Light Up Leeds: Your chance to shine in virtual Christmas lights switch-on

LEEDS will stage it’s first ever star-studded virtual Christmas lights switch-on next week and your house or tree could be in the spotlight.
The Leeds Lights Virtual Switch-on is online on Wednesday, December 2 from 6.30pmThe Leeds Lights Virtual Switch-on is online on Wednesday, December 2 from 6.30pm
The Leeds Lights Virtual Switch-on is online on Wednesday, December 2 from 6.30pm

Festive fun lovers, who have already decked up their homes with lights on the inside or out, are being asked to send in photos or short videos of their dazzling creations.

Some will be feature alongside video of the city’s own Christmas lights which will be premiered on social media to coincide with the lights actually being switch on next Wednesday, December 2, at 6.30pm.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Submit your video and photo entries by Sunday, November 29 – email them to [email protected] or upload them to Twitter, using the hashtag #LightUpLeeds.

HOW TO WATCH: The switch-on video wll premiere – December 2.6.30pm – on the Leeds Millennium Square Facebook page at www.facebook.com/millsqleeds, it’s YouTube channel click here and on the YEP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/YEP.newspaper.

The switch on video, featuring names of stage, sport and screen, will include brand new installations designed and installed by Leeds BID on Briggate nd will bw switched on simultaneously during this online event.

The exciting line-up will feature a mix of chart-topping musical artists, talented local acts, classical and theatrical performances and local sporting heroes who will all lead an innovative city-wide effort to light up Leeds and get the countdown to Christmas underway.

The festive extravaganza will feature a specially recorded version of John Newman's recent uplifting collaboration with Sigma High on You, John’s credits include three UK number one singles and a trio of Brit Award nominations.

The festive extravaganza will feature a specially recorded song by John Newman in collaboration with SigmaThe festive extravaganza will feature a specially recorded song by John Newman in collaboration with Sigma
The festive extravaganza will feature a specially recorded song by John Newman in collaboration with Sigma

He said: “Leeds holds a special place in my heart and with everything that we’ve experienced this year I felt this was such a brilliant event to be a part of. It’s so nice to be invited and to be able to lift everyone’s spirits with music and for us all to be able to connect through virtual events“

Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Class Dynamix, who were recently commissioned by Child Friendly Leeds, Shine and Crisp Thinking to write a new song appropriately named Light Up For Leeds, will premiere a new and exclusive video of the track featuring children from their gold-partnership school, Windmill Primary (part of the Music Federation) who came together within their school bubbles to record a special one-off performance.

Danny Gough, creator and songwriter for Class Dynamix said; “Light up for Leeds is a song with a message that is really needed right now. It’s a song of hope that seeks to empower the people of Leeds to rise up with resilience and create the life they want.

“We are so grateful for the opportunity to showcase this song and these fantastic kids for this event.”

Local brother pop/rock band The Dunwells have also recorded a very special performance of their self-penned single Light up the Sky which will fittingly act as the back drop to a dazzling montage of festive lights and displays from around the city made up of pictures and videos sent in by local residents.

Joining them on the virtual billing will be Grammy-nominated Yorkshire-born musician and 80s legend John Parr who will be performing a unique version of his 1985 worldwide hit single St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) alongside a full symphony orchestra that was recorded at home during lockdown.

Hyde Park Brass will be bringing the much loved sounds of traditional 'brass band' in their own contemporary style with unique performances of much loved festive hits; Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love and Band Aid's, Do They Know It's Christmas.

Born in 2015 at the University of Leeds, this summer saw the band bring live music back to the streets of the UK with their inimitable 'To Your Street Your' giving people a much needed lift amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

Keeping in the festive feel Chante Amour will be performing an original Christmas song Hope for Christmas, released on all online platforms on the same day. Chante is one of Leeds’ most exciting up and coming female solo artists, selected to perform at the event via a collaboration with Music:Leeds through their ‘Launchpad’ program - an open call that provides local artists with mentoring, recording support and live opportunities.

The family friendly entertainment continues with the ‘12 days of Yorkshire Christmas’ sing-along with TV’s Alex Winters and Carriageworks Pantomime legend Jez Edwards – together with an appearance from Santa himself.

Local sporting heroes will also be on hand to spread some motivational goodwill cheer with contributions from the Leeds United first team and ladies squads, IBF featherweight World Champion boxer Josh Warrington and some key video highlights and player messages from the newly crowned Challenge Cup winners Leeds Rhinos.

There will also be a recorded message from The Lord Mayor of Leeds together with this year’s Leeds Children’s Mayor Samuel Hill from Carr Manor Community School whose winning manifesto is based around the theme ‘Be yourself, love yourself and respect all others’

Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Eileen Taylor said: “It’s been an incredibly tough year for the people of Leeds and we all know celebrations during the festive season are going to be very different this year.

“But this event encapsulates the spirit and determination that Leeds has to both celebrate the Christmas season and keep our city and each other safe.

“It’s fantastic to see so many talented artists and performers contributing and to know that people across Leeds will be coming together online this weekend to help get the countdown to Christmas officially underway.”

Previous years have seen crowds gather on Victoria Gardens for the annual lights switch-on but current social distancing requirements and restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have meant that the council’s events team have had to come up with creative ways to ensure thousands of people can still come together and celebrate the season safely.