Brudenell, Belgrave Music Hall and Welcome, Project House have joined forces to bring the city a brand new gig spot.
The 1,000 person capacity venue is set to bring together far more than just a new space to jam out on a Friday night.
Named Project House, expect a multi-purpose venue that combines music, markets, parties, even adding in a new restaurant concept and exhibition and conference space open from this weekend.
Naturally with a big new opening comes an impressive list of events ready to go for the opening season, and this certainly won't disappoint.
This is the only hint Project House has given to the location of its new venue. / Image: Supplied, Super Friendz
British indie-rock group Bombay Bicycle Club have already been confirmed to play at the new un-named venue, as well as fast rising jazz virtuoso saxophonist Nubya Garcia, and award-winning Canadian jazz outfit BADBADNOTGOOD.
The space is also set to play host to Roller Girl Gang's Roller Disco, Northern Craft’s Creative Car Boot Sale, The Mega Record Fair, Ambient Yoga sessions, and more is expected to be announced off the back of this too.
The space itself will be fitted with a full PA and lighting system with in-house equipment that can be used from everything from weddings to meeting and markets - as well as an intimate gig space.
Project House will host also chef-led restaurant concept that will open later on in the year, which promises 'to offer a fresh and seasonal all day menu, as well as a variety of catering options for all events, from seated banquets to street food.'
The new venture comes a group of leading Leeds creatives that have seen the culture sector blossom over the last 20 years or so. Made up of Nathan Clark from The Brudenell Social Club; Tom Brown and Sam Barratt of Welcome Skate Store; Ash Kollakowski and Simon Stevens of Belgrave Music Hall and Ben Lewis from Super Friendz.
The team has been responsible for 'encouraging the development of Leeds’ culture-shaping collectives' as well as getting names like War on Drugs, Haim, Four Tet, The XX, and Loyle Carner to Leeds.
On the opening of the new venue, the team said:
"We’ve been working on this concept for over 5 years now but finding a suitable home for the project hasn’t been straightforward. Although this is the first time the group have worked on a project together, personal relationships within the group stretch back over 25 years so it’s been a lot of fun!"
"We’ve been lucky enough to work with some great people on the project and we’re really excited to get doors open later this summer."
Bombay Bicycle Club will perform at Project House this summer. / Image: Spotify
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two new arena dates have been added to their forthcoming UK tour, after selling out the entire run within two hours.
Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.
The now sold-out arena run starts in Europe in November before now arriving in Leeds on Sunday 30 November.
The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmereis the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.
However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.
Image: Supplied
With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is alsothebeginning of a new phase.
Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.
The album itself drops on this Friday 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.
As for the arena show, tickets will go on sale this Thursday 27 March at 10am.
Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.
Sophie Smith -
10th July 2023 
