With 2024 almost here, we're looking forward to the new year with excitement.
And one event we just can't shake the excitement from is Leeds Festival.
After a massive line-up announcement last month, organisers seem to be onto a winner already for 2024 with the likes of Lana Del Ray, Fred Again and Liam Gallagher all announced for the three day festival.
But where are you going to pitch up your tent?
Leeds Festival has announced that this year, there will be additional campsites for festival-goers to unpack their belongings over the weekend - including the return of Eco Camp.
The Eco Camp is designed 'for like-minded people who want to make a difference' and comes with a set of principles that involve protecting the biodiversity and taking your tent home at the end of the trip.
And with great responsibility, comes great rewards.
As part of the dedicated campsite, you'll get access to fresh compost toilets and free group classes like yoga every morning.
Booking a place is free of charge too - it's simply a thank you from the festival organisers for doing your bit for the planet over the weekend.
To stay in the Eco Camp every guest has to sign up to the following principles:
Respect your fellow campers: Be inclusive and curious, talk about what is important to you, and enjoy the festival together
Respect the environment by protecting biodiversity and avoiding littering:
Separate your recyclable materials, use the toilets provided, and don't cause excess waste.
Leave the campsite exactly as you found it:
Everyone here has joined the call, take your tent home, and show the way forward
In addition to Eco Camp, Leeds Fest has offered quiet camping for those that want a bit more shut eye over the weekend, where noise is asked to be kept to a minimum after 1am; and a Camping Plus option where you bring your own tent but still have access to a private campsite with 24-hour security, 'proper' toilets, warm showers and a pamper area with blow dryers, straighteners, makeup mirrors and its own phone charging stations.
2024 certainly already has plenty of hype around it with the first round of line-up announcements already including the likes of Fred Again, Lana Del Ray, Liam Gallagher, Blink 182, Gerry Cinnamon and the reunion of Catfish and the Bottlemen.
Additional names also include Jorja Smith, 21Savage, The Prodigy, Digga D, Skrillex and Spiritbox - it's going to be one heck of a year!
An independent music festival in South Yorkshire has been forced to cancel.
It's official, music festival season is on the horizon and it's getting us very excited to be stood in a field with a pint of cider in our grasp.
But unfortunately, that won't be the case for those looking to attend Reytfest - an independent music festival 'run my music fans by music fans'.
Set to take place at the end of June, the festival announced on Tuesday 12 May that they have had to cancel the event due to 'the cost of living crisis'.
Posting the news to Instagram, Reytfest said: "We have had to make the heartbreaking decision to not go ahead with the REYT FEST event this June. This is due primarily to poor ticket sales which we can only attribute to the cost of living crisis.
"We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the festival, from the bands, vendors, stakeholders, suppliers and all other interested parties. We’d also like to thank you, our followers, liking and sharing our posts really built our fanbase, but especially to those of you who purchased tickets.
"Rest assured your ticket money will be refunded and please don’t get disheartened by this news, keep on booking live events whether its grassroots music in a local bar to big band stadium events or something completely different such as theatres, cinema, sports, etc, if people don’t buy tickets, they will disappear.
"We had a dream that unfortunately we can’t see through to fruition on this occasion, but we’ve learnt so much and we don’t want to throw all that knowledge and experience away, so when the time is right - watch this space!! Thank you - Jon (Brad), Ian, Jess and the rest of the REYT FEST Team."
Leeds Jazz Festival returns to the city this month complete with best lineup yet
Clementine Hall
The 2026 edition of the Leeds Jazz Festival is here, and it's set to be bigger and better than ever before.
If you're a lover of jazz, then you're going to want to keep reading.
Now in its fifth year, Leeds Jazz Festival showcases the best of local, national, and international music through gigs, screenings, DJs, talks and more.
The festival is set to take place across the city from Thursday 21 to Tuesday 26 May 2026, making it the perfect event to enjoy across the bank holiday weekend.
Image: Supplied
Kicking the festival off is Submotion Orchestra, a boundary-pushing musical collective originally formed in Leeds who will be making their return to The Wardrobe for a very special gig.
Over in Chapel Allerton, Jazz Leeds will bring Donovan Haffner to Seven Arts, fresh from his wins for "Jazz Newcomer of the Year" at the UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards and "UK Breakthrough Act" at the 2026 JazzFM Awards.
Leeds Jazz Festival legend DJ Lubi has curated a fantastic night of live Cuban music, alongside a Cuban dance class and a DJ after-party at Howard Assembly Room.
Image: Supplied
Elsewhere at The Domino Club there'll be a whole host of different events taking place, including Three or Four Shades of Mingus, Alligator Gumbo, and two special shows celebrating the 100th birthday of jazz icon Miles Davis.
For more laid-back chill vibes on Bank Holiday Monday, Mercury Music Prize-nominated pianist Kit Downes will play an intimate performance in the stunning acoustics of Mill Hill Chapel. Now that is something not to be missed.
For full details on the lineup as well as information on free activities as well as ticketed gigs, visit the Leeds Jazz Festival website.
Sophie Smith -
20th December 2023 
