Exposed Magazine October 2022

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

22: CLUBLAND

Ahead of their headline performance at No Bounds Festival, Ash Birch speaks to Syd Minskey-Sergeant of Working Men’s Club, a Yorkshirebased band flying the flag for crunching post-industrial electronica.

25: KNOWING NO BOUNDS

Exposed chats to Liam O’Shea, founder of No Bounds Festival and its spiritual home of Hope Works, about what we can expect from this year’s jampacked programme of events.

32: SHEFFIELD BUCKET LIST

We go the full monty, dear reader, and round up some of the experiences you simply must try in the Steel City – everything from iconic food and drink to, erm, a spot of ice-free curling on a night out.

50: GRILLIN’ IT

We take a closer look at Guyshi, a unique Japanese charcoal BBQ and bar bringing an immersive dining experience to the heart of West Street – plus a robot waiter which you’ll either find cute or downright disturbing.

74: FORGING AHEAD

We check out an exciting new industrial events space which opened in the heart of Attercliffe last month.

78: SENSES WORKING OVERTIME

Mark Perkins previews another welcome instalment of Sensoria, the city’s festival of innovative music, film and digital arts.

Ayup! Welcome to this October issue of Exposed Mag, a student special celebrating the return of academics old and new to Sheffield. If you belong to the returning crowd, I’d like to officially welcome you back to your second home. Town on a weeknight has been an eerily quiet place without you, tumbleweeds have been spotted blowing across the Nurse Tav beer garden and meal deal sections in Saino’s throughout central Sheff have remained practically untouched for months. Hopefully everyone’s now feeling settled and ready to get stuck into all the Steel City has to offer this term.

If you’re a fresh arrival and perhaps picking up this magazine for the first time, then A: hello there! and B: you’ve made a wise choice, friend. This is your monthly guide to the best of Sheff each month; from festivals to new venues, local gigs to eye-opening exhibitions, hidden gems to much-loved institutions, we’re here to provide you with regular inspo on making the most out of your stay here which, if the city’s impressively high student retention rate is anything to go by, could well be a fair slog! We’ll squeeze what we can into our printed mags, but for the full shebang be sure to follow us on socials (@exposedmagsheff on most platforms).

As someone who both grew up in Sheff and went to university here, I’ve managed to experience a bit of both worlds. And other than beware of the Corp quadvods (which are surely not even a thing anymore), I have one key piece of advice when it comes to making the most of your time here – explore. There’s so much more to this place than what meets the eye, and if you make the effort to scratch beneath its surface you’ll discover some real gems. We’ve decided to help you get the ball rolling on this noble quest with a Sheffield bucket list over on page 32, but that’s still just a small appetiser of what you can experience amongst these seven hills (just like Rome, as you’ll no doubt soon get bored of hearing).

Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll get a flavour of what October has in store – and it’s a doozy. One of the country’s most exciting electronic music and arts festivals is back, headlined fittingly by our cover stars Working Men’s Club, a Yorkshire band positively oozing with the industrial, synth-led swagger that has become synonymous with these parts. There’s also the ever-intriguing celebration of music, art and digital Sensoria Festival making their annual return, as well as literary festival Off the Shelf .

Combine that with a whole host of new places to eat, drink and relax in, plus your pick of upcoming cultural highlights, and I’d say you’ve got plenty to be getting on with. Have a good’un and we’ll see you next month!

GAFFERS

Phil Turner (MD) phil@ exposedmagazine. co.uk Nick Hallam (Sales Director) nick@ exposedmagazine. co.uk

FINANCE

Lis Ellis (Accounts) accounts@ exposedmagazine. co.uk

GRAFTERS

Joe Food (Editor) joe@exposedmagazine. co.uk

Ash Birch (Online Editor) ash@exposedmagazine. co.uk

GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Heather Paterson, Cal Reid, Mark Perkins, Charlie Parker, Adele Parr, Daniel Inniss

COVER SHOT

THE BUSINESS STUFF

Exposed is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1b, 2 Kelham square Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD

The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout Exposed is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific entertainment listings.

Lilie Eiger

THINGS YOU ONLY KNOW IF YOU’RE A...

MAGICIAN

MAGIC CIRCLE EXPULSIONS ARE A MYTH

Everyone thinks we will get kicked out of the magic circle if we tell you how a trick works, but that’s not strictly true. How else would there be any new magicians if there wasn’t a way of sharing the secret behind certain tricks? However, I won’t be telling you lot how things are done, that’s for sure.

WE TAKE A BREAK FROM IT SOMETIMES

Yeah, so we don’t actually do magic all the time. Pulling rabbits out of hats all day and changing tenners into twenties might sound like a lot of fun – and it is! – but unfortunately we still have to boring stuff like pay the bills and clean the house (I’m still working on a Harry Potter-style trick to make the house tidy itself).

IT’S NOT FOR EVERYONE, YOU KNOW…

You know how people often say, “Everyone loves a bit of magic”? Not true. There’s actually a genuine phobia called Rhabdophobia, which is a fear of magicians. If I ever meet these people I’ll try a bit of exposure therapy and be sure to show them some of my most mind-bending stuff. I'm sure that’ll work, right?

IT’S NOT A ROMANTIC PURSUIT

People think my partner just gets a constant magic show and we live out our lives producing doves and flowers for them at a moment's notice. In fact, most of our partners would be lucky to see much magic at all when we're not performing; they would probably leave us if we never stopped doing tricks around the house, and my partner definitely isn’t very eager for me to have a go at sawing her in half...

SORRY ABOUT THIS, BUT…

No, and despite the multiple requests received, we cannot make your other half disappear. That won't be at all appropriate. Next request, please!

UPFRONT

Tom Hudson AKA AfroMagic has been performing magic since he was seven years old. Today he travels across the UK bringing close-quarters magic shows to crowds at a wide variety of events. You can book his services at afromagic.co.uk, or give him a follow at @ afromagician.

HAVING A SCREAM

An immersive screening of TV classic Ghostwatch and the International Premiere of Matriarch starring Kate Dickie and Jemima Rooper are among the highlights at Celluloid Screams 2022, along with UK Premieres of The Elderly and Mexican witch tale Evil Eye, plus a host of other terrifying treats.

The festival has been frightening film fans since 2009, delivering shocks and scares with the best in new and classic horror cinema from around the globe.

Recently voted one of the best horror festivals in the world for the second year running, the 14th edition of Celluloid Screams runs from 20-23 October 2022 at the Showroom Cinema and will present a terrifying programme of films and special events.

You can find the full programme here: celluloidscreams.com

I’m off the Cross...

Or, to those not from Sheffield, I’m from Parson Cross. It’s not a picturesque area – not in the typical ‘Yorkshire Dales’ picturesque, that is. It’s not particularly popular amongst people from Sheffield, being known as ‘rough’ (normally receiving a wince once I explain my birthplace), nor is it what is regarded as an inspiring place (again, in that Yorkshire Dales way).

BY CHARLIE PARKER

It is, however, real. An often-overused description, evoking a Shane Meadow’s scene, ‘real’ is the grounding I received from Parson Cross (and more so, later, in a similar area where I eventually grew up in Stockport) that has kept me in good stead for my adult life.

I’ve had something of a mixed upbringing, having spent my very early years on the Cross, raised in an area called Heaton Norris in Stockport until 23, and then coming back to Sheffield for university. That said, there is a stainless-steel core that is built into everyone who even has a passing affiliation with Sheffield: disdain over non-Sheffield sandwich sizes, religious belief that everything tastes better with Henderson’s relish, the curious unmistakable mark of a Sheffielder that comes from when

you pass one a knife – they will always check for the ‘Made in Sheffield’ note on it, as if to ascertain legitimacy. There is always a sense of false modesty built into Sheffielders; growing up near Manchester, it grated on me how loud our Lancastrian cousins are –‘too much rattle,’ as elder Yorkshiremen might comment. However, I came to learn that, bluntly speaking, while initially slightly cold in person, once the Mancunians accept you, you have no choice in the matter of whether you’re friends or not. Sheffielders have no need for this time spent working you out; a city and greater area built on steelworkers and miners, a working life spent among the dust and blinding heat leaves no time for second-guessing first introductions.

The great irony growing up in Stockport was that I was always ‘The Yorkshire lad’, and in Sheffield I’ve never quite felt at home. Since coming back to the city to attend one of the universities, I couldn’t help but notice how I was still an outsider: students would hear my broad Yorkshire accent and ask if I’m local. ‘Well, sort of…’ came the response. I’d visited Sheffield a lot over the years, either family at Christmas or

“I MISSED SHEFFIELD’S HILLS, OF ALL THINGS. I MISSED THAT IN OLD MAN PUBS YOU COULD SAY NOWT TO ANYBODY, BUT A GOOD FEW REGULARS WILL STILL SAY GOODBYE WHEN YOU LEAVE."

as often as we could to visit my beloved Sheffield Wednesday. I knew a fair bit of the north of Sheffield, but the city centre and surrounding areas were lost to me.

After working for about five years near Manchester, in addition to a year’s worth of Access to HE at Manchester College in the city centre, I thus became intimately acquainted with the Manc way of life (Oasis and Stone Roses are undisputed Gods, the phrase ‘alright’ can mean up to five things, and there is little use for the letter ‘t’ or ‘r’ towards the end of words). Moving to Sheffield then proved as something of a reverse culture shock: life is slower here. I had been spoiled by Manchester; or, perhaps, being a hard-toimpress Yorkshireman, I was immediately disillusioned by my return to Sheffield. It was nice to see areas I recognised back when I was a child, and hear accents that reminded me of family, but I could not get over the ‘big town’ ways of Sheffield. There are days I miss Manchester’s huge buildings, constant swinging cranes and planes flying overhead. I miss the hive activity of Manchester city centre, and even, at times, the almost inbuilt cocky nature of seemingly every Mancunian ever. Naturally, I cannot deny my adoration for the town I grew up in (I will always secretly celebrate a win for Stockport County Football Club), yet it is always my return to Sheffield that reminds me of why I still live here. I missed Sheffield’s hills, of all things. I missed that in old man pubs you could say nowt to anybody, but a good few regulars will still say goodbye when you leave. Most of all, I missed the false modesty of Sheffielders; one of the biggest cities in England, the home of the modern rules of football and musically cultural behemoth, yet our prideful modesty is, I believe, a unique asset.

Yeah, I always wear a flat cap, I love relish, and I still get a bit disgusted when I’m served a pint with no head on it. I love The Stone Roses as much as I love grumbling on the terraces at Hillsborough: ‘Ah’m not bleedin’ comin’ next week.’

But really, I’m just off the Cross, and that’ll never change.

"I HAD BEEN SPOILED BY MANCHESTER; OR, PERHAPS, BEING A HARD-TO-IMPRESS YORKSHIREMAN, I WAS IMMEDIATELY DISILLUSIONED BY MY RETURN TO SHEFFIELD."

1554 coffee shop

Sheffield Cathedral has been a cornerstone of the city since circa 1430, an iconic landmark situated in the heart of town.

However, not everyone knows that neatly squirrelled away inside this grand, historic building is 1554 Coffee Shop, a peaceful retreat that’s perfect for a light lunch or a little

hidden gem

pick-me-up. With ample comfy seating and a welcoming attitude to all, 1554 serves all day and has won a number of awards including the coveted Sheffield City Centre Retail Awards for outstanding service. They only use local suppliers for the food and drinks including the likes of Bakewell Bakery, Secret Cake Club, Our Cow Molly and even have their own specially designed house blend from Heavenly Coffee. Alongside an endless rotation of cakes and traybakes, they also serve hot food such as meat pies and feta pasta if you’re after a heartier bite. Either way, you’re guaranteed a warm

welcome and a beautifully tranquil atmosphere, a genuine haven away from the city centre rush. Free wi-fi is available throughout the day and students get a 10% discount so the refills can keep on flowing (takeouts are also available). When you’re finished, you’re welcome to explore centuries of history detailed across the building, ogle at the impressive lantern tower designed by Amber Hiscott or visit the 1554 gift shop which stocks a selection of goodies and crafts from local producers.

sheffieldcathedral.org @1554coffeeshop

“The grandest entrance to any coffee shop...”

Walker

Healthy

Always Home

GET FIXED UP

REASONS WHY

IREPAIR STOP IS YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING APPLE…

THEY’RE IDEALLY LOCATED

Being based on Ecclesall Road means the shop is at the heart of student life (Collegiate Campus and library are literally opposite the store) and they already work in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University on repairs for their Apple kit, so there’s a close link already there. Of course, you could go to a retail centre and visit a large chain store, but if you pop along to iRepair Stop you’re supporting a local independent business – while more than likely saving a few quid and receiving a more personalised service, too!

YOU CAN FIND OUT THE ISSUE FOR FREE

Unlike many other stores, iRepair offer free diagnostics. It might take a couple of hours to uncover the issue, but once they do you’ll be instantly provided you with a quote to fix it, and if you don’t want to go ahead, then you’ll have your phone returned at no cost. It’s also worth mentioning that, even though they specialise in Apple products, iRepair Stop can fix a range of brands, all coming with their minimum warranty offer for peace of mind.

IT'S A MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

They sell a wide selection of refurbished Apple products: iPhones, iPads, iMacs, Macbooks – again provided with full warranty. This means you’re saving money while also keeping perfectly functional products in circulation for longer, which has an obvious environmental benefit. Plus you’re hardly likely to travel to see them – the store is just a 15-minute walk out from the city centre and within a 30-minute walk of most student accommodations.

THERE’S NOT MUCH THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO SOLVE

It’s not just superficial damage they can fix. If your device is struggling with short battery life, slow performance, booting issues (beware the blue screen of death!) or all other manners of techy ailments, their highly trained team are on-hand to professionally upgrade your device so it can function flawlessly.

IT’LL GET SORTED – QUICKLY!

They know your time is important and when your trusty Apple product goes down, one day feels like one week. As such, you’re guaranteed a fast turnaround time (cracked screen issues should be resolved within the hour) and you’ll always get a same-day appointment. If your problem requires a home visit, their callout team can get out to anywhere in South Yorkshire to provide repairs and even bespoke training.

how to get in touch:

THEY’RE APPLE CERTIFIED

The team at iRepair Store have been fixing a variety of device problems for around four and a half years now. They’re one of the only local stores that are Apple certified, which means they can provide practically the same service you’ll receive at an official Apple store and that all replacement parts are legit. However, whereas an Apple store might only provide three months warranty, iRepair can provide a one-year warranty on all their repairs. For essential repairs like water damage and screen scratches, Apple might encourage you to get a new handset; but iRepair will fix those issues without asking you to pay for a new phone, plus they can offer upgrades on storage, memory, processors, graphic cards – you name it, they’ll sort it!

Pop in: 393 Eccelsall Road, Sheffield, S11 8PG (next door to Starbucks)

Phone: 0114 266 1961

Email: info@irepairstop.co.uk

MYTHBUSTING

Does a bag of rice help with water damage?

“Good question. It does what it says it does, but not as well as you may think. A full barrel of rice can extract about 200ml in 24 hours, which could be handy. If,

like most people, you’ve not got access to a barrel of rice and are instead using a small bag, you’re talking a few droplets really. That’s probably not going to do much for a soaked device.”

Cal, iRepair head technician

UPFRONT

TravelMaster, the multioperator ticketing company who provide tickets for travel on buses, trams and trains anywhere in South Yorkshire, are giving customers the chance to explore the region and pick up a few exciting bargains along the way.

Each month, their recently launched ExploreSY campaign will highlight an area in South Yorkshire where passengers can explore new and exciting destinations with their TravelMaster ticket and smartcard, which can then be used to pick up offers and discounts in participating venues in that area.

TravelMaster said: “We wanted to bring a spotlight on the great trip destinations offered in South Yorkshire and we’re excited to highlight the independent business’s partnering in our campaign and offer an alternative transport option to private cars.

“Traveling with TravelMaster on our participating operators is an environmentally friendly and sustainable way of exploring our diverse and exciting county.”

The ExploreSY campaign begins with a focus on the S6 suburb

Hillsborough, and TravelMaster have teamed up with local independent businesses Annie Jude’s, Molly’s Deli, Orange Bird and Pangolin Beer House to offer a variety of discounts and giveaways to anyone who shows their TravelMaster card when making a purchase in these venues.

TravelMaster's tickets include the CityBus, CityWide, BConnect, DonConnect, RConnect, SYConnect and SYConnect+ covering the different districts and the whole of South Yorkshire.

Follow #ExploreSY for more details and sign up here for updates: sytravelmaster.com

THE VENUES

Annie Jude’s Wonderful artisan gift shop offering a wide range of handmade and vintage gifts created by local makers.

Molly’s Deli

A family run café and deli serving an AngloPolish fusion menu, barista coffee and much more.

Orange Bird

Gorgeous neighbour hood restaurant offering modern South African/ International cuisine.

Pangolin Beer House

Bustling bottle shop and bar, offering a huge variety of locally sourced beer and also a selection of wines, cider and pre-mixed gin and tonics.

THE OFFERS

ANNIE JUDE’S

FREE small bottle of Henderson’s Relish with any purchase.

MOLLY’S DELI

10% off (excluding cheese boards and outside catering).

ORANGE BIRD

FREE glass of wine, beer or soft drink valid when buying a medium plate or two small plates.

PANGOLIN BEER HOUSE

15% off your first drink.

JOIN THE CLUB

Ahead of their headline slot at No Bounds Festival, Ash Birch caught up with Working Men’s Club frontman and songwriter Syd Minksy-Sargeant to talk No Bounds Festival, Steel City links and recent line-up changes...

Words: Ash Birch Pictures: Lilie Eiger

You’re back in Blighty with a Sheffield date, headlining No Bounds Festival this month. How are you feeling about that?

I played it last year with a different project and it’s great. I really love Hope Works and everything they do, so hopefully it will fit. It could go either way, I suppose. It’s quite an ominous title, headliner, so I just hope it will fit with the rest of what’s on the bill and people get into it.

You make a lot of your music here in Sheffield. Does it feel a bit like a homecoming?

I live in Todmorden, but the first two Working Men’s Club records were made about two minutes from Hope Works. So, in that sense, it is close to that sort of home; but in terms of an actual hometown gig, it doesn’t feel like that for me. Mairead (O’Connor), who’s part of the live band, she lives in Sheffield, so I guess we’ve definitely got strong affiliations. In that sense, we enjoy playing here and it’s nice to play so close to where I make albums as well.

So, it’s more of a musical affiliation with the Steel City. You made the first two albums with Ross Orton, who has worked with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, M. I. A and Brom head’s Jacket. How was that? He’s fucking lovely, he’s one of my best mates! I love working with Ross and we’ve been working with each other for a decent amount of time now. We played together last year for another project we’ve been doing for a while, which is much more solid electronic stuff. We have a really good working relationship and it’s just really easy to be honest. I’ve got nothing bad to say!

Does that positivity extend to the city itself?

I’ve got a really good relationship with Sheffield, and I’ve spent a lot of time there. I love the history of Sheffield electronic music, which seems to get forgotten quite a lot in the wider northern landscape. How people choose to remember Shef field electronic music seems to be quite embedded within the under ground, which I do like, but it’s a shame as well because I don’t think it gets the kind of respect it >

> deserves. It’s the Steel City, innit! What was once the biggest industrial exporter of steel. I think that’s kind of embedded within the music as well. It’s really interesting how elements of history relate to the music and also the people of Sheffield. There’s great culture in Sheffield that maybe doesn’t see the light of day as much as it should. For example, Cabs [Cabaret Voltaire] don’t get the respect they deserve and they’re still making amazing records.

Did Sheffield institutions like Cabaret Voltaire influence you musically?

When I first started making music with Ross, he said a lot of the elements sound really Sheffield. It’s completely incidental, really. At the time I was making the first record I hadn’t even ever listened to Cabaret Voltaire, or people like Forgemasters and all that early Warp stuff. Obviously, I started listening to those records and I think, to a point, that kind of inspired sounds on the second album.

In the early days, you were also compared to Hacienda artists and lumped in with the post-punk movement in the indie scene. Do you feel like that was unfair?

I mean, journalists try to compare you to anything to try and sell stuff, so I try to ignore that. I feel like my music is my music. It seems weird to look backwards when what I’m trying to do is supposed to be looking forwards. I’ve tried to avoid being pigeonholed into any kind of era and I’m not trying to revive anything. I’m 21 now, those first two records I made when I was a teenager, and they were just me

making tunes in my bedroom. I wasn’t thinking, ‘I wanna do this, I wanna do that.’ You might as well be in a cover band if you’re doing that.

Over the last few years, there have been a lot of changes in the band’s line-up. Do you still consider Working Men’s Club to be a band?

I see it as a collection of people who make each different stage of the process work. I mean, I write all the tunes and in the studio it’s just me and Ross with different people playing bits and bobs, but predominantly, it’s my project. Now that’s not to discredit or diminish anybody else’s involvement, but I guess it’s my vision musically.

Looking back on the vision for those two albums, how do you feel about them now?

They document where I was at two separate points in time well, and I’m glad that I got two albums out, but for me, I’m trying to look forwards now. They’re done and I hear them when I play live, but I’m always trying to be one step ahead. I think sometimes that can go too far and you just end up stuck in your own head, but I try to be looking forwards. For me, if I could have it my way, I’d be in the studio making tunes every day. As soon as touring season ends, hopefully I can be.

Ok, as a final question, we’re going a bit off topic, but it’s important to ask the big stuff! - what’s your favourite dinosaur?

A very good question… I’m gonna say triceratops. They look like rhinos, man. They’re wicked! Old school rhinos.

Working Men’s Club play the closing sequence of No Bounds Festival on 16th October. Tickets are available now at ra.co.

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

This month, Sheffield’s premium electronic music and visual arts festival No Bounds will be makings its return, taking place 14th-16th October across a number of city centre venues. We spoke to Liam O’Shea, founder of both the event itself and its spiritual home of Hope Works, about what we can expect from this year’s jam-packed programme.

What brought No Bounds to life?

No Bounds Festival is the result of my life lived in music. It is the intersection of many aspects of interest for me – from music to visual art, performance art to poetry, technology to counterculture and progressive approaches to societal issues. It started in 2017 after I’d been running Hope Works for five years. I had built up a base to expand my work as an artistic director/ curator and event organiser, and I wanted to do some thing in Sheffield that joined the conversation with other leading avant-garde festivals such as Unsound, CTM, Mutek, Berlin Atonal and Terraforma. I wanted to do it in a way that was rooted in Sheffield, true to our musical heritage and vibrant contemporary culture.

Now in its sixth edition, how has the festival grown since its inception?

It has really grown in ambition and reach. It’s still a very small team, but we’ve grown our collaborators and curators to help expand the depth of ideas and expertise we can draw on. In 2019, we won ‘Best Boutique Festival’ in the DJ Mag UK Best Of British Awards. Last year, we received our first Guardian five-star review, which we think really shows how the reputation for excellence is growing. Through the years we’ve grown to partner with big venues such as Kelham Island Museum, Site Gallery and Millennium Gallery. In 2022, our most ambitious iteration yet, we are working in Sheffield Cathedral, Moore Street Substation, SADACCA, J.G.Graves Woodland Discovery Centre and others from DINA and Plot 22 to Dorothy Pax, Bal Fashions and Delicious Clam. We have a more extensive free-for-all section to allow more people the opportunity to experience great art without barriers. We have been able to grow our audience from just 1,000 in 2017 to many thousand in 2022!

Which elements of the event are you most excited about this year?

Everything in the programme excites me. We’ve painstakingly woven together a weekend of interesting and fun things to do. It’s mind, body and soul food on offer here, not just music.

In a new development, we’re bringing our opening and closing concerts to Shef field Cathedral in spectacular fashion.

Launching on Friday with Blawan, Black haine, Deena Abdelwahed and more, then closing on Sunday with a series of works commissioned by Mark Fell to be performed by Explore Ensemble – a live,

deep listening meditation to ease things down on Sunday. Elsewhere the mighty Working Men’s Club will perform live at Hope Works for our closing party. This is the biggest closer we’ve ever done, and the first time we’ve placed a live band like this in Hope Works.

I have to mention the opening up of Moore Street Substation this year, where we will be taking in small groups of people to witness a very special installation inside that colossal brutalist structure. It’s only been opened up once before, in 2016, but never when fully operational. That will be very exciting!

>

we have always had the motto ‘music and art first’ – and that sums us up. we are borne out of the underground culture of this city; we are rooted in it...

NB2022:

OPENING CONCERT (Live at Sheffield Cathedral)

Blackhaine (Live)

Blawan (Live AV)

Deena Abdelwahed (Live)

Patterns In Between Intelligences (Live)

96 Back

Algo-Afro-Futures

Algorave Amy Carter Gordon

Apricot Ballroom

Batu b2b Skee Mask Blasha + Allatt Craig Richards b2b Calibre

David Cotterrell

dBridge presents Black Electric (Live)

Debbie Chia

Deena Abdelwahed (Live)

De Schuurman

Diessa DJ Fart In The Club

Donna Leake FORCA

Gracie T

Grove (Live)

Helena Hauff Hellocatfood

Ifeoluwa

I.JORDAN

Job Jobse

Kalter (Live) Konx-Om-Pax (Live)

LCY

Linnemann

Lise Autogena + Joshua Portway LTJ Bukem

Lupini Lyzza (Live) Mal Hombre MARRØN Mikk Murray Mun Sing

MYNA

Nia Archives

NikNak (Live) Noemie Soula Nyege Nyege Showcase

Off Me Nut Records

Palms Trax Pattern + Push PC World Phatworld Polinski (Live) Proteus

Rian Treanor × Ocen (Live)

Romeo Taylor Samurai Breaks Saoirse

Scott Brown Scratchclart SEYK + Creola Shelly Knotts

SHERELLE b2b Kode 9 Skari + Zeki Skillz + Cardiac South Yorkshire Mick Hucknall Spinee

Steel City Chiptune Tailor Jae

Tekkers

Tim Reaper Tom Boogizm (DJ)

The Beatriarchy Showcase

The Black Dog (Live AV) Tom Ravenscroft

TSVI

Wanton Witch (Live) Wub Club Yaxu

Yazzus Zaron Mizmeras (Live)

ZERO AS LIMIT

Mark Fell curates: Beatrice Dillon* Nakul Krishnamurthy* Morton Feldman Performed by Explore Ensemble

*New commission (live at Sheffield Cathedral)

CLOSING PARTY

Working Men’s Club (Live) Winston Hazel + Pipes Charla Green Lo Shea (Live from Hope Works)

Bounds 14—16

Photo: Alex Morgan

> Hope Works remains the beating heart of No Bounds, and the Sheffield underground music and arts scene as a whole. For our student newcomers, can you explain what the venue is all about?

We are celebrating ten years of amazing parties. We have always had the motto ‘music and art first’ – and that sums us up. We are borne out of the underground culture of this city; we are rooted in it. We try to push boundaries, take chances and explore new ground. We have kept the flame burning for the electronic heritage of this city – everything from Cabaret Voltaire to Off Me Nut Records – while carving out a reputation for parties that bang, be it techno or disco.

We do what we do with heart and passion. We are a rough and ready warehouse venue tucked away just a five-minute taxi ride from the city centre in S4 (Sussex Road). We pride ourselves on great production and programming over cosmetic niceties. Don’t expect flash toilets here: expect to sweat, have your mind expanded and make new friends who share the same open-minded love of life and music and art culture as you do! All in a safe space that welcomes people from all backgrounds to come and be themselves, however that is.

What is it about No Bounds that makes it a quintessentially ‘Sheffield’ event?

We mix it up in a very Sheffield way. For me, that means celebrating our own culture alongside that of the international artists we bring through. We place great importance on supporting and platforming northern artists, soundsystems and production teams, and it is through this cultural representation that I believe the authentic feel of the festival is main tained. I have always believed in acting local and thinking global. This process has manifested in No Bounds and given the festival its centre of gravity. I have lived this, I’ve been part of the community and culture here in the city for 30-plus years. I think the hardworking, diligent nature of the Sheffield folk I know coupled with their dry wit and sharp critical thinking is the cauldron in which this is wrought. The molten flow is poured into the city and has an ultimate baseline in the industrial location of Hope Works, the gritty nature of that warehouse and the area it sits within. It’s an authentic industrial zone in the Steel Citeh!

How’s the future shaping up – both in terms of No Bounds and Hope Works?

Well, times are not easy; the whole of the events industry is going through immense hardships due to a multitude of factors. However, Hope Works is strong, and we’ve made it to a decade. Ten years of tonkin’ it. But there’s much more to be done in Sheffield and beyond. Hope Works has a massive Autumn/Winter season to deliver featuring some huge names (check hope-works.co.uk), while No Bounds has dropped its biggest, most ambitious lineup ever with over 100 artists performing over three days in 10 venues. Watch this space for 2023!

For the full No Bounds lineup and ticket info, head to noboundsfestival.co.uk

Photo: Frankie Casillo

From the finest food and drink to jaw-dropping views and enthralling events, we round up some of the best experiences the steel city has to offer in our Sheffield Bucket List. let us know how you’re getting on in your quest by slinging us a tag @exposedmagsheff.

TRY HENDERSON’S RELISH

During your time here you might hear it referred to as “Hendo’s” or simply “Relish”. But this famous sauce had been made in Sheff since the 1880s and is a very important part of local culinary culture; it’s inspired poems, artwork, songs, and more than a few question able tattoos. It's gluten-free, vegetarian/veganfriendly and rated so much by Sean Bean that he’d get it delivered around the world when filming for long periods abroad. You can also grab it in the crisp form: bags of ‘HENDO’S’ are readily available across city centre bars, shops and cafes.

VISIT THE THEATRE

Sheffield is a proud home to the largest theatre complex outside of London, comprising three superb venues beneath the Sheffield Theatres umbrella: The Crucible, Lyceum and Playhouse. From star-studded Shakespearean epics to modern musicals, comedies to hardhitting social realism – all is very much catered for here. Take a look at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk to see what takes your fancy.

FILL UP AT A FOOD HALL

Situated in the Castlegate area of the city, Kommune is home to a mouthwatering variety of food traders serving throughout the day and into the evening. There’s also an art gallery, retail traders and a well-stocked bar to keep you entertained. Whereas, over in the Neepsend part of the city, you’ve got Cutlery Works to whet your appetite – one of the largest food halls in the north of England serving a range of dishes from sushi to poutine. If you’re after some good city centre munch, you can visit Sheffield Plate, an exciting foodie venue in Orchard Square showcasing six local independent food traders serving worldwide cuisine.

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FIND A FEST

The Sheffield social calendar is packed throughout the year with a wide range of events. Tramlines Festival (AKA Sheff’s biggest party) takes place in July, bringing some of the biggest names in music to the city. You’ve also got world-renowned film festival Doc/Fest to explore every June, and this month alone you can experience electronic festival No Bounds, literary festival Off the Shelf and arts, film and music celebration Sensoria. Keep an eye out for more regular get-togethers such as Quayside Market, Pollen Market and Sharrow Vale Market – all of which will be coming around soon!

FIND A LIVE VENUE

Live music lies at the very heart of the city’s culture. From the big-hitters like Leadmill, Corp and The Foundry to the smaller capacity gems like Delicious Clam, Sidney&Matilda, Record Junkee, Yellow Arch and The Wash ington, there’s an array of places to enjoy gigs throughout the week. There’s plenty of quality rave spots dotted around the city centre too, and you’ll find some of the best DJ sets at popular underground nightclub venues such as Hope Works, Dryad Works, new arrival FØRGE and the legendary Tuesday Club taking place at the Students’ Union each month.

SCOFF STREET EATS

Something of a foodie institution for The Steel City, Street Food Chef serve up the best burritos in town from their two shops on Arundel Street and Sharrow Vale Road. They are the home of what you might describe as ‘Sheff-Mex’: burritos, nachos, quesadillas and in the hot weather, if you ask nicely, they’ll knock you up a mean margarita slushie!

HAVE A BALL

If you’re looking for a fun night out with a competitive edge, Charter Square’s Roxy Ball room is the ideal spot. On the bottom floor of the 15,500 sq ft space, you’ll find a large bar and kitchen alongside a whole heap of gaming opportunities including American pool, table tennis, basketball hoops, shuffleboard, karaoke and even a duckpin bowling alley. Things get even more interesting upstairs, where you >

Photo: Pedalo Photography

> can try your hand at some ice-free curling and ‘crazy pool’ (combine American pool with crazy golf and you’re not far off) while sampling the impressive drinks and bar snacks menu.

GRAB A SLICE OF THE ACTION

We’re blessed to have many fantastic woodfired/coal-fired/stonebaked offerings here, so believe us when we say this one was a toughie. But we’ve got to hand it to Napoli Centro for their incredibly authentic Neapolitan pizza selection, topped with the finest ingredients imported from Campania and cooked in under 90 seconds at 500 degrees, resulting in a fresh, puffy slice of carb heaven. Other top shouts include Rudy’s on Division Street, Picture House Social and Proove Pizza.

HIT THE STREETS

Dotted in and around the city centre you’ll find some incredible street art from renowned artists such as Pleghm, Jo Peel, Zoe Genders, Kid Acne, Faunographic, Pete McKee and many, many more. In fact, there are literally hundreds dotted around the gaff. Luckily, streetartshef field.com have done a good job of mapping over 250 locations, allowing you to browse each one by area. God bless ‘em

HAVE A SPEC–TACO–ULAR TIME

Take it from us, Pina didn’t become the city’s favourite Mexican-inspired taqueria and latenight chill spot without good reason: their food and drinks menus are consistently top-notch. The signature tacos are what hungry punters come for, an explosion of vibrant flavours wrapped in corn tortillas perfect for mixing, matching and sharing – a nice reflection of the fun, social side of Mexican street food.. Plenty of tasty vegan options are on-hand too, perfect when washed down with a cold Pacifico or two…

GET YER SHUFFLE ON

You’ll find Shuffle Shack, the city’s only dedi cated shuffleboard bar, inside the ‘Crystal Maze for hipsters’ that is Picture House Social. Inside the disco-themed joint you’ll find four full-size shuffleboard ‘decks’, a bar serving old school classic cocktails (think Sex on the Beach and Miami Vices – holiday vibes), as well as a range of American beers, arcade machines, a fussball table and amazing artwork splashed across the walls courtesy of local artistic geometrist Rob Lee.

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RELAX WITH A BREW Nestled away in a picturesque courtyard off Division Street, Steam Yard is a charming spot serving up some of the best coffee and dough nuts you’ll find up north. It’s that good people love to shout about it, and it recently became the most instagrammed independent coffee shop in the UK. We’d also highly recommend Albies, Tamper, Marmadukes (I, II and III), Hygge and South Street Kitchen (up behind the train station) for getting your caffeinated kicks in the city centre.

SOAK UP SOME CULTURE Sheffield has a thriving arts scene and is home to a number of superb museums and art galleries. Millenium Gallery is based in heart of the city and offers a rotating selection of exhibitions showcasing art, craft and design. A stone’s throw from there you’ll find Graves Gallery, home to Sheffield’s visual art collection since 1934 and hosting work from the likes of JMW Turner, Pierre Bonnard, Grayson Perry, Bridget Riley, Phlegm and more. Site Gallery is another cultural sanctuary in the centre of town, an contemporary art space that prides itself in connecting people and inspiring new thinking and debate. Console enthusiasts can bone up some gaming history at The National Videogame Museum – The UK’s national cultural centre for videogames. If you’re up for a short walk out of town, the largest museum in Sheff is Weston Park Museum, where you can find out more about the city’s social history alongside a number of permanent exhibitions.

SAMPLE A PEDDLER

One of the biggest regular events on the city’s social calendar is Peddler. The event takes place on the first weekend of every month at 92 Burton Road – an events and warehouse space bang in the middle of Kelham Island. Head down to the next instalment (7th-8th October) and enjoy live music, art, cocktails and a truly enviable selection of street food from around the world.

BAG A BARGAIN

If you’re looking for new threads at affordable prices, you’ll find some of the finest vintage clothing stores up north in the town centre. Within a short walk of each other you’ll find Freshman’s (Carver Street), Vulgar (Division Street), Glass Onion (Peace Gardens) and Thrifty Store (Castlegate) – head down for a browse and you might find something special.

MUNCH A BRUNCH

A strong café scene means brunch spots are aplenty around here, but Arundel Street’s Tamper Coffee is something of a Steel City Mecca for early munching – it’s that good, in fact, that it was lauded as one of the best breakfast spots in country by the Guardian and Waitrose Good Food Magazine. Other places to get your brunch on in style include Marma dukes, Joni, Depot Bakery, Made by Jonty, Forge Bakehouse or – slight curveball, – get jiggy at Gatsby’s famous hip-hop brunch

TREAT YOURSEN

Every now and again, it’s nice to push the boat out and enjoy some of the finer things in life. In terms of food, award-winning restaurant Jöro offers some of the finest hyper-seasonal tasting menus you’ll find around this neck of the woods – pricey but more than worth it for the experi ence. For top-notch cocktails, you won’t get much better than Public, a former disused toilet renovated in resplendent fashion into an inti mate speakeasy venue and named ‘best place to drink in the UK’ by Observer Food Monthly. If you’re looking for somewhere which combines stunning seasonal dishes and drinks (specifically cocktails and wine) incredibly well, then Bench in Nether Edge is the friendly neighbourhood hangout spot for you.

EAT, DRINK AND SHOP ON ABBEYDALE ROAD

A bustling artery of the city centre that has become a haven for independent food, drink and retail opportunities, head down to Abbey dale Road to indulge in its varied offering: cock tails at Barrow Boy, terrace chills at Over the Yardarm, late-night boogies and ping-pong at Picture House, the city’s coolest homeware and plants shop in Gravel Pit, a perfect Sunday roast at the Broady, bangin’ ramen at Coles Corner, authentic Italian grub at North Town, a stun ning beer list at Two Thirds Beer Co. That’s just a small taster from the smorgasbord of delights to be enjoyed!

GRAB A VIEW

As your calves will soon discover, Sheff is a city of many, many hills. As well as developing the cardiovascular endurance of an Olympic athlete in no time, another benefit to the undulating terrain means your spoilt for view spots. Grab a few pals, maybe a couple of tinnies (be sure to recycle) and admire it in all its glory from Shef field Amphitheatre behind the station, Norfolk Heritage Park, Meersbrook Park, Bole Hills or Parkwood Springs

GET COSY IN A TRADITIONAL PUB

If Sheffield does one thing well, it’s ‘proper’ oldschool pubs. We’d highly recommend a foaming pint of Guinness in the snug at Fagan’s, or an afternoon session in the Kennedy Room at The Grapes, kicking back after sticking a couple >

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> of tunes on the Rutland Arms jukebox. There’s nothing finer than tucking into a pork pie and Pale Rider combo at The Fat Cat, or sampling the latest offerings on cask at The Bath Hotel… we’ll let you discover the rest yourselves!

LIVE THE ISLAND LIFE

Odds are you’ll hear a lot about Kelham Island during your stay in Sheffield, and that’s because this former industrial area is today one of the city’s most exciting suburbs. Full of decent beer gardens, real ale pubs, quirky bars and an array of cafes and restaurants, it’s well worth a visit – whether you’re after a pint by the river at The Riverside, cracking café fare at The Grind, Gaard Coffee or Island, tasty vegan food and cocktails at Church – House of Fun, or gigs, film nights and general chill vibes at Alder Bar, it’s a part of the city well worth acquainting yourself with. PS: make sure you check out the free-entry Kelham Island Museum for your industrial history kicks!

SUPPORT THE WORLD’S FIRST FOOTBALL CLUB

Football means a huge deal around these parts. Sheffield is the home of the beautiful game, and consequently the world’s oldest club (Sheffield FC), official rulebook, ground (Sandygate –Hallam FC), professional stadium (Bramall Lane), pub team (Garrick FC) and football tournament (Youdan Trophy). So, if you’re struggling to decide whether to pledge your alle giance to the red and white or blue and white of the city, we’d humbly suggest popping along to see either Sheffield FC or Hallam FC first – it’s cheaper, they’ll appreciate your money more and you can say you’ve experienced a true bit of footballing history in the process.

PEAK TIMES

A mere 20-minutes’ drive (bus and trains also readily accessible) from the city centre will find you entering the Peak District – the first ever national park in the United Kingdom and covering a space of almost 1,500km2. Expect plenty of quaint villages to explore, while some of the best scenic walking routes in the whole country are available to find at visitpeakdistrict. co.uk.

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HAIL THE ALE

With 4.7 times more breweries per capita than Greater London, Sheffield can claim to be a major force on the British brewing scene. From your traditional real ale stalwarts such as The Fat Cat, Shakespeares, Kelham Island Tavern and Rutland Arms to your craft beer havens such as Hymn to Ninkasi, The Beer Engine, Bar Stewards, Sheffield Tap, Industry Tap, Dead Donkey and Triple Point Brewery, you’re more than catered for when the time calls for a pint or two.

SUPPORT INDIES

A haven for independent businesses, on Sharrow Vale Road you’ll find the likes of Pete McKee’s art shop, TONCO, J.H Mann fishmongers, Porter Book Shop, Starmore Boss, Corner stone and some great Sheffield pubs such as the Porter Cottage down here, not to mention much-loved eateries like the Pom Kitchen and Porter Pizza. Tucked behind this stretch of road you’ll also find Dyson Place, another inviting hub of food and local retail businesses to enjoy. Other top spots for showing love to independ ents are Division Street, Abbeydale Road and Neepsend

EXPLORE!

Don’t stay hidden in the Student Union all term – explore! Even though the village-like feel of the city centre may give the impression of this being a fairly compact place, there are plenty of brilliant areas dotted around and only a short walk or taxi journey away – Ecclesall Road, Abbeydale Road, Heeley, Meersbrook, Broomhill, Crookes, Walkey, Sharrow Vale Road – all boasting their own selection of pubs, bars, restaurants, shops and parks. A short trip out to find social hotspots like Haggler’s Corner or take in the sunset with a pint at The Brother’s Arms in Heeley is well worth it.

SUP AND SCRAN

Heist Brewery on Neepsend Lane provides a perfect hangout boasting shuffleboard tables, an arcade complete with 2p machines and grab bers, TV screens showing alternative sports and a projector screen for some Tony Hawk’s action on the PlayStation. If that wasn’t enough, top burger joint Slap and Pickle provide the grub and the bar offers a massive 30 different lines of beer, giving them the most lines and biggest selection of draught beer in Sheffield.

SHEFFIELD

We’re not called the ‘Steel City’ for nowt...

did you know?

Stainless steel is among the most recycled and sustainable materials on the planet – around 88% of the world’s steel is recycled! It is one of the least environmentally damaging and impactful materi-als, and thus all stainless steel can be recycled and re-created as strong and as useful as originally made.

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Words: Charlie Parker

We didn’t get the ‘Steel City’ moniker for nowt. In fact, Sheffield’s association with the steel industry and cutlery-making can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and you can uncover some quite illustrious connections in the process. From Chaucer to Custer, here are a few things you may not know about our steel…

IT BUILT THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Yeah, you read that correctly. All the steel used in the construction of one of the most famous bridges in the world – and the world’s first steel-wire suspension – was, as they say, made in Sheffield. First opened in 1883, New York’s Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic landmark in architectural achievement and is used by an average of 150,000 people daily. It is a film icon, too, having been featured in countless films and TV shows such as Sex and the City, Godzilla and I Am Legend. It is even likely that this steel would have been made at Brooklyn Works in Kelham Island, whose original signage is still standing to this day.

CHAUCER GAVE US A SHOUTOUT

One of the earliest references to a product of Sheffield steel is in The Canterbury Tales (or for you Middle English lovers, Tales of Caunterbury) by Geoffrey Chaucer. Written c.1400, the twenty-four-story collection tells the tale of a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury to see the shrine of St Thomas Becket. However, in ‘The Reeve’s Tale’, the char acter Symkyn is described as follows:

Ay by his belt he baar a long panade, And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade. A joly popper beer he in his pouche; Ther was no man, for peril, dorste hym touche. A Sheffield thwitel baar he in his hose.

For those who are not Middle English lovers, this loosely translates as, ‘he were a rough lad, wi’ a big knife from Sheffield, and if tha touches him, tha’ll cop for it’. Specifically, a ‘Thwitel knife’ was a general-purpose knife, used in this context as a weapon for Symkyn.

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THIS KNIFE AIN’T BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BOTH O’ US

The great American Bowie hunting knife soon become a sought-after accessory once Sheffield makers Joseph Rodgers and George Wostenholm began making them in the mid-1800s. The Sheffield-made Bowie knives came to be coveted long after the American Civil War, right up to the late-1800s. In fact, it is rumoured that it was a Rodgers-made hunting knife, given to Buffalo Bill by General Custer, which Bill used in his duel with Native leader Sitting Bull!

CLOCKING IN

The clock hands and inner workings of Big Ben were restored in 2021 at Sheffield’s very own Shepley Engineers. In addition, St. Paul’s Cathedral owes its stainlesssteel reinforcement chain – the links which hold the building together – to Sheffield, being made in the Steel City by Brown Bailey in 1930. You’re welcome, London.

TUNING IN

The UK’s only manufacturer of tuning forks is based in Sheffield. Since 1841, Ragg Tuning Forks have been forging the tool mainly used for tuning musical instru ments, assessing a patient’s hearing within the medical field and even timekeeping in the watch manufacturing trade.

BLADES OF GLORY

Some of the largest and most grandiose steel items can be found in our very own Kelham Island Museum. In the Hawley Exhibition, celebrating the life work of master toolmaker Ken Hawley, you will be greeted by no less than a 51” trowel and a padlock over two hands wide! The Giant’s Toolbox showcases the work of toolmaker Arthur Pond after having said he could make any tool necessary and proved it by creating items such as a spanner the size of your leg. However, perhaps the most striking feature of this exhibit is the Year Knife. Created in 1821, this knife was claimed to have 1,821 knives (one for every Christian year) and is added to every five years. As the museum itself states, there is no other knife that has as many blades!

A KNIFE FOR THE QUEEN… AND THE KING

It cannot go without mentioning the importance of Sheffield’s ‘Little Mesters’, who, upon their origins in the mid-17th century, were self-employed individual craftsmen oper ating individually. This concept of Little Mesters was unique to Sheffield, as initially, there were no firms as we know them today. Little Mesters continued in one form or another up until 2021, when Sheffield’s last Little Mester Stan Shaw sadly died at the age of 94. A master knife-maker, he even made knives for the Queen, Elvis Presley and some US presidents!

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We sell curry. www.ashoka1967.com >> @ashoka1967

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS

In just 12 months, a fledgling Neepsend bar has gone from fresh start to fervent local favourite. For Joe Spriggs and Danny Tennant, the unassuming youthful pair behind Alder, success stems from unique life and industry experience, a willingness to try new things, and an infectious community spirit that permeates the business from top to bottom.

Alder is nestled away on Percy Street in what was a polish factory. Over the last 175 years, the Victorian redbrick walls have also housed stables, a Land Rover repair shop, a builder’s yard, and most recently The Sheffield Brewery Co., the remains of which still lay entrenched into the bar’s architecture and décor.

Two elevated mash tuns watch over every drink poured and served; a third sits next to the bar sprouting pipes like metal vines; amongst the seating area two grated hatches draw the eye, which, when lifted, reveal an aerial view of two empty 1600 litre fermenters; and dotted around in various spots is The Sheffield Brewery logo.

But the bar is no longer run by The Sheffield Brewery, it is run independently by Joe and Danny, 27 and 26 respectively, both born and bred a stone’s throw away in Hillsborough. The pair took over in October 2021 and quickly established themselves within a highly competitive corner of Kelham Island.

“We don’t badge ourselves as a community or social club, but I guess we kind of are,” says Joe. “We are both

local and think it’s important to try to keep things as local as we can, especially with those we collaborate with.” This communal ethos is immediately visible to regulars and passing visitors alike.

It can be seen in things as small as Danny’s nails, recently given full Alder treatment by Sweet As Hell nails on Abbeydale road, and as substantial as the furniture on which drinks rest – a table made by Brian George who owns the wood workshop next door. Community support is even rewarded with beer: Alder offer a free pint for every bag of street litter collected.

This community spirit extends to the events programming, now a core part of the business and one increasing as they continue to develop their events space. “Two months ago, my dad built us a stage and since then we’ve had loads of music on,” says bar manager Danny. “Blues, rock bands, jazz bands, acoustic stuff, electronic, covers, 80s, weird art stuff… we really are open to anything.”

“We’ve just bought a huge screen,” Joe adds, “and have already premiered a Skateboard Cafe video here. We’ve

acquired Kelham Island Film Club, so we’ll be playing films most Thursdays. We can also show the World Cup now, so we’ll have the games here.” It should come as no surprise that the programming has become so diverse and inclusive. Not just because of the boys’ relaxed willingness to try new things, but because of Danny’s musical background. “I studied music production in Manchester. By the time I’d finished my degree, I didn’t have plans to do anything with it. I was still producing stuff, but education wasn’t for me and uni made me fall out of love with it. Now that I’m here, I have an opportunity to work with bands and find decent musicians and help things get set up. It’s really helped me refind my passion for it.”

Joe, too, possesses a wealth of experience that has aided Alder’s success. “I did some travelling and when I came back I wanted to get into sales. I started selling car warranty, cold-calling people, then moved on to selling steel, then waste services. When I was made redundant I started volunteering at The Sheffield Brewery, selling beer and eventually running their bar. That’s how I met Danny, selling beer to his old work. When Danny left his job I gave him some hours at the brewery and here we are.”

Joe and Danny’s combined industry experience

Words: Jack Paul Picture: @tom.w,pattie

AWARD WINNER

is something that has informed their approach to running Alder. “When you get a pint at a [pub chain redacted] or wherever, it’s a faceless pint. It’s forgettable. Whereas you come here and you’re getting a warm welcome from me and Danny, we’ll try and get to know you, learn your name, and you’re going to get quality pint as well.”

‘Unique’ is a word that keeps popping up in Alder’s glowing reviews. In a competitive industry it can pay to be different, and in Alder’s case this started at the very beginning: as Joe came up with the name.

“There’s a lot of names round here that pay homage to the old workshops and factories. It’s something we could have easily done. I didn’t want to do that. Alders are a great tree that no one really seems to know about. They have a great history in Shef field. They’re hardy, growing well in areas where others struggle. They help their community, fixing nitrogen in the soil which helps other things grow around them. They’re inclusive, producing both male and female flowers on catkins, which isn’t very common. And Alders sup like nothing else. They love a drink. Just like us.”

You can grab a pint and chat to Joe and Danny in Alder on Percy Street, Neepsend from Wednesdays to Sundays. Follow @alder_bar_sheff for more.

SHEFFIELD BREWERY WIN

‘WORLD’S BEST’ AWARD

Triple Point Brewing’s Trivergence DIPA was named the world’s best gluten free beer at the World Beer Awards last month.

Triple Point, who are based on Shoreham Street, entered two beers into the highly esteemed awards and were delighted to be awarded a Silver medal for their Invicta New England IPA and Gold for Trivergence Double IPA.

More than 3,200 beers from over 50 countries entered this year’s awards, where a highly respected international judging panel blind tasted and scored the entries across three rounds of judging to identify the best beers in 10 categories. Heats were held in Brazil, Chile, Canada, Japan, Germany, the USA, and in the UK for all other entering countries.

In each country, category, and style in the first round, normally only one gold, silver and bronze medal are awarded. The gold medal winner then becomes the country winner and moves on to the next round.

Sales Manager, George Brook said: “We were WOWed by the two awards for two beers we entered, and the opportunity to say we brewed the UK’s best gluten free beer. Then to hear it has been named world’s best is just amazing!”

Head Brewer, Alex Barlow added: “It’s a challenge to make big, hazy wheat-heavy New England-style IPA beers gluten free, but we brew a lot of those styles of pale ales along with our lagers, and nearly everything we’ve ever released has been certified

gluten free, so to have a ‘World’s Best’ title is a real testament to the work of the team.”

The Triple Point team now have a quandary, as there are only around 600 cans of Triv ergence, which was brewed in collabo ration with Stag geringly Good brewery from Portsmouth, left. And those were held back from sale as they were damaged when a pallet split and the can stack toppled into the brewery yard.

George explained: “It was galling to see the yard full of cans, but we separated out all those that only have minor dents. This award proves that the valuable beer inside was worth saving!”

Limited edition cans of the World Beer Awards ‘world’s best gluten free beer’ can be ordered from Triple Point’s website or collected in person from the Triple Point taproom at 178, Shoreham Street, Sheffield, S1 4SQ.

AWARD WINNER OPENS NEW COFFEE SHOP

We sat down with owners of new coffee shop, Husk, Jack Maloney, who won first prize at this year’s Sheffield Coffee Festival Northern Filter Championships, and his partner and illustrator, Sophie Graham, to find out more about their new venture...

You might well recognise Jack, as he’s probably at some point served you your morning brew, having worked for over ten years in some of the city’s best-known coffee houses, including Albies, Gaard and 200 Degrees.

Following his award-winning success earlier this year, when the opportunity arose to take his passion for coffee to the next level by opening his own shop, Jack and Sophie, who is also no stranger to the barista life, jumped at the chance to put their own stamp on the already established Eleven coffee shop, just behind the Waitrose. “It’s a really good combo for opening a coffee shop,” explains Jack, “Sophie’s done all the menu design, the general look and aesthetic of the place, and then I came in with the coffee side of things. The only thing

SO FRESH AND SO GREEN

we weren’t good at was DIY!”

The welcoming space, full of plants, throws and comfy seating has been meticulously thought through, inspired mainly by the things that Jack and Sophie like best about coffee shops, right down to the concrete surfaces created by Sheffield-based Conplex, and BenPMA’s hand-painted sign that falls down the side of the window.

They have also taken influence from Asian coffee shops, both with the interior design and the drinks menu, which unusually for the UK includes boba tea. The menu is split into ‘Coffee’ and ‘Not coffee’, with a focus on specialities, which, in order to avoid becoming ‘unapproachable’, they compliment with their house coffee from Sheffield-based brewers Cuppers Choice.

On the food side of things, they are offering an initial, small menu with three flat breads, a grilled cheese and a couple of sides, which will be expanded to include more options in the coming months.

With rising costs for everyone, it might seem an unusual time to take the first steps into a new busi ness venture, but they are confident they have the

After a short hiatus, the Green Room reopened on Devonshire Street last month with a new look and house beer, ‘The Green Bastard’, a 4 per cent pilsner which they say will be one of the cheapest pints in town. The bar now features a brand new ‘Beercade’ with a selection of classic arcade machines from the 90s, plus free beer pong and a new American Pool room. Back on the taps, ‘super cheap’ pints of cask will be returning with a bitter and a pale, as well as deals on house spirits and mixers all the time, happy hour offers and after-work deals for groups. A new roster of DJs will get the party started, still playing the best in Soul, funk, rock n roll, and 80s tunes. Monday night open mic nights are still going ahead every week, and the venue are currently on the lookout for new local artists and bands who want to be booked as they extend their live music offerings. Get in touch direct via greenroomlivemusic@gmail.com.

All stories by Ash Birch Online Editor

Husk is open Monday –Friday 8am – 5pm, and Saturday 9am – 5pm. For more info, head over to their Insta.

right mix of quality and value.

“We’re trying to keep it affordable because costs are obviously a big thing at the moment,” says Jack, “so we want to make it accessible for everyone and fairly priced."

The business officially opened on Tuesday 20th September and they've been pleased with the start to life in their new roles.

“We’ve been busier than expected.” says Jack. "We’ve got quite a clear idea of where we want to go. Our idea for opening a coffee shop was that we always wanted to be one shop, and independent. We want to keep that vibe.

Sophie added: “We also want people to know it’s a really inclu sive, welcoming place, where they can tell us their dietary require ments and we’ll accommodate them. Somewhere they can stay as long as they like on their laptops and enjoy the space.”

BAKING NEWS

The owners of TONCO restaurant, which is nestled in Sharrow Vale Road’s independent courtyard Dyson Place, have recently taken over the running of the nearby Seven Hills Bakery.

The café and bakery has been re-branded with the help of Sheffield-based artist Zoe Genders, and for the time being is operating much the same as it ever was, kicking out quality bread and bakes and coffees. However, you can expect the TONCO team to add their own spin to proceedings as they find their feet.

For more info and opening times, follow @toncosheffield on socials

An accessible range of wines with a focus on female producers and sustainability. neighbourhood wine shop & bar

Inspired by California and European Enoteca style bars...

Tenaya Wine is a wine shop where you can also have a glass of wine from a small, ever-changing chalkboard menu. Any bottle from the shop, or beer/ soft drink is available to drink in-store with a small corkage fee, so there’s a huge range to choose from. The weekly changing menu by the glass means you’ll always have something new to try. There’s also a selection of cheeses, patés, olives selected by Porter Brook Deli, for a table picnic.

JUST GRILLIN’

Salutations to Guyshi, a unique Japanese charcoal BBQ and bar bringing an immersive dining experience to the heart of West Street.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

One of the most popular culinary traditions in Japan, Yakiniku dining is a style of cooking bite-sized meat and vegetables on gridirons or griddles over a flame of wood charcoals. Each table at Guyshi has a built-in smokeless roaster to bring diners together to cook and enjoy food.

The sichirin grills are imported from Japan, using unique cutting-edge technology to suck the smoke away so clothes or hair won’t absorb any odours.

The decadently decorated restaurant is set over two floors separated by a magnificent marble staircase. The sleek and stylish interior, interspersed with mood lighting and striking statement pieces like the large Sakura tree, makes it the perfect setting for a sophisticated meal.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

The menu, the first and only one of its kind in Sheffield, will include items such as shoyu chicken, garlic pork ribs, tiger prawns, ox tongue, Angus ribeye steak and premium wagyu A5 steak –the highest possible grade you can get.

All meat will arrive at your table raw, though staff will also be on hand to help out with grilling for first timers, and you’ll be able to cook your own selections to your personal tastes. There will also be a selection of vegetables you

can grill, alongside small plates, fresh sashimi, rice, noodles and a set lunch menu. You can even melt your own marshmallow and chocolate to make s’mores!

A ROBOT CAT WAITRESS?!

Orders will be brought to you by a very special member of the team, a sassy delivery robot cat named Yuki, named following a voting process with Guyshi’s online followers. She’ll make sure to look after your food – and can even sing happy birthday!

If you’re looking for a real treat, Guyshi has an intimate teppanyaki table giving guests front-row seats to an expert teppan chef putting on a spectacular show of roaring fire, impressive tricks and mouth-watering fun on a traditional hotplate. This experience only has eight spaces per sitting over two slots per day (Tues to Sat) and requires booking.

ALL OF THAT IN A NUTSHELL

Manager Matthew Lay told Exposed: “Guyshi brings something special to the ever-growing food and drink scene of Sheffield; we are super excited to launch this new dining concept after the team have been tirelessly working to create an experience like no other.

“Our expert mixologist has curated a special sake cocktail menu inspired by

the different regions of Japan using only the best ingredients - or we can always whizz up a classic cocktail if preferred. We also offer a premium selection of wine, fizz and beer. Try our traditional sake cooling tower which dispenses the drink without diluting the liquor. This alcoholic beverage can also be enjoyed warm!”

ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW?

West Street’s newest venue also boasts deluxe private dining rooms available for parties, events, meetings and more. Not to mention a rooftop terrace which they are working on transforming into something exciting for the future. Watch this space…

OPENING HOURS: Open every day of the week 12pm til 10pm. Walk-ins only, but email guyshisheffield@ gmail.com or DM @ guyshi_sheffield for teppanyaki bookings or tables of 6 and above.

180 West Street, S1 4ET www.guyshi.co.uk // www.facebook.com/ guyshisheffield // @ guyshi_sheffield

SPOTLIGHT ON

SOUTH STREET KITCHEN

Situated just behind the train station as part of the city’s historic Park Hill building, South Street Kitchen offers wonderful vantage points of central Sheffield, not to mention great coffee, tasty Middle Eastern inspired vegan/ veggie food and a guaranteed warm welcome.

THE PLACE

Being part of one of country’s most famous Brutalist buildings, you’ll find an aesthetically pleasing ‘modernist chic’ running through South Street.

The concrete walls are a reminder of the structure’s historic past (it remains Europe’s largest Grade II listed building) while large panoramic windows offer unrivalled views and bathe the interior space in natural light. Simple, contemporary furniture provides a crisp, modern feel and the space is brightened up further with engaging artworks and blooms courtesy of local florist Petalis.

THE VIBES

Inside you’ll find a relaxed, laidback atmosphere from the early hours extending into the evening. There’s a bit more hustle and bustle downstairs, as punters pop in for a coffee, fresh loaves of bread or to ogle at the selections of sweet treats and bakes on the counter. During evening service hours South Street offers something of a more affordable fine-dining alternative: fresh plantbased dishes with innovative twists are served, often available with paired drinks options.

WHAT’S NEW?

From 10th October South Street will be launching a brand-new evening menu, informed by its usual focus on seasonal and sustainable dishes. They’ll be sticking to their strongly held ethos of plant-based small plates best served in a mezze style arrangement. Keep an eye out for the upcoming green shakshuka and an exciting take on Brussel sprouts!

KEEPING IT LOCAL

They strictly use local suppliers and remain committed to serving the best vegan and vegetarian produce on the market; that’s everything from their vegan cheese from a Yorkshire-based company to sumptuous bakes from Sheffield’s-own 4 Eyes Patisserie. The house blend coffee comes from the awardwinning Dark Woods Coffee, who ensure their beans are ethically sourced and traceable to farmers across the globe.

We give you the rundown on the popular Park Hill cafe...

AN EVENING TIPPLE, YOU SAY?

South Street serve an extensive cocktail, wine and beer menu each evening. On Fridays and Saturdays, they’re open until 10:30pm and provide a perfect spot to let your hair down with a choice of craft beers, speciality vino and expertly made cocktails. Being a two-minute stroll up the stairs from the city’s train station, it’s also an ideal stop-off while you’re waiting for your transport link.

RISE AND SHINE

The doors open at 9:30am, so you can get your early coffee fix to takeout or enjoy inside. The breakfast and brunch menus begin at 10am, where you can sample everything from vibrant

homemade hummus plates and mezzes to all-day breakfasts. For lunchtime, the sandwich and wrap selections are always winners, or you can pack in the nutrients from perusing their selection of fresh daily salads.

NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT…

Always keep an eye out for themed nights and special menus celebrating different cuisines and styles of food. Most recently they partnered up with Sensoria Festival on ‘Sound Bites’, an intriguing tasting menu pairing food and music to see whether sonic seasoning can help enhance taste. Other recent one-off culinary celebrations include tacos, Moroccan plates and an evening celebrating

traditional Palestinian dishes. We’ve heard there’s a plant-based burger night on the way, as well as a dedicated menu exploring the food of Nigeria. Tempted? Head over to their socials and website for the latest announcements!

South Street Kitchen 19-20 South Street, Sheffield, S2 5QX

Contact: 07763 678858

Email: info@southstreetkitchen.org

OPEN EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY EVENING FOR SPECTACULAR VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN FOOD

Every Friday and Saturday evening we offer a middle-eastern inspired dining experience and also host an international themed evening at the end of each month.

All of our dishes celebrate fresh seasonal produce. We have an extensive cocktail, wine and beer menu, so if you fancy a drink on our lawn or indoors, join us from 4pm Fridays & Saturdays.

We are open 7 days a week for all day brunch and great coffee. southstreetkitchen.org | @ southstreetkitchen

BRAKES AWAY

Back in 2001, everyone was talking about a new wave of acoustic bands breaking through, and at the head of it all were Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, better known as Turin Brakes.

They took Glastonbury by storm that year, and their first album, The Optimist, won the Mercury prize. Over 20 years later, they have evolved into a four-piece band with a new album released this month. Ahead of their Leadmill gig, Mark Perkins interrupted Olly’s relaxing caravan break for a natter about what we can expect.

Your new album Wide-Eyed Nowhere is out this month, and I've counted up to find it's actually your ninth studio album. Yeah, it's a bit crazy I know. When we first started, I often said, partly in fun, that I thought Turin Brakes would be a tenalbum band, but I only really half-believed it would be possible. And we're so close to doing that, it's almost insane. That's been one amazing thing about this band: longevity seems to have just happened to it.

That must be something you get asked often, but I'll say it anyway - how do you think you've managed to last so long? I think we got incredibly lucky with the chemistry. Not just between me and Gale,

but between the drummer Rob, and Ed on bass, too. Gale and I have known each other since we were eight. We both loved guitars and seemed to have a weird kind of obsession for 50s rock n roll. We got guitars for Christmas and learned how to play them, so it's always been us two playing guitars. We developed a musical under standing as we grew up, and everyone sort of feeds off that. It's at the heart of Turin Brakes; and I'm realising more and more, as we carry on through the decades, what a key component that is to our success.

What sort of music were you both listening to in those formative years? There was a stack of classic 70s records in my house as I was growing up. I used to sing along to Joni Mitchell when I was little, and it seemed like Steely Dan's album, Pretzel Logic, was always on. Stevie Wonder's classic albums, even Pink Floydwe listened to all those.

I've been listening to the new album. The track ‘World Like That’ was one which stood out for me, and the track that closes the album, ‘No Rainbow’. Yeah, it felt like we were really onto some

thing new with ‘World Like That. I look at each record as though we're taking a really high-resolution self-portrait of ourselves as a band. Every few years we stop, take the picture and that's what becomes the latest Turin Brakes album. With this one, we've changed a bit, things have happened, there have been different influences. With the closing track, ‘No Rainbow’, we love it. It almost has an 'alt country' type of feeling about it. That track is really the one in which the influences of what we listened to when we were much younger, living with our parents, really comes through.

You seem to specialise in long tours, and this one you're about to embark upon is no different. We love the live shows. It's where our music comes alive, and we've done it so much. We know now how to create a dynamic set, and to hopefully send people home with a buzz. We do have some fans who are kind of 'stuck' on the sound of the record, and we try to take them along with us as we mix things up a bit when we play songs live. We'd want our audiences to be surprised and delighted, rather than just satisfied at the end of the night.

Turin Brakes play Foundry Sheffield on 6th October. Tickets (£25) are available from foundry.seetickets.com.

LIVE REVIEW

HELEN MCCOOKERYBOOK AND HOWIE REEVE

@ BISHOPS' HOUSE Words: Mark Perkins

What a delightful Saturday night out this was. It's always worth a trip to see a gig in the much-over looked gem that is Bishop's House, and this made me wonder why it's been so long since I last went there. Helen is a veteran of the late 70s post-punk and played bass with The Chefs, a well-known member of that scene. As she told us, no-one called it post-punk in those days. She thought was in a punk band, but it just took some time to learn how to play the songs properly. After their 1981 Peel session, and a split to form Helen and The Horns, she pursued an academic career, but more recently she has returned to music and tonight's acoustic set consisted of songs old and new. She gave us her thoughts on Elon Musk, coping with depression, and told the tale of what happened to a Peeping Tom at Hampstead Bathing Ponds. Some of her songs were adapted versions of songs she once played with a band, transformed into much more delicate acoustic versions. By contrast, Howie Reeve played a much less predictable set. He was billed as the support act, but playing second made sense, as it was a more dynamic and, dare I say it, exciting performance. Landing somewhere between Iggy Pop and Captain Beefheart, he is something of a one-man punk/jazz/improvised sensation. His lyrics are a mixture of thoughtful musings and unsettling outbursts. On one song he gave us a full explanation of a conflict between Greek

Gods, which was as fascinating as it was detailed. So much so, in fact, that it lasted several minutes longer than the song itself. Between his songs, some of which were acapella but most played on his acoustic bass guitar, he charmed us all with stories of growing up in Glasgow, living in France, and a sculp ture he'd acquired during Lockdown of two birds he was now convinced were looking after him. His energy was totally infectious, and the small but perfectly formed audience all went home with a glow that only comes from being involved in an intimate and very special perfor mance of live music. More like this, please.

By Mark Perkins Music and Culture writer

"I LOOK AT EACH RECORD AS THOUGH WE'RE TAKING A REALLY HIGH-RESOLUTION SELF-PORTRAIT OF OURSELVES AS A BAND."

MUSIC

review: the big moon @ the leadmill

Words: Nick Harland Picture: Reece Pinches

It was almost the gig that never happened – again. COVID-19 caused the postponement of The Big Moon’s original planned Leadmill show in October 2020, and then put pay to the rescheduled date in March 2021.

Eventually, after a near two-year delay, the gig was finally set to go ahead in September 2022. Well, that was before the band’s equipment got stranded in Spain. But when there was a last-minute Twitter callout to Sheffield to borrow the gear they needed to play, the people of Sheffield were never going to let them down, were they?

Equipment borrowed, the show was finally on. And we’re lucky the show did go on. A lot has happened to the group since that original show was cancelled: one album released, one album recorded and one new little‘un in the life of new parent (and lead singer) Juliette Jackson. The gig felt like a lifting of the clouds that have been hovering over the indie pop group since it was first cancelled, and there was a noticeable sense of enthusiasm onstage after so long away.

When you throw in the natural energy of a first-night show and a Sheffield crowd well up for it, it made for a thrilling start to the gig season. The setlist drew heavily from their excellent 2020 album Walking Like We Do. A missing flute didn’t dampen the effect of set highlight ‘Barcelona’, a perfect encapsulation of Jackson’s somewhat underrated lyrical skills. Bassist Celia Archer - who also played chief support tonight with her other band Gently Tender - then joined Jackson and Soph Nathan in centre stage for an acapella rendition of ‘Formidable’, a debut album standout which drew a huge reaction from the near-capacity crowd.

A joyous cover of Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ (“because it’s our show,” according to Archer) soon followed, before recent single ’Wide Eyes’ suggested that even though Jackson’s lyrics may have moved on in light of her newfound parenthood, the band’s ear for melodic, earworm-heavy hooks remains undiminished. Nowhere was that more evident than in set closer and indie disco floorfiller ‘Your Light’. The ecstatic reaction to it was a fitting end to a gig which for a long time looked like it might never see the light of day.

quickie with...

harri larkin

Could you introduce yourselves to the Exposed readers by wittily summing up what you're all about?

Take a pinch of sun-soaked guitar pop, some hefty sprigs of emotion and a dollop of bouncy chorus. Mix it all together with twenty fluid ounces of

funk and undiluted indie rock! You've released a new track, 'Bonfire Toffee', last month. What's it about?

I wrote this tune for my girlfriend about how we got together. It was a beachside romance and the lyrics talk about our early days in Cornwall, swimming in the sea and evenings making fires on the beach. But it’s a double-edged sword, I suppose; it’s also about the heartbreak and harsh realities that all couples face when

SOPHIE AND THE GIANTS + ASTRELLS

The Foundry //1 October // £15.40£17.60

Part of Sensoria’s ‘Shindig’ celebrations; expect everything from sci-fi dystopian pop by Astrels to the disco euphoria of Sophie and the Giants. They’re also celebrating her latest single, Golden Nights, an ode to getting lost in the moment with someone special. foundrysu.com

HENGE

Yellow Arch Studios // 14 October // £15.40

After landing on planet earth 7 years ago, Henge have claimed fame for their mix of electro-prog rock and rave music. Now fresh off their release of Exokosm and claiming the title of ‘Best live Act’ at the independent Festival awards they’re playing at Yellow Arch. yellowarch.com

CHRISTONE ‘’KINGFISH’’ INGRAM

Leadmill //15 October// £25

After premiering number 1 on Bill board’s Blues, Grammy nominee and modern Blues icon Christone ‘’King fish’’ Ingram heads to Leadmill for his Sheffield debut. Expect to hear songs from his new album 662. leadmill.co.uk

you have been together a while. It’s a song that fills me with nostalgia. How's October shaping up for the band ?

After an insane summer of festivals, we are taking a break from the live shows until we come back with a brand new set next year. We will, however, be releasing a music video for ‘Bonfire Toffee’ later this month and we can’t wait to show it to you.

@harri_larkin

OCTOBER

MY LIFE IN MUSIC

LEONIE SLOOTS

THE FIRST RECORD I EVER BOUGHT...

Stacie Orrico’s self-titled album was one of the first records I bought with my own pocket money (‘Stuck’ is still an absolute bop). I used to save up and spend hours listening to different albums before deciding which one to get, usually inspired by TMF or MTV.

MY FIRST GIG….

The real first one was prob ably by a Belgian band called ‘Spring’, which means ‘jump’ in Dutch, and was I eight-ish. But the first performance that really cemented my love for live music was Tokio Hotel at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam in 2007. A few months prior I had discov ered their music through MTV, and I fell deeply in love with everything about them. When I realised they were playing and that it had been sold out for ages, 14-year-old me, determined that me and my best friend couldn’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity, found two tickets on Marktplaats (the Dutch equivalent of Gumtree) and convinced my dad to drive us to Amsterdam. I will forever cherish that experience.

THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED…

I can’t remember any of the song titles, but my first ever performance was in ‘Peter Pan: The Musical’ when I was about 11. I played John, mainly because I wear glasses, so spent the whole show in pyjamas. Most comfortable stage outfit ever.

A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN…

‘Misery Business’ by Paramore. That song was the soundtrack to my teenage emo years, and all I wanted was to be as good a singer and performer as

Hayley Williams. Now all I want is to play with them one day… fingers crossed!

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC...

I’ve felt drawn to music from before I can even remember.

According to my mum, I used to dance in my crib before I could stand or walk by pulling myself up on the sides. A moment I do remember really well was the first time I saw a TV ad for a musical. It was advertising Aida, and my jaw dropped. I had never seen something so spectacular and just couldn’t get over how amazing it looked and sounded.

ONE SONG THAT I CAN’T GETOUT OF MY HEAD AT THE MINUTE...

‘Tissues’ by Yungblud. It’s just so damn catchy.

A RECORD THAT REMINDS ME OF A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE…

This War Is Ours by Escape

The Fate reminds me of going to my first ever festival in 2009 (Groezrock in Belgium).

A few weeks before the festival, a schoolfriend had found out that I listened to this kind of music – probably because I had dyed my hair black and started wearing thick black eyeliner – and he convinced me to come.

I was suddenly in a field surrounded by people who liked the same music and bands I had been listening to for ages. I felt like I was on top of the world.

You can buy/listen to immer sive alt-pop banger This Is No Time To Dance, the debut EP from Luxury Goods, on all major streaming platforms. The band also headline Yellow Arch on Friday 21st October, with tickets (£10) available by scanning the QR code below.

Leonie Sloots is a Netherlands-born, Sheffield-based musician and lead singer of Luxury Goods.

@weareluxurygoods

Photo: Ai Narapol

ON THE RIGHT TRACKS

Words: Ash Birch

Revis

Sheffield’s prosperous musical heritage is welldocumented (not least in these pages) and one of the features that have made it so great over the years is the diversity of artists involved. Against cuts and a cost-of-living crisis, access to affordable music in the city has never been more needed and to help preserve that multiplicity of backgrounds across our musical landscape, an inclusive music school project, Tracks, is out here making sure the next generation of talent have equal access to a top-notch musical education.

The program is supported by Sheffield Music Hub, who provide musical opportuni ties and lessons to over 10,000 young people in the city every week. They commissioned Shef field Music School to create a project funded by HAF (Shef field Healthy Holidays), aimed at engaging kids who have an interest in music through the school holidays.

From there, Sheffield Music School director, Lucy Revis, along with Sheffield Music School manager, Tessa Sawyer, created Tracks, putting together

a passionate team of local musi cians and music teachers to create an inclusive, free music project which offers free, daylong music lessons to kids aged between 11 – 18, from all walks of life.

Lucy told us: “I took over directing Sheffield Music School just before the start of the pandemic and I realised that there was a gap in music educa tion for free music lessons that incorporate projects that chil dren really want to do, and could co-collaborate on. Tracks is basically making music with the children, but the music that they want to make.

Since that first incarnation, there have been three more Tracks courses, welcoming hundreds of kids from across the city. Tracks gives them the opportunity to work closely with a who’s who of the city’s music industry, thanks in the main to Lucy’s extensive contact book.

“A lot of the people who work with us are people I've worked with over the years as a session musician,” says Lucy, who is also cellist in the fabulous Sheffield band Before Breakfast, “and just from being out and about on the music scene.

“We have Franz Von, who is one of our lyrical rap teachers. Phil lipe Clegg (Oh Papa) who can

We discover what's going on behind the scenes at inclusive music school project,

turn his hand to loads of stuff, including production. Gina Walters (Before Breakfast), does our singing teaching.

“Steve Edwards (house music producer and former singer in Lords of Flatbush) has done some teaching with us. We’ve got Dave Sanderson (Sheffield-based producer), Ed from Reverend and the Makers, and a guy called Producer WEZ, who I met playing gigs in London – He’s an amazing rap producer.

“Tenn is another producer. He does a lot of production with the kids. Then, there’s Sam Grif fiths (The Howl & The Hum), Teah Lewis, Barney Miller, Paul Sparshott, Louis Barclay, Chris Noble. There’s absolutely loads of incredibly talented people involved!”

As well as the amazing tutors, Manor Lodge Primary School, The Leadmill, Red Tape Studios and The Sarah Nulty Foundation have all been hugely supportive of the work Tracks is doing, and Lucy is extremely thankful for the incredible support from these great Sheff institutions that

help make it possible.

It is at this point in our chat, and right on cue, that Lucy and I are joined by Will Smith and Bobby Barlow, the singer and guitarist from Sunburst, a band who met and formed at Tracks and are now writing and gigging their own music (read on for a snippet of their interview, or for the full version head to exposed.co.uk).

As they sit down next to Lucy, it’s easy to see the respect they have for her, and the feeling is very much mutual (Lucy has even booked them to play at her wedding!). It’s also easy to forget that these boys are just

15 years old (making them the older heads in their band!), such is their maturity and the passion with which they speak about the music and course that has inspired them.

Will said: “It's not like other music schools. That's not just me saying that. You're not talking to teachers or people that are just there because they need a little bit of extra cash, it's actual professional people that work in the industry still.

“They are willing to give up their time and want to help kids. We recorded with Dave Sanderson and he's definitely helped us. He actually understood us. He listens and that makes you feel respected.”

Bobby added: “It's nothing like your normal school. When you have professional musicians, at Tracks it's a lot easier, not just for bands, but for all of us to learn.”

Sunburst formed at Tracks sessions over the past couple of years, as musical chemistry and friendship between the lads blossomed. Will and Bobby are joined in the band by Joe Cuff

and Alex Dyball. Talking about Tracks, Joe told us that: “Having the space and support to be able to make music with my mates and learning about music from great teachers” is what he has most enjoyed.

“It’s given me the opportunity and space to express myself in a musical way. Tracks gives kids opportunities and opens doors for them.”

For more info and to get involved with future Tracks sessions head to sheffieldmusicschool.org.uk Check out sunburst on Instagram at @_sunburstofficialband

Local comedian and promoter Daniel Inniss is back with his column talking all things comedy in the Steel City.

Welcome, one and all, to October’s column. We all know how difficult it has been over the past month, what with the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II as well as worrying about what the winter is going to bring, but I honestly believe that putting a smile on people’s faces is a great tonic for moving forward as best we can.

I have been to quite a few comedy nights around the city over the past month and there is still a real appetite for having a chucklefest of a night out. This is where I would like to thank all the performers that have come from far and wide to our great city to royally entertain local audiences. I’m constantly speaking to comedians and the one thing that always stands out is that these talented performers always want to be at their best to give value for money and to leave those audiences wanting more! To see a diverse range of comedians from a variety

of backgrounds and walks of life coming together to showcase their AWESOME abilities on stage is something I will always stand and applaud.

I know standup comedy is a very subjective thing, but I love seeing us comics do our thing in the way of crowd work! This is a very fine art and takes a lot of fast-thinking as well as good repartee. I recently saw a real artist in this form at Hagglers Corner in the shape of Kieran Lawless (pictured). I mean, wow! This man made badinage look slick, effortless and seamless. Please don’t worry you’ve missed and, believe me, you don’t want to miss this guy perform.

I’d also like to give my comedian buddy Oli and his new wife Zoe a big congrats on their recent nuptials. Those of you who know Oli, you’ll know he has more waistcoats than a Mediterranean waiter, so it was fitting that we all wore waistcoats with pocket watches. This was one

time that I wasn’t allowed to be on West Indian time and be late! There were a lot of comedians at the wedding and, naturally, they entertained the masses brilliantly. So, as we head into some testing months, let’s make October a belter by getting out there and supporting brilliant Sheffield comedy. I get asked all the time “Daniel, how do I get a start performing standup?” My answers is always the same: “Get out there and do it at development nights like Ship Inn & IndieGo, where you’ll get all the love and support you’ll ever need to start off what could be a great path of fun & funny times!” Who knows? Pop along to one of the free entry evenings and you might just catch a comedy great in the making!

By Daniel Inniss Comedian & promoter

DON’T WORRY DARLING

Don’t Worry Darling has already made something of a dubious reputation for itself, not so much due to the poor quality of the finished product, but more for its on-set drama and very public mudslinging (all largely involving director Olivia Wilde in some form or another). Safe to say, at the risk of echoing many prior comments, the making-of documentary would be a far more worthwhile watch than the film.

Don’t Worry Darling really is quite something… There hasn’t been a glossy vanity project like this in some time, supremely rich in extreme levels of supercilious, derivative, inept, selfrighteousness that could only be born from the mind of an overprivileged Hollywood figure. It proudly steals visual and thematic cues from The Prisoner, 1984 and most obviously The Stepford Wives. These aren’t just subtle liftings from those texts, however, as in the case of 1984, Chris Pine’s head features on large prints exactly like the ominous face of Big Brother. The public transport, disturbingly symmetrical architecture and vibrant green lawns remind one of The Village. I half expected Florence Pugh’s Alice to cry out to the heavens, “I am not a number… I am a free woman!” It doesn’t so much nudge you with its thematic points, it bashes your face in repeatedly with a brick. At one point the walls literally close in on Pugh to the point where they

are indeed crushing her, just in case the film hasn’t made itself irritatingly clear enough to the poor, simple-minded viewer. Pugh, incidentally, is getting most of the praise, and whilst her talent is undeniable, she hardly carries the film as so many reviewers have claimed. Nobody does. There are certainly those in the cast that don’t help. Gemma Chan, for instance, proves once again after Eternals she is the acting equivalent of IKEA flatpack. Chris Pine is arguably the best, chewing the scenery throughout with Bond villain-like insidiousness. Harry Styles is fine. He turns up, sounds British, does what’s required of him and nothing more. His chemistry with Pugh, however, isn’t just nonexistent, it’s positively sub-zero. This makes their many ‘passionate’ scenes even more disquieting to the stomach.

SMILE

Unnerving-looking chiller featuring an entity which stalks its prey with a wide statue-like smile.

AMSTERDAM

David O. Russell’s mysterycomedy seems more Wes Anderson judging from the trailer. Starring Christian Bale, Anya Taylor-Joy and John David Washington.

THE WOMAN KING

A historical epic depicting a tribe of all-female African warriors gallantly defending their way of life from the insurmountable force of colonial expansion.

of the fact that similar films like Blue Velvet and Pleasantville have already explored what lies beneath the thin veneer of idyllic American suburbia.

Particularly given the alleged behaviour of director Olivia Wilde towards cast members, it’s hard to swallow the film’s cretinously simplistic sermon on toxic masculinity.

Embarrassingly clumsy at best, offensively uninformed at worst. Pugh’s Alice frequently confesses tearfully “I want to leave!” I feel you there. Florence.

It is impossible to go into detail about why the plot makes no sense whatsoever without spoiling ‘the twist’, but believe me, it doesn’t. In any case, the film is far too concerned with hammering home internet-assembled musings on gaslighting and gender inequality to worry about things like sense. There is nothing worse than being preached at by a filmmaker or studio that has absolutely no understanding of the issues they’re exploring. Don’t Worry Darling is obnoxiously infatuated with its non-existent innovation, ignorant coming soon...

Without an original thought or creative feature to be found anywhere, and never reaching anything close to tension or suspense, Don’t Worry Darling is toxic, selfindulgent dung of the most odious variety.

0.5/5

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING

South Yorkshire’s foremost cinemagoer and West Street Live Annual Short Film Competition runner-up (2008) Matt Karmode casts a critical eye over the month’s most talked about films.

Ask any self-respecting, semi-cognisant non-philistine to list their favourite films and there’s a good chance Babe: Pig in the City will make an appearance. Or at least it should. The timelessness of the 1998 Babe: The Sheep Pig sequel is primarily down to the excellence of director George Miller. As Olivia Wilde recently discovered, it’s hard enough directing humans, even ones you have a pre-existing relationship with. Just imagine the dedication and experience required on Miller’s part to direct a ragtag cast of random animals. And not just direct them but direct them successfully through an ambitious Animal Farm companion piece, one that controversially rejects Orwell’s sentiments to make a case for totalitarianism. So, needless to say, I was overjoyed to hear a new George Miller film was landing in

KARMODE'S KORNER

cinemas. Three Thousand Years of Longing tells the story of lonely academic Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) who, while in Istanbul, accidentally releases Idris Elba from an antique glass bottle. Idris Elba (AKA The Djinn) must recount his story for Alithea, receiving her wishes so that his curse may be lifted.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take three milliseconds to start feeling disappointed. It turns out there are a few problems with Three Thousand Years of Boring, the most significant being unlikeable characters. Having a likeable protagonist in your movie, someone for the audience to route for and get behind, is screenwriting 101. It’s impossible to care about the protagonist’s actions and decisions (the plot) when we don’t care about their character – a bit like how an ex-wife can no longer support your burgeoning film career because she’s fallen out of love with you.

Visuals are another of the film’s many problems. As is so often the case in modern cinema, the CGI is too clean and uninteresting. Cast your mind back to the Babe films and you’ll note they were a wonder to look at, not because they were seamless but because the effects were almost entirely practical, clunky, and fascinatingly executed. Three Thousand Years Too Long

is the film equivalent of a 38-year-old bank manager. Sure, he’s clean shaven, 6ft 2 and has a holiday home in Tuscany. The kids do love him and desperately need a reliable father figure in their life. But could you hold a conversation with him? Could you sit across that empty bourgeois smirk every day at breakfast? Is that really the person you’d choose to remarry?

30 Years of Alimony gets one pair of 3D glasses out of five. I would give it zero pairs of 3D glasses, but being sat alone in the dark for two hours watching an ugly film I didn’t really care for gave me the time I needed to confront some issues going on in my life right now. And thanks to that reflection, I finally feel ready to take a huge forward step...

I’m going to watch Don’t Worry Darling.

MK

FORGE REVIEW

There’s been a huge buzz around new clubbing destination and events space FØRGE warehouse since we announced its upcoming arrival last month, so we stuck our dancing pants on and headed down to find out if it lived up to the hype on opening night…

Just a stone’s throw from the heart of Sheffield city centre, set amongst a backdrop of the city’s industrial heritage, the FØRGE warehouse finally flung its doors open to an eager crowd of techno fans on 16th September.

With temperatures dropping, we made our way down to the venue from the direction of Hyde Park. As we approached Effingham Road, the unmistakable, incessant low thud of 4/4 beats swept up over the brow of the hill, spilling out of the venue’s corrugated roof.

It’s fair to say, that as a sober, *coughs*

mid-thirties *coughs* parent, my nights out until 5am are limited, and dancing is usually reserved for the occasional house party, spinning on a wooden floor to a Nile Rogers bassline or whatever else is blaring out through a tinny speaker set. In short: I’m old. But, as Boxia’s set burst out from the venue and up the hill towards us, it was hard not to get excited for what was in store.

On arrival, we took ourselves on a tour of the grounds. First stop was the main room. To be perfectly honest, calling it a ‘room’ rather undersells it, and it’s difficult to overemphasise the impact the sheer scale of the place has on you as you walk in.

The venue has worked closely with Pioneer to create the FØRGE

soundsytem, utilising their earth-shattering XY series cabinets and subs. No expense has been spared on the sound, creating the perfect conditions for some aggressive, highoctane techno doings that fair kick your head in!

It would also be remiss not to mention the lighting. The steel columns, tracks and architecture of the building, once used for cranes, have been mapped with an incredible LED system that shoots around the space giddily. They’ve also got a very enthusiastic smoke machine that, in the spirit of overexcitement we all felt, overdid it a bit early on, plunging the dance floor into an inescapable plume of smoke. Thankfully, this abated after one particularly foggy blast!

After grabbing a drink and taking all that lot in, we set off back out into the courtyard, past the smoking punters who were catching up on the ample benches of THE YARD, and headed towards the WORKROOM. This smaller space is a former stable and workshop, which is now reserved for talented local DJs to cut their teeth, and thanks to its cosier setting is a much sweatier affair!

We spend much of the evening zig-zagging between the two rooms and dancing hard to heart-racing sets from Boxia, rising star IMOGEN and finally London-born DJ and producer Dax J. 5am comes in the blink of an eye and we shuffle out into the early morning, legs sore, ears ringing, and more than satisfied! Hopefully this is just the start of things to come from a welcome addition to Sheffield’s nightlife scene.

By Ash Birch Online Editor

For full listings head

over to

Førge opening night ft. Boxia, Imogen and Dax J

CULTURE

There's something reassuring about the annual return of Sensoria to the roster of Sheffield festivals. Jo Wingate and her team have always curated some memorable events, despite all the difficulties inherent in organising festivals. Sensoria runs this year from September 30th to October 8th, its 15th incarnation, and I’ve compiled some top picks from this celebration of film, music and digital arts.

On Saturday 8th October, in the University Drama Studio, The Subharchord - The Future That Never Happened is being shown. The Subharchord was a very early music synthesiser, developed in the German Democratic Republic, in around 1960,

as the East Germans researched and developed making music from electronic sources.

Some historians maintain that they were the first to record music made entirely electronically, but whatever the truth, this is the story of its rediscovery and reappraisal. Filmmaker Ina Pillat found one in Norway, where it has survived after being smuggled there. It consists of a keyboard, and the ability to generate and manipulate sounds, much as synthesisers do today, so this looks to be a fascinating slice of electronic music history. Later that same evening comes the world premiere of a truly unique performance: Quadros. No two performances of Quadros will ever be the same, as they will be influenced by random selections, determined on the night. It's an update of an event, staged by Tristram Cary in 1971, called Trios. He and two other musicians, with the

help of an EMS VC3 synthesiser, and two record decks, performed experimental music, shaped by the roll of a dice. In its updated Sensoria incarnation, there will be four performers playing eight synths over a randomly selected rhythm track, which is produced from specially pressed vinyl records. All this will be hosted by Dimitri, and live mixed by DJ Rosie. At the start of the festival, South Street Kitchen will be hosting a night of music and food, to discover whether 'sonic seasoning' can enhance the taste of your meal. Over 6-courses of a tasting menu, specially selected sounds will hopefully

enhance your eating experience. Diners will hopefully discover sounds, frequencies and dishes that were made for each other. Booking is essential.

Sensoria often puts on an exhibition, and this year it will run from October 1st to the 8th, in the Access Space at Event Central. It's called Stroboscopic, an exhibition by Tracey Welch and Rich Westley. Admission is free, and it attempts to recreate the work of photographer Gjon Mili as he pioneered the art of stroboscopic photography. He created astonishing images of the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Ella Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Billie Holliday and Lester Young. This inspired Sheffield drummer Rich Westley to invite photographer Tracey Welch to join him in exploring the stroboscopic process and to attempt to recreate those pictures using modern techniques. Also involved is Sheffield producer and musician Dean Honer, who has used a theremin to enhance the images and explore the relationship between musician and instrument.

By Mark Perkins Music and Culture writer

ON THE BIG SCREEN

Films are always at the heart of the Sensoria festival, and here are some essential picks this year...

Patti Smith - Electric Poet is an attempt to document the 50-year career and life of a truly enigmatic artist.

The Computer Accent looks to be a fascinating film, docu menting the story of the group Yacht, as they hand over the reins of the entire creative process to Artificial Intelligence.

Other, Like MeThe Oral History of Coum Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle is a film all about the industrial noise band. Coming out of Hull, they confronted all the social norms and taboos of the time, and were once called 'the wreckers of civilisation' … by a Tory politician.

A Film About Studio Electrophonique tells the almost forgotten story of Ken Patten and his Handsworth council house studio. It was used by Sheffield bands over the years, all of them unknown at the time, to record demos and early pieces of music, before some of them went on to national and even international success. ABC, Human League, Clock DVA and Pulp all contribute to the film to ensure that memories of Ken and his pioneering work are not forgotten. The film will have a special live music event following the screening.

Tickets, updates and a full list of events can be found at www. sensoria.org.uk. @SensoriaFest

CULTURE

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

Charlie Parker speaks with Caroline Steinbeis and Chelsea Walker, directors of The Contingency Plan, a climate change-themed double-bill heading to The Crucible this month. Here’s what they had to say…

Can you tell us about the plays themselves?

CS: Well, Steve [Waters] wrote these two pieces under the headline The Contingency Plan. The plays had been originally written and performed in London twelve years ago, and we’ve been working with him to update the scripts and reframe where we are at in the face of enormous challenges with regard to climate change. Particularly, with regards to a potential water level rise that might come about due to the heating of the atmosphere, meaning that the glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic are melting, and both plays come at that very big question in very personal ways.

CW: On The Beach is a family drama about a father and son glaciologist, who have both been studying ice melt on the West Antarctic ice sheets and its effect on sea level rise around the coast. Their family live on the coast of Norfolk, an area particularly affected by sea level rise. So that play is an intimate family drama about how sea level rise is going to affect individuals around the UK and, I suppose, how we start to understand and take in science around the climate crisis.

Moving away from the personal, am I right in thinking that Resilience delves more into the political side of things?

CS: By comparison to On The Beach, Resilience is set in Westminster, and the same guy that we met in On The Beach, Will, is making his way into politics. Suddenly he finds himself up against a bunch of ministers who have their own career paths and the security of their careers. There is more to their interests than the safety of the British Isles. There’s this question: what do these figures actually mean? You're talking about a few centimetres of sea level rise, but what happens if you start talking about five metres of sea level rise or 10 or even 60 metres above sea level rise? This is foregrounded in Resilience. The play very much is asking: what action is being taken? And is that enough to make the difference now?

Was it hard not to be too political? Is it possible for a play to ever be too political?

CW: It is a great question. The plays are political. I think that's a great thing. I don't think plays can be too political; I think theatre is a political art form. But I think that it's about how you invite an audience into that debate, rather than try and be didactic towards them. These plays are very critical but invite the audience into that rather than imposing politics.

CS: We're having many discussions about how to get yourself into the mindset of somebody whom you ideologically disagree with. That can be complicated because sometimes members of Parliament directly make choices or are responsible for a particular action that is very difficult to reconcile.

In recent months we've seen what is still ongoing in Pakistan, and sometimes it takes having to show the real-life images of a country underwater to really hit home. Are these pressing themes something you've been wanting to do for a while, or have you simply grown to them through working on The Contingency Plan?

CW: I think the climate crisis and how our governments are handling it is the most important issue facing the world. What excites me about Steve's writing is that it embraces theatre as a political art form while allowing it to be entertaining, but also actively engaging in a political debate.

CS: It feels very positive to be able to make work, especially in theatre, that is not only going to engage with these questions but also really entertain people. I think an important thing to really stress is that these plays are so incredibly watchable and so incredibly funny. Steve Waters has an amazing way of making people lean forward and want to listen to the discussion.

The Contingency Plan features a double-bill of plays, Resilience (14 Oct –5 Nov) and On The Beach (15 Oct –5 Nov). Tickets for both performances are available online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

WE’VE BEEN WORKING TO UPDATE THE SCRIPTS AND REFRAME WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE FACE OF ENORMOUS CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHAT IS IT?

The Art of Play is an upcoming exhibition at the NVM, based at Castlegate in Sheffield city centre, and will be going “behind the screens” to reveal the art, creativity and people behind five UK-made videogames.

Opening on 14th October, the exhibition will be emphasising the hand made and traditional techniques used within games and how they create the unique textures and moods seen on screen. Devel oped through conversations with UK-based games studios, the exhibit showcases draw ings, notebooks and physical models, as well as interviews with designers and artists detailing inspirations behind the games.

WHICH GAMES WILL BE FEATURED?

Featured case studies include award-winning contemporary games Monument Valley, Lumino City and No Longer Home, as well as classics like the Dizzy series, a remake of Lemmings, the famous Angry Birds and Yorkshire’s very own Worms.

AoP Monument ValleyUstwo Games

WHAT WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE?

You’ll be able to see vide ogames presented as contemporary art, illustrating the handcrafted techniques and creativity behind indie games. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in a newly released Panoramic Edition of Monument Valley, a meditative puzzle game influenced by the works of artist M.C. Escher, with seemingly impossible geometric architecture brought to life as 21st-century interac tive labyrinths.

Contrasting the contemporary with the historic, on display in Sheffield for the first time is a hand-drawn map, created by the Oliver twins in 1989, for the iconic Dizzy series of games. The Fantasy World Dizzy map features hundreds of intricate level details such as clouds, trapdoors and bean stalks, all sketched in penciland it even includes alternative titles for the game which had not yet been coded. A series of rarely seen objects

on display include an Amiga 4000 computer (on loan from the US) that was used to design and develop the videogame Worms 2. Through design memos, rough notes and story board designs, Art Director for Worms 2, Cris Blyth paints a picture of how blockbuster games were created here in Yorkshire during the late 1990s.

The National Videogame Museum is the UK’s only museum dedicated to videogames. Its ethos was to create a space where anyone from every background can play, explore and create videogames. The NVM moved to Sheffield in 2018 and is based at Castle House, Angel Street, in the sheffield city centre.

did you know?

through this exhibition (and the supportof art fund) we are able to explore how game developers use traditional techniques to produce stunning and contemporary interactive artworks.

Dr. Michael Pennington, curator at the National Videogame Museum

City

State of Play

Humble Grove

CULTURE

review

DANCE IN THE GARDENS – NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

Words: Mark Perkins

Image: Sara Turton

There’s nothing I like more than a summer’s evening in one of Sheffield’s parks, so the added attraction of an immersive modern dance event, with a specially composed electronic music soundtrack, made No Time Like the Present in the Botanical Gardens unmissable.

Picnic blankets and chairs, Prosecco and nachos, or just sitting on the grass; no matter how you approached the event, it was hugely enjoyable for everyone who came. Small children danced while the rest of us marvelled at the skills of the dancers and choreog raphy involved in producing this show.

It all took place in the stunning surroundings of the gardens and created a space amongst the trees, one that was at once both intimate and spacious, as the five young dancers told their stories. The entire performance was created by the performers themselves, all under the auspices of Tala-Lee Turton’s production company, who you may have seen interviewed in last month’s magazine. They all worked with composer Grace Stubbings to create their own pieces, where each of the individuals were supported by the others to create their own personal dance narrative.

That’s the real beauty of ballet and dance performances: it is a narrative that absolutely anyone, regardless of what language they speak, can understand, and even relate to. At the end of the show, the dancers took part in a Q&A, explaining further what they each hoped to get over to the audience, a lot of which related to the way the world sees women and young girls, and how some things need to change.

That was the perfect way to do it, for me. I like to make up my own mind on what some thing is about before I get told what the intention was. Just like being in an art gallery, it’s always best to take a good look at the artwork before deciding whether to read those little cards that tell you what the artist intended. More of this, please. It was a perfect evening of outdoor summer entertainment.

GET BOOKED IN

Off the Shelf Festival opens a new chapter in Sheffield...

Returning to Sheffield and South Yorkshire for the 31st time, Off the Shelf Festival is set to delight lovers of all kinds of literature this autumn. One of the UK’s biggest literary festi vals, from 14th-30th October, the University of Sheffield and associated city centre venues will present a variety of talks, book launches, and local, regional and international literary talent. Featuring both live and online events, speakers such as Melvyn Bragg, Irvine Welsh, Hugh Bonneville, Susie Dent, Linton Kwesi-Johnson, Sheffield alumnus Dan Walker and Sheffield-based writer Akeem Balogun will be present. Additionally, this year will also present a series of films, podcasts and talks about intriguing research from leading academics.

With a wide mix of events based across South Yorkshire, a full programme of what’s on can be found at offtheshelf.org.uk.

UNFORTUNATE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE SEA WITCH

Lyceum // 5-6 Oct // £15-£32

Everyone’s favourite Disney Diva, Ursula, gives her take on what really happened all those years ago under the sea. Fresh from a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe, Fat Rascal Theatre brings you a tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

RUSH: A JOYOUS JAMAICAN JOURNEY

Lyceum // 7-8 Oct // £15-£30

JA Reggae Band play the music of Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Lord Kitchener, Millie Small and more in this story of Reggae music and the Windrush Generation. Narrated by comedian John Simmit, hear how this music took the world by storm.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

POLLEN MARKET

Castlegate // 16 Oct // Free

All the greenery, local produce art you could ask for, Pollen Market returns to Castlegate, transforming the street with the wares of inde pendent creators, food and beer stalls and plenty of luscious greenery to help transform your abode into a plant paradise.

pollenmarket.co.uk

The Art of Play

A

CREEP IT REAL!

It’s October, which means one thing: it’s Gay Christmas (AKA Halloween). If you are anything like me and have been counting down to the spooky season since Easter, then fear not, we are here for all the witches with a host of queer creepy events.

Kicking off proceedings we have the Hocus Pocus Drag Queen Show (Sat 22 Oct) at Malin Bridge Inn, amazing themed drag show from the Sanderson Sisters with a cabaret show from Aunty Ginger. There will be more drag at Malin Bridge with Tanya Minge (Fri 7 Oct) hosting Bumhole Bingo and she’ll be back alongside another Malin regular for The Electric Blue and Tanya Minge Show (Sat 15 Oct) with a massive mix of comedy, games and live music. Over at the Library Theatre, The Velvet Burlesque present Cabaret Gothique (Fri 28 + Sat 29 Oct) – a wonderfully wicked celebration of fabulous burlesque, vaudeville, cabaret, circus and variety acts. Karma Leon’s Kabaret have a double bill line-up with their shows Grand Delusions at The Street Cauldron (Fri 28 Oct) and Sinister at Sheffield Plate (Sat 29 Oct) with two shows of bewitching cabaret full of hauntingly beautiful burlesque, drag, live vocals and comedy. Finally, get your freak on for the biggest, queerest Halloween fancy dress party as Anna Kissed presents Spirit of Halloween (Sat 29 Oct) at Spirit of Sheffield featuring a special guest funky/vocal house DJ set from DJ Jaydee. And drag continues to take over the steel city throughout the month! Andro and Eve return with their latest instalment of The Kingdom Come – Queer Future Edition (Thu 6 Oct) at Crookes Social Club, hosted by iconic drag duo Adam All and Apple Derrieres

and featuring performances from Sigi Moonlight and Wesley Dykes, plus more acts TBA. Drag Queen bingo fans are in luck this month with both RuPaul’s Drag Queen Bingo (Fri 14 Oct) at the Forum, hosted by Ladonna Dick and Ivy Alexxander, and Drag Queen Bingo (Wed 19 Oct) at Hagglers Corner with the amazing BiPolar Abdul. And last but by no means least in this month’s drag line-up we have Queenz – The Show with Balls (Wed 26 Oct) – the trailblazing, life-affirming drag extravaganza taking the UK by storm appearing for one night only at Sheffield Foundry featuring mind-blowing live vocals slaying reimagined classics from The Spice Girls, Lady Gaga, Little Mix, Britney, Whitney, and everything in between. Following the recent release of his book To Be A Gay Man, writer, actor and pop star Will Young [Mon 24 Oct] returns to the stage at City Hall

performing his greatest hits of the last 20 years!

There are lots of big night-out things happening this month, but if you’re looking for lower-key socials, check out the Coffee Morning event for people of marginalised gender identities every Monday at Foodhall; Rainbow Blade Pre-match Socials, Sheffield United’s LGBTQ+ supporters group meetups every home game at Spirit of Sheffield Rainbow Blade Pre-match Socials (1, 4, 15, 22 Oct); or Queer Writes, a collaborative writing space for the girls, gays and theys at DINA (13 + 27 Oct).

That’s your lot for this month! As always, keep an eye on the Sheffield LGBT+ events page on Facebook (facebook. com/sheffieldlgbtevents) for updates and announcements on the latest events and news.

Until next time, love and pumpkins...