After months behind closed doors, the upgraded and transformed TESTBED Leeds is all set to party. The much-loved Leeds warehouse venue has announced a huge reopening day-into-night party from 2pm to midnight on Saturday 3 October. 

One of British electronic music’s most influential artists, Annie Mac, steps up to headline this special event, alongside Horse Meat Disco, Shee, Marcia Carr, and Junior Simba – a lineup of guaranteed good vibes and quality tunes, and a statement of intent.

TESTBED has evolved. A 2,500-capacity venue with space over doubled to 23,000 sq ft, including a new 5,000 sq ft mezzanine and balcony overlooking the main floor. The launch party will showcase the 360-degree DJ booth in a club experience powered by the city’s only custom L-Acoustics L2 system – the kind of spec you’d find at a festival – alongside a bespoke LED ceiling installation, 8m x 4m LED video wall and more. 

Few artists carry the cultural weight of Annie Mac. As BBC Radio 1 Dance Party host, she spent close to two decades championing new music and genre-defining artists. Her Before Midnight day parties are legendary and her skills as a selector are peerless. Annie Mac is the perfect artist to usher in a new era of TESTBED. 

Joining her is Horse Meat Disco, bringing guaranteed queer dancefloor euphoria and an unmissable mix of disco, house, and Italo to TESTBED; a sound that has seen them run residencies in New York and Berlin. Fast-rising Irish star Shee will drop his brand of tough, floor-filling, funked-up house, which has seen him collab with the likes of A-trak, Karma Kid, and Mighty Dub Katz. Marcia Carr takes to the Testbed decks with a well-earned rep as a premium selector of deep and funky tunes, known for her vinyl skills as part of the ‘Girlz B Like’ DJ collective. Completing the lineup is Leeds homegrown talent Junior Simba – one of the most exciting names in the new wave of house. 

TESTBED founders Laura Wellington and James Abbott-Donnelly partnered with AMAAD (The Bridge Series, L.W.E, Ironworks, Quarters, The Prospect Building) to bring the next stage of the TESTBED vision to life: an exceptional venue that brings world-class artists to Leeds, while remaining a cultural hub, genuinely rooted in the city.

Tickets for TESTBED’s opening party go on general sale now, starting from £20. Tickets available here.