Massive new outdoor gig space in Leeds to be launched with Hacienda Open Air concert featuring top DJs

Based at City One, a development site currently in planning for Caddick Group, Canvas Yard is a short walk from the Leeds railway station.

A spokesperson for the venture said: "It is the first development in the site’s plans to become a vibrant new city centre neighbourhood, part of a wider masterplan that will deliver an outstanding new area of Leeds by Caddick Group.”

Canvas Yard’s first event will kick off in April, with events including FAC51 Hacienda Open Air on April 30.

FAC51 Hacienda Open Air, featuring Roger Sanchez, Dimitri from Paris, Todd Terry, Derrick Carter and Graeme Park, was first announced last year.

Moda Living and New Citizens first joined forces in 2022, following conversations between Leeds City Council and Caddick Group.

Working with the council, friends, and partners across the city they transformed the brownfield site into Leeds’ first festival of the season.

The site initially hosted a sell-out event called The Garden Party featuring DJs, including Denis Sulta Eats Everything, Ewan McVicar, HAAi, Hot Since 82, Jon Hopkins, Maribou State.

This year’s event will be announced as part of a new series of events held at Canvas Yard.

Lydia Eustace, Marketing Director at Moda, said the opportunity to build on the success of the 2022 event and offer Leeds a major new open-air events space was one that could not be missed.

“Our collaboration with New Citizens on The Garden Party last year was a huge success and one we were keen to develop,” she said.

"The potential at Canvas Yard is enormous, from health and wellbeing, fitness and sports events to music festivals, art exhibitions, and everything in between – we can’t wait for the event programme that will come forward at Canvas Yard.

"New Citizens share the Moda ethos of well-being and community and so it’s fantastic that we can announce the launch of Canvas Yard in association with them.”

Matt Long, Director at New Citizens, said: “We are delighted to be building on our relationship with Moda Living following the success of our 2022 event.

"The collaboration and launch of Canvas Yard will fill a gap in the Leeds cultural landscape providing a space for creativity across, music, arts, film and TV sectors.”

Moda Living describes itself as the UK’s leading creator and operator of rental communities, with a pipeline of 20,000 homes worth a combined £6.5bn across the UK.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Built on its core brand foundations of customer service, ESG, health and wellbeing and technology, Moda’s portfolio of largescale neighbourhoods and range of accommodation products and price points is pioneering positive change in the rental landscape across the country at a much-needed time.”

Last year Moda opened its first Leeds neighbourhood. Called Moda, New York Square, it brought 515 state-of-the-art new homes to the city.

A spokesperson for New Citizens said: “We are creative specialists focusing on projects within the music, events and hospitality sectors throughout the UK, attracting over 100,000 attendees per year to their events.”