain age asking,

03:01were you at Nebworth by chance when Oasis played?

03:05Yeah, it has that amount of cultural collateral to it.

03:09So who do we want to see play at Roundhay Park when the capacity increases?

03:13Well, you might be reading an article about that right about now.

03:17Or if you want to find out a little bit more about the other history of gigs that have taken place,

03:22you can read an article penned by my good friend and colleague Robert.

03:26But let your speculation commence.

03:29Who do you want to see?

03:30Who do you think is going to be there?

03:32And more importantly, are you going to start going around Hay Park if concerts end up going there

03:38instead of, say, the First Direct Bank Arena?

03:41Temple Nooshan?

03:42Or even, dare I say it, Ramon Park?

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