Brighter Days Festival is a new Leeds-based day festival that aims to bring the best of Ibiza to Temple Newsam this summer.
This electric gathering is set to feature two stages and headline sets from Faithless (DJ), Kings of Tomorrow feat Julie McKnight, Roger Sanchez, Fat Tony, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, Angel Lee, Dave Robinson, Kirsten and plenty more.
The event is a duel-location festival, with one day fest at Temple Newsam in Leeds on Friday 12 August 2022, whilst another will take place in Herrington in the North East on Friday 8 July 2022.
The festival is in its second year, but this is the first time that the festival will take place in Yorkshire.
"Brighter Days Festival enters into its second year after been put together at the end of the first lockdown, the seeds were already there and action was taken. It wasn’t with a challenge as Boris delayed the reopening of our industry, meaning Brighter Days was postponed and pushed back to August and moved venues.
"Determined not to be beaten we threw an amazing party at Rainton Meadows in a huge big top which saw thousands of ravers flock for a Sunday afternoon of killer vibes from the master Patrick Topping! The day went off and here we find ourselves going into year two with quadruple the amount of artists and stages, sit tight…"
Image: Brighter Days
The team behind Brighter Days have been in the game far longer than lockdown though. The team have over 15 years experience promoting cutting-edge house parties in the North East, starting at The Arena club in 2007. Putting themselves on the map by bringing names like Avicii, Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler, Eats Everything and The Martinez Brothers, the club closed in 2013 but the pair went on to develop some huge outdoor shows, most notably the Redcar Beach site at Majuba.
Leeds's Temple Newsam Park is the team's latest project and they promise to bring "what will be a little slice of White Isle party heaven this summer. The production, the sound and the vibes will all be served up with plenty of famous Balearic spirit and wild hedonism".
Image: Brighter Days
The escapist location of Temple Newsam, is well acquainted with festivals and its rolling green park surrounded by woodland that hosts some of the North's most essential festivals makes it the perfect location for Brighter Days to debut.
With capacity set at 5,000 people with one huge main stage and a VIP Area as well as food stalls, fairground and licensed bars to keep dancers fuelled. Expect next level production that will fire the synapses while the world class DJs serve up the scintillating sounds at what might just be one of Leeds' most exclusive festivals on the year.
Otley has announced its intention to bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Entering into the national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the West Yorkshire town is hoping to be the first-ever town to claim the title.
The Town of Culture competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity, and communities.
The winning town receives a £3 million grant from the Government to deliver a major year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors, and provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.
Their bid is focused around the Otley 800, a year-long programme that will mark the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Market Charter in 1227 and the bridge over the River Wharfe in 1228.
These two historic moments transformed Otley into the bustling market town that it is today, so it deserves to be recognised.
Work has been going on behind the scenes for the past two years, with the council and Otley BID working with residents to put plans in place for the special year.
More than 70 organisations have been involved.
Mayor of Otley Cllr Paul Carter said: “Otley has always been a town that punches above its weight. This bid is about celebrating our history, but also about investing in our future — creating opportunities for our community, raising our profile and making sure Otley continues to thrive for the next 800 years.”
The shortlist for UK Town of Culture 2028 is set to be announced later this year, with each chosen town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition. Fingers crossed!
Permission granted for new ‘Corn Exchange Pavilion’ to be built in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
The green light has been given for a brand-new pavilion to be built outside the Corn Exchange in Leeds city centre.
Yesterday, Tuesday 31 March, the planning committee of Leeds City Council officially gave the green light to plans submitted by CX Leeds Ltd.
These include plans to build a pavilion outside the Corn Exchange, one of Leeds' most iconic city centre landmarks.
The new building will go where that rather underwhelming patch of astroturf currently lays, in front of the Cornucopia mural and next to the bus shelter.
It lies between New Market Street and Crown Street.
DEN Architecture state that the materials selected will create an intriguing single-storey structure that compliments the surrounding area.
They stated: “The scale of the building and roof form of the proposal pays tribute to the previous tram and bus shelters that once occupied the site.
"While retaining the appropriately subservient nature of any new building in close proximity to the Corn Exchange. This will also provide greater visibility of the Cornucopia Mural.
“The building has been designed following extensive and thorough analysis, with a clear understanding of the built environment and the area’s historic significance.”
It's not yet been decided upon what the building's use will be, although Leeds city council suggests it could be used for "outdoor functions, shops and cafes".
When first put forward to the council back in December 2024, the plans were met with three objections from the public.
So, what would you like to see go into this new space?
Sophie Smith -
29th March 2022 
