Our House Festival review: Halifax festival showcases northern talent

Our House Fest visited Halifax at one of the city's most iconic settings, Dean Clough. 

Dean Clough is a thriving and vibrant venue reminiscent of Halifax’s legendary Piece Hall as a 22-acre mixed-use mill complex. From its temporary courtyard dance floors to its artisan flat whites, this hidden gem of the north transforms a humble textile factory building into a versatile creative space, representing one of Halifax’s well-loved renovation projects.  

As a magnificent Grade II listed Victorian Mill, Dean Clough was constructed back in 1840, giving license for the structure to be known as one of Britain’s oldest dance music venues. From the get-go, Our House Fest was destined to be a day to remember. 

A full-day affair, Our House Fest kicked off at noon. The venue itself is clean, elegant, and quintessentially Victorian, an unusual visual accompaniment to a festival dedicated to house music. The main stage was a home for artists such as Judge Jules, Abigail Bailey, and Dale Castell during the festival all of which played a diverse collection of music from house, pop, and bass music until the sunset.

The opening set from Leeds-based DJ, John Marshall set the tone with a collection of upbeat and lively edits that immediately captivated the crowd with an engaging familiarity. It was great to see a large collection of Northern talent throughout the day, with Marc Leaf making a knock-out appearance as one of Leeds’ most dear house music pioneers. 

From 12, the crowd filled the courtyard quickly with the main stage looking full and bustling from the onset. The other stage was found to the left of the main courtyard, through the fairground. A safe space in which ravers could enjoy some tasty food, a pint in the sunshine seated on a picnic bench, and a collection of fairground rides to break things up between the dancing. It felt like a place in which everyone’s needs were catered for and you could - quite literally - spend 10 hours here. The other stage was a welcome addition come 3pm with an opening set from a heavier hardcore DJ Marc Smith. From this point on, you had a choice of stages with each offering a diverse variation of the well-loved 130bpm. 

To conclude the festival, the crowd had an overwhelming response to Halifax’s own and Our House founder Dale Castell. It was great to see the festival close on such a high note from an artist who has been on the scene for over a decade and it was clear that the crowd felt deeply connected to him during his performance, as he garnered the largest crowd of the day. Castell’s family worked in Dean Clough during its textile era, so to see the evolution of his connection to the venue was a rare treat. 

Despite its somewhat obscure setting of old-fashioned brickwork and regimented factory windows, which are not typically associated with a rave in Halifax, this unassuming venue provides a unique festival experience that’s nothing short of fulfilling. Whether you’re hungry, in need of a pint in the sunshine or want to dance freely, Dean Clough has you covered. This venue is a true marvel, and certainly one to place on your radar. 

For more festivals across the UK this summer, check out our Festival FInder.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.