A lockdown success story is finding a home in Meanwood.
From an up-cycled horse trailer to a coffee shop, Humbl is the UK’s first battery powered mobile coffee shop with a lockdown success story that started off, and continues to be, an entirely self-funded small business.
Located in the heart of Meanwood, a leafy suburb less than three miles from Leeds city centre, the little coffee shop now has big plans to take over one of Meanwood's shops to open a permanent home.
Ever-humble, the independent coffee stop is owned by locals Matt and Georgia (and their dog Lou) and after growing their business presence at a host of pop-up events around Leeds over the past year and securing a local spot near Meanwood Park and Seagulls Reuse, the owners are now hoping to give the suburb that has taken in Humbl for the past twelve months, a permanent home in the form of a coffee shop.
From horse box to coffee shop. / Image: Humbl
The couple shared their vision on Crowdfunder at the weekend and are hoping to raise £6000 for coffee-making equipment. With the help of the local community, the aim is to raise enough to purchase a two group coffee machine, so that Humbl can cope with the bigger demand of a coffee shop.
The owners said: "We are excited to announce that we have just got the keys to this amazing local treasure and while we're well on our way to making our dream a reality we need your help to get us over the finish line!"
Humbl started as a converted horse trailer. / Image: Humbl
The owners shared a message on local community pages earlier this week, offering exciting merchandise, vouchers, invites to their opening and even a black card as part of their fundraising efforts:
"Humbl beginnings! We’re opening a coffee shop in Meanwood! Some very exciting and scary times ahead. We could not have come this far without your amazing support. Our aim is to give Meanwood a speciality coffee shop with a focus on sustainability, arts and community.
The location of the new Humbl coffee shop. / Image: Humbl
"A space where we can support local artists, projects and fellow small businesses! While we're well on our way to making our dream a reality we need your help to raise funds to get our small business off to a flying start.
"In return we are offering some fantastic rewards, including limited edition merch, VIP launch party invites and free coffee on us for a whole year. Your contribution, no matter how great or small, would mean the world. We can’t wait to welcome you all! Your Humbl humans, Matt, Georgia and Lou."
Some of the crowdfunders will receive tote bags as thanks. / Image: Humbl
Every £20 donation will give the donor access to a limited edition birthday blend, 250g bag of beans, limited edition tote and a free coffee upon opening, but the prizes scale all the way up to £1500 donation offerings.
The top offering is one of four 'Humbl Black Cards' which will entitle the lucky donor to 50% off any bill sit in or take out forever, as well as a hand written invite to soft launch/opening day and after party with a plus one, a plaque with your name on it in the venue- and a permanent state of gratitude from the business owners.
Whilst renovations take place, Matt will still be "smashing out his famous flats whites" at Humbl's locally-known spot next to Meanwood Park every Friday - Sunday until the opening of their permanent store, as well as attending plenty of pop-up events around the city too.
The owners pictured on their Facebook post. / Image: Humbl
Slam Dunk Festival is back with another belting lineup.
Slam Dunk, the UK's biggest independent rock festival, has unveiled its first wave of artists - and its a lineup to get very excited about.
Hot on the heels of a milestone 20th anniversary this summer, the festival kicks off with Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Sleeping With Sirens, The Used and The Front Bottoms topping the bill.
This time, Slam Dunk is doing things a little bit differently, landing here in Leeds first at Temple Newsam on Saturday 29 May before closing the weekend at Hatfield Park on Sunday 30 May 2027.
Leading the festival are two of pop punk’s biggest festival favourites. Bowling For Soup return following a memorable 2023 appearance, whilst Simple Plan will be rotating headliners, returning to Slam Dunk after 8 years and whose debut album No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls also turns 25.
Elsewhere, ska-punk favourites Reel Big Fish return to Slam Dunk for an exclusive UK reunion show, Less Than Jake are also back on the bill, bringing more than three decades of anthems with them, while The Interrupters join a formidable ska-punk showing and Isle of Wight punks Grade 2 bring a dose of old-school punk to the bill.
And it doesn't stop there, with even more names still to be announced to the already star-studded lineup.
Pre-sale tickets are available via the Slam Dunk app for up to 48 hours (subject to availability) from 10am, Friday 2 October, with remaining tickets on sale from 10am on Monday 5 October through all other outlets. Get yours here.
BBC Introducing announces massive Leeds takeover celebrating the UK’s best emerging artists
Clementine Hall
BBC Introducing and Leeds promoter Futuresound have announced a city-wide takeover this November as part of their ‘Introducing Live’ event.
Taking place in ten towns and cities across the UK, Introducing Live will hit Leeds on Saturday 28 November and showcase some of the best emerging artists in the UK today.
Not only that, but it will be held in some of the city's most iconic independent music venues including The Wardrobe, Belgrave Music Hall and Oporto.
The 450-capacity venue The Wardrobe will be home to an 'Introducing on Radio 1' showcase featuring a packed programme including the Egyptian born, Manchester based alt-pop artist Nxdia, Lincolnshire indie-pop quintet Cherryholt, dark pop artist Precious Pepala, Scunthorpe singer-songwriter Will Parker and many more.
Meanwhile, over at Belgrave Music Hall, Emily Pilbeam from Introducing's Mixtape on 6 Music will showcase black country duo GANS, the local 7-piece project Group A.D., underground group holybones and more.
Oporto, famous for hosting some of the biggest names in music during the start of their careers, will host a dedicated 'Introducing Rock' takeover with Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe, with a line-up featuring Nottingham-formed rock duo Alt Blk Era, goth-grunge alt group Venus Grrrls, indie-pop BRIT School alumna jo from school, post-hardcore band Hollow Bloom, and Sheffield-based electro-metalcore band DUSTHOUSE.
Joe Hubbard, promoter at Futuresound Group, said: “We’re really excited to be working with BBC Introducing to bring this event to Leeds, for the first time! It feels a very fitting partnership after our partnership on Live at Leeds together over the years.
"Between headliners Nxdia, Alt Blk Era, Gans and Jaguar, I feel there’s something for everyone. I’m also really proud of the local offering we’ve got, with strong representation from BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield across the bill. There’s been months of work behind the scenes to make it happen, so it’s a great feeling to finally release the line-up to the world. See you in November!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am and you can get yours here.
Sophie Smith -
5th April 2022 
