A massive food and drink event is taking place just a 20-minute drive from Leeds this weekend - and organisers have just revealed an extensive free music line-up.
The inaugural Summer Unlocked food and drink weekender takes place from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 July, bringing a host of street food traders, a dedicated bar and a huge roster of live music to City Park in Bradford.
There'll be an array of open-air and covered seating areas, a bespoke bandstand and lush greenery - creating a woodland themed drinking and dining experience that looks set to rival similar dos in Leeds and Manchester.
Ilkley favourites Luigi street food will also be at the festival / Image: Luigistreetfood
The Summer Garden, a unique pop-up festival space, will include tents and picnic-style areas offering both indoor and outdoor seating, with free, walk-in access for all.
Food traders like The Savvy Baker, whose lockdown brownie business has taken Leeds by storm, and Ilkley food festival staple Luigi Street Food will be on hand with tasty treats; alongside plant-based Indian food from Honest Supper Club and authentic Canadian poutine from Spud n Bro’s.
Other food traders include Big Phillies, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen and Rum Shack and Lekker Eat Dutch. There will be a mix of bars across the site, including a prosecco bar, a gin and Pimms station and beer bar, plus a range of coffee stations.
On the music front, Friday and Saturday will see Buskival take over the stage in City Park with music from the likes of Ntantu, Lissy Davies, Sunflower Thieves and many more, whilst on Sunday a Musical Calligraphy takeover will put D Dipak Mistry and Razwan on the ones and twos.
On Friday 30 July, live music will run from 2 pm - 7 pm, featuring the likes of Mookie + the Bab, Miranda Arieh and Terri Shaltiel.
A selection of the street food treats on offer this weekend / Image: Luigistreetfood
Then on Saturday 31 July, music runs from 1 pm - 7 pm with performances from Chante Amour, Sunflower Thieves, Henna, Harris, Skinner and Ntantu.
Sunday will close with sets from DJ Dipak Mistry and artist Razwan Ul-Haq, who will combine the music of classical South Asian Ghazals and Qawwali with traditional Arabic calligraphy in an exciting visual performance from 11 am - 3 pm.
Food and drink vendors will operate daily from 12 - 8pm.
This weekend, Summer Unlocked will bring to life the public spaces that have become so important to so many during the lockdown months - our streets, neighbourhoods and civic spaces, our moors, our gardens and our parks.
Taking place alongside a programme of live theatre, music, film and much more, with acrobatic displays on the canals, poetry in car parks and vibrant street art, families can also look forward to getting out and active with activities such as climbing towers, dance and den building.
Coming at a time when the district continues to expand its cultural activity, as it prepares to bid for the UK City of Culture 2025 title, the Summer of Fun project is funded by the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF).
Feature image - Spud n Bros.
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Inside Sheffield’s new supersize JD Sports Store that has just opened in Meadowhall
Meadowhall has just welcomed a brand-new JD Sports Store - and it is absolutely mega.
Trainer and sportswear lovers, this one's for you as JD Sports has just opened the doors to its newest store.
Located in Meadowhall shopping centre on the Lower Level of the High Street, the new store is almost triple its previous size and spans a whopping 29,225 sq ft.
Shoppers can now browse an ever bigger selection of clothing, footwear and sportswear from big brands like Nike, Montirex, New Balance, Adidas and Berghaus just to name a few.
Image: The Sheff
To make your shopping experience even smoother, the new store features self-service tills so you can be in and out within a flash.
To celebrate the opening, Chunkz and Kenny from popular Youtube collective Beta Squad officially opened the store today and held a meet and greet for fans.
Image: The Sheff
And the celebrations don't stop there, as from Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August customers can get involved in JD's Spin-to-Win, with the chance to win gift cards, trainers and JD-branded merchandise.
Not only that, but Montirex will be hosting games all-weekend-long.
And if you can't make it that weekend, then do not fear. As on Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August, The Crep Protect truck will be rolling into Meadowhall giving out free goodie bags for customers who sign up to JD Status and follow Crep Protect.
Image: The Sheff
Sneaker Throne will also be offering a shoe-cleaning experience, with demonstrations showing customers how to keep their trainers fresh using products available in-store and goodie bags will be on offer which will also include tokens to play the Cop & Flop game.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you there for a fresh new fit.
Shortlist for 2026 Mercury Prize announced with several northern names making the cut
Clementine Hall
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize has officially landed - and it's another huge year for music from the north.
The prestigious annual award, which celebrates the very best British and Irish albums released over the past 12 months, has unveiled its 12 nominated records ahead of this year's ceremony in Newcastle this October.
Among the biggest talking points is a first-ever Mercury Prize nomination for music legend and northern icon Sir Paul McCartney, whose latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane has earned him a place on the shortlist.
Elsewhere representing the north, Newcastle jazz collective Knats have been shortlisted for A Great Day In Newcastle while jungle pioneer Nia Archives, who comes from Bradford, is recognised for her acclaimed album Emotional Junglist.
Image: Audio North
Another artist flying the Newcastle flag is JADE with her debut solo album That's Showbiz Baby!, whilst other notable nominations include Olivia Dean, RAYE and and the charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist is:
Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
RAYE – This Music May Contain Hope
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Knats – A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical – Don't Look Down
JADE – That's Showbiz Baby!
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Suede – Antidepressants
War Child Records – HELP(2)
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October after the city successfully hosted the awards for the first time last year.
The 2025 event saw hometown hero Sam Fender take home the coveted prize for People Watching, and who knows - maybe The Toon will bag another prize for a hometown hero.
Georgina Pellant -
30th July 2021 
