LEGENDARY DJs TO PERFORM LIVE AT THE HOWARD ASSEMBLY ROOM THIS SPRING BANK HOLIDAY

Celebrate the Spring Bank Holiday with a weekend of jazz and electronic music at the Howard Assembly Room on New Briggate, as the venue hosts live performances from the legendary DJ E.A.S.E and Reach Up Disco Wonderland duo DJ Andy Smith and Nick Halkes.
Thursday 21 May sees Leeds-born DJ E.A.S.E reunite with the original Nightmares on Wax line-up for a rare live set to honour the life of Chris Dawkins, the renowned session player who sadly passed away in May last year. Best known for helping shape DJ E.A.S.E’s pioneering sound on seminal releases including Smokers Delight and Car Boot Soul, Dawkins also built a remarkable body of work spanning soul, jazz and hip hop, collaborating with artists including Maurice Fulton, Jimi Tenor and Corinne Bailey Rae, alongside long-time collaborators Leigh Kenny and Wulls.
Part of the Leeds Jazz Festival, this special evening is a must for those raised on electronic music in Leeds. It features support sets from Wulls and Dawkins’ final band project The Flying Hats (ATA Records), followed by a performance in the HAR bar from Chris’ daughter Shaneen Dawkins with improv jazz and hip hop collective Jamettone.
Saturday evening can be spent boogieing under the glitterball with Reach Up Disco Wonderland duo Andy Smith (former tour DJ for Portishead) and Nick Halkes (manager of The Prodigy). The two industry legends will be in conversation from 6.30pm, sharing stories and behind-the-scenes moments from a lifetime spent in music, before they bring a night of disco-spanning live DJ sets to the venue from 7.45pm. They are joined by local disco and house acts Galaxians, Golden Gate and Ian Ossia.
Tickets for both events are available online now, with prices starting at just £13.50 for Reach Up Disco Wonderland. All profits raised for the commemoration performance on Thu 21 May will go to the Chris Dawkins Estate.
Upcoming Howard Assembly Room Events this month:
Fri 15 May – Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko
Wed 20 May – Colin Blunstone
Thu 21 May – DJ E.A.S.E With The Original Nightmares On Wax Band
Fri 22 May – HAR Late: A Night In Havana
Sat 23 May – HAR Late: Reach Up Disco Wonderland with Andy Smith & Nick Halkes
Sun 24 May – Leeds Jazz Festival: Emma Rawicz’s INKYRA
Sat 30 May – Banco de Gaia (Live)
/ENDS

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Elizabeth Simmonds, Brand and Communications Lead | 07734 424 524 | elizabeth.simmonds@operanorth.co.uk
Niamh Bell, Marketing and Communications Assistant | niamh.bell@operanorth.co.uk