The open-air festival is back for another year- and we've got the line-up.
If you were lucky enough to make it to Newsam Park's debut festival, you'll know it was next level. So naturally, as soon as the last beat finished, our thoughts turned to the 2022 season, which is promised to be even bigger and better than the last.
This afternoon, the festival announced its headliners for the 2022 festival, including Marco Carola, Jamie Jones, Mall Grab, Jayda G, Folamour, Dan Shake, Chaos in the CBD, Djoko, Chris Stussy and more.
After such a long time away from dancing, Newsam Park is going to be one of the first festivals of the year and as it'll be one of the most 'normal' festivals we've experienced in a long time, let's face it, it'll be one to remember.
Following on from the success of Newsam Park's last festival, this year the Lake Stage promises to provide unparalleled thrills in the gorgeous countryside setting, with beats from an incredible sound system to 'beef up' the beats to another level.
The line-up is already shaping up to be the biggest to date with some huge special guests who will be returning to Leeds for the first time in almost a decade.
These include Marco Carola, the Music On boss who last played in the city in 2013 so is sure to bring his A-game. Next is Paradise man Jamie Jones, who was originally booked for last year's festival but couldn't make the rescheduled date.
Elsewhere on the line-up, you'll find a special Power to the Pppl A/V set from the eclectic Folamour and recent DJ-Kicks mix star Jayda G, who always knows how to mix up the styles to electrifying effect.
On top of these exciting sets, deeper house will come from Dan Shake and Chaos in the CBD, there will be spaced-out sounds from flying Dutchman Chris Stussy and no-frills beats from Djoko as well as plenty of goodness from local residents Annie Errez, Bobby O'Donnell, Foz, Reeshy and Sara Garvey.
To get your hands on tickets, join the general sale queue, which opens on Friday 11 February- unless you managed to sign up for pre-sale, in which case you can grab your tickets online now.
Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield is set to take on his seventh and final 7 in 7 challenge this month.
The former Leeds Rhinos captain will begin 7 in 7: The Grand Finale next Sunday 27 September.
Wondering what on earth that is? Allow us to fill you in.
Sinfield will be running an ultra-marathon every day for seven days, and this time it's across the north of England including a special stop off right here in Leeds.
Not only that, but the challenge will bring Sinfield back to some of the places that have played a huge part in his rugby league career.
The route will visit all 12 English Betfred Super League grounds, starting at Hull KR before travelling through Yorkshire and eventually crossing the Pennines towards Manchester where Sinfield is from.
Here in Leeds, we can expect Sinfield to arrive at Headingley Stadium on Wednesday 30 September at 11:14am, before leaving towards Pudsey Civic Hall at 11:40am.
The challenge will then finish at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October, where Sinfield will arrive ahead of the Super League Grand Final.
Since the first annual challenge back in 2020, Kevin Sinfield and his team have raised over £11 million for the MND community with six charities set to benefit once again from this years fundraising.
It's an amazing challenge for an amazing cause, and you can donate and find out more about the challenge here.
Good luck Kevin and the team, we know you'll smash it.
Fences at Leeds Playhouse – walls, wounds and what we leave behind | Review
Declan Kelly
Leeds Playhouse delivers a powerful story about the walls we build.
August Wilson’s Fences is a powerful and deeply personal family drama, exploring race, fatherhood, ambition and the emotional scars that can be passed from one generation to the next.
At Leeds Playhouse, the strength of the production lies largely with its cast. Ray Fearon gives Troy Maxson a commanding presence, balancing humour and charm with a growing sense of anger and resentment. It is an uncomfortable performance at times, but one that keeps you invested in Troy even when his actions become increasingly difficult to accept.
Madeline Appiah brings real warmth and emotional depth to Rose, while Josh Tedeku captures Cory’s frustration as a young man determined to make his own way rather than inherit his father’s limitations.
Image: Supplied
For me, though, Act 2 is where the production really comes alive.
The first half feels comparatively restrained. That isn't necessarily a criticism of the performances or Wilson's writing, but having experienced previous Headlong productions, I went in expecting a little more theatrical imagination from the staging. There were moments where I felt the production could have pushed the material further visually.
Act 2 begins to deliver that.
The rotating set adds movement and energy, while the bright LED lighting works particularly well with the live music, creating a more heightened atmosphere as the family's tensions reach breaking point. The production suddenly feels more visually ambitious, and the design starts to work hand-in-hand with the emotional journey of the characters.
Images: Supplied
The fence itself is an effective recurring image, initially a practical task, but gradually becoming a representation of Troy's need for control, protection and separation. The more the story unfolds, the more the fence feels like a barrier between Troy and the people he loves.
There is a lot to admire here, particularly in the performances, and Wilson's writing remains as relevant and affecting as ever. However, I couldn't help feeling that some of the theatrical ambition found in Act 2 could have been introduced earlier.
Ultimately, Fences is a moving and thought-provoking evening, with a particularly strong second half. For me, it was Act 2 that turned a solid production into a genuinely memorable one.
Running until 23 September at Leeds Playhouse, get your tickets here.
Sophie Smith -
10th February 2022 
