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Old Chapel Music Studios needs your help to raise £9000 to secure its future in Leeds
Since launching its CrowdFunder, the studio has raised £2500, with the money raised going towards 'nullify the effects of increased rent for the next year - and settle a backdated claim for increased rent lodged by Czar St’s landlords'.
Musical home to Leeds' own Kaiser Chiefs and Pigeon Detectives and countless other artists, Old Chapel Music Studios has been making music accessible for all.
Formerly known as Parkside Studios, the CIC has been offering resources to local Holbeck residents and services to the wider Leeds areas for some 30 years now - but it's future is now uncertain.
Challenged by rising rent costs and the cost of living crisis, Old Chapel needs to raise £9000 in just a few weeks.
Since launching its CrowdFunder, the studio has raised £2500, with the money raised going towards 'nullify the effects of increased rent for the next year - and settle a backdated claim for increased rent lodged by Czar St’s landlords'.
Katie Hayes, CEO of Old Chapel Music CIC, said the following of the Crowdfunder:
“Thank you to those who have shared and donated so far. We’ve been serving the community for over 30 years now and never asked for any financial help in this time. We’ve supported numerous bands to start their careers in the industry, worked in partnership with other organisations and Charities such as Festival Republic on their Re:Balance programme to which we support women in the industry through training & mentoring while offering a safe space for individuals to grow and develop.
"The number and variety of free music workshops that have been on offer over the years, have helped both disadvantaged people and those with Mental Health and Learning Disabilities. We are not JUST at rehearsal and recording studio, we are so much more than this and I want to see the future, that we have planned for, continue and flourish for years to come.
"If we reach our crowdfunder target it will help us cover what we have paid out and by smashing the target we can continue delivering free music sessions, so please share our crowdfunder through your networks and if you can donate anything, that would be great.”
Everyone and anyone is welcome to use the facilities at Old Chapel Studios and the CIC has worked tirelessly to keep its prices affordable for musicians. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Gordon White, guitar tech for the likes of Richard Hawley and Noel Gallagher, works from Old Chapel Studios. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Old Chapel Studios has a history of bringing artists to life in a safe and welcoming environment and is offering a range of rewards for anyone that chooses to donate to the fundraiser, including t-shirts, private rehearsal sessions and recordings.
The studios explains that: "Old Chapel is registered as a Community Interest Organisation (CIC) which has 3 volunteer Directors, 2 part time staff and a pool of freelancers along with some hard working and very dedicated volunteers, who keep the doors open 7 days a week. Leeds Music Trust is our parent charity which comprises a Board of Volunteer Trustees, overseeing the work we do and making sure education and affordability to the community of Leeds, is at the forefront of all our work.
"Today the services we provide as a grassroots music community for amateur and professional musicians, young people and vulnerable adults wanting to learn or practice music have never been needed more. But, the current situation is challenging all the hard work we do."
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Leeds this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Leeds later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited Leeds, bringing his high-energy hits to O2 Academy back in February.
Now, Smith is ready to tackle an arena crowd and has chosen Leeds First Direct Bank Arena and is expected to raise the roof when 13,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds on Sunday 8 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Sophie Smith -
2nd August 2023 
