Step into a vibrant time capsule at the Leeds City Museum where the “Music Leeds Us” exhibition gloriously celebrates 60 years of Leeds’ rich musical tapestry, featuring a dazzling recreation of the legendary Duchess venue where giants like Oasis and Nirvana once played. Immerse yourself in the city’s iconic soundscape through working jukeboxes, treasured memorabilia, and heartfelt oral histories from October 10, 2025, to June 28, 2026.
What is the “Music Leeds Us” exhibition at Leeds City Museum about?
The “Music Leeds Us” exhibition at Leeds City Museum celebrates 60 years of Leeds’ music heritage, featuring a recreation of The Duchess venue, memorabilia from local bands, working jukeboxes with oral histories, and community stories, showcasing the city’s vibrant musical legacy and iconic artists.
The Musical Heartbeat of Leeds
For over sixty years, Leeds has stood as a dynamic hub within the UK music scene, nurturing some of the world’s most iconic bands and artists. The city’s vibrant history is now being honored with a landmark exhibition, “Music Leeds Us,” at Leeds City Museum, celebrating the remarkable journey from the founding of Leeds Conservatoire in 1965 to the present day. The exhibition showcases not only the evolution of music genres but also the venues and personalities that have defined Leeds’s unique sound.
Among the celebrated venues, The Duchess of York – affectionately known as The Duchess – stands out as a legendary spot in Leeds’s musical story. Once situated on Vicar Lane, The Duchess hosted performances by global acts such as Oasis and Nirvana before its closure in 2000. Its legacy is now preserved through an immersive recreation at the museum, allowing visitors to step back into the glory days of live music and cultural convergence.
The city’s musical milestones are chronicled in the exhibition, beginning with the establishment of Leeds Conservatoire, originally Leeds College of Music. The showcase further explores pivotal events like the Futurama Festival in 1979 – an influential punk and new wave gathering – and the emergence of the Goth scene in the 1980s, which cemented Leeds’s reputation as a crucible for alternative music.
The Duchess: A Legendary Venue Remembered
The centerpiece of the Music Leeds Us exhibition is a detailed recreation of The Duchess, a venue synonymous with the city’s most unforgettable concerts. Originally commissioned by Compass Live Art for the Compass Festival 2021, the model was crafted by Small Acts as a tribute to the venue’s enduring influence. John Keenan, the founder of The Duchess, established it as a proving ground for aspirational bands and a cherished hangout for local music lovers.
Historical anecdotes abound within these recreated walls. Oasis famously performed there in 1993 to a small crowd, only to return to a packed house in 1994, riding the early crest of their fame. Nirvana’s frontman Kurt Cobain is said to have slept on a sofa upstairs after playing the venue in 1989 – two years before the band’s global breakthrough with “Nevermind.” In recognition of its cultural impact, The Duchess received a commemorative blue plaque from Leeds Civic Trust in 2024.
Beyond these iconic stories, the exhibition includes memorabilia and instruments from other celebrated Leeds artists. On display are a custom guitar used by Jez Willis of Utah Saints and a violin belonging to Len Liggins, a member of The Ukrainians. Each artifact offers a tangible connection to the creative energy that has long pulsed through the city.
Collaboration, Community, and Oral Histories
The Music Leeds Us exhibition is notable not just for its displays, but for the collaborative spirit in which it was created. Organized as a partnership between Leeds City Museum and Leeds Conservatoire, the project draws on stories and contributions from over 70 local partners and volunteers. These include music fans, artists, venue owners, promoters, and record shopkeepers – each sharing their memories to build a living archive of Leeds’s music scene.
To deepen the visitor experience, the exhibition features a purpose-built sound booth and two working jukeboxes, provided by Sound Leisure, the world’s oldest family-run jukebox manufacturer. One jukebox is loaded with oral histories recorded for the exhibition, while the other is stocked with tracks by Leeds artists, giving visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the city’s sonic landscape. The oral history project ensures that the diversity and vibrancy of Leeds’s musical past are preserved for future generations.
Esther Amis-Hughes, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ community engagement manager, highlighted the emotional impact of the project: “The past 60 years have been truly transformational for music in Leeds and have seen some iconic moments that will forever be part of the city’s history. I’ve been blown away by the passion, diversity, and power of the city to continue to be a source of inspiration through music, and this exhibition has shown me how brilliant people, doing what they love, can make a positive difference.”
A Celebration for All Generations
Music Leeds Us is more than a static exhibit; it’s a living celebration. Throughout its run, which spans from October 10, 2025, to June 28, 2026, a vibrant program of performances and events is scheduled, including a special celebration day on the opening weekend. These events, hosted by the museum in conjunction with Leeds Conservatoire, promise to make the exhibition a gathering point for music lovers old and new. For the latest details on programming and ticketing, visitors are encouraged to check Music Leeds Us: Celebrating 60 Years.
The exhibition’s inclusivity is central to its ethos. As a “give what you can” venue, Leeds City Museum ensures that all are welcome, regardless of means. The project has received the backing of Leeds Beckett University, Leeds City Council, Leeds Conservatoire, and Arts Council England, highlighting the community-wide commitment to celebrating the city’s musical heritage.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles, and culture, emphasized the cross-generational importance of the exhibition: “Leeds has a truly unique musical heritage filled with incredible moments and memories spanning numerous generations and communities. Over time music has become an integral part of the city’s story and showcasing so many elements together in this exhibition really brings home how much music means to Leeds.”
Highlights of the Music Leeds Us Exhibition:
- Recreation of The Duchess pub, the legendary gig venue
- Two working jukeboxes featuring oral histories and Leeds artists’ music
- Memorabilia from local legends like Utah Saints and The Ukrainians
- Events and performances throughout the exhibition run
- Community-based storytelling and contributions from over 70 partners
For further details, visit the Leeds Museums and Galleries website.
- The “Music Leeds Us” exhibition at Leeds City Museum celebrates 60 years of Leeds’ rich musical history.
- A key feature of the exhibition is a recreation of The Duchess venue, where famous bands like Oasis and Nirvana once performed.
- The exhibition runs from October 10, 2025, to June 28, 2026, and includes working jukeboxes, memorabilia, and oral histories.
- The project is a collaboration between Leeds City Museum and Leeds Conservatoire, featuring contributions from over 70 local partners.
- Visitors can experience a program of performances and events throughout the exhibition’s run, with a “give what you can” entry model.