House Music Institution to Arrive in Leeds on Major UK Tour

Features

Posted on September 18, 2026

Love to be, one of the UK’s most enduring club and festival brands since 1994, will bring its iconic party to O2 Academy Leeds this December in partnership with Academy Music Group.

Yorkshire’s legendary house music brand, Love to be… will embark on a major UK tour in partnership with Academy Music Group (AMG), arriving at O2 Academy Leeds on Sunday 27th December. Marking its biggest ever club show in Leeds to date, Love to be brings its three-decade legacy, a heavy-hitting lineup featuring Dennis Ferrer, Danny Howard, Yousef, Trimtone and more, and its signature house music energy on its biggest ever UK venue tour. Tickets are now on sale via Skiddle.

Co-founded in 1994 by Tony Walker at Sheffield’s renowned Music Factory, Love to be… has spent over 30 years shaping UK club culture. From Frankie Knuckles, Masters At Work and Basement Jaxx, to Claptone, Sam Divine and Sonny Fodera, the brand has consistently united house music royalty with rising artists performing alongside the biggest names in global dance music. Its worldwide community has been built through events spanning New York, Ibiza and Sydney, a syndicated radio show, record label and its flagship festival in Harrogate. Today with Tony Walker and Director Marc Dennis at the helm, Love to be… stands for heritage and innovation, bridging generations on the dancefloor with the same passion that fuelled the early years.

O2 Academy Leeds is one of eight Academy venues where Love to be brings a carefully curated lineup of international headliners, contemporary UK faves and crucial local talent. Headlining in Leeds over the festive period is New York house heavyweight Dennis Ferrer, whose catalogue includes enduring records such as ‘Hey Hey’ and ‘Son Of Raw’, alongside a career that has established him as one of house music’s most respected producers and selectors.

(L-R:) Dennis Ferrer, Danny Howard, Yousef

Joining him is BBC Radio 1’s Danny Howard, a longstanding champion of UK house and club music whose career has taken him from winning Radio 1’s Superstar DJ competition to becoming one of the station’s leading dance music voices. Circus founder Yousef also steps up, bringing more than two decades of experience behind the decks and a career that has taken him across some of the world’s most respected clubs and festivals.

Trimtone are also lined up, better known as Love to be’s driving force Marc Dennis and Tony Walker, who have been shaping the sound of house music for over three decades. Completing the bill are Love to be regulars Aimee and Sinclair, rounding out a six-strong lineup for Love to be’s festive Leeds date.

With a history of unforgettable events and an unwavering commitment to house culture, Love to be is thrilled to arrive in Leeds on its nationwide tour as it continues to celebrate three decades of dance with its sights firmly set on the future.

Keep up to date with all the latest news and announcements on socials: @lovetobeevents.