Live Review: Mint Festival

The name ‘Mint’ means exactly that. Within the North of England, you won’t meet many Dance heads that are unaware of the brand that stemmed from the famous Mint Club in Leeds. Taking a look into the history of Mint Club as we know it, the development of the epic space shaping the scene of Leeds with a Funktion One and Watergate-esque lighting- Mint festival has been welcomed onto the bill of fine festivals with open arms this summer.

The first year a festival is born, it is always a risky business. However, due to the success and the huge following predetermined by the ‘Mint’ name, everyone on their way to Lotherton Hall knew that it was going to be top quality. The buses were buzzing on arrival and balloons on entry were the usual affair.

At 3pm people were dancing as though it was the early hours, human pyramids and trippy tones of all genres of music laced with smiles and a Funktion one surround sound system running through each tent made for an epic end to an equally epic run of Mint nights so far this year.

Running for a solid 13-hour stint and a grand selection the six tent marathon, it was only fair to try each tent out and give it a good old two step and fist pump as far into the crisp cold Leeds air as you possibly could. Only the brave were attending to the last of the summer’s season of festivals and this shone through as Wolf and Lamb, Soul Clap, Jamie Jones showcased the latest and highest class of House tracks to take you into the late of the night with no one giving as much of a moan about the cold. Reboot and the birthday boy Seth Troxler celebrated in style. The 2000 person crowd became rowdy with Birthday tunes and the best Birthday cake a man could ever ask for. Troxler played a seriously techy set progressing into the deepest of drum snares and machines. Things could have gotten a little on the darker side of House but his set was classic all the same.

The open problem seen to be present was the fact that it was a tricky one deciding who was going to be the flavour of the night, of course Jamie Jones was a hot ticket but there is always room for a bit of the Bigger than Barry tent, Black light and Bitch music to take you high into the Mint skies. What a way to end the season; bring on Mint 2013.

by Frankie Salt

Festival season may be over in the UK, but it’s only just beginning in Australia. Check out what Festivals in Australia are coming up!