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Leeds has always had a vibrant music scene but recently the diversity of nightlife and musical genres on offer around the area has exploded.

Leeds College of Music and the events management course at Leeds Metropolitan University have created a whole new wave of people attempting to impose their musical taste on the local social scene.

Horns of plenty - The Skatalites

Noah Ball is one such person. Since arriving here 10 years ago he has built up a portfolio of some of the most modern, experimental and culturally eclectic events in Leeds. Under his stewardship, artists like the Skatalites and The Wailers, to Mr. Scruff, DJ Format and Gilles Peterson have all performed at his night, New Bohemia.

"I think 'New Bo' been so successful because of its diversity. I have a really broad appreciation of music across all styles and the night is hopefully reflective of this. I'm just really lucky, because running something like New Bohemia means I get to book artists who I'm personally a fan of. There is such a thirst for different music, that I've discovered that artists see Leeds as one of the best places to play in the country."

However, although on the surface working as an event organiser looks like living one big party, behind the music lies a whole web of issues that need addressed for the night to go ahead.

"You have to process contracts for the artists, arrange their transport and accommodation, book the venue, hire any extra sound equipment, design the flyers, publicise the event across the web... there are so many dimensions to putting on a night and invariably you'll hit many problems along the way."

"Also, people think there is loads of money in doing this. There is if you want to put on a more generic style of night, put doing something like this, putting on two or three DJs playing varied styles means my nights aren't always full and we don't always break even."

Having fun in Croatia

"On average, for the number of hours you put in, you end up paying yourself less than a minimum wage but it doesn't really matter because you know that those who are there, are there because they love the music and I guess that's what it鈥檚 all about really."

Leeds is a city that embraces new music, and after London, many people view Leeds as having the most diverse music culture. What is quite unique about the city is that many nights fuse together students and local residents who share a mutual love for the music.

Such is the reputation and following of his work, Noah has now taken the Leeds music scene to Croatia, setting up the Outlook festival in a fishing village on the Adriatic coast.

"It's such a beautiful place and it fits the festival so well. It's just a great chill-out weekend to wind-down the summer with like-minded people and the best music that you can get - in my opinion anyway!"