Slam Dunk Festival are determined for us to fall even harder for them with an exciting giveaway this Valentine's Day.
The much-loved music festival showcasing some of the world's best rock, metal, pop-punk and more, hosted over at Temple Newsam Park, is back for 2025 and with a lineup as good as any past edition, the clamour for tickets is understandably crazy.
Slam Dunk sells out with ease every year, meaning those who love a mosh often miss out on tickets. Fortunately, because they love their three UK bases so much, they're giving gig-goers in Yorkshire and beyond an extra opportunity to be there this year.
Teaming up with a trio of music shops, one of those being Crash Records here in Leeds city centre, fans have the chance to give themselves the best gift of all this Valentine's: an unforgettable weekend featuring some of the best live acts in the genre.
Love is in the air and we’re cooking up a treat for you…
We’ve linked up with record stores in Slam Dunk stomping grounds Leeds, Hertfordshire and London to give away some very exciting prizes to celebrate Valentine’s Day this Friday.@Crash_Records@EmpireStAlbans… pic.twitter.com/WVCRT81NLV
Spreading love with this special one-day scavenger hunt, tickets for this year’s festival will be hidden at record stores like Crash in Leeds, as well as London and St Albans.
All Ages and Empire Records will be joining our local institution in hiding away a select few sets of free tickets to Slam Dunk 2025, but the fun doesn't stop there.
Even those who miss out on weekend passes could stumble across other goodies including merch vouchers and a special 25 years of The Used double vinyl - one of many exciting names playing the outdoor festival this year.
The Slam Dunk '25 line-up includes other massive names like A Day To Remember, Neck Deep, Electric Callboy, The Used, New Found Glory, Less Than Jake, Mouth Culture, Hot Milk, Hot Mulligan and lots more.
Remaining the UK’s biggest independent rock festival, Slam Dunk really is a must-attend on the British live music circuit.
And, you know, it goes without saying that you should pick the North over the South every single time.
Thankfully, for now, there are still tickets left even if you don't manage to land a freebie, but we'd act quickly if you want to be there. You grab yours HERE.
Taking place at Leeds Temple Newsam on 25 May 2025, we cannot wait to relive the scenes from last year. Run it back:
Featured Images — Supplied/The Hoot
Audio
Grassroots Leeds music venue secures long-term future as part of community ownership scheme
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.
Danny Jones -
12th February 2025 
