Creating KAOS once again for Leeds International Festival

Do you remember that legendary Kaos night at the Warehouse nightclub where Together (real name Suddi Raval) had been booked to play Hardcore Uproar live?

When the track went in to the charts in the same week it was actual chaos as 1,500 more people than expected turned up on the night. And they all got in.

Three decades on and they are going to do it again - but in a tent on Millennium Square to kick off the first day of Leeds International Festival - which is returning for a second year starting from today.

Tony Hannan was the club promoter and the man behind the Kaos night all those years ago and will be recreating the best of it with DJs and live music. He’s invited Together’s Suddi Raval’s new project, Classical Uproar, to bring a curated mix of Kaos classics, and is reuniting with DJ mates guaranteed to fill the floor.

He said: “I used to hang out with Sasha in Manchester and we were frequent visitors Eastern Bloc. I was listening to music in there when some lad recognised me, gave me a tape and asked me to listen to it. I did and the track blew me away - I knew it would be a massive track for Kaos. So I booked the lad, Suddi Raval, and 10 days before our event he went into the charts at number 12 under the name, Together. The track, Hardcore Uproar, was probably one of the first acid tracks to go mainstream.

“The event sold out within days and I wasn’t expecting the other 1,500 or so people to turn up either and right on cue the fire alarms went off and everyone seemed to fit in although it was madness.

“Raval came on as the band Together and smashed out Hardcore Uproar as the place went into meltdown. This was by far one of the craziest events at the Warehouse and one that we shall all never forget.”

There won’t be much chance of that when the doors to Kaos open once more tonight from 7pm with back in the day acts such as DJs Mark Alexander, Marshall and Brandon Block on the decks.

They will also feature in Hannan’s One Foot in the Rave exhibition featuring elsewhere in the Leeds International Festival line up and it takes party people of Leeds on a trip down clubbing memory lane.

Across the whole of the festival programme it showcases the city’s local creativity and talent alongside experts, speakers and performers from across the globe, through an eclectic mix of events and activities.

There are 50 events in 15 days, featuring over 40 speakers, 200 bands and events ranging from children’s live art sessions to a gospel choir in Millennium Square.

Other highlights include the Empowering Women with Tech conference to amazing avant-garde pioneers like Cosey Fanni Tutti and Viv Albertine, to the first Brit in space, Helen Sharman.

There will be talk about the future of Artificial Intelligence, and the mission to put humans on Mars as well as a premiere sharing in the passion and glory of the rugby team Leeds Rhinos with ‘As Good As It Gets’.

Andrew Cooper, Leeds International Festival Chair and Chief Executive of LeedsBID, which developed and funds the festival, said: “Leeds International Festival 2018 is finally here, the city is ready to showcase and celebrate its status as an international destination.

“This year’s Leeds International Festival is bigger, bolder and more ambitious - with two weeks of showcase events, original performances, inspired talks and innovative activities.”

The festival is on until May 12 and last year brought 17,000 people into the city.

For the full programme of events, visit leedsinternationalfestival.com/programme