23/3/2010 3 photos

The Flux Gallery is a hidden gem of Leeds, providing a beautiful and intimate venue for small gatherings having hosted many open mic nights, poetry readings and small exhibitions. I think Amelia described the room perfectly when saying it's shaped like a cake slice...exactly! And that's one of the key elements that make it such a magical venue, with its wooden floorboards and whitewashed walls it seems to elongate Alice in Wonderland-style with jaunty unexpected angles. It was Amelia's legendary open mic nights that brought me to this special little place. The petite space would be packed with people, many of whom had brought home-made cakes which the punters munched happily waiting eagerly for the first act to begin.

In the breaks you could wander around the room (if you could find the space!) and take in the striking photography and artwork displayed on the walls. If requiring toilet facilities there is a rather large bathroom area right at the back and so you actually had to cross the 'stage' area to use it, conjuring up nightmare visions of someone managing to open the door to reveal the unsuspecting toilet user to an attentive audience awaiting the next act! I don't think this has ever happened...yet! Though I did once exit the bathroom realising the room had fallen silent for the next act and found myself 'on stage' shaking my hands dry to a round of amused applause!

The room is great acoustics-wise and the perfect size to hear an intimate piece plucked out on a guitar or an intense poetry reading...the audience was often so quiet you could have heard a pin drop! For anyone looking for a small venue with character and an enchanting atmosphere I could not recommend the Flux Gallery highly enough!

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17/3/2010 1 photo

How can I encapsulate the Flux Gallery in a short review? Its a funny little place that is hard to find unless you know what to look for and if you're not looking for it specifically you are unlikely to stumble across it. I know people who have lived in Leeds for years and never physically come across it before. It is many things - the physical space is a photography studio, small events venue and gallery space. It is only open when there are events or exhibitions on. But The Flux Gallery is also the name of a press that publishes poetry and in the space they have readings.

I first became involved with it a few years ago when I started putting on a music/poetry/performance open mic event. It is a small room shaped like a triangular cake slice and so small that there is no need to faff around using speakers or mics. It was an amazing event as far as open mics go as the audience is uncommonly attentive, probably because of the lack of amplification and the lack of a bar! And it's an amazing venue - the size and odd objects stored there make it really homely. There's a wood-burning stove, a kettle to make an interval cuppa, fairy lights,  a couple of sofas and a giant fan, amongst other things.

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