AWARD winning music school LS18 Rocks was launched in Leeds by professional musician Jonnie Khan to provide his one-to-one music students with a band setting that would enable them to perform collectively  on stage.

Jonnie, who moved from his hometown of Dundee to study at Leeds College of Music in 1989, was providing part-time music tutorship whilst working on a plethora of music industry and performing arts projects.

From hiring a room in a scout hut on a Saturday morning and starting with just one band, LS18 Rocks now boasts a stable of ten incredible bands. 

In 2019 the project moved into its own studio based in the heart of the Leeds suburb Horsforth – which has a LS18 postcode (hence the name). The release of our first single Up In Flames attracted national media coverage due to its climate change warning message but just months later the pandemic hit delivered a devastating blow to the music industry. But out of adversity came triumph as LS18 Rocks devised their Virtual Hugs campaign, supercharged by a hit single that attracted worldwide publicity and saw us appear to millions of TV viewers across shows including BBC Breakfast, Channel 4’s The Steph Show and BBC Look North. The project raised thousands for charity and was rewarded with a council’s Young Achievers Award.

In 2021 LS18 Rocks hit the headlines again as a pioneering collaboration with the world famous The Hallé Orchestra culminated with a special rock meet classical live performance at Leeds Town Hall. The same year we beat off a host of huge arts organisations to be nominated for the Fantastic for Families Awards for those who made an outstanding contribution to family-friendly arts and culture during the pandemic year.

The following year LS18 Rocks were honoured to win the Child Friendly Leeds Award for Inspiring Creativity Through Arts and Culture at a glittering 10thanniversary ceremony at Leeds Civic Varieties.

In 2023 we were awarded the title of Performing Arts School of the Year at the Yorkshire Prestige Awards.

Now regulars on the Leeds gig circuit, LS18 Rocks have also performed at some of the biggest venues in the city, including three stellar shows at Leeds Playhouse (2022, 2023 & 2024), Kirkstall Abbey (2022 & 2024), Millennium Square as the city welcomed the Walk for Little Amal in 2022, and we have rocked Leeds Rhinos twice with pre-match performances at Headingley Stadium including the inaugural Sing Spectacular where we were joined by a choir of 400 children on the pitch and 15,000 supporters in the stands as our young musicians delivered a thrilling medley of hits.

In 2023 we stole the show at the Leeds 2023 City of Culture opening event The Awakening before a jam-packed Headingley Stadium and subsequently used the experience to write and record the official Leeds 2023 Legacy song Marching On (Together).

LS18 Rocks now boasts over 150 students making music every week and employs seven freelance teachers.