News Summary: 6th April – 12th April 2026

It’s been another high-octane week for the Leeds dance music scene and our local community. From festival updates to cultural takeovers, here is your essential weekly download from LDC Radio—No. 1 for Dance Music in Leeds.

🏛️ Culture: Leeds Song Festival Takes Over the City

Launching on Saturday, 11th April, the Leeds Song Festival 2026 officially kicked off its week-long residency. While we’re usually all about the bass, this festival is a massive deal for the city’s musical heritage, bringing world-class vocalists to venues like the Howard Assembly Room and Leeds Conservatoire.

• Highlight: A massive masterclass at The Venue on Sunday featured the legendary Bernarda Fink, proving that Leeds remains a global hub for musical education across all genres.

⛺ Festival Season: Sunset Groove 2026 Tickets Live!

If you’ve been waiting for summer plans, the countdown is on. This week saw a surge in interest for Sunset Groove Festival 2026 (happening July 17th–19th).

• The Lowdown: Early bird tickets are officially moving fast. With two epic stages and a lineup focusing on the best in house and tech, it’s looking like the ultimate North-UK summer session. Check the “Events” tab on our site to secure yours before the next price tier hits.

🕺 Nightlife: MiNT Festival Prep & Local Talent

As we head into the second half of April, the buzz for MiNT Festival (May 2nd–3rd) is reaching fever pitch.

• Homegrown Spotlight: Local hero Gaskin has been a major talking point in the studio this week following the announcement of his B2B set with Sidney Charles. It’s a huge moment for the Leeds “homegrown” scene—make sure you’re locked in for our daytime shows to catch more spotlights on the local artists hitting the MiNT stages.

🚧 City Update: The Kirkgate Market Revolution

The conversation continues around the proposed “Container Village” at Kirkgate Market. Formal planning was a hot topic this week as the project moves closer to reality. For the LDC community, this means more street food, more independent retail, and importantly, more live music spaces right in the heart of LS1.

📻 Station Spotlight: This Week’s Highlights

• The Breakfast Show: Big thanks to everyone who got involved in the morning banter—Wes is back at it from 7 am daily.
• Jono’s Daytime Takeover: The “Artist Faceoff” at 12 pm is getting more competitive than ever. Have your say and vote for your favorite tracks via the studio WhatsApp.
• Subvisions Sessions: Every Friday from 9 pm, the hard dance and techno vibes continue to dominate the airwaves—catch the latest sets on the listen-back player if you missed the live broadcast.

📅 Coming Up: Don’t miss the Retro Heaven night at Space later this month, and keep an eye on our “Local Events” page for more Leeds-exclusive takeovers!

Keep it locked to 97.8FM – No. 1 for Dance Music in Leeds.