Leeds Light Night: A Lite Version
Light Night is a truly special part of Leeds’ calendar, but this year’s Light Night felt like a lite version compared to previous year’s. It is easy to sound spoiled and cynical when being critical of a free event that unites the eclectic, diverse Leeds community and undoubtedly brings so much to the local businesses, but Light Night has set itself sky high standards.
Light Night 2021 was a raucous return to form for the UK’s largest art and light festival. With a wonderfully open and imaginative brief “Back To Nature”, each illumination was a creative depiction of each artist’s interpretation of the brief. From an intimate illumination in the Holy Trinity Church telling a story of an environmental migrant to the expansive environment crisis countdown clock on Leeds Town Hall or the explosion of nature reclaiming City Square and the Queen Hotel. Last year’s Light Night was awe inspiring, frightening and thought provoking simultaneously.
When compared to that, Light Night felt subdued and slightly underwhelming. With no clear brief (possibly centred on a theme of playfulness?) and illuminations that didn’t feel designed with the space in mind, I feel I have spent more than reminiscing on Light Night 2021 than contemplating what I had just witnessed.
That being said, this year’s iteration of Light Night did have stars which lit up the show. Particularly, SPARK! a drum circle that brought a playful and mischievous combination of light and masquerade to Trinity. From a deliberately out-of-sync drummer, to stealing drumsticks and choreographed stunts, SPARK! made sure they weren’t the only ones on their toes during the performance. The semi-viral video of densely packed crowds all trying to catch a glimpse of the performance on Light Night’s social media – good sign of their popularity.
Another performance audience members had to fight to see was Distant Drums. Performed at Briggate, the hybrid light installation, music performance and choreographed dance retells the story of Reggae Sound System culture and its role in the ongoing fight for racial equality. The music blaring from the decorated sound system incorporated ska, reggae, grime, jungle, hip hop and more – all music with roots to Jamaica and the Windrush generation that inspired and influenced countless components of modern music.
One consistent piece of iconography with modern music is butterflies – think Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour album cover and Glastonbury set – and they were beautifully on display during Light Night thanks to artist Anne Bennett. At Wellington Place, visitors could enter a walkway with fluorescent butterflies overhead. The walkway – predominantly covered with blue butterflies with the occasional burnt neon orange highlight – was like being teleported to Pandora from Avatar. A prime selfie spot.
One significant improvement in this year’s Light Night was the ranging selection of food trucks – ranging in cuisines and location in the city. Although not good for my bank account (I have no impulse control, especially when it comes to food from independent vendors), the quality of the food trucks was equal to the artwork you overlooked while eating. And I consider myself an authority on the topic, considering I sampled most of them. From Leeds staple Spuds & Bros serving our guilty pleasure poutine or The Mexican Pilgrim with an unhealthy but delicious serving of cheese with their sharing nachos – there was something from every corner of the globe.
Light Night, now having completed it’s 17th year, has set standards so bright that even it finds it hard to match. Taking some important steps to improve the visitor experience, most notably in the kitchens or should I say food trucks of Leeds, this year’s iteration was hugely popular and has helped to contribute to the vivid cultural and food scene in Leeds. Most importantly, in what may feel like a very dark time for many across Leeds given the ongoing cost of living crisis, Light Night has once again helped to shine a light throughout the city.
