Mint Festival is back for 2021 - and the line up has just dropped.
The Leeds house, techno and electronica festival has confirmed it will be returning for 2021 with a brand new venue as it celebrates a whopping ten decades in the game.
With big headline sets from the likes of Patrick Topping, Ricardo Villalobos, Darius Syrossian, Eats Everything and more, plus a still to be announced special guest slot, you won't want to miss out.
Hosted this year at Newsam Green Farm, under ten minutes from Leeds city centre, it looks set to be a mega all-dayer - with four separate arenas hosting over 25 DJs and artists in total.
Spread over 136 acres of land, there'll be rolling hills, magical woodlands and bricked orchard gardens to explore at the brand new, purpose-built site. Originally an open coal mine and then a livestock farm, alongside the four main stages there'll also be a special food village, VIP areas and more.
Mint festival favourite Patrick Topping will be returning with a headline slot at his very own Bunker arena. His Trick label will be coming to Mint this year, giving its name to an entire stage stacked with talent curate by the UK DJ and promoter: including Maya Jane Coles, Ammara, Elliot Adamson, Gerd Janson and Will Clarke.
Patrick Topping
Meanwhile, house music darling Darius Syrossian will be heating things up at The Terrace Party in The Valley, accompanied by the likes of East End Dubs, Eats Everything, Seb Zito and Tobias.
Elsewhere, London promoters FUSE will be teaming up with Leeds' night System to curate the line-up on their Fuse / System stage in The Orchard. Here ravers can expect a back to back set of deep, minimal house from Ricardo Villalobos and Enzo Siragusa, plus appearances from minimal techno DJ Raresh, Berlin Dj duo the Ghost, Fuse's Rich Nxt and Mint club residents Annie Errez and Bobby ODonnell.
Last but definitely not least, over on the MINT presents open air stage it's a heavy techno affair. Partygoers can expect some big sets from Belgian techno producer Amelie Lens, Berlin-based raw techno DJ Dax J and Farrago from Amelie Lens' Lenske label; plus Manchester-based DJ duo OC & Verde, Pan-Pot, Signal's promoter DJ Sofi and established techno duo Spektre.
“We have worked incredibly hard during lockdown to pull this one off safely within government guidelines," said co-owner Baz Arjomand.
"We're delighted to have been able to put together such a strong line up of local as well as international talents in these challenging times, and cannot wait to open the gates.
"As soon as the Roadmap out of lockdown was revealed, demand for tickets went through the roof and we sold six months of tickets in under 48 hours!"
Taking place at a brand new venue this year, 90% of tickets for the festival are already sold out with pre-sale tickets being made available to subscribers from 9am on Friday 14th May.
It's anticipated that Mint will sell out during the presale period - so if you want to get your hands on some, you'll need to sign up before the midnight deadline on Thursday 13th May.
If not, general sale will launch on Monday 17th May at 9am.
News
Even MORE padel courts are coming to a former film studio in Leeds city centre
It's looking like the whole of Leeds might turn into padel courts before we know it.
The padel craze is well and truly thriving, because over the past few months we've had not one, not two, but THREE new padel courts being announced in the city.
We're not quite sure why, but something about that little racket and ball is really getting the people going - and we love to see it.
So, the next lot of padel courts is set to move into the part of a former film studio on Whitehall Road.
If granted permission by Leeds City Council, eight padel courts will be created at the Versa Studios site in Holbeck, along with an onsite cafe and bar.
Council planners have said the new development would boost access to sports facilities and create jobs in the local area.
The report said: “The development will generate around 15 new jobs, contribute to the local economy and create wider spin-off benefits for the city centre fringe.
“It will also deliver important social and health benefits, encouraging more people to participate in sport and promoting an active lifestyle within an inclusive and accessible setting.”
A design report by Quantam Padel said new courts were needed to meet the ongoing growing demand for the sport, and we can believe that.
It said: "The proposal aims to deliver a high quality padel tennis centre.
“Padel tennis is more accessible to those whose level of fitness, agility or skill make conventional tennis or squash overly challenging and difficult to play.”
So, what do you make of this? Can there be one padel court too many?
Sheffield’s Peddler Market to relaunch as FREE monthly mini music festival
Clementine Hall
Peddler’s 13th year marks a bold new direction for the free monthly event.
Peddler Market began its life 12 years ago as a street food night market with a sprinkling of live music and DJs.
Now that they're synonymous with bringing some of the best street food the UK has to offer to Sheffield, the organisers are now heading in a new direction.
Peddler will now offer a five-stage monthly music festival, spread across their Kelham Island footprint - maintaining its ‘free entry’ ethos for customers.
Image: Supplied
But don't worry, food will still be a key component all whilst increasing their to platform some of the best local promoters, record shops, DJs and bands across Sheffield.
But now, they're bringing five stages to Peddler, working with some of the best up and coming and well established promoters in and across the city.
“Twelve years ago, we filled a gap that Sheffield really needed,” Jordan Roberts - owner, says. “Since then, it’s nourished this huge gastronomic change within the city. Now there’s food halls and street food everywhere, which is great because people have choice – at peddler amazing street food is a given but now you can expect much more”
Image: Supplied
"I wanted to create a labyrinth of exploration like that you find at a proper festival, tread the zones, sample the delights and find your vibe. It’s like a little mini festival,” Jordan says.
“With Tramlines and We Out Here being huge inspiration for the next gen development. There’s a car park stage, the inside main stage, a courtyard stage, the factory floor and activities happening in the basement underneath too,” Jordan explains. “Bands, DJs, the whole thing.”
Image: Supplied
“We’ve always been a street food event with two music stages,” he explains. “Now we’re excited to bring five stages, working with some of the best up and coming and well established promoters in and across the city. After more than 100 Peddler Markets where we’ve always hosted a free entry gig.
"We’ll still host our street food partners, who love seeing all the Sheffield foodies. However, the changing music line up will help you ‘save the date’ making each month even more unmissable”
The first edition of the reformatted Peddler lands on the usual first Friday and Saturday of the month on 5-6 June and promises a sprawling, multi-space experience inspired as much by classic city festivals as warehouse parties and independent culture.
Georgina Pellant -
11th May 2021 
