Festival Round-Up for the Summer

It’s safe to say most Leeds folk interested in music have some inkling of what goes on at Bramham Park every August Bank Holiday. With headliners this year of Arcade Fire, Blink 182 and Guns ‘n’ Roses, Leeds Festival remains at blockbuster standard for a bumper weekend of booze and bands. However, the amount of alternatives also available throughout Leeds in the summer are fantastic, sophisticated and hugely varied.

So, for your social calendar’s pleasure, here is a handy round-up of what festivals to experience this summer in and around Leeds. Chronologically ordered for your convenience, some of these are in the very immediate future, so get browsing…

Hebden Bridge Arts Festival

NOW! until Sunday 11^th July

Venues all around Hebden Bridge

Eclectic round-up of new arts talent throughout many venues around Hebden Bridge. Musically, look out for The Todmorden Orchestra on the 6^th with a meaty programme of Vaughan Williams, Holst and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, and the Millegro York Contemporary Choir on the 10^th. Just know, Hebden residents, how jealous I am of anybody with tickets to Rich Hall. You lucky, lucky people.

Unity Day

No dates as of yet…

Woodhouse Moor, Leeds

As usual, dates won’t be released until two weeks beforehand; but the fab line-ups for the fundraisers happening throughout July (The Plight, Blacklisters, Melodica’s New Reed and many more) promise great things for some point around the middle of August! Also present and correct will be the usual fun of the fair and Leeds’ wonderful community spirit. The team are still looking for volunteers; drop them a line or head to the next public meeting, on 30^th June at Wrangthorn Church Hall.

Moor Festival

12^th – 15^th August 2010

Heslaker Farm, Skipton, North Yorkshire

The Homespun stage brings the best in reggae and drum ‘n’ bass to Skipton all weekend; particularly look out for Joker on Friday, Paper Tiger on Sunday and the HUGE soundsystems providing every single bass frequency. The Green Room provides the quirkier side of the festival with acoustic acts that you can chill out to, and the extravagantly-named Earl Hickey tribute room showcases the best local rock and progressive acts. Ellen and the Escapades, Hope & Social and Chickenhawk are all more than capable of bringing in the crowds, and Errors in particular are bloody fantastic. It’s family friendly, really chilled and the line-up is excellent. Really excited for this one.

Leeds Festival Fringe

19^th – 25^th August 2010

Venues all around Leeds City Centre

Billed as the ultimate community warm-up to Leeds Festival, several events will be taking place in city centre venues such as Carpe Diem, The Well, Royal Park Cellars and the Dry Dock – and most of them are free. All the bands are unsigned and a full list with links to listen to songs can be found on the Fringe’s website. A great way to support emerging local artists and have a bit of a different musical night out for free.

Leeds West Indian Carnival

30^th August

Potternewton Park

Maz’s Fact of the Day: this is the longest running West Indian carnival in Europe. Starting and finishing in Potternewton Park, running its way through Chapeltown and Harehills and looking and sounding fabulous the entire time, it’s the ultimate feelgood community event.