¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! New Years Eve Party @ Neon Cactus til 6am - Free Entry/Gratis!

¡Ándale! ¡Ándale!

New Years Eve is taken very seriously in Mexico, like us they love a party at any excuse but this is a biggie for our amigo's accross the Atlantic. Their street food and parties have inspired us since our opening and we hope to do em proud with some serious tequila slamming, dancing and maybe even the odd piñata and firework!

As it's a street party we'll be bucking the New Years trend to charge in and be keeping it Free Entry (or Gratis for our Mexican friends) and we'll be welcoming our banging residents Dr Rockwell, Ali Valium & if you're lucky maybe one of our most famous record spinners will be popping in to work the dancefloor!

Early Evening 'til 6am!

Free Entry

* We'll be encouraging one unusual Mexican New Year tradition too involving underwear. According to our wise Mexican hombres the color of a woman's panties at midnight help decide her fate in the New Year. The Mexican woman is ensured love if she wears red ones and a good job and financial health if she wears yellow. White panties denote good health and green underwear will bring money (this also goes for flowers in the home, but we care less for that!) Feel free to let us know your ambitions for the new year!

Feliz Año Nuevo!

Club Mariachi - end of year roundup

This Wednesday 8^th December marks the last Club Mariachi of 2010. So we thought we’d ask our Mexican brethren about their favourite records of the past year so see what they might be playing for us at the Cactus. Here’s a rough translation of what they said:

Roberto Miguel Sanchez, aka “Rob”:

Caribou – Swim, a magical record from the best live band playing tropical dance music. The perfect soundtrack to a sunset cenote party.

Flying Lotus – Cosmogramm, an epic journey through 14 intense tracks of acidic futuristic hiphop. The big beats and slick synths of this cosmic cacophony will take you on a 21^st Century Fear & Loathing esque trip.

Gorillaz – Plastic Beach is a marvellous mix of hiphop, pop and electronica. Add in a tastey selection of influences from around the world, and a massive guestlist of contributing stars, and you’ve got one hell of a record.

Emilia Isabel Campo, aka “Emma”:

Breakbot has undoubtedly been King of the dance floor and his track “Baby I’m Yours” is one of my favourites of the entire year. Although he hasn’t released a full album, hit backlog of smooth disco remixes and EP releases are sizzling hot and will definitely be dancing me into the new-year.

Aeroplane’s “We Can’t Fly” album is another smooth-operator. It isfull of sexy, 80’s electronica-inspired cosmic disco tunes that are both soulful and upbeat. They have also produced some awesome remixes.

Ratatat’s latest album also comes to mind. “LP4” is an energetic fusion of slick electro-pop and hip hop; full of catchy hooks and quirky beats that are polished off with crisp production.

Cristóbal Jesus Batista, aka “Chris”:

Born out of a period of musical exploration in the Swiss Alps, this is Henrik Weber’s third album as Pantha du Prince. It’s a melodic maze of sound, including a guest appearance from Panda Bear. 70 minutes of earthy, psychedelic techno goodness!

Plenty of feel good vibes from this L.A. supergroup. With strong African influences and indecipherable (mostly Hebrew) singing, it’s hard not to dance to Fool’s Gold.

It might be the end for LCD Soundsystem, but they certainly went out on a high. Well done señor Murphy.

You lucky readers can stream all these albums on a Spotify playlist HERE (apart from Flying Lotus which is unavailable on Spotify)

The final Club Mariachi of 2010 is this Wednesday 8th December at Neon Cactus, Call Lane, Leeds. Entrance is free, as always.

FACEBOOK EVENT

Summer Tunes!

Here's some cool summer tunes to get you bouncing in the sun.

Incredible edit of Beastie Boys classic 'Sabotage' from remixer extraordinaire Alex Metric. No proper video for this one unfortunately, but you can find a cheeky free download at Ohh! Crapp...

Ed Banger keepin it real with this ace funky pop tune from newboy Breakbot.

New project Ghosts of Venice from the man who brought us Kill The Rhythm and Youth Attack! sees the release of 'Sweatin' which you can buy HERE. All proceeds go to CETA - read more about the cause HERE.

Flying Lotus produced this choooon for Killer Mike (w/ free download) although I can't find anything else anywhere near as good by this Mike fella...

New one from Mr Scruff remixing a tune from Kirsty Almeida.

And finally this great groover from RJD2. Again sadly no video but free download HERE.

Enjoi!

World Cup @ Neon Cactus - come on Mexico (& England)!

It's almost upon us, the opening game of World Cup 2010 is none other than our beloved Mexico v's hosts South Africa, what a way to kick things off!

To celebrate the momentous occasion we'll be throwing a little opening party with plenty of your favourite agarve based spirits and a cracking deal of Burrito and a Beer for £5!



Join us for an alternative atmosphere to the normal England-centric crowds for all of the Mexico & England games, nothing fancy or tacky, just...

Good drinks, good football, good times.

See you there!

The Futureheads are here!

The time is upon us...



Tonight from 11pm the man, the legend Ross Millard of The Futureheads will be smashing up the decks of the cactus, it's free and it's gonna be awesome!

More info HERE

See you there! x

PS: we've also heard they're doing a FREE instore performance at Crash Records on the Headrow at 5pm, wicked!

The Hounds of Love are Calling: Futureheads to bring the Chaos to Neon Cactus

That's right, the best thing to come out of Sunderland since, well, forever is back and on a mega tour round the UK, as a special treat in Leeds we'll be getting them over to the Cactus after the Show to play some banging tunes, it's gonna be a reet party pet!



The Futureheads release their new album, 'The Chaos' on the 26th April 2010 through their own Nul Records.

The Chaos is the band’s fourth album, and arguably their most riotous to date. Following high-profile support slots with The Pixies and Foo Fighters, the new album was recorded over a series of sessions with long-standing friend David Brewis (Field Music), and renowned producer Youth.

New single Heartbeat Song is currently dominating the British radio airwaves, and The Chaos is crammed with a slew of songs equally as direct and frenzied. Combining the band's trademark four-part harmonies with a harder-edged punk delivery, The Futureheads spit out assured melodies, with the wisdom of a band that have noticeably hardened since their inception in 2003.

So you're gonna wanna know what the dealio with this is aren't you, well we'll let you in on it coz we're good like that...

Wednesday 28th April
10.30pm 'til v.late
FREE bloody Entry!

Bagsy the disabled toilet podium again!

cactus facts

did anyone know the one and only rod stewart used to be in a band called cactus? nice.

Passion Pit!!

The time is nigh!

Passion Pit are almost upon us!!

Prepare yourselves with this stupidly good mix from Clash Music by Shuttle, HERE.

Tomorrows Passion Pit show at Leeds Met is now sold out, but do not fear! The band are coming to party with us afterwards, and they're bringing Shuttle, who as well as being the band's drummer, is an exceptional artist, producer and DJ signed to the famous Ninja Tune!

It's free too, so if you have any sense, you'll be there.

http://www.myspace.com/shuttle

http://www.facebook.com/shuttlemusic

http://www.youtube.com/shuttlemusic

Hot Chip Pictures

More photos up on the facebook page HERE.

ONE WEEK TIL PASSION PIT AFTERPARTY & DJ SET @ NEON CACTUS!!!

Hot Chip is playing at my bar, at my bar...

THE OFFICIAL HOT CHIP AFTER PARTY FEATURING HOT CHIP DJ SET!

We don't have to tell you how massive this is, one of the biggest electronic acts in the World are coming down to the Neon Cactus after their show at the Academy and they're bringing their phenomenal record collections with them too!

We're doubly excited about this as they are almost as well known for their immense DJ talents as their live shows, Joe is even part of the immense Greco-Roman Soundsystem collective and last time they were in Leeds was headlining a show for Mixmag, now you'll be able to see them hanging off the balcony in the Cactus!

Anyway, enough of how excited we are, here's the funky poster you'll be seeing over town everywhere 'til Tuesday...



We've been waiting to tell you about this for ages, their new record is amazing and has been getting rave reviews, Zane Lowe had em in session last night and they smashed it you can find the link on his homepage here: Clickedy Click!

Support comes from our very own, amazing Cassette Jam who will be banging tunes out before and after the Hot Chip boys. They themselves have travelled four continents, smashing the biggest festivals and clubs to bits; with their infamous and energetic no holds barred approach to DJing playing with everyone from Justice to Dave Clark, 2ManyDJs to Fatboy Slim.

So, down to business, here's the essential info:

Where?

Neon Cactus, 33 Call Lane, Leeds.

When?

After their Academy show on Tuesday (so 11pm on 16th Feb 2010, date fans)

How Much?

Oh yeah, it's FREE!

more info to come but i doubt you'll need it, check facebook and that though

ttfn x

Annie are you ok? Are you ok Annie?

Catch Annie (oporto) every Wednesday from 10pm spinning her own interpretati0n of indie/electr0.
Fresh off the press remixes, cutting edge new music and a few tasty unexpected surprises.

Adios Amigos!!

Danthetequilaman

The Official Passion Pit After Show Party featuring Shuttle (Ninja Tune/Passion Pit) DJ SET!

We said we'd have some ace free parties for you and we told no lie, this is going to be brilliant...



The Official Passion Pit After Show Party featuring...

SHUTTLE (Ninja Tune/Passion Pit) DJ SET
+ Residents Cassette Jam

11pm - 3am
Thursday 4th March
@ The Neon Cactus, Call Lane, Leeds

Free entry!!!

check the facebook event for more info & links and watch out for an even BIGGER announcement on Friday, you may need new pants after this one, you have been warned!

More info here

Two tequila or not two tequila, that is the question?!

Tequila has been much of a mystery to the folk of Leeds, almost as mysterious as the conundrum...... ''who is the real Yorkshire ripper?!''. Ok not as mysterious as that but somewhere close.

Ever thought 'I wish there was more too this tequila than snorting the salt, squeezing lime in my eye and necking the shot'

Well, Cue the Neon Cactus! Here at the Cactus we are bringing you over 90 of the finest 100% Agave tequila's with some new and exciting (less painful) ways of drinking them. Try out my new Rhubarb, pink grapefruit and pink peppercorn sangrita, its awesome!!

Along side the huge range of tequila we offer our food menu is a true taste of Mexico with some delicious authentic street dishes and market fresh tucker.


Adios Amigo’s

Danthetequilaman

Ps. Keep your eyes peeled for some awesome guest Dj news coming in this week

Hello/Hola!

We are The Neon Cactus, a new bar/food/party venue slap bang in the middle of Leeds‘ hedonistic Call Lane, brought to you by the same crazy souls who have made Oporto, Jake‘s, Angel‘s Share and The Portobello Star legendary.

We specialise in all things Mexican and modern, so upon entering you will be greeted by the scent of fresh cooked Mexican street cuisine, the rattling of cocktail shakers and the slamming of tequila shots. That‘s if you can make them out above the banging “anything goes&lrquo; electronic influenced soundtrack coming from the mezzanine DJ booth at the back of the bar! 

We opened our doors in the autumn of 2009 but this is our first foray into the blogosphere (it’s been a busy time alright). What we hope to bring you on here are a great selection of mixes, free tracks and recommendations from our brilliant resident DJs, cocktail & booze know-how from our fine bartenders plus new menus and special offers whenever we get the inkling.

Plus from time to time I’ll be popping up to let you know about some very exciting free parties featuring guests you won’t believe (trust me, you're not gonna want to miss these!). To be the first to know about all this we recommend you follow us on this ’ere blog and/or become a fan of our facebook page:

Click Here to join us.

Plus check out our pretty website, just coz: neoncactus.co.uk

That’s all from me for now, but don’t worry the rest of the motley crew will be along to introduce themselves shortly, I’ll be back to announce some seriously amazing stuff very soon.

...oh and don’t worry about the people dancing on the bar, they’re trained professionals.