Yorkshire’s biggest festival took place right here over Bank Holiday weekend- and what a weekend it was.
Leeds Festival returned to Bramham Park this weekend – and if you were one of the 80,000 odd singing along to Liam Gallagher on Friday or wading through the sea of people queuing for a glimpse of Blink 182 – you’ll know exactly what we’re on about.
As a festival that’s now in its mid-twenties, it’s certainly got older and wiser over the years – and the lineups just get better and better ever year.
There's no doubt this festival will go down in history as the year of Storm Lilian, Friday's delayed opening time was met by the heartbreaking closure of three stages due to the high winds with flying tents landing in local's back gardens...yes, really.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Due to a stripped back musical line-up, crowds for the main stages were vast as first headliner Catfish and the Bottlemen played their first live show in three years with a performance that did not disappoint and had fans flocking for spots at the front barriers.
The highlight of the first day, though, was most definitely Liam Gallagher as he shuffled onto the main stage in his parka and sunglasses to perform a set list consisting entirely of his former band’s early classics in celebration of Definitely Maybe's 30th anniversary year.
The field was united with epic singalongs as Gallagher shouted “this one’s for the tents”, the absolute perfect tonic after a demanding and blustery day.
As the wind settled and Saturday rolled around, bucket-hat wearing festival goers were back on form ready for another jam-packed day of live music.
Belfast's provocative rappers Kneecap kicked off proceedings with an electric performance that was as hilarious as it was controversial, urging a field full of Yorkshire to rap along with Get Your Brits Out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Welsh pop-punk heroes Neck Deep added a political flair to the post-GCSE party quipping "it won't always be like this", whilst Jorja Smith's set was moved to the main stage due to the Radio 1 tent closure which she did was prowess and ease.
Scottish troubadour Gerry Cinnamon united crowds as the sun set, from the synchronised foot stomps to the bellowing chants you sort of felt like you were at a sing-song at the pub - but in the best way possible.
Naturally an enormous crowd formed for Blink 182, although no sign of Kourtney Kardashian unfortunately. It was a welcome return for the pop-punk pioneers who delivered a healthy dose of nostalgia alongside lighthearted teenage humour throughout their closing set.
Fontaines D.C.'s Sunday teatime slot was perhaps the highlight of the whole weekend, a set which initially suffered from blustery sound issues but erupted into mayhem as the Irish post-punk heroes plunged into a double whammy of Boys in the Better Land and the fantastic In the Modern World, from new record Romance.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
With no eye-catching visuals and only a mumbled "How you doing" from frontman Grian Chatten, it's a performance that delivers entirely on their own terms and acts as a footnote in their inevitable meteoric rise.
Lana Del Rey's hazy California pop is met with echoes of screaming teenage girls, as the American singer-songwriter delivers a beautiful performance dotted with classics such as Summertime Sadness and Young and Beautiful.
Finally, breakout producer Fred Again makes history as the first electronic act to headline the main stage delivering a laser-inducing performance that had punters dancing through the rain.
“You’re the biggest set of troopers we’ve ever played to at a festival" he cries as the downpour refuses to cease, as a festival that started in disaster ends drenched in style.
This Leeds-based family-owned business is famed for supplying pubs, clubs and even ordinary people's homes with classic jukeboxes.
Started up in 1978, Sound Leisure really is a local business like no other, creating and distributing classic jukeboxes to over 40 countries.
This music-machine-making company notes that 75% of the jukeboxes they manufacture and sell throughout the year are bought for everyday homes.
The remaining 25% of orders are for the all-expected hospitality venues like bars, clubs and hotels, with the jukeboxes sometimes bought for company headquarters and retail outlets too.
Although there are other jukebox manufacturers, especially across the pond in the US, Sound Leisure is the only factory in the world that creates jukeboxes to play out across all formats: CD, vinyl and digital.
This jukebox business even runs the world's only 'Custom Shop', which is a design service that offers any music lovers the chance to personalise their pristine player.
So whether you're after a themed jukebox, customisable nameplate or even a bespoke design, this jukebox company's website states: "If you can dream it, we can build it".
One of Sound Leisure's prized products is the music machine inspired Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-themed jukebox which any fan of The Beatles would dream of being its lucky owner.
And there really isn't anything they can't do, as alongside creating classic jukeboxes, the same team even make pinball machines, football tables, LED signs and more.
With CD and vinyl jukeboxes from £5,000 and digital jukeboxes quoted from upwards of £12,000, we're going to need a fair few rainy days to save up our money.
However, you can still marvel at these magnificent music machines without having to dip into your savings, with guided tours starting from just £15.
If you're up for learning a little bit more about music technology or simply after admiring these classic jukeboxes in all their glory, you can find out more about the factory and book your guided tour ticket HERE.
An independent one-day festival run by local businesses is returning to Leeds this summer
Clementine Hall
Bramley’s independent festival is back after a sell-out first year.
Three local businesses, no corporate sponsor, one big day.
That's the motto of Mill Fest - an indie festival returning to Swinnow Grange Mills in Bramley after a sell-out debut that brought more than 600 people through the gates.
Mill Fest began as a shared idea between three Bramley businesses who fancied putting on a proper day out for the area, and we're so glad they did.
Last August it turned Swinnow Grange Mills into a full day of live music, street food, flash tattoos, market stalls and cold pints in the sun. We can't think of a better way to spend the day to be honest.
Images: Supplied
This year Mill Fest is back and taking place on Sunday 2 August, and the plan is simple - keep what made it work and build on it.
There will be a full day of live music, the return of the flash tattoo day, more independent traders, street food and local beer. This time the team is keen to bring in more businesses and faces from around the area, and the full lineup and programme will be announced over the coming weeks.
Images: Supplied
Owen Wilson from Against the Grain Bar said: “We started this because we wanted to put something on for Bramley, run by the people who actually work here. Last year went better than any of us expected. The place was full, the sun came out, and it felt like the whole area showed up. We can’t wait to do it again.”
Danae Miller from Grays Salon said: "The aim for this year is the same day people loved, just a bit bigger. We’d love to get more local businesses and artists involved, and to see even more familiar faces down at the mill. If we get the weather, it’ll be another one to remember.”
Clementine Hall -
27th August 2024 
