Canal Mills New Year's Eve review

Image: Canal Mills

Canal Mills is widely recognised as the go-to place in Leeds to get your dose of house music. Buried in the depths of the city, the prestigious venue hosts a mixture of upcoming and educated electronic acts, and New Year’s Eve perfectly highlighted the amalgamation of such artists.

This instalment, presented by Metropolis, boasted unrivalled sets from the raw and impending Low Steppa, Bristol-born Redlight, and illustrious Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac.

The eight-hour marathon handed fans the liberty to party one last time in 2015 and toast to 2016, as the timer flashed to midnight. Low Steppa was appropriately signed as the artist to take us into the New Year, and rightly so. 

The cacophony as Low Steppa gifted us with his edit of ‘My Love’ by Route 94 dead on 12am was the closest to a seismic wave that the crowd would ever experience (watch below).

Couldn't think of a better way to start the year @Lowsteppa 💃🏻 pic.twitter.com/say2rqFh31

— Max (@MaxBirtwistle) January 1, 2016

The oscillation caused by the song, the confetti and the air cannons merged together to create a wall of noise and vibration incomparable to anything the crowd have witnessed at a music event before. It was the perfect way to finish a scintillating 2015 for electronic dance music.

His combination of both commercial and underground house created the perfect set up for the two sizeable acts to follow. His new version of the Timo Maas Remix of Azzido Da Bass's Dooms Night (below) was received with radiance as the crowd soon warmed to the somewhat unknown Birmingham-based DJ.

He was without a doubt the highlight of the night. It was a shame to see him finish, but with Redlight and Annie Mac in the pipeline, it was in no way a disappointment. These two lived up to their promise, that was maybe what made Low Steppa’s performance so memorable - there wasn’t as much expectation to begin with.

Redlight’s journey through his new album X Colour was modernistic. The assortment of musical instruments wielded throughout his set confirmed that his talent is unparalleled. Deep and ear piercing electronic drum beats shadowed new tracks ‘Me and You’ and ‘Lessons’ keeping his playlist in tune with the house and bass mixture offered up by all.

Annie Mac’s status and busy schedule meant she owned the closing 4.30am-6am slot. Tracks such as ‘Veins’ by Hot Since 82 (above) blew the socks off most, but the ceaseless Four Tet remix of Eric Prydz’s ‘Opus’ that is so widely renowned as her signature song, topped off a magical evening of celebration.

Low Steppa’s performance has the potential not to be surpassed this year, and this was only the first day on the calender. Bring on 2016.

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