As the colder months settle in, we reflect on Broke Mag bidding goodbye to our beloved summer ‘23 with one final send-off at Mint Festival – the last time feeling that bass rumbling through the earth as we approach the gates, one more armful of wristbands for our colourful collection … this party was the cherry on top of our most hectically wonderful season yet.
We arrived to find the site sprawling across the hills and troughs of Newsam Green Farm in Leeds, as we breathed in the fresh Yorkshire air and dived in for the last hurrah.
Immediately charmed by the humbly impressive set design and stage production with make-do structures built from repurposed hay bales, shipping containers and water tanks, our initial impression of Mint Festival was the obvious creative input given to put this show on. The Barn stage, crafted by woodwork enthusiasts Fenture Events, was the pièce de resistance of this design – boasting sturdy, angular architecture perfectly aligned with the farmyard aesthetic.
The Barn itself rattled on its hinges as if it would blast off from the sheer power of the techno tracks thumping between its walls on Day 1, granted by the likes of Trym and Héctor Oaks.
Day 2 found us amazed but not surprised by a consistently high-quality musical affair – as brought to you by our favourite hosts He.She.They, accompanied by dynamic duo Chaos In The CBD, rising star Salute and the ever-iconic Queen Jayda G serving serious disco fever.
Us Brokerz were delighted to catch a strong female presence across the lineup, featuring VTSS, Sarah Story, Paige Tomlinson and Clara Cuvé among other talented ladies.
Inclusive opportunities for wxmen and other marginalised identities are vital in the music and festival scene, both for representation and equality purposes, but also because these individuals know how to throw one hell of a party!! Mint Fest proved to be an advocate for this important message; we know it should be standard, but no harm in commending inclusive practice in a world lacking gender diversity, particularly within music events.
Tucked beyond the trees we discovered The Orchard: designated home of wobs. We grooved alongside Enzo Siragusa and Rossi with System. on Saturday, before the Eastenderz crew showed up and out for Sunday Service with founders East End Dubs and a bouncy b2b from Archie Hamilton and Kolter.
We were gifted great things in small packages at Mint’s mini stages. On the The Ranch and in The Meadow, local and underground artists kept the vibes flowing between the main stages with just as much energy as their renowned counterparts. The VIP-by-Saturday / 360Arena-by-Sunday gazebo was bouncing non-stop.
Corrugated metal walls towered over The Bunker, creating a pit of ravers that rippled with strobed lighting and deep, electronic beats.
Setting the tone from early on, daylight duties over the weekend involved Skream, SOSA and DJ Daddy Trance. Saturday’s closing shift was shut down by Ben Hemsley before Sunday saw PAWSA and Dennis Cruz join forces for their GOLFOS collab.
This well-curated lineup provided an elevating soundtrack to the wholesome encounters and noticeable northern niceness of the friendly crowd this party attracts.
The Mint Fest set-up could only be improved by a more efficient and sustainable water supply system, as we felt the correct measures were not in place for an event of this kind … but that’s just one wish among many stars, and sustainability was otherwise achieved on the production front through their crafty stage design, local food vendors and tidy space.
We waved farewell to a summer of festival fun feeling sufficiently satisfied thanks to the curtain call that was Mint. Can’t wait to return to the minty green pastures for more farmyard frolicking next year!
Photography by Matty Jones