OWNING THE STAGE: Cassidy Paris Live at The Key Club, Leeds—24th July 2026

A Leeds Debut to Remember

Cassidy Paris resplendent in horns, The Key Club, Leeds (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Cassidy Paris is a rising star in the modern hard rock scene, coming all the way from Melbourne, Australia. She blends a heavy, '80s-inspired melodic hard rock sound with a contemporary edge. Her sound melds classic influences like Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, and Lita Ford with modern forces like Halestorm and Dorothy.

Hot on the heels of her UK Tour Finish What We Started, which also took in Maid of Stone, where she kicked the whole festival off, she headed to Leeds, supporting Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts, for her debut in the city, pretty much on the crest of a rock and roll tsunami.

With albums Bittersweet from 2025 and New Sensation from 2023 she had a sterling back catalogue of treasure to draw from and delivered a 40 minute set that engaged the crowd throughout.

Cassidy Paris and band hit the stage, The Key Club, Leeds (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Cassidy is an extremely energetic and visual leader of her band. The owners of The Key Club, are probably frantically checking the title deeds of the place, because she completely owned the stage. Covering every inch of the floor, often entirely in the space of one song, her strong vocals and dynamic stage persona, underpinned by a rythmically perfect band, allowed her fabulous material to sparkle and shine.

Whilst mainly anchored in 80s melodic, but fiercely delivered punchy rock, she recalled the aforementioned rock greats as she pirouetted around the stage (and only missed off a walk along the top of the bar on her manoeuvres, as is normally the case, due to a few logistical challenges!).

The theatrics were matched by set of super taut, dynamically fizzing, melodic songs—the set encompassed Walking on Fire, Wannabe, Danger, Stronger, I Still Think About You, Nothing Left to Lose and Watch The Fire. Every song hit the crowd like Cassidy was handling a sledgehammer rather than a microphone.

Cassidy Paris rocks the stage, The Key Club, Leeds (Images: Damien Wilkinson)

Cassidy expressed her heartfelt thanks to Tuk Smith for the chance to support his band, which also gave her the opportunity to make her debut in Leeds (“I grew up on The Biters and still have a poster on my wall in my old bedroom! The little girl who listened to ‘The Biters’ on the way to school would be screaming right now”).

The powerhouse band—Jordan Smith (Guitar, backing vocals), Ian Nash (Guitar), Fred Hale (Bass) and Pete Newdeck (Drums, backing vocals) looked to be having the time of their lives as they loudly cranked out the riffs and beats, and pushed things to eleven, throughout the evening.

With a good deal of the crowd repeat offenders—a signficant number of her tour T-shirts proudly heralding the ‘Finish What You Started’ run of gigs—the crowd, both new and old fans, lapped up everything the band threw their way, on what was the last date of the tour (for now, Cassidy stressed) as the gig ended triumphantly.

Cassidy Paris takes the plaudits, The Key Club, Leeds (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

To hear how that set-closing track sounds studio-style, check out the official release of Cassidy Paris - Watch The Fire, a special cover of the song by International powerhouse rock group W.E.T. recorded for the Frontier Records, 30th Anniversary Compilation.

This track highlights the high-octane melodic energy and soaring vocal hooks that Cassidy Paris brought to the stage at The Key Club.

With an epic run of sold out shows, support slots and festival appearances Cassidy, in her own words is clearly ‘creating something super special’.

She returns to the UK on 30th September for a date at the famous London 100 Club (see flyer below), and is already teasing that ‘the rest, for now remains a secret…’

We’ve not heard the last of Cassidy Paris, by any stretch!

Cassidy Paris and band with the crowd at The Key Club, Leeds (Image: Cassidy Paris Facebook page)

Seat: Standing, right hand of stage, 7 rows in

Setlist:

Intro

Walking on Fire

Wannabe

Danger

Stronger

I Still Think About You

Nothing Left to Lose

Watch The Fire (W.E.T. cover)

The Band:

Cassidy Paris (Vocals, guitar)

Jordan Smith (Guitar, backing vocals)

Ian Nash (Guitar)

Fred Hale (Bass)

Pete Newdeck (Drums, backing vocals)

The forthcoming 100 Club, London gig