Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Music and live art festival to be held in the heart of Leeds
‘Under the Owls’ is a new one-day festival organised in partnership by Breeze Arts Festival, East Street Arts and Leeds Beckett University and will be held in Millennium Square on Wednesday 22 July.
Beatbox musician and headline act Beardyman will close the event, which will host some of the most exciting new music and artistic talent in the city from electro to hip hop. Live DJs, dancers and vocalists from DJ School UK, Yorkshire Dance and First Floor will also come together to create an exciting showcase of their work.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Leeds City Council leader Councillor Judith Blake said: “We want to make sure that young people are at the heart of our summer series in Millennium Square and this event shows partnership working at its best. Young people from Leeds will be sharing the stage with some of the most exciting young performers on the international and national music scene. ‘Under The Owls’ takes place right at the beginning of the school holidays and there will be lots of information about how to get involved in more fun activities over the summer both at the event and on the Breeze web site at www.breezeleeds.org.
Andrew Fryer, Head of the School of Film, Music & Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett University, added: “This exciting new music and arts festival, showcasing the extraordinary range of young talent in Leeds, is a major step in promoting Leeds as the cultural capital of the North."
Under The Owls - music & live art festival in Leeds City Centre, free for under 19s - Wed 22nd July in @millsqleeds pic.twitter.com/Ymo0MQWzfy
— Under The Owls (@UnderTheOwls) June 23, 2015
Activities such as an ‘edible nail bar’, beatbox and dance workshops, physical karaoke and an open-ended live soap opera will be on offer throughout the day. An arts market will be run by &\or Emporium, Ableton Live will deliver free digital music workshops whilst Rock School will be offering the opportunity for festival goers to pick up the instruments and play.
A creative photo booth will be offering free photo-shoots by The Pop-Up Booth. Live Art Bistro will also take over a marquee as part of ‘Under The Owls’, where they will create a lively and celebratory space for young people to experience incredible art that engages them to play, learn and get involved. The festival will include tasty treats from Belgrave Feast and The Real Junk Food Project will be offering food and workshops based on their ‘pay as you feel’ model.
Helen Taylor, Senior Arts Project Officer from Breeze Arts Festival, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Under the Owls is a new addition to this year’s Breeze Arts Festival, and are pleased to be giving young people the opportunity to perform as part of this exciting event.”
Nicola Greenan, Director of East Street Arts and Chair of Leeds Music Trust, added: “As Leeds gets ready to bid for capital of Culture in 2023, hosting free and low cost events in the city centre is vital to taking the young people in the city on the Leeds 2023 journey.”
More acts are to be confirmed over the coming weeks with some special guests to be announced. See www.undertheowls.com for up to date news about the event.
The event will continue on into the night with the final of Centre Stage at O2 Academy Leeds (ticketed separately, see website for details).
This festival is a partnership between Leeds City Council’s Breeze Arts Festival, East Street Arts and Leeds Beckett University.
Breeze Arts Festival is an exciting festival of events for Leeds, with eight days packed full of activities for 11 – 19 year olds, celebrating the creativity of young people across the city. It takes place from Sat 18 – Sat 25 July.
The event is being funded by Leeds City Council’s Breeze Arts Festival, Leeds Community Foundation, the Ann McGuire Arts Education Fund and PRS For Music Foundation.