WED 01 JUL: LATE NIGHT COLOUR: Monthly band showcase hosted by The Grain Division with acts this month: Albert Ross & The Otters and Tom Brookes. THU 02 JUL: DJ - Adrian FRI 03 JUL: DJ - Dillon SAT 04 JUL: DJ - Si SUN 05 JUL: SUNDAY SESSIONS: U-hoo Yellow Glue & friends (on stage at 10:30) Upbeat acoustic tracks with a mix original material and a few obscure covers performed by Welsh legend and local hero Gee with cameos from a few guests.
WED 08 JUL: SANDINISTA LIVE!: Moody Gowns (on stage at 10:30) Local boys drum up a selection of upbeat, quirky tracks, combining hooky elements of The Fratellis and Beck. THU 09 JUL: DJ - Paul FRI 10 JUL: DJ - Sven SAT 11 JUL: DJ - John SUN 12 JUL: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Tom Attah (on stage at 10:30) Sheffield based guitarist / vocalist turns out soulful acoustic blues in the style of Robert Cray.
WED 15 JUL: LEEDS ACOUSTIC SHOWCASE hosted by NoTitle Magazine with acts Jen Armstrong + Bootscraper. THU 16 JUL: DJ - John FRI 17 JUL: DJ - Sven SAT 18 JUL: DJ - Nigel SUN 19 JUL: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Troy Faid (on stage at 10:30) Guitar picking solo artist Troy plays a blues-inflected acoustic selection influenced by the likes of Mississippi John Hurt, Django Reinhardt and Townes Van Zandt.
WED 22 JUL: SANDINISTA LIVE!: Vinnie & The Stars (on stage at 10:30) Stripped down set. Low slung, funky outfit blending blues, funk, hip hop and ska with an end product that sounds like a mix of Little Barrie, Jamie T, The Fun Loving Criminals & The Average White Band! THU 23 JUL: DJ - Sven FRI 24 JUL: DJ - Paul SAT 25 JUL: DJ - Sven SUN 26 JUL: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Roger Davies (on stage at 10:30) Roger's back playing track from his recent 'Northern Trash' LP. Expect folky, uniquely English acoustic numbers with touching, poignant and sometimes humourous lyrics with a sound that bridges the gap from Syd Barrett to Billy Bragg.
WED 29 JUL: SANDINISTA LIVE!: Mojo 57 (on stage at 10:30) Blues duo Samuel Thornton & Matt Baxter lay down original material and covers ranging from down-and-out delta blues to funky R&B with sounds from Dr John and Tom Waits to Muddy Waters. THU 30 JUL: DJ - John FRI 31 JUL: DJ - John
AUGUST
SAT 01 AUG: DJ - Sven SUN 02 AUG: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Ben Callanan (on stage at 10:30) Acoustic duo fronted by Abbe on vocals whose soaring soulful delivery over intricately melodic tracks draws comparison to the likes of Feist, Kate Nash or Regina Spektor.
WED 05 AUG: LATE NIGHT COLOUR: Monthly band showcase hosted by The Grain Division with acts this month: Fawn & Sam Airey. THU 06 AUG: DJ - John FRI 07 AUG: DJ - John SAT 08 AUG: DJ - Adrian SUN 09 AUG: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Andrea Glass (on stage at 10:30) Bolton girl delivers an Americana / acoustic country edged sound in a similar vein to Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch... or closer to home, Kate Rusby.
WED 12 AUG: SANDINISTA LIVE!: Suffering Succotash (on stage at 10:30) TBC. THU 13 AUG: DJ - John FRI 14 AUG: DJ - Adrian SAT 15 AUG: DJ - Sven SUN 16 AUG: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Hayley Gaftarnick (on stage at 10:30) An upbeat, heartfelt selection of original acoustic material, strong guitar playing and a voice reminiscent of Sia cement Hayley's place as the first lady of Leeds' acoustic scene.
WED 19 AUG: LEEDS ACOUSTIC SHOWCASE hosted by NoTitle Magazine with acts TBA. THU 20 AUG: DJ - Sven FRI 21 AUG: DJ - Paul SAT 22 AUG: DJ - Nigel SUN 23 AUG: SUNDAY SESSIONS: Kath Edmonds (on stage at 10:30) Singer/songwriter delivers gutsy, upbeat acoustic material driven on by a powerful vocal to give a sound reminiscent of Janis Joplin or Alanis Morissette.
WED 26 AUG: SANDINISTA LIVE!: Captain Backfire (on stage at 10:30) Funk-blues-rock outfit throw down an early Red Hot Chillis style with a good splash of brass in the mix to give a Breakestra-esque funky edge to their sound. THU 27 AUG: DJ - John FRI 28 AUG: DJ - Adrian SAT 29 AUG: DJ - Sven SUN 30 AUG: NO LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT - BANK HOLIDAY BEDLAM WITH DJ SVEN (on stage at 10:30) Our legendary bank holiday party session! Make the most of the long weekend - it's the last of the year!
Click here to read an interview with our resident DJ John that appeared in Leeds Guide magazine in November 2006.
Movies
The Motorcycle Diaries, Salvador, Anchorman
Television
Cheers
Books
No-one Here Gets Out Alive - Danny Sugarman
Heroes
Joe Strummer, Che Guevara, Hugo Chavez and Hemmingway
Our revamped food menu, featuring the likes of sizzling fajitas and sumptuous paella to share, is now available throughout the day from 3pm till late (see menus further down this page). Our revamped drinks menu, launched over the Valentine's weekend, has landed too! Scroll down for taster or click here to visit our main website to view all our drinks. The old favourites are present and correct but we’ve added some fresh additions for 2009 to tickle your taste buds including a new shooters menu and some great tequila chasers.
And in a further change we're excited to announce new opening hours for 2009. We're now open from 3pm - 3am Monday to Wednesday and from 12pm - 3am Thursday to Sunday making us the only venue in Leeds open till 3 every night of the week and the place to party whatever night you're out! Expect big tunes every night alongside live music every Wednesday and Sunday and of course our resident DJs Thursday to Saturday.
Sandinista! was born in the autumn of 2002 when a few friends invoked a love of good music, appetising food and great drinks. With an endearingly shabby appeal and a loosely latin american feel, the doors opened with the ethos 'nuestra casa es tu casa - our home is your home'.
The bar has a revolutionary theme with its name relating to both the legendary Nicaraguan political movement and The Clash's masterpiece triple album which musically was a major inspiration with its eclectic blend of reggae, funk, jazz, pop, punk and rap. Our playlist soon incorporated these genres and many more... a 'no dance' policy that is not always that strict.... The Clash's humanist / socialist / internationalist approach paralleled the Nicaraguan government's and in spite of debst of $1.6 billion and 1 in 5 homeless, within 6 months of coming to power, nearly 20% of the 3 million population were taught to read....
A revolution in Nicaragua...there's no inteference from America?...those Washington bullets want Castro dead... join the Havana Club... Bacardi was never an option... Coca Cola was banned for its invidious practices... Nastro joined the rebels and the rum collection grew... and grew... as did our hangovers.
We adapted, we innovated... occcasionally we even plain pilfered... There's so many faces to Sandinista! It probably has more faces than Howard Marks and more lives than Keith Richards.
Passion is not a fashion...
This is ours...
Our extensive tapas menu is available througout the day, 7 days a week, with the addition of hearty roasts served on Sundays throughout winter. All dishes are reasonably priced and freshly prepared with the finest ingredients.
Below you will find our full menu as well as our wine list. Food is served till late with service frequently running past 10pm. Bar snacks are served right through till 3am.
DRINKS
Here are just 3 pages from our new drinks menu. Plenty more exciting drinks where they came from....
At Sandinista! we try to be as ethically sound in our business practices as we can in support of green issues and fairtrade practices. Click Here to read more about what we are doing.
Throughout the week things stack up as follows:
Wednesdays Live Music: 1st of the month - Grain Division, 3rd of the month - No Title Magazine Acoustic Showcase, 2nd, 4th (& 5th) of the month - Sandinista Sessions. Thursdays Resident DJs: start the weekend early with our reasident DJs playing on rotation from 10 till 3. Fridays and Saturdays Resident DJs: on rotation playing an eclectic selection covering rock, indie, ska, funk, soul, reggae, 80s, hip hop and more from 10 till 3. Sundays Live Music: catch some of the finest local acoustic acts at our weekly Sunday Sessions night. Bands on stage at 10:30.
Sandinista was voted:
Best Bar In Leeds (2006, 2008 Leeds Nightlife Awards)
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Best Live Venue In Leeds (2007 Leeds Nightlife Awards)
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Runner Up Best Bar In Leeds (2007 Leeds Nightlife Awards)
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Best After Works Drinks Venue in Leeds (2004 & 2005 Metro Food & Drink Awards - runner up in 2006)
Social & team events
Fancy an event with a bit of originality and fun? Whether it is a team building event or a stag or hen do, we’ve got the perfect solution…
The Sandinista! Bartending Masterclass
The Sandinista! Bartending Masterclass gives you the chance to get behind the other side of the bar and learn the basics of cocktail making from some of Leeds’ finest bartenders. From Mojitos to Manhattans we can show you how it’s done and then let you try and take the reins!
With the chance to learn the basics through a series of fun activities whilst at the same time sampling some of the world’s best spirits and cocktails, how can you resist? These sessions are both inclusive and engaging and are a great alternative team activity! As well as all the wonderful drinks, the cost of the day includes lunch in the form of a buffet. Costing is specific to an event vary depending on numbers, length of session and any additional criteria requested. Please call 0113 245 2222 for more details.
Private Hire
Looking for a space for private hire? The top floor of our sister venue, Smokestack, might just be the perfect place! With a built in stage and dance floor, DJ booth and high spec. system we have facilities for and can arrange live music and DJs as well as food in the form of our creole / cajun themed buffet options, fresh from the kitchen of Sandinista! The room, which can accommodate up to 150 people, is available for hire Monday to Thursday with a license till 2am. Friday to Sunday can be considered depending on the time and nature of the booking. Our license over this time can run until 4am but weekend private bookings do have certain conditions.
Click here to download our Private & Corporate Hire brochure. For more info or to make a booking please call Smokestack on 0113 245 2222.
GENERAL PICS:
Who I'd like to meet: Friends, Drinkers, Late Night Tinkers, Party Animals, Rum Chums, Rock Doctors..!
Our EP launch is creeping ever nearer it would be most fantastic if you could attend! It's going to be seriously horse!
It's Saturday the 30th of May at The Library. It's an early start, early finish job (6pm - 11pm) and we are on at 9pmish. Tickets are £4 from Crash of Jumbo or on the door.
We are surrounded by brilliant bands such as our label mates The Light Streams (also launching their new EP), our old pals The Voltaires, our new friends The Feelies Inc. and we have transpennine excitement from Little Tremors.
Our EP, titled A GLimpse of Lightning will available on the night and is released the 1st of June. It's real hot. The Remix version is actually available now at www.silverlodeonline.co.uk.
hey up
hope you dig our tunes, we have UK Chart single release on monday,
and just agreed a distribution contract with Universal Records, Album in all major stores in may
hope to have your support
you are welcome to come down to our Single launch party Leeds Centre The Smokestack Sat 11th April
free entrance, bring ya dancin shoes!!!! love to see you come down
stay proud
Hi Guys. How are you? Thanks for being our friend. Used to spend far too much of my time in your bar and if i ever get the time to come up to Leeds it'll be my first port of call again If you get the chance come by and listen to our tunes and let us know what you think. Cheers 70s Cop
Oi buggerlugs I have been over to your place a couple of times now ,but your never there we even went down the Smokestack as we heard you were there but you weren't . Nice vibe in your place
Check out tommorrows ITV morning show ;THIS MORNING G dog, our Bass player will be on there, doing a little bit of bussiness, he will be getting a brand new sharp image, and sporting the finest STELLA FRAYS TShirt, and we have one in baby pink for PARIS HILTION to ware, lets see if see does!!!!!! If you miss the show, come and join the action at the SANTINISTA,LEEDS tommorow night were we will be making some noise,
Hi Sandinistas! Thanks for picking up my friend request. I was last in Leeds in - ummm, early 1965... could it be time to pay a return visit? Keep up the good work! cheers, James
