Bank holidays are for one thing, right? Dancing, drinking and… more dancing. James Bate reviewed The Garden Party afters featuring an extended set from Eats Everything.

£40, £45, surely not £50. Going, going… gone. These were some of the ridiculous prices quoted on Facebook for The Garden Party (part 1), as Leeds Uni Tickets resembled a student Bargain Hunt-esque auction. Leeds was not short of parties that weekend, with Mint Warehouse and Distrikt also hosting events for those with a better grasp of electronic music. Nevertheless, since its erroneously moved from The Faversham to Canal Mills, The Garden Party has become been a staple event in the student calendar, epitomised by the ludicrous prices inundating ticket-selling groups.

If you were to search beyond the glitter, shoulder-hanging Tommy Hilfiger jumpers and copious attempts at the perfect Instagram-shot, you’d see that The Garden Party hosted Eats Everything, returning after headlining back in 2017. However, and for just fraction of the price, the Bristolian DJ was also on the bill for Wire’s afterparty.

Eats Everything provided a 3-hour set in the dark, pumping surroundings of the UK’s best small club. While Canal Mills inherently boasts a bigger capacity, nothing can compare with Wire’s acoustics, as Eats Everything utilised his mixing masterclass to take the Funktion-One sound system to new levels. The Edible-founder is well-and-truly one of the most established names on the tech-house circuit, and for good reason. His extended set infused Chicago-house vocals with enriched basslines and heavy kick drums amid a continual undercurrent of groove.

His set was stellar, with key highlights including Bas Ibellini’s “That’s Right” and the late 90s house classic “So In Love With You” by Duke, as popularised by Seth Troxler.

For just a tenner, the choice between Canal Mills and Wire seemed an obvious one. The latter inherited full focus on the music, whereas the former helped facilitate social media popularity. Having played at the biggest and most prestigious venues across Europe, Eats Everything naturally delivered yet again, but it was refreshing to see the big guy work his magic in an intimate, underground space. While Canal Mills will remain the chosen destination for Leeds’ students most bank holidays, Wire must be seen as the cheaper, better alternative.