Cult favourite music shop Crash Records are about to drop their first-ever football shirt with a big launch party at popular city-centre bar, Oporto.
The legendary local record shop have created the eye-catching kit in collaboration with iconic sports brand, Admiral, which Leeds United famously wore from 1974-81, again in the early '90s and once more from 2005-08, and the influences are plain to see.
Not only will the shirt be available to buy from next week (and don't be surprised if they sell out quickly) but they're also letting people get their hands on them early and at a discount with the launch party at their mates just down the road.
Guess we're due a night out and a new footy shirt for the collection then.
As you can see from the kit, although it's a bold black and yellow to stay on brand with Crash's colour scheme, there are plenty of influences from the Whites at play.
It might be the Admiral doing most of the heavy lifting but you've got to admit, there's a real classic 90s vibe to this lovely little number.
We've seen lots of crossovers like this from names such as Classic Football Shirts and Bands FC who are both based in Greater Manchester, but this might be up there with one of our favourites.
After all, it is closer to home.
Credit: Supplied/The Hoot
The Crash Records footy kit will retail at just £25 but, as mentioned, if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on one at the same time, then you can head to the launch party at Oporto this weekend.
Call Lane never disappoints but with Crash Records popping over to help with the tunes and flog some of their new shirts, you can grab a ticket to this shindig for just £5 and get a fiver off the kit in the process.
As well as DJ sets from the record store staff, there'll be live music from local bands No Wukkas, Shaene, Yutanni and more.
I mean, we never need an excuse to dance the night away at Oporto but consider us sold.
Northern Guitars in Leeds has had its long-term future secured after the building has been purchased as part of a nationwide community ownership initiative.
If you've ever been on a night out on Call Lane, then you will know of (or have heard) Northern Guitars.
It's about as grassroots as it gets, a proper intimate venue supporting artists of all levels.
And now the much-loved city centre venue, which has become a staple of Leeds' music scene, is one of the latest independent music venues to benefit from a scheme designed to protect cultural spaces from the pressures of the commercial property market.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space has been acquired by community benefit society Music Venue Properties (MVP), an organisation set up by the Music Venue Trust to buy the buildings occupied by grassroots venues and rent them back to operators on long-term agreements.
The move means the brilliant Northern Guitars can continue doing what it does best without the uncertainty that often comes with being in an increasingly challenging landscape.
MVP was launched in 2022 in response to the growing number of grassroots venues disappearing across the UK. According to the organisation, more than a third of the country's grassroots music venues have closed over the last two decades, with many struggling due to short-term leases and rising property costs.
Since launching, MVP has raised more than £7 million through community investment and funding, using the money to secure permanent homes for venues that play a vital role in nurturing emerging artists and supporting local music scenes.
This is a proper win for Northern Guitars and we're absolutely chuffed to know that they'll be going absolutely nowhere.
Opening party announced for Leeds’ newest XL nightclub taking over the old PRYZM site
Clementine Hall
Leeds-based events brand Mint has officially revealed the location of its highly anticipated new venue, Mint XL.
And it's set to open in none other than the iconic former PRYZM nightclub site on Woodhouse Lane in the heart of Leeds city centre.
Known for its longstanding contribution to the city's electronic music landscape through Mint Festival, the brand is now embarking on its most ambitious venue project to date with the launch of a completely reimagined 2,500-capacity space.
The vast space is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment and full-scale renovation, which will see Mint XL transformed into a state-of-the-art venue built around high-spec production, immersive experiences and forward-thinking programming.
Of course, it's all about the music. So at the heart of the venue is a major commitment to sound and production with a newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system throughout the main space complemented by cutting-edge lighting, immersive visual production and bespoke room design.
Enough of the details though, let's get stuck into when it's actually going to open its doors.
Mint XL will officially launch on Friday 25 September with an opening party curated by renowned electronic music platform system which aims to set the tone for an ambitious inaugural season.
Taking over the entire venue, the event will bring together some of the most respected and influential names in underground electronic music, including Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa, Fumiya Tanaka and Sonja Moonear, alongside a carefully selected lineup of acclaimed artists from across the scene.
Also on the line up is none other than Francesco Del Garda, Truly Madly, Prosumer, Laidlaw, Rich NXT, Voightmann, Foehn & Jerome Kinso, Isabelle Koci and of course long standing residents Annie Errez & Bobby ODonnell.
Tickets for the opening party for Mint XL will go live this Thursday 6 June at 6pm and you can get yours here.
Danny Jones -
10th May 2024 
