Last Friday, Blueberry Hills Studios welcomed back new kids on the block, Dance Disease, after their sold out debut at the venue last year.

Thanks to the likes of Patchwork and Next of Kin, the intimate, 300 capacity venue was the perfect setting for Dance Disease. Izzy Wylie, who started the night along with friend Louis Payne, both University of Leeds students, reassuringly expressed their intentions to keep Dance Disease at independent venues across Leeds in the future.

Upon arrival, the glowing Blueberry Hills Studios sign shone bright like a beacon across the car park, enticing event-goers into the unassuming warehouse space. Even the dancefloor was special, amazingly lit by boutique style lamps which had been jazzed up by Wylie herself, a change from the dark underground venues Leeds is accustomed to. By 12.00, when most clubs are only just beginning to fill up, Dance Disease was buzzing. This was great news for DJ Oliver Cunningham, a newcomer to the Leeds scene. Despite his warm up set starting at 11, his floor filling tune selection meant everyone dancing the minute they entered the venue, eager to be diagnosed with the Dance Disease.

The real star of the show, Uzuri label boss, Lakuti, took to the decks at 1am. It was easy to hear the inspiration behind her selections, heavily influenced by her mother’s soul and funk collection, as well as her grandfather’s affinity for jazz. Her set was deep and diverse; switching between groove-driven funk and heavier, harder house throughout.

At 3, KMAH regular Zoe Pettave aka Minty Pea stepped up to the decks to close out the night, delivering a characteristically funky techno set. The most refreshing part was seeing yet another emerging female DJ take to the stage, a recurring trait of the Leeds music and clubs scene. Her distinctive left field sound, both intense and vibrant, had event-goers dancing until the very last seconds of the event.

By the time the lights came on at 4, dancers were visibly clinging onto the nights final moments; it was clear that many were coming down with a bad case of the Dance Disease.

(Main image: Joe O’Shea)