Introducing 'The Chevron', a new open air venue arriving for Leeds Festival 2024.
If we weren't already buzzing with excitement for Leeds Festival this year, then we most definitely are now.
The festival have just announced that this year will welcome a brand-new, 40,000 capacity open air venue ready to wow music fans flocking to Bramham Park this August.
The Chevron will feature immersive lighting and a stage design that the festival have "never done before".
Announcing the news, Leeds Festival said "Featuring the biggest acts, bespoke creative visuals, cutting-edge tech and a world-class sound system, The Chevron is a must-visit festival experience you can’t have anywhere else..."
It will be positioned in the main arena of the festivals, signalling the return of a single main stage which fans will welcome as the two stage approach caused backlash when put into place previously.
The Chevron stage boasts headliners like The Prodigy, Sonny Fodera and Skrillex as well as Nia Archives, Barry Can’t Swim, Denzel Curry, Bou, Kenya Grace and Digga D.
This year's festival will also see the triumphant return of the 'world's biggest silent disco'.
Last year this was headlined by SIGMA in a set broadcast across both Reading and Leeds.
Image: Leeds Festival
Festival Republic Managing Director Melvin Benn: "The Chevron is more than just a physical stage; it's a testament to Reading & Leeds’ continued commitment to innovation and industry leadership. We demonstrated this previously, with the introduction and success of dual main stages in 2021.
"This year I saw the opportunity to do something new and truly special, reflecting the audience's evolving tastes and cutting edge production the show is known for. This elevates our electronic and hip-hop music offerings, while still delivering six main-stage headliners and a strong representation across other genres. I can’t wait for everyone to experience The Chevron this summer."
It's set to be an incredible festival, with Fred Again, Blink-182 and Lana Del Rey headlining over the August bank holiday weekend.
Northern Guitars in Leeds has had its long-term future secured after the building has been purchased as part of a nationwide community ownership initiative.
If you've ever been on a night out on Call Lane, then you will know of (or have heard) Northern Guitars.
It's about as grassroots as it gets, a proper intimate venue supporting artists of all levels.
And now the much-loved city centre venue, which has become a staple of Leeds' music scene, is one of the latest independent music venues to benefit from a scheme designed to protect cultural spaces from the pressures of the commercial property market.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space has been acquired by community benefit society Music Venue Properties (MVP), an organisation set up by the Music Venue Trust to buy the buildings occupied by grassroots venues and rent them back to operators on long-term agreements.
The move means the brilliant Northern Guitars can continue doing what it does best without the uncertainty that often comes with being in an increasingly challenging landscape.
MVP was launched in 2022 in response to the growing number of grassroots venues disappearing across the UK. According to the organisation, more than a third of the country's grassroots music venues have closed over the last two decades, with many struggling due to short-term leases and rising property costs.
Since launching, MVP has raised more than £7 million through community investment and funding, using the money to secure permanent homes for venues that play a vital role in nurturing emerging artists and supporting local music scenes.
This is a proper win for Northern Guitars and we're absolutely chuffed to know that they'll be going absolutely nowhere.
Opening party announced for Leeds’ newest XL nightclub taking over the old PRYZM site
Clementine Hall
Leeds-based events brand Mint has officially revealed the location of its highly anticipated new venue, Mint XL.
And it's set to open in none other than the iconic former PRYZM nightclub site on Woodhouse Lane in the heart of Leeds city centre.
Known for its longstanding contribution to the city's electronic music landscape through Mint Festival, the brand is now embarking on its most ambitious venue project to date with the launch of a completely reimagined 2,500-capacity space.
The vast space is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment and full-scale renovation, which will see Mint XL transformed into a state-of-the-art venue built around high-spec production, immersive experiences and forward-thinking programming.
Of course, it's all about the music. So at the heart of the venue is a major commitment to sound and production with a newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system throughout the main space complemented by cutting-edge lighting, immersive visual production and bespoke room design.
Enough of the details though, let's get stuck into when it's actually going to open its doors.
Mint XL will officially launch on Friday 25 September with an opening party curated by renowned electronic music platform system which aims to set the tone for an ambitious inaugural season.
Taking over the entire venue, the event will bring together some of the most respected and influential names in underground electronic music, including Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa, Fumiya Tanaka and Sonja Moonear, alongside a carefully selected lineup of acclaimed artists from across the scene.
Also on the line up is none other than Francesco Del Garda, Truly Madly, Prosumer, Laidlaw, Rich NXT, Voightmann, Foehn & Jerome Kinso, Isabelle Koci and of course long standing residents Annie Errez & Bobby ODonnell.
Tickets for the opening party for Mint XL will go live this Thursday 6 June at 6pm and you can get yours here.