Exposed Magazine April 2017

April 2017

The exposed Awards 2017: who won whAT?

PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL CHARITY

BRiTisH sea poweR // ciRca waVes //

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FesTiVaL // cHRis RamseY // pRoToJe

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COMING SOON

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BOOKINGS@BLOO88.COM - 0114 270 6264 BLOO 88 - 182 WEST STREET / SHEFFIELD / S14ET / WWW.BLOO88.COM

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SNOOKER LEGENDS DINNER Wednesday 26th April

Tickets only ÂŁ34.95 per person

10% discount for parties of 10 or more Our annual Snooker Legends Dinner returns to our Fahrenheit Restaurant to coincide with the World Snooker Championships.

Once again the club will be buzzing, especially as this year marks 40 years of the championship being held in Sheffield.

Come and join us for an evening with snooker legends Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty and John Virgo.

The evening includes: A delicious three course meal in our Fahrenheit Restaurant Q&A session with all three snooker legends Trickshot demonstration from John Virgo ÂŁ5 free bet per guest

For all booking enquiries, please call 0114 2288980, or email Ashleigh.bell@gentingcasinos.co.uk

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20: EXPOSED VS The biggest muncher in the Exposed office takes on a food challenge of belt-busting proportions down at 8oz Burger Co.

24: MAXIMO PARK Written amidst a backdrop of recent epic political and social shifts, the loveable Geordie outfit are back with another bag of indie pop earworms.

We went to find out more.

34: EXPOSED AWARDS 2017 Now that was a big night, Sheffield.

Hats off to ya. Relive the festivities and refresh your memory on who won what with our 15-page roundup.

60: SHEFFIELD FOOD FESTIVAL The city’s biggest free event returns to the Peace Gardens next month – and it’s looking mighty tasty! Get the lowdown on the annual celebration of Sheff ’s food and drink scene here.

74: CIRCA WAVES Ahead of the Liverpudlian outfit’s highly-anticipated second album, Amy Ridden speaks to Circa Waves frontman Kieran Shuddall about how the band is evolving following its successs.

94: WHILE SHE SLEEPS Ahead of a massive homecoming gig, Chris Lord finds out the story behind the band ditching the labels and going DIY with their latest album.

11: UPFRONT 20: VS 57: FASHION 60: FOOD 69: THINGS TO DO 70: COMEDY 73: NIGHTLIFE 74: MUSIC 97: LGBT 100: GAMING 103: FILM 105: CULTURE

As hectic months go, March is right up there with the best of them. Keeping us busy and ensuring an above average amount of hangovers last month we had the Exposed Awards, Outlines Festival, Sheffield Beer Week and St Patrick’s Day, just to name a few. The Awards was once again a massive night and you can head to pages 34-55 to see how it went down. From the team here at Exposed, we’d like to give another huge thank you to all who attended and voted. A lot of work goes into the event, but having the chance to share the love from our readers to the many hardworking independents and talented people around the city makes the busy prep worth it.

Sticking with the theme of celebration, the success of the recent Outdoor City Weekender highlights the strides made in promoting active and healthy lifestyles in Sheffield. Quick tip: pick a nice day one weekend and have a wander around Parkwood Springs (there’s an entrance at the top of Rutland Road) – you’ll see the mountain bikers slaloming in and out of the purpose-built track, there might be some 11-a-side taking place on the footy pitches up top and you’ll certainly pass plenty of joggers and walkers along the way. It also offers one of the best panoramas of the city for my money, giving a great view of our many green spaces and enviable proximity to the Peaks. We deserve the title of the UK’s first outdoor city and it’s something we should all push to get behind.

That all said, you still deserve a bit of a break now and then, don’t you? So kick back and relax as we look ahead to what April has to hold. Music-wise, there are new albums from our cover stars Maximo Park and the consistently great British Sea Power to wrap your ears around, both of whom you can hear from in this issue. We’ve also collared red hot Liverpudlian outfit Circa Waves, rising reggae star Protoje, South Shields funnyman Chris Ramsey and Sheff rockers While She Sleeps for chats. Throw in your usual round-up of nightlife, food & drink, culture, fashion, and LGBT news and you’ve got another jam-packed Exposed Mag to get stuck into.

By the way, I have to give a quick shoutout to the Tramlines team before signing off. The Libertines, Primal Scream, Kano and Toots – just how good is that, eh?

Have a good’un.

@JosephFood

APRIL FOOLS PHIL TURNER (MD)

PHIL@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

NICK HALLAM (SALES DIRECTOR) NICK@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

SARAH KORIBA (ACCOUNTS)

ACCOUNTS@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

REYT PAIR OF JOKERS JOE FOOD (EDITOR)

JOE@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

RACHEL HEWARD (EDITOR) RACHEL@EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

PROPER EGGHEAD MARC BARKER (DESIGN)

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LITTLE EASTER BUNNIES

MARK PERKINS, ALI BIANCHI, KERRE CHEN, HEATHER PATERSON, HOLLY STITTLE, AMELIA LANCASTER, ANDREW J MARTIN, CHRIS LORD, LEWIS BUDDEN, SAMANTHA COCKAYNE, KIERAN WADE, JESS PEACE, AMY RIDDEN

THE BUSINESS STUFF EXPOSED IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY

BY BLIND MICE MEDIA LTD, UNIT 1B RIALTO 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.

A storm is coming Fresh from releasing his highly-anticipated debut album Gang Signs & Prayer, grime don Stormzy heads to Sheffield’s O2 Academy on April 30th.

STORMZY IN NUMBERS:

6

A* GCSES the artist bagged back in high school, claiming he was “a bit of a boffin” in the classroom.

49m+

YouTube views clocked up on the video for breakthrough single ‘Shut Up’.

69,000

2

Combined sales Awards already reached in the first MOBO in the bag after week of his debut Best Grime album, making it the winning in 2014 and 2015 first UK grime record Actrespectively. to reach number one.

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WHEELIE TOUGH

Riders take on the gruelling challenge of Hagg Hill during the Outdoor City Weekender’s Magnificent Seven event. The race’s route, which is nearly 27 miles long, sees competitors pitted against seven of Sheffield’s toughest hills.

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ARIES - MAR 21 - APR 19

Make your own decisions in life. You are a free person. Of course this isn’t entirely true when considering how we, the human race, are enslaved by many things: gross materialism, undemocratic political doctrines and our own deeply-ingrained narcissisms, to name a few. But if you want that extra slice of coffee cake, love, you take it.

TAURUS APRIL 20 - MAY 20 Someone has to stand up for the truth. But I think we all know it isn’t going to be you.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Text HORO to 1001 and I’ll tell you which day you’ll definitely need to avoid crossing the road. (Astrology costs £1.50 per text) CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 22 Self-examination is never comfortable, but with the right lubricant and a tender touch you’ll reap the rewards.

LEO JULY 23 - AUG 22 Try to avoid unnecessarily dying this month.

VIRGO AUG 23 - SEP 22 This month will be the stuff dreams are made of! Unfortunately, yours tend to be horrendously dark, sordid and violent affairs.

LIBRA SEP 23 - OCT 22 Regardless of how often you wash, you will smell like ass for the whole of April. Hard lines.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 21 An significant encounter will see you share intimate emotions with a deep-pan pizza and tub of Ben & Jerry’s.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 - JAN 19 Being wealthy and good-looking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. So at least you’ve got that going for you.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18 Maintaining eye contact and offering a firm handshake to clients will help you become the world’s creepiest toilet attendant.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 21 You finally get into shape this month, the shape of a large space hopper.

PISCES FEB 19 - MAR 20 Venus, the planet of love and passion, will enter your sign in earnest this month. Things will quickly get hot, sticky then immensely embarrassing for you in that order.

Every month, the Great Foodini cups his crystal balls and slips into your aether. Can you feel him, dear reader? Can you?

In need of a little love advice? Has the fizz gone out of your banger? Let the lord of love enter your soul...

Dear SP, I’ve recently moved back in with the ‘rents following uni. Lo and behold, the mother is already starting to get right on my tits.

She insists on barging into my room at the most inopportune of moments, ie when I’m refreshing myself in the most intimate of fashions, to ask how the job-hunting’s going or whether I’d like a cup of tea.

How do I explain that I need a bit of space to, ahem, express myself?

Will, Hillsborough

Brother, this is so beneath me that I can’t believe I cancelled my hot yoga session to answer questions today.

Simply wait until you’re all together one dinnertime, and in no uncertain terms, tell them how you’re a big boy now, a big boy with strong urges and a 4G wi-fi connection, and if you want to do unspeakable things to do an old gym sock then you’d jolly well appreciate a bit of privacy while you do so.

Then clear your throat and politely asking mother to pass the salt. Point made. SP

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“Tha’s never seen sadder fish than the ones at Matlock Aquarium.”

This month we’re offering you the chance to bag tickets for two huge events at Sheffield Arena. To be in with a chance of winning, get yourselves over to exposedmagazine.co.uk/competitions

Kings of Leon

Returning to Sheffield on June 10, Nashville rockers Kings of Leon have firmly rooted themselves as one of biggest rock bands on the planet, successfully selling millions of records since first arriving on the scene back in 2002. Back with their seventh album Walls, the band show no signs of slowing down after receiving a BRIT Award nomination for Best International Group and another at the VO5 Awards for Best International Band.

Don’t miss out on the chance to bag a free pair of tickets for you and a pal.

NEW SHEFFIELD FESTIVALS ANNOUNCED The Steel City welcomes two new festivals to add to its already impressive collection this year. At the end-of-the-world-themed event Rebuild (Catton Hall July 7-9), revellers will find themselves as survivors of the zombie apocalypse and form a new society from the ground up. Live music comes courtesy of Zion Train, K.O.G. and the Zongo Brigade, Molotov Jukebox (fronted by Natalia Tena), Smiling Ivy, Octofunk and more. The event also includes an immersive theatre aspect and interactive workshops aimed at understanding how we can build strong communities and work with the environment. The second festival announced is No Bounds (October 13–15), a new celebration of music, art and technology aimed at exploring a world without limits. To celebrate, a launch event on June 9 will feature live sets from Nina Kravitz, Helena Hauff, Mumdance and DJ Nobu, amongst others. With talks and discussions, technologybased workshops, art installations, poetry and more, the launch will take place across numerous Sheffield venues including Hope Works and Trafalgar Warehouse.

Tickets and more info are available from partyforthepeople.org and noboundsfestival.co.uk respectively.

ALSOP FIELDS A mix of new and renovated buildings are set to form the first phase of a £10m development in Sheffield. The Alsop Fields project, located within the Cultural Industries Quarter, aims to add apartments, studios, offwicices and places to eat and drink to the area. The development is scheduled to be completed by summer.

A NEW ERA BEGINS The first phase of work on the New Era Square development located close to Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground, will be ready by August this year. The £65m project will also include retail units, food and drink outlets on the ground floor, leading out to an open-air square for events.

UNI OF SHEFF COMES TOP

WWE LIVE

Experience the exhilarating extravaganza of WWE Live as we give you the chance to win two pairs of tickets as well as two tour T-shirts. Sheffield Arena will welcome the spectacle on May 11, where you’ll get the chance to witness your favourite stars in incredible live action, all under one roof. The night will feature a Championship Triple Threat Match, Intercontinental Championship Match, SmackDown Tag Team, 3-on-4 Handicap and plenty more action-packed entertainment to enjoy.

The University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union has again been rated as number one in the UK, now for the ninth year running. The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, which gathers feedback from over 15,000 full-time undergradtuates at universities across the country, showed that in the ‘Good Students’ Union’ category the University’s Union received an average score of 6.7 out of 7 from surveyed students.

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“I can’t get rid of him! He’s a reyt barnacle, that lad.”

BRITISH SEA POWER – KEEP ON TRYING (SECHS FREUNDE)

TEATIME VINTAGE Back in 2011 Julie and Andy set up a website to hire out the vintage china and décor they’d collected for their wedding.

One thing led to another and after delivering pop-up tea rooms at vintage fairs and farmers’ markets, things snowballed to encompass a catering business offering china and prop hire, event design, styling, afternoon tea and more. Last year the couple set up shop in Totley, and Teatime Vintage was born.

THE FOOD

THE LOOK

It’s not all just tea and cake; their gift shop offers unique wares from local artists and makers. Every Wednesday night they even host a crafting club (for £5 per person) where you can have tea and make your own craft items. And if you fancy recreating their tea room at home you can rent their collection of crockery and have them cater your events, providing a set-up and styling service complete with homemade ‘save the date’ cards.

A comforting atmosphere awaits as you walk through the door of Teatime Vintage; everything is arranged to give out a rustic vintage feel, with mismatched furniture offset against bare brick walls and rough wooden textures.

Julie and Andy prefer to take a ‘slow living’ approach to life and their shop reflects this attitude of simply relaxing and enjoying life as it comes. It’s the ideal spot for sitting, relaxing and sipping some tea!

The menu consists of a range of cakes, sandwiches, scones and breakfasts. To go along with that, there’s an even wider variety of loose leaf teas, house blend coffees and hot chocolates.

On the second weekend of every month The Gin Palace stop by to provide a selection of four different flavours of gin to complement a specially tailored menu.

THE REST

INDEPENDENT SHEFFIELD MEMBERSHIP: Bags you 10% off food and drink!

249 BASLOW ROAD, TOTLEY, SHEFFIELD S17 4DU TEATIMEVINTAGE.2012@GMAIL.COM TEL: 07920 422 337

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENTS? HEAD TO INDEPENDENT-SHEFFIELD.CO.UK AND DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR EXCLUSIVE DEALS AND OFFERS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES OF EVERY SHAPE AND SIZE.

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True to form, BSP offer more stirring, melodic goodness with their latest single from new album Let The Dancers Inherit The Party.

LITTLE COMETS – HUNTING They sure know how to put a catchy indie tune together, do the Little Comets.

‘Hunting’ is short and sweet, tons of fun and brimming with the usual rousing refrains and catchy riffs we’ve come to expect from the Tyne and Wear quartet.

IDLES – MOTHER Straight-talking, visceral, cathartic postpunk hollerings from IDLES. Makes you wanna smash yer Nan’s best dinner set.

THE BIG MOON – SUCKER Enthralling grungy guitar pop from a band we’re stoked to see added to the Tramlines line-up.

THUNDERCAT FT. KENDRICK LAMAR – WALK ON BY It’s hard to see who’s going to release a more surreal, hypnotic and generally brilliant album than Drunk by Thundercat this year. This track has a chilled, melancholic groove throughout, with Lamar dropping by to switch up the pace brilliantly in-between.

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER FRENCH PRESS Five minutes of delightful jangly pop rock from this Melbourne-based outfit.

MOSBOROUGH MUSIC FESTIVAL DON VALLEY BOWL SHEFFIELD SAT 3RD JUNE 2017 10.45AM - 11PM

THE DUALERS | MISSING ANDY ANTARCTIC MONKEYS | BOY ON A DOLPHIN GINGER TOM HAPPY MONDAZE JUNGLE LION MARQUIS DRIVE THE SSS SWEET LITTLE MACHINE

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INSIDE STAGE APOLLO JUNCTION THE ASSIST | BENSON COURTESANS | MILANE ODDITY ROAD | SPEARS SUNDANCE VELCRO TEDDY BEARS VIDA | WIRED +DJ'S Fat Piggy & Trojan Explosion

TICKETS

ADVANCE £20 P.O.D £25 UNDER 10'S FREE 11-15'S £6 ADVANCE £10 P.O.D. WEEKEND £40 INCLUDES FRIDAY & SATURDAY

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COLLECT WHITEHORNES, HAYBROOK AT CRYSTAL PEAKS, LEADMILL, RARE & RACEY RECORDS, ROYAL STANDARD, MOSBOROUGH OFF-LICENCE, BIRLEY MOOR NEWS.

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Primal Scream and Kano join the party!

Tramlines Festival have built upon one of their biggest line-ups to date by adding iconic psych rockers Primal Scream and legendary grime artist Kano to this year’s line-up.

The three-day event has already announced likes of The Libertines, Toots and the Maytals, All Saints, The Coral, Twin Atlantic, Metronomy, The Pharcyde, We Are Scientists, Loyle Carner, Nadia Rose and many more to play its new-look festival site spanning three outdoor stages.

Joining the recent additions on the genre-bending line-up will be punk-pop quartet The Big Moon and French DJ/Producer The Reflex. As ever, the Sheff scene is well represented and will see the likes of Liberty Ship, The SSS, LOGS, Matic Mouth and much more local talent taking to the stage over the weekend of 21-23 July.

SUPPORTING PRS FOR MUSIC The festival have teamed up with PRS for Music to present a special bill of bands who have benefited from the PRS Momentum Music fund. A new stage in the Devonshire Green Arena will see performances from the likes of Champion, Mista Silva, Flamingods and Jerry Williams.

Earlybird and first release tickets for Tramlines Festival 2017 sold out in record time, but second release weekend tickets are now on sale for £38 plus booking fee. Get yours from www.tramlines.org.uk

THE LINE-UP (SO FAR!)

ALL SAINTS / THE LIBERTINES / TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS / PRIMAL SCREAM / KANO THE CORAL / METRONOMY / THE PHARCYDE / TWIN ATLANTIC / WE ARE SCIENTISTS Akala / Alvarez Kings / The Big Moon / Blaenavon / Bossy Love / Cabbage / Cate Le Bon / Cattle & Cane / Champion / Don Letts / Estrons / Fizzy Blood / Flamingods / Goat Girl / Hot 8 Brass Band / Jalen N’Gonda / Jamie Isaac / Jerry Williams / John Joseph Brill / Liberty Ship / Loyle Carner / Lucy Spraggan / Mike Hughes / Mista Silva / M.O / Neil McSweeney / Nadia Rose / Omar Souleyman / The Reflex / Sheffield’s Sgt Pepper Project / Spring King / The SSS / The Age of LUNA / The Magic Gang / The Wharves / Yorkston Thorne Khan Buffalo Skinners / Goat Head / James Tait / Little Robots / LOGS / Luxury Death / Matic Mouth / Paul Littlewood

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8oz burger co As the undisputed glutton of the office, our designer Matt Crowder sure knows his way around a burger.

But could The Big Five-O – a meaty offering of ridiculous proportions from the folk at 8oz Burger Co – tame the most untameable of appetites? One way to find out…

Words:

Amelia Lancaster

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As far as food challenges go, there are some pretty colossal ones out there. In previous issues we’ve put our tums to the test with stupidly spicy chicken wings, big-ass burritos and massive German sausages – to name a few. Somewhat predictably, most of these have ended in embarrassment, discomfort and a day or two spent making frequent trips to the office toilet. Never ones to learn, this time we chose resident burger fanatic Matt to take on 8oz Burger Co’s gutbuster of a challenge, The Big Five-O. Matt seemed like the ideal candidate: he eats a lot, basically. In fact, pre-challenge and brimming with determination we heard about the time he once nailed a ‘McGangbang’. That, dear reader, is when you insert a McChicken burger inside

a Big Mac thus creating a filthy mess of processed meats – and apparently he still saw off a frozen pizza when he got home, just to make sure. This is the sort of guy we’re dealing with here.

On the surface, The Big Five-O challenge seems totally achievable for the greedy average Joe and surely a doddle for our Matt. It’s four beef burgers with smoky bacon, cheese sauce and half a pound of fries. The only downfall with this challenge was time. The 8oz Burger team give you just 15 minutes to waffle this family-sized portion of food down. In the history of the challenge only one person has only ever completed it and even then they went over by a few seconds, but the staff sportingly let that slide. Matt knew this would be a real

test of his manhood, mental strength and stomach capacity; he repeatedly whispered to himself, “I will control this burger; I will not let it control me.”

Matt bowled into the restaurant with an air of arrogance, which hardly masked the beads of sweat brimming at his hairline as we discussed which approach to take.

He sips water quietly, in an attempt to “lubricate” his throat. When the meal arrives, a burger the size of a small baby on a bed of never-ending fries, our challenger’s eyes widen. The timer begins – GAME ON! Six minutes in and the guy is smashing it.

With burger sauce all over his mush, we continue to spur him on with waves of encouragement before we are told, in no uncertain terms, to shut up. Apparently, our

hollering was putting him off his stride. But fair play to the guy, he was going through mouthfuls of bread, burger and bacon at an impressive rate.

Alas! As we reach the ten minute mark, Matt begins to deteriorate. The sweat increases and the chewing becomes far more laborious. With a howl, he slaps the table in frustration and disappointment as all the Exposed staff stare at him pitifully.

As the timer bleeps down to 40 seconds, hardly anything remains on Matt’s plate bar a few chips, a final chunk of burger and half a piece of bacon. But the guy has packed it in. Thrown in the towel. Gone down with his ship. “This is the worst I’ve ever felt,” he moans while slumping back into the booth.

The man is broken.

VERDICT:

So close, yet so far. Stick an extra five minutes on the clock and we’d have been celebrating the win – but rules are rules and it’s easy to see why not many people have come out on top against The Big Five-O. That’s one badass burger.

The scores so far: EXPOSED: 29 CHALLENGERS: 39 DRAWS: 3

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Closing in on their second decade in the tumultuous world of indie rock, Tyneside foursome Maximo Park continue in their mission of producing political and socially sensitive records – whilst still giving the people something to dance to. With their sixth album Risk To Exist out this month, plus a show coming up at The Leadmill (at the band’s insistence), Jess Peace collared lead songwriter and guitarist Duncan Lloyd for a natter...

Words: Jess Peace How is 2017 treating you so far?

So far, so good! The tour started about two weeks ago and we’ve had positive feedback from the stuff we’ve put out so far. At a recent show in Germany we played five or six of our new songs and they went down really well. You just need to get out there and play them live to gauge the reaction. People like the single and seem excited about the album though, so that’s good.

You’ve been at this for 17 years now. Do you still get nervous before dropping a new album?

I suppose as you get older you generally care less about what people think about you. You just become less bothered. When you’re younger you’re definitely more self-conscious about it.

The music industry is judgemental, but that’s just the nature of it. So there is always a nervous feeling you get before releasing a new record, especially when it’s different to the stuff you’ve done before. But it’s exciting because things are fresh and that’s the really creative part.

Nerves are a good thing though, right?

Yeah, I think so. You end up playing better because it puts a bit of pressure on you to do well.

It focuses your mind in a weird way and makes things clearer. You can’t take that for granted. I think it adds to the whole thing, having nerves.

I’d be worried if they weren’t there.

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How has your style of music changed since you first started?

It’s been quite natural and not really forced. We’re music heads, you know? So we are constantly bringing albums in or telling each other about what we’re listening to at the moment. All that naturally has an impact on the next record we make and adds to the next phase. Our influences have evolved a lot; from the first album where we listened to a lot of Captain Beefheart, to the second album where went back to our younger influences like The Smiths. The third album was a range of more punky stuff.

What about the lyrical content of your music?

It might just stem from a small idea, and that’s how it happened with this album. We are living in a very heated time politically and we can’t help but react to that. We wanted to make a record that reflected the times without it being preachy or too political. Each record is like a snapshot of that moment in time.

How has your relationship as a band changed over the years?

We’ve had our ups and downs. Our original bass player sort of retired from playing live. We’ve been on the road a lot and it’s a very unsettled life, and I think it just got a bit too full-on. But we’re still all good friends and now we’ve got Paul Rafferty on the bass. I think we’ve definitely matured as a band. It’s all about communication – we have always managed to say exactly what we think to each other. It’s about respect.

The new record is released this month. How different is it to your other work?

We said when we started it that we wanted a less in-yourface kind of approach, although the first single is definitely more upfront than others. This record is probably the freest record we’ve done. I’d use the word space. We’re not all trying to play at the same time and we’re allowing space for the music and lyrics to breathe. So it is mature in that sense. And you can actually move to some of the 26 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

songs. It is definitely a more groove-based album. We were also lucky enough to go out to Chicago and record it. It’s the first album that we’ve recorded completely live.

What was that like?

It was kind of liberating, really. We knew we could play well live, but could we do it on an album? Within forty minutes of arriving there, we had started tracking the first song. We asked Mimi from the band Low to sing on it, on the off-chance really, because we knew she worked there. Her voice just has this warmth and adds depth to the album. We felt there was this new territory we wanted to explore, like with the brass we’ve added too.

It was just like: ‘let’s spread this out a little, let’s get more voices on, let’s get more sounds on’. We wanted this record to be special, for our fans to find something new in it, whilst keeping it fresh for those who may not have heard us before too.

Do you think this will still appeal to your old fans?

Well, we don’t want to alienate our old or new fans. There’s still that Maximo Park sound, but we wanted to push it further and see how we could develop as writers. You just have to take a chance and go for it, or you’ll simply end up repeating yourself.

What’s your favourite song from the new album?

That’s a tricky one. I really like the track ‘I’ll Be Around’. It was one of the earliest ones that I’d written and musically it’s just done on a little Yamaha keyboard. I wanted to write something super simple but it just has something about it. I like songs that have harmonies but are melancholic. I do that sort of stuff on my own but I really wanted to bring it into Maximo more. It felt unique and we haven’t really done that before.

What is your writing process like?

We decide we’re going to do a record and then we tend to write at home to start with.

So I end up writing a lot of the music before sending it through to get an idea of what people are thinking. And then whichever songs Paul reacts to he will spend time writing some lyrics to and come back to us. After that we get together and chop and change bits, shaking the tune up so it becomes more band-like. It’s usually a music thing and then a lyric thing. Paul is always writing lyrics in his book. And we will try stuff out and see if it works and then we will work on the melodies. It’s always been sort of like that. We just change things up until it feels like a band thing.

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If you could have written any song, which would it be and why?

I think when I was about 13 or 14, my dad had a Bob Dylan record on – ‘Visions of Johanna’.

I had never heard anything like that before.

I wasn’t aware of Bob Dylan at that time and when he played that it was just an amazing lyrical journey. There were all these characters and strange events in that song. I think, lyrically, it is just so unique. There isn’t much around like Bob Dylan. I mean, I could say something like a Rolling Stones record but ‘Visions of Johanna was a song that really hit me. It was completely out of this world.

What have you been listening to lately and do you have any guilty pleasures?

Funnily enough, I went to a record store the other day and bought the The Fall album, Nations Saving Grace. Mark E. Smith is such a character! I was listening to Bleach the other day, as they’ve got a new song out and I really like it. It’s kind of grungy I guess, but yeah it’s really good. Have I got any guilty pleasures?

Probably quite a few. I’ve just picked up On Avery Island by Neutral Milk Hotel. That’s a great album. Oh do you know what, I listened to ‘Joe Le Taxi’ by Vanessa Paradis the other day. That’s a guilty pleasure! It’s a French pop track from the eighties. And I can’t resist cheesy house music.

Best memory from being on tour?

Probably when we played the Albert Hall; we had a quartet of string players and it was the last show that my dad came to see before he passed away, so it’s quite a special memory for me. It was also pretty exciting when we first played in some of the smaller clubs in London back in 2005. It was a great time to be in a band – it felt like there was a lot going on.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Honestly, just being able to travel. To be able to play in places like LA and New York, on stages where people like Neil Young have been. That’s amazing. We’ve seen places like Tokyo and Japan, which we probably wouldn’t have gone to without this music.

You know, I go and see bands play all over in these great places, and I sort of forget that we do the same thing. It’s almost dream-like. You still remember washing pots or valeting cars. I always wanted to be a musician and thought I had very little chance of going anywhere.

As a band, you’ve said that you often felt like underdogs. Do you still feel this way?

I guess we still get it from time to time. We know we are a good band but it’s often how we are viewed. We get dismissed as just an indie band, when there’s actually a lot more to us. It isn’t a self-important thing, though. Maybe a lot of creatives think like that too, I don’t know really know.

You’re on the line-up of quite a few festivals this year. Which are you looking forward to playing the most?

I’m excited to go back and play the Truck Festival in Oxford. Festivals in general are a good crowd: everyone is relaxed and having a

good time, which is obviously a joy to perform to.

You’re coming to Sheffield’s Leadmill this month. Are you looking forward to it?

Definitely. The decision to play there came from us. I’m from Derbyshire so I used to come and watch gigs in Sheffield quite a lot and I remember seeing bands like The Strokes at the Leadmill. It’s such a great venue; we’ve played there a few times. We’re going to play a real mixed bag of stuff, along with tracks from the new album.

So hopefully people will like it and it’ll be another memorable night there.

And finally, if you had your own chat show and you could pick three guests to join you, who would you choose and why?

I’d probably ask Bjork, because she’s amazing. I’d love to hear her talk about how she writes and records music. Kurt Cobain, because when you go back and listen to his stuff you realise how great the songwriting is. A mate of mine who owns a guitar shop once met Kurt Cobain in the pub, and they got talking for hours and he said he was one of the nicest guys he’d ever met. And then someone very historic, maybe Martin Luther King. Yeah, I’m quite happy with that line-up.

Catch Maximo Park at The Leadmill on April 10th.

Their new album Risk To Exist is out on April 21st.

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Menacing bass riffs, catchy-as-hell punk rock and two-fingered salutes to Murdoch, Trump, warmongers, oil barons, self-serving politicians and most other examples of postmillennial shithousery you could think of; Ab Absurdum by local trio Heads Off is a record very much of the times.

In fact, it’s that good we invited the band to step forward as our April Exposed In Session band.

They sportingly accepted and we collared frontman Danny Lowe for an interview before the cameras started rolling.

Eh up Danny. Please introduce the band to the Exposed readership with an interesting fact about each member?

Hello! We are a three-piece – Dave on drums, Ian on guitar and me on bass/vocals – and I can’t think of any interesting facts about us at the minute. Sorry!

Why the change from Rumpus into Heads Off? I had been uploading demos to Bandcamp under the name Heads Off for a while, and I really wanted it to become a real band. We had been playing together again as Rumpus after a seven-year break, which was a lot of fun, but it also felt a bit like stepping backwards, so I asked if we could do this instead. The styles are actually quite different. Heads Off songs poke fun at the establishment, the media and popular culture and so on, and the music has more of a punk rock sound rather than just rock. It’s still alternative, though. I hate trying to describe our band. I’m not into pigeon-holing. It’s like dogging: it leaves you feeling a bit cheap and wrong.

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UPCOMING GIGS AT THE GREYSTONES

You guys have been playing music together for a while now. How did it all begin?

We’ve been in bands together since we were 15.

I was in a band in Chesterfield and we needed a drummer as my brother had left the band to go to uni. Dave turned up to audition and it was love at first sight. Things got serious pretty quick, and before long Ian was born. It was such a long time ago now I can’t actually remember!

Do you know which track you’ll be playing for your upcoming session and can you tell us a wee bit about it?

Yes, we will be playing ‘Psychopath’. It’s possibly the catchiest song on the album, but it also has the darkest lyrics. The album version has a sample of John Bercow in the House of Commons. It’s nasty but nice.

A number of tracks on Ad Absurdum take on the big injustices of today. In the general clusterfuck of a world that is 2017, what’s our biggest threat?

I think it’s the same threat as always: any person, ideology, or political group that aims to oppress us and take more of our rights away.

And Ed Sheeran – you literally can’t escape him.

Every time you’re exposed to something that’s so middle-of-the-road, you lose two weeks of your life expectancy, and a small part of your soul disappears. That might be an alternative fact, actually. But whatever.

And with that in mind, are there enough bands writing protest music to challenge the current status quo?

I think there’s always been plenty of protest music, so I’m sure plenty of artists will be aiming their grievances at the present regime.

Whether it gets any airplay though is the thing.

Maybe it’s time Adele had a big dump on stage.

Fuck the system!

It’s a right old mess though, isn’t it? ‘Hey You’ is pretty clear on calling out a good chunk of the corrupt scumbags in the world. If you

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could dedicate that track to one person in the world, who would you choose?

Picking one is tricky. That song is mainly about the relationship between western warmongers, Islamic extremists, and the oil and weapons industry, so there’s plenty to choose from there.

But I’m going to say Tony Blair because he just keeps popping back up. At least Bush had the decency to leave us alone. Anyway, Cuckoo Films, who are filming the session, made us a great video to that song, so that’s worth a watch.

Male grooming’s a big thing nowadays.

What are your tips to growing and maintaining such a resplendent tache?

Think happy thoughts and your tache will grow long. Think unhappy thoughts and it will start to shrink into one of those little Hitler things.

Then you’re in a nightmare world of terrible comb-overs and mass murder. Not shaving it might also be a good tip.

Back to the band. What are the plans for the rest of the year?

We have a gig at The Washington on Saturday April 15th with support from Vladimir. That should be a great night. We are going to keep doing as many gigs as we can get, and try and sell a few a CDs along the way. We’ve also got four new tracks for an EP which we’ll be recording in the next couple of months. We recorded the Ab Absurdum album with Alan Smyth at 2 Fly Studios, and we are very happy with it, so we will be doing the new EP there.

And finally, give the Exposed readership three reasons why they need a bit of Heads Off in their lives – and why they should go check out your Exposed session online RIGHT NOW… I’m not totally convinced anyone should have us in their lives – but everything’s ruined and Trumps probably going to get us all nuked anyway, so you should definitely all buy our album, and watch our video – RIGHT NOW!

Winter Mountain – Tuesday 4th April Russell & Algar – Thursday 6th April Richard Kitson – Friday 7th April The Muffin Men – Saturday 8th April John McCusker – Sunday 9th April Dom Pipkin – Thursday 13th April Curse Of Lono – Saturday 15th April Horsebeach – Monday 17th April Oh Susanna, Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders – Thursday 20th April Gilmore & Roberts – Friday 21st April Nell Bryden – Sunday 23rd April Lynne Hanson & The Good Intentions – Tuesday 25th April Sam Carter – Wednesday 26th April Ben Poole – Thursday 27th April Albany Down – Friday 28th April Keston Cobblers Club – Saturday 29th April John Statz– Sunday 30th April Get full listings and tickets at www. mygreystones.co.uk, or phone 0114 2665599.

If you are a band/artist interested in playing a gig at The Greystones, contact greystones@thornbridge.co.uk

EXPOSED IN SESSION

An exclusive YouTube gig from some of the city’s finest musical exports, filmed live every month @The Greystones.

Watch the session online at: www. exposedmagazine.co.uk In session produced by: Joseph Food @JosephFood Filmed & directed by: Helene Michaelides www.cuckoofilms.co.uk Recorded & Mixed by: Dave Hadley www.mustudios.co.uk

IN SESSION CO-SPONSOR

The Greystones APRIL GIGS SATURDAY 1ST // £10

Chris Helme + Guests

by Cavendish Cancer Care SUNDAY 2ND // £10

Rusty Shackle TUESDAY 4TH // £10

Winter Mountain THURSDAY 6TH // £12

Russell & Algar FRIDAY 7TH // £4 ADV / £5

Richard Kitson

Supports Joe Solo + Georgina Gilmartin SATURDAY 8TH // £12

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John McCusker MONDAY 10TH // FREE

Open Mic/Acoustic THURSDAY 13TH // £10

Dom Pipkin SATURDAY 15TH // £10

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Support Rosey PM and Kyotoya THURSDAY 20TH // £12

Oh Susanna, Ben Savage & Hannah Sanders FRIDAY 21ST // £13

Gilmore & Roberts

SUNDAY 23RD // £17

Nell Bryden MONDAY 24TH // FREE

Open Mic/Acoustic TUESDAY 25TH // £12.50

Lynne Hanson & The Good Intentions WEDNESDAY 26TH // £10

Sam Carter THURSDAY 27TH // £14

Ben Poole Band FRIDAY 28TH // £11

Albany Down SATURDAY 29TH // £14

Keston Cobblers Club SUNDAY 30TH // £7 ADV / £9

John Statz

MAY GIGS MONDAY 1ST // FREE

Open Mic/Acoustic WEDNESDAY 3RD // £16

Lankum (formerly Lynched) THURSDAY 4TH // £14

Calan FRIDAY 5TH // £15

Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson SATURDAY 6TH // £12

Eleanor McEvoy SUNDAY 7TH // £5

Ophelia MONDAY 8TH // £10

Roxanne de Bastion WEDNESDAY 10TH // £8

Rachel Ries

Greystones Rd, Sheffield S11 7BS // 0114 2665599 // mygreystones.co.uk

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BEST HAIR STYLIST SPONSORED BY SOYO

NIAMH KAVANAGH AT GYPSY ROSE

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What makes you an awardwinning hairstylist?

My clients! My clients make me an award-winning stylist. That and hard work!

And this is the second year running that you have won the award?

Yes, it is. I can’t believe it. I’m even more surprised to win this this year than last year!

Who in the world, dead or alive, do you think has the best hair style?

Erm, I guess Dita Von Teese. Her hair is incredible.

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BEST CULTURAL ATTRACTION

THE HERD OF SHEFFIELD

What makes The Herd Of Sheffield so special and why have people taken it into their hearts?

Because it was such a huge collaboration between the charity that we went for and the companies, schools, and communities that got involved. Everybody came together to create something really special, and because it was linked to parts of Sheffield’s heritage it was a very inclusive thing for people to enjoy.

How do you feel to win this award in the face of such strong competition?

Just amazing. That’s all we can say.

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MADE IN SHEFFIELD SPONSORED BY withUS.com

HENDERSON’S RELISH Why do you think people love Hendo’s?

Well, it’s a fantastic product for starters. It has a unique recipe that’s known only to three family members, and it’s been the same product for more than 100 years, so it’s very much a part of the fabric of Sheffield life and it’s been on our tables for generations. It’s very much a Sheffield treasure.

You must be so proud you have won this award so many times.

Immensely so! I think I’ve got seven of these in my office, so we are always thankful because it’s a Sheffield award and we’re a Sheffield business and a family-owned company.

You sell the product throughout the country; will you ever make the product outside of Sheffield?

It is Sheffield. It’s a Sheffield institution and it’s owned by Sheffield, so we doubt it.

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Winner of best new bar and best restaurant – that’s pretty impressive! What do you think is the highlight of your menu that keeps people coming back?

Without a shadow of a doubt it’s the hanging kebabs. They are our signature dish, everybody loves them and they even feature on the dessert menu!

It’s such a great achievement for a bar that hasn’t even been open 12 months yet.

I know! We only opened in the beginning of October, and to receive this recognition so soon after opening is a really proud moment for us.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you in the bar?

Well, it’s not weird but we had the first proposal the other day. We weren’t pre-warned and the guy just asked the waiter to take a photo of him and his girlfriend on the bandstand upstairs and then as he took the photo the guy got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes, thankfully!

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BEST CLUB NIGHT

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How does it feel to be crowned winner for the Best Club Night category?

It’s great. We work really hard week in, week out, putting on these huge events. We like to think we’ve worked hard enough for this.

How will you be showing off your award?

Get our tops off and probably just walk around with it. Andy H is renowned for it. We’ll get the award between the decks on Tuesday night.

Which two people, dead or alive, would you choose to go on a night out with?

Andy H! Dead or alive Andy H. That guy died in ’76.

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How does it feel to be voted the best hairdressers in the city?

You know what, amazing, again. We couldn’t ask for anything else because it’s voted by our clients and it just makes us feel really loved and wanted. Team Vanilla!

You’ve become quite regular winners at the Exposed Awards!

Yes! We’ve won the last two years but we’ve won Best Beauty Salon, Phillip’s won Best

Hair Stylist, so we’ve mixed it up a bit too!

Where do you keep all your awards?

On the reception, of course! Where else would you keep all of these awards?

Who has the best hairstyle of all time?

I would say somebody like Madonna: she evolves herself constantly, she is versatile, you never see the same thing twice and I’m not saying I’m a big fan of hers but she’s never the same and I think that is fantastic.

BEST LOCAL EVENT

TRAMLINES FESTIVAL

Who do you think has been the best performer or headliner that you’ve seen at Tramlines?

Public Enemy! And Sister Act! Actually, sorry I mean Sister Sledge. Oh dear.

What’s different for Tramlines 2017?

Bigger and better headliners than we’ve ever seen before.

At Exposed we’re looking forward to seeing last month’s cover star, Loyle Carner.

Yeah! He’s a great emerging talent who’s recently broken through but he’s still early on in his career. This year you can expect huge names; we’ve got The Libertines who headlined Leeds and Reading to 90k people two years ago and now you can see them at Ponderosa Park.

BEST UNSIGNED BAND

CAROLINE FRANCESS

This is the second year you’ve been nominated. For those who out there that haven’t heard your music, tell us a bit about your style of music.

I’m predominantly piano and vocals, and I used to be solo but now I’ve got a band behind me. It’s got sort of an indie-pop feel but with a jazzy twist and a big vocal focus.

Do you have any plans for later on in the year? Any festivals or big gigs we can catch you at?

I think I’m going to be focusing a lot on studio work and hopefully writing a new album in the process. I can’t really say any more than that!

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BEST RESTAURANT (CITY CENTRE) SPONSORED BY City Taxis

SMOKE BBQ How do you feel to have won this award?

Brilliant. Ecstatic. Three years in a row!

What do you think is the highlight of your menu which keeps people coming back for more?

We’re all about the meat. It’s as simple as that. If you love meat, you will love us.

What’s the secret to bagging so many awards?

The biggest competitor we have is ourselves; we have to keep challenging ourselves to make ourselves better. No one is direct competition but all the other nominations are very, very good and it’s a honour to win.

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Choose from over 800 events at over 40 UK venues. www.sivtickets.com 42 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Congratulations on winning! What do you think sets you apart from all the other live venues?

I think we celebrate a diverse range of music genres, so we can provide a variety of music for everyone. We’ve got a dedicated team to ensure we showcase all the different music genres, and we’ve been going for 37 years so we’ve got a great relationship with a lot of agents and promoters across the country meaning we

can bring a lot of great gigs to Sheffield, and it’s a privelege to do it.

Who do you think is the best live act you’ve seen at the Leadmill over the years?

This is the hardest question! The Maccabees were an awesome gig at Leadmill. Arctic Monkeys, obviously.

Milburn secret gig at Leadmill during Tramlines was insane. We could go on forever with this one!

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MOOCH How does it feel to win the award?

It’s out of this world! We just can’t believe it. We’ve put so much effort in and it’s really nice for all the people involved to be recognised. We do strive to be different and to sell great quality clothing.

It seems to be a winning formula! Where are you going to keep the award?

This award is going to have pride of place. Ee are going to put it in the window and maybe try and make the mannequin hold it – although it’s probably a bit too heavy!

Why do you think you stand out as a woman’s fashion retailer?

We offer a good range of true vintage. It’s a big range and we have something different for everyone, regardless of shape, size or style. I feel we try and help our customers in a friendly, genuine way; we want them to be able to relax and experiment!

If you could replicate one woman’s style who would it be?

Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn. In fact, I have two houseplants – one called Marilyn and the other is Audrey!

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WAX INC.

There are so many beauty salons around the Steel City. What makes you stand out?

I think we stand out because of our professionalism and how we follow everything to the script. We all work well as a team.

How are you finding tonight’s award ceremony?

We love it! I think the organisers have done a really good job and we’re having a great time.

What is next for Wax Inc.?

We are up as finalists for the English Hair and Beauty awards 2017, so that’s the next one that we need to win!

What’s your favourite make-up look?

Extra, extra, extra! I do like the retro look, but to be honest, it’s all down to the occasion and how you’re feeling on the day.

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BEST CAFE/DELI SPONSORED BY Pago Premium Fruit Juice

STEAM YARD How does it feel to win?

It’s lovely! It’s nice to get a pat on the back, isn’t it?

I’m not someone for big conversation, but I just really appreciate people voting and saying nice things about how hard the staff work because hospitality’s a slog, you know?

What do you think makes the Steam Yard so special?

It’s just somewhere to come and socialise, where you know the people are putting their best efforts into the products, where you know you’re going to get the best effort from the staff. We all turn up and try our best and if customers can see that and be part of it – that’s really important to us.

Are you enjoying tonight?

Yeah, it’s the second time I’ve been and it’s just nice that everyone gets together and celebrates their businesses. It’s also nice to be acknowledged in the strong coffee scene that Sheffield has.

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Sponsored by Pago Premium Fruit Juice: Producing intense fruit experiences since 1888 using natural ingredients housed in a distinctive green bottle. www.pagofruitjuice. co.uk

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Sponsored by Beer Central Ltd: Located in Sheffield’s Moor Market, Beer Central Ltd sells top-quality bottled beer, real ale and cider from local, national and international breweries, including limited edition and rare brews. www.facebook.com/ BeerCentralLtd

BEST LOCAL BREWERY SPONSORED BY Beer Central Ltd

SENTINEL How does it feel to be voted Best Local Brewery in the Steel City?

We are buzzing, man! We were up against the biggest boys, some of the best breweries in the world actually, and it’s mental to win. We are in our first year, so to get something like this is just amazing.

Does winning give you some confidence?

It means we must be doing something right!

Good stuff! Where is the award going?

Oh, that will be going on the bar. That will definitely be taking pride of place. They ought to do these things as tap handles and we can make an Exposed beer!

What’s the weirdest brew you’ve ever tried?

A rhubarb rosehip one we did was interesting. We are starting out quite modest and our core range is fairly easy drinking stuff. But we’re just getting started and we’ve got some really interesting recipes and ideas for the future.

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BEST BARBERSHOP

RAPSCALLIONS

How does it feel to win best barbershop for the second year in a row?

We genuinely weren’t expecting it! But we have worked really hard, the team is growing and it’s been a good year.

What do you think of hair in Sheffield?

Are we a city of good hairstyles?

The barbering scene in Sheffield is mega!

Seriously, the scene is absolutely through the roof at the moment and we’re proud to be a part of it.

What’s the weirdest hair style request you’ve ever had?

Shave my balls.

Wow, really?

Nah, we work on Ecclesall Road so we don’t get that many crazy hairstyles. We do have lots of loyal customers and I think that’s why we’ve won tonight.

And how has tonight been for you?

Yeah, it’s been a brilliant night so far! This has capped it off.

BEST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS SPONSORED BY Napoleons Ecclesall Road

BEER CENTRAL What does Beer Central have to offer the people of Sheffield?

Fantastic beers, ales and ciders. We’re a bottle shop in the Moor Market and we are particularly proud of Sheffield and sell a lot of local beers. But we also sell beers from across the world. It could be five minutes down the road or Australia! But yeah, we focus on brilliant beers, brilliant service and have a laugh while we are doing it.

What’s the oddest beer you sell?

It varies, but we once had a beer that had lobster, cockles and seaweed in it. We sell big stouts with chocolate vanilla, tonka bean – anything that seems interesting we’ll get in.

If you could sell or try any beer, what would it be?

We have developed really good contacts across the globe, but there is a beer in California from Russian River Brewing called Pliny the Elder and that’s a very famous beer. It hardly ever leaves the state of California and people have to smuggle it into the UK! I’d go for that one.

BEST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

Sponsored by Napoleons Ecclesall Road: Napoleons Casino on Ecclesall Road offers cabaret dinners, poker tournaments, live music, Wheel of Fortune and much more. Head to the website for the full list of upcoming events. www.napoleonscasinos.co.uk WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 47

BEST TRADITIONAL PUB

THE FAT CAT How does it feel to be voted the best traditional boozer in Sheff?

It’s fantastic! We’ve won it a couple of times before, but it’s really good because The Fat Cat has been going for years. Winning this shows that we are appealing to more and more people and that’s obviously a really good thing.

Why do people love The Fat Cat? It’s an institution and it’s known worldwide. We try and appeal to loads of different people. We will always be real-ale based, but we like to try different drinks and aim for a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Sheffield is the real-ale capital of the world and I guess we are the capital of the real ale capital.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve experienced while running The Fat Cat? Please keep it clean.

Probably us kissing onstage earlier, I think. That was the weirdest moment ever. My fiancé’s going to be a bit traumatised after what has just happened!

To be honest, The Fat Cat is a very quirky pub – we have train-spotters, beer-tickers, socialist party meetings – a real broad range of customers, so there’s always interesting characters and stories to keep us entertained!

BEST MEN’S FASHION RETAILER SPONSORED N NSORED

BY CODE

SA-KIS

BEST MEN’S FASHION RETAILER

Sponsored by CODE: CODE: is the newest club addition to Sheffield’s nightlife scene with live acts, DJs and huge nights featuring some of the biggest global clubbing names. www.codesheffield.com

How does it feel to win?

Delighted! I think it’s really important. Sheffield at the moment is going through a really interesting time and independent shops are really saving the city centre, helping to make it a really exciting place to be. So it’s great for independent retailers to be recognised in return.

How do you think Brexit will impact independent retailers?

During this tough time you need to support your local stores or else they will go under. I think a lot of independent businesses keep the city afloat.

I bet you’re pretty chuffed to come out on top?

So proud! We’ve had a lot of brilliant customers who have been fantastic for the business. We have been a long-serving business and we are still winning awards. A lot of people have come and gone, but Sa-Kis has always been there.

What’s the latest trend in menswear?

Premium streetwear. Like trainers with tracky bottoms and big loose jackets and shirts. That’s the look at the moment.

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BEST RESTAURANT (OUT OF TOWN)

BROCCO ON THE PARK What do you offer that a city centre restaurant can’t?

Well, we are just on the park so we have a more laidback feel and it’s all about eating, living and sleeping well – we also have a hotel.

How do you feel winning this award?

It’s amazing. We are completely shocked! I kind of expected it, but when it happened I was like, “ Ah I haven’t even prepared a speech... I’m a bit worried now!”

Were you nervous on stage?

I was a bit nervous because I had to walk in these heels! It would be really bad if I slipped over.

Do people like your new menu?

The feedback we’ve had so far has been fantastic. I think people who come sometimes feel like they aren’t even in Sheffield. It’s a totally different experience for them.

BEST BAR SPONSORED BY IPM FM Group

PICTURE HOUSE SOCIAL

Sponsored by IPM FM Group: A multi-service facilities management organisation, combining knowledge and expertise from a range of sectors. www.ipmfmgroup.com

How does it feel to win?

It’s great and a genuine surprise! I think, given that we are out of town especially, we didn’t expect it.

But we are very pleased to win and the staff work incredibly hard and are very passionate about what they do.

What will you be doing with the award?

Well we broke the last one when we won at Great Gatsby, so we’ll make sure to look after this one!

If you could invite one guest to your bar, dead or alive, who would it be?

We’ll have Prince because we think the décor would be very suited to him – Purple Rain on draught!

Sounds tasty! Anything strange ever happen at your bar?

A few months ago the manager walked in and found a girl asleep on the sofa. She had been sleeping there all night. She just made herself comfortable.

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BEST NIGHTCLUB

BEST NIGHTCLUB SPONSORED BY West One Gatecrasher Apartments: West One Student Accommodation

CODE

You won this award last year too. How does it feel to be so good?

We are kind of used to it to be honest!

Nah, it’s been a good year for us and the Sheffield clubbing scene is getting stronger again now – the other nominations would have been worthy winners.

What do you offer Sheffielders that other clubs can’t?

Really cheap vodka! We spend a lot of money on the sounds, the lights, training

and, to be fair, we have put a lot of time and money into the production side of things and think it’s the best in Sheffield.

The experience of CODE is impressive.

Speaking of impressive, have you enjoyed tonight?

It’s been a really good night and a good second year!

If you would one song to dance to, what would you choose?

Elton John – ‘Are You Ready For Love’.

Sponsored by West One Gatecrasher Apartments: West One Student Accommodation provide some of the most spacious and stylish accommodation for over 800 of Sheffield’s students.

Check them out for the best digs in the city, including the newest addition on the legendary Gatecrasher club site. www.westone -gatecrasher apartments.com

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 53

ALSO NOMINATED BEST BAR, SPONSORED

BY IPM FM GROUP:

The Great Gatsby The Forum Picture House Social Soyo The Devonshire Cat Bloo 88

BEST LIVE VENUE, SPONSORED BY SIV TICKETS:

The Foundry The Leadmill Yellow Arch Studios Plug O2 Academy Sheffield

BEST CLUB, SPONSORED BY WEST ONE GATECRASHER APARTMENTS:

Code Corporation The Leadmill Plug Viper Rooms The Foundry

BEST NEW BAR (OPEN SINCE JANUARY 2016):

Bar & Beyond The Botanist Head of Steam Kettle Black Sentinel

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (OPEN SINCE JANUARY 2016):

The Botanist Jöro Make No Bones Wah Wahs Reds True Barbecue

BEST RESTAURANT (CITY CENTRE), SPONSORED BY CITY TAXIS:

Fear X Loathing Vero Gusto Smoke Barbeque Silversmiths Cubana Tapas Bar

BEST BEAUTY SALON:

The Brow Lounge Boutique Beauty Totally Fabulash Vanilla Wax Inc

BEST HAIR STYLIST, SPONSORED BY SOYO:

BEST WOMEN’S FASHION RETAILER:

Collard Manson Cow Joy Mooch Syd and Mallory

Mooch Sa-Kis Jo Jo’s General Store Harrison

BEST CULTURAL ATTRACTION:

The Herd of Sheffield Kelham Island Museum Millennium Gallery Weston Park Museum Winter Gardens

BEST RESTAURANT (OUT OF TOWN):

BEST HAIR SALON, SPONSORED BY BLOO88:

Gypsy Rose Hair Kandi Vanilla The Headonist Laundry

BEST UNSIGNED BAND/ MUSICIAN: BEST GENTS BARBERSHOP: Caroline Francess Cellar Door Moon Crow Sabella Sheafs We Are Southpaw

Honkytonks Rapscallions Savills Taylor Taylor The Mardy Barber

BEST LOCAL EVENT, SPONSORED BY SMOKE BEST CAFÉ/DELI, BARBEQUE: SPONSORED BY PAGO PREMIUM FRUIT JUICE: Festivile @ The Leadmill Peace In The Park Peddler Market The Village Screen Tramlines Festival

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Khoo’s Hot Sauce Henderson’s Relish Our Cow Molly ‘Ome Made Sheffield Antiques Quarter

BEST MEN’S FASHION RETAILER, SPONSORED

BY CODE: BEST TRADITIONAL PUB: Alexander Josh

Paul Stone @ Rapscallions Phil Nixon @ Vanilla Sarah Barlow @ Vanilla Niamh Kavanagh @ Gypsy Rose Calli @ The Headonist

The Bhaji Shop Thali Café Napoleons Ecclesall Road The Milestone Brocco on the Park La Mama

MADE IN SHEFFIELD (BEST LOCAL BRAND), SPONSORED BY WITHUS.COM:

Edisons The Grind Marmadukes Steam Yard Tamper

The Broadfield The Dog & Partridge The Fat Cat The Red Deer Shakespeares

BEST LOCAL BREWERY, SPONSORED BY BEER CENTRAL LTD:

Abbeydale Bradfield Kelham Island Sentinel Thornbridge

BEST CLUB NIGHT, SPONSORED BY WEST ONE GATECRASHER APARTMENTS:

Socialite Fridays @ Crystal Silent Disco @ The Leadmill Propaganda @ Plug Student Saturdays @ Code The Tuesday Club @ Foundry

BEST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS, SPONSORED

BY NAPOLEONS ECCLESALL ROAD:

Beer Central Forge Bakehouse Hop Hideout The Leadmill Cast

BIGGUPS! The Exposed Awards would be nothing without the help of these hardworking souls. A mahoosive thank you to the following legends…

The organisers: Danielle Gigg and team www.rootstocktrading.co.uk Visuals: Stuart Turner and team @turnermedia1 Awards: Danny Rowe and team www.rmt.org Social Media: Amy Ridden Backstage interviews: Andrew Martin and Amelia Lancaster Wine: Mitchell’s Wine Merchants www.mitchellswine.co.uk Food: Melt Works and @SunshinePies_Co. Voting partner: Cubana Tapas Bar www.cubanatapasbar.co.uk General loveliness: Mark Furniss @WeDoDeliver Official charities: The Children’s Hospital Charity www.tchc.org.uk and Neurocare www.neurocare.org.uk.

Venue: O2 Academy Sheffield www.o2academysheffield.co.uk After Party: Head of Steam www.theheadofsteam.co.uk All of our sponsors and to all of you who voted!

50% OFF 1st CUT AND FINISH MON-FRI OR

30% OFF

1st CUT AND COLOUR MON-FRI

TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY: Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers.

Hair by Hairess

www.hairess1.co.uk

FIX UP, LOOK SHARP Some of the best men’s fashion on offer from independents in the Steel City.

BRAG VINTAGE 33 High St, Sheffield S1 2GA, www.bragvintage.co.uk Baseball bomber jacket £30 // NFL Jersey £25 // Converse £20 // Levi’s Jeans £25

SA-KIS 32-34 Division St, Sheffield S1 4GF, sa-kis.com Libertine Libertine bomber jacket // Fred Perry Oxford shirt // Lee 101 green selvage jeans // Filling Pieces Astro Grove shoe // Apocs black panel cap // Nixon Charger Chrono leather watch

MOOCH 76 Division Street S1 4GF, www.facebook.com/moochvintage Denim Jacket £25 // Jeans £20 // Shirt £15

COW 156-160 West Street S1 4ES, www.wearecow.com Silk shirt £18 // Rework Frayed Levis £28 // Ralph Lauren polo belt £10 // Converse £18 WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 57

SUPERSTYLIN’ Some of the best women’s fashion on offer from independents in the Steel City.

BRAG VINTAGE 33 High St, Sheffield S1 2GA, www.bragvintage.co.uk Body £15 // Adidas Track Top £30 // Turquoise mom jeans £25 // Woolly hat £6 // Bum bag £5

MOOCH 76 Division Street S1 4GF, www.facebook.com/moochvintage Jacket £45 // Trousers £20 // Bag £15 // Shoes £15 // Belt £5

COW 156-160 West Street S1 4ES, www.wearecow.com Rework bell sleeve blouse £24 // Waistcoat £18 // Trousers £18 // Belt £10 // Bag £18 // Timberland boots £24

VULGAR 127-129 Devonshire St S3 7SB, www.vulgarsheffield.com Dr. Martens pink brogues £55 // Scrunchies £1 each // Sequin tee £22 // Camo jacket £15 // Moschino skirt £25

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Sheffield Model

641 ECCLESALL RD, S11 8PT. TEL: 0114 457 0831

@sophie_georgina

233 CROOKES, S10 1TF. TEL: 0114 267 1924

Bookings and enquiries can be made by emailing studio@goodvibrationstattoo.co.uk or calling 0114 2671924 or popping into the studio for a chat.

by threebestrated.co.uk

Sheffield Food Festival is the city’s largest free to attend event and takes place from 27th - 29th May in the city centre, spreading across the Peace Gardens, Winter Gardens, Millennium Square, Town Hall Square and Fargate. The markets are open from 10am-6pm each day, whilst the Eats, Treats & Beats Village at the top of Fargate will continue into the evening with street food and music until 11pm.

ARTISAN MARKET

The Artisan Market features food producers and businesses from around Sheffield and further afield, bringing a range of preserves, oils, cakes, cookery books, craft beers, gins and loads more for you to take home and enjoy. Look out for innovative new food products like Yumpa’s cricket flour bars and Rose Cottage’s handmade gin liqueurs to pep up your prosecco. Returning favourites include gluten and dairy free cakes from Miss Adu’s Kitchen, the ever spectacular set up from The Chilli Alchemist (currently a finalist in the Bristol Life Food and Drink Awards), Forge Bakehouse, Granny Marys, Urban Pantry, Birdhouse Tea, True North Brew Co and many more.

STREET FOOD

The Street Food market at Sheffield Food Festival will be jam packed with delicious treats provided by the very best local companies. Over 90% of our street food traders are based in the city so it really is a celebration of Sheffield food. We have some fantastic new faces this year like The Gravy Train, who specialise in poutine – a melty, gooey, belly-warming delight from Quebec, established local heroes like The Greedy Greek Deli, Proove pizza and the Bhaji Shop, who will be bringing their wonderful Thali Truck. Many of our tried and tested favourites will be returning this year too, so you can look forward to filling your belly with delights from traders like Caribbean Fusion, Street Food Chef, Percy & Lily’s, Sunshine Pizza Oven, Yee Kwan Ice Cream and don’t forget to pop and see Stephen at Moss Valley Fine Meats for free samples of all their locally made sausages.

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CHEF DEMONSTRATIONS

As ever, at the heart of the festival is the Demonstration Kitchen, featuring top chefs from across the city and championing the best in local produce. BBC Radio Sheffield will again be hosting the popular Ready Steady Cook slots on Saturday and Sunday, with their presenters teaming up with local chefs such as Daniel Foster from the Milestone and Seymour Millington from Centreplate to compete against each other to produce the best dishes from a bag of mystery ingredients.

Saturday’s programme will be hosted by Murray Chapman from A Passion to Inspire, featuring the cream of local talent as well as several Master Chefs of Great Britain, including Andy Gabbitas from The Wortley Arms, Tom Lawson from Rafters Restaurant, Andy Burns from True North Brew Co with some eye catching displays from the True North team.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Food is not just about indulging ourselves with delicious treats, there are many more serious issues raised around food that also deserve to be considered as part of the biggest event in Sheffield’s food calendar; issues such as food poverty, managing food waste, the impact of our food choices on the environment and climate, sustainability and innovations in food.

The Sheffield Food Festival team are working with Regather to bring together a programme of talks and debates to be held in the Winter Gardens towards the end of each day, featuring many of the local organisations doing great work in these areas. And in terms of putting its principles into practice, Sheffield Food Festival is working with the Real Junk Food Project this year to make the festival itself a zero food waste event.

On Sunday, we have 2015 MasterChef winner Simon Wood, followed by a series of demos hosted by the Sheffield Cook Book where you can see the recipes prepared live by the chefs themselves, including Joe Berry from Inox Dine / Halifax Hall, the Bhaji Shop team and Fran Humphries from Regather.

Monday’s programme will kick off with the launch of Whirlow Hall Farm’s Sheff ’s Kitchen competition followed by demos from Vicky Wainwright from Marco Pierre White, Jon Tite from the Showroom, Allam Ullah from Cutlers Spice and a beer and cheese tasting session hosted

by Hop Hideout and Urban Pantry.

To top it all, each day will start with a kids’ workshop and end with a mini masterclass from the School of Artisan Food. Make sure you visit the showcase tent next to the demonstration area to find out more about the local produce used in the demos, chat to the chefs and get your copy of the Sheffield Cook Book signed.

FOR THE KIDS

It’s essential to keep those little ones entertained so that you can enjoy a day of total food indulgence, so the team at Sheffield Food Festival have been giving careful thought to providing activities to keep little hands and minds occupied. At the centre of this, as always, will be the fabulous pop-up farmyard in Millennium Square provided by Whirlow Hall Farm, with chance to meet some feathered and woolly friends, learn how food goes from farm to fork, sit on the tractor and enjoy some storytelling in the trailer. There will be craft activities taking place in the Winter Gardens every day courtesy of Ignite Imaginations, Regather and Free Cakes for Kids. And get down early to the demonstration marquee for a free kids workshop every day at 10am.

www.sheffieldfoodfestival.co.uk www.facebook.com/sheffoodfest @sheffoodfest

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Our breakfasts are always sunny side up.

Brocco Kitchen Restaurant Terrace Social

Good Hotel Guide 2017

@broccosheffield www.brocco.co.uk

92 Brocco Bank Sheffield S11 8RS 0114 266 1233

The

The Telegraph

10 Best Hotels

Cesar Winner

534_Brocco March advertising EXPOSED S3 AW.indd 1

2016

The Times

Ultimate 100 British Hotels 2016

23/03/2017 17:54

017 17:54

It’s been an impressive year or so for Brocco on the Park. On top of its inclusion in the 2017 Michelin Guide, the venue was named City Hotel of the Year by the Good Hotel Guide, picked up a silver award in the UK’s Free From Eating Out awards and won Best Restaurant (Out of Town) at last month’s Exposed Awards. After taking our seats in the dining area on a sunny afternoon, such accolades come as no real surprise; it’s a gorgeous place to unwind in, with its stylish, Scandi-inspired décor and serene atmosphere making it a popular setting for Sheffield diners – whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.

We were invited down to try the restaurant’s new lunch menu, a Nordic-inspired tapas offering around 20 dishes to choose from. There were four present from Team Exposed, and in the true spirit of tapas lunching we decided to order two to three dishes each and share the lot. Standouts from the plethora of wellpresented small plates brought to the table included juicy venison meatballs in cranberry jam, celeriac and red cabbage slaw; wild mushrooms on toasted rye bread, served in a very tasty truffle and tarragon sauce; fresh smoked salmon fish cakes; and the succulent Brocco mini beef burgers, topped with Yorkshire blue cheese and bursting with flavour. Providing great accompaniment for these slightly more substantial dishes were smaller, snacky options such as the moreish halloumi fritters, served in red onion jam and herb pesto – which, along with the crispy chicken wings, sweet potato waffles and crispy kale dish, were enthusiastically picked upon by all throughout the meal.

With just about enough room to squeeze in dessert, I opted for the staple classic of sticky toffee pudding. I’ve often found that when it comes to appeasing a sweet tooth, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the classics; and the winning traditional flavours and sumptuous clotted cream ice cream proved this theory right again. My co-diner’s selections of passion fruit crème brûlée and chocolate mousse with blood orange coulis and chocolate soil were also very well-received and rounded the afternoon off brilliantly.

Clean, crisp surroundings, faultless service and a strong selection of appetising dishes with a creative Scandi twist entirely justifies the honours recently bestowed upon Brocco on the Park. Plus, with its inviting outdoor terrace (not to mention impressive wine list), it’s a great tip for a spot of al fresco dining now that sunnier times beckon. We’ll certainly be back soon.

BROCCO ON THE PARK 92 Brocco Bank, Sheffield S11 8RS 0114 266 1233 www.brocco.co.uk WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 63

Beer Central The Moor Market, Earl St, Sheffield S1 4JE www.facebook.com/BeerCentralLtd

Cocoa Wonderland Cake This cake takes its name from the beer that makes it, Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland, a deep, rich chocolate porter (made in collaboration with Sheffield’s favourite chocolate shop, Cocoa Wonderland on Ecclesall Road). It’s the perfect union of beer and baking, and what’s more, there’s a generous baker’s tipple left over!

Preparation time: 30 minutes | Cooking time: 45 minutes | Serves 8

INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE: 340g plain flour 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp fine sea salt 320ml Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland 215g unsalted butter, diced and at room temperature 100g cocoa powder 280g golden caster sugar 250g light brown muscovado sugar 215g soured cream 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks 2 tsp vanilla paste/essence 2 tsp coffee essence FOR THE BEER SYRUP: 80ml Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland 80g caster sugar FOR THE BEER ESSENCE: 100ml Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland FOR THE BUTTERCREAM: 100g dark chocolate 200g egg whites 335g caster sugar 600g unsalted butter, diced and at room temperature

METHOD FOR THE CAKE AND BEER SYRUP Preheat the oven to 175°c (160°c fan). Grease and line three 20cm cake tins. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and salt.

Set aside. Put the Cocoa Wonderland and butter into a large pan. Heat over a medium heat until the butter has melted, then whisk in the cocoa powder and sugars. Remove from the heat. In a

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separate bowl, whisk together the soured cream, eggs, yolks, vanilla and coffee essences then combine with the Cocoa Wonderland mixture.

Finally, whisk in the flour mixture until smooth.

Divide the mixture between the cake tins and bake for 25 minutes until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Meanwhile, make the beer syrup while the cake bakes. Combine the Cocoa Wonderland and sugar in a small pan.

Without stirring, place over a medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the liquid is slightly thickened.

Remove the cakes from the oven and immediately skewer the cakes all over. Brush liberally with the beer syrup. Allow to cool completely in the tins.

FOR THE BEER ESSENCE Add the Cocoa Wonderland to a small pan and gently simmer until reduced to one-quarter of its initial volume. Remove from the heat and chill.

FOR THE BUTTERCREAM Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool.

Combine the egg whites and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Place over the pan of simmering water and whisk intermittently until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture feels warm and smooth when rubbed between your fingertips (70°c on sugar thermometer). Remove from the pan and mix on high speed using an electric whisk until a meringue which holds mediumstiff peaks forms; about 8 minutes. The bowl should have returned to room temperature.

If using a free-standing mixer, swap to the paddle attachment, or else continue as before.

Mixing slowly, gradually add the butter. Switch to high speed and beat until the buttercream is smooth; about 5 minutes. If the mixture separates, keep beating – it will come back together! Fold in the cooled melted chocolate and beer essence.

To assemble, sandwich the sponges together using the buttercream, finishing with buttercream on top, either spreading it on for a rustic finish or piping swirls with a star-tipped nozzle. Slice and enjoy!

News In Brief

Miller & Carter

Gourmet steakhouse company Miller & Carter have recently opened their first Sheffield branch on Ecclesall Road South. Specialising in serving a range of hand-cut, 30-day-aged steaks cooked to your liking, all of their meat comes from selected cattle on British and Irish farms and is prepared by their own master butchers.

Classic burgers, fish and pasta dishes along with other steakhouse mainstays like prime ribs and slow-cooked meats also feature on the menu. Complement your meal perfectly with a taste from their wine list, which is broken down into type, style and flavour. Book your table now on 0114 236 2735. www.facebook.com/millerandcartersheffield

A Proper Pie

Sheffield’s Henderson’s Relish is teaming up with three Yorkshire food companies to release a delicious pie.

The ‘Proper Steak & Henderson’s Pie’ was created by Henderson’s, Jones Pies of Huddersfield and caterer The Proper Pasty Group of Sheffield. Matt Davies, general manager of Henderson’s, said: “These are exciting times for Henderson’s as we invest in new machinery to boost our expansion drive across Yorkshire and beyond.”

Henderson’s pies are available now in delicatessens and independent retailers across the region, as well as in Coop stores and Parfetts Cash and Carry. They’re expected to be available in supermarkets from next month. www.hendersonsrelish.com

The Botanist Raises £2K for TCHC

Since opening in October last year, The Botanist in Leopold Square has managed to raise almost £2,000 for The Children’s Hospital Charity by donating 25p from every children’s meal and £1 from limited edition cocktails, raising a grand total of £1,970 overall.

The money will go towards TCHC’s main aims, which include funding for new medical equipment, research, facilities and improved environments. Winners of both Best New Restaurant and Best New Bar at this year’s Exposed Awards, The Botanist offer a wide range of floral-themed cocktails, locally-sourced gins and rotisserie-style food, including their renowned hanging kebabs. Book now by calling 0114 273 7855.

Find our more about fundraising opportunities at The Children’s Hospital Charity at the website below. www.tchc.org.uk.

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Lavang 478/480 Fulwood Rd, Sheffield, S10 3QD 0114 263 0106 www.lavangsheffield.co.uk

Raise a glass!

This month will see the return of the University of Sheffield Student Union’s annual beer and cider festival. From April 28–30 there will be over a hundred craft beers, ciders, lagers and various other drink offerings to sample. There will also be food to accompany all tastes too, starting with the classic staple of Great British Pie on opening day. The Saturday will focus on BBQ food and craft beer, while the Sunday will see a hog roast accompanying the range of ciders on offer. Taking place from 2pm until midnight each day, there’ll be plenty of live music to soundtrack the celebrations and all of the event will be open to the general public For further info contact beerfest@sheffield.ac.uk

THE PLACE

On the site of what used to be the Panahar Indian restaurant in Fulwood, Lavang is a far cry from its previous incarnation. The new owners, AJ Ali and Nash Parbez (whose extended family run Almas in Dore) alongside executive chef Jay Kauser have brought a sense of style and sophistication to a venue that had become rather tired under its previous guise. The interiors are clean and modern with exposed brickwork complementing the white tablecloths and stylish beige and brown seating, while the menu is modern, inventive and enticing. The classics are in place (baltis, jalfrezis and tikka masalas) but they are very much given second billing to the chef specials.

THE FOOD

Going Kuckoo Opening to the public on Friday 7th April, rock’n’roll cocktail bar Kuckoo is the latest addition to Leopold Square’s nightlife scene.

With venues in Preston, Chester and Knutsford, Kuckoo takes great pride in offering a creative drinks menu of over 65 cocktails, including both classic and original concoctions. Kuckoo founder Richard Powell told Exposed: “Our ethos is all about having fun and letting loose in a comfortable yet glamorous environment, and we wanted to bring this to Sheffield. The city is vibrant, fun and contemporary, so what better place for Kuckoo to open its doors?”

Head to kuckoorocks.com for more info.

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We came early on a Saturday with three kids in tow and I wondered if we’d feel out of place – Lavang is as close to fine dining as Indian restaurants get in Sheffield – but the warm welcome from AJ and Nash eased concerns in a heartbeat. After kicking off in traditional style with a round of poppadums and a pickle tray, we got a bit more experimental. Our starters included a jhinga puri (a modern take on a prawn puri), bahari lamb chops, marinated for fourteen hours in chilli and lime then chargrilled, stood out alongside the norshaba squid and kalija pâté with rosemary naan bread.

If the appetisers were good, mains were even better; I was blown away by the flavours of the seafood selection, which when served with the Lavang rice made for a kind of Asian paella. Delicious.

Elsewhere my co-diners enjoyed the unbelievably tender lamb in the gosth mirch (although look out for the Scotch Bonnet chillies!) as well as the depth of flavour that came through in the 7 Hills jhol, a seabass fillet spiced in a lime and coriander flavoured broth.

THE VERDICT

High class Indian restaurants are few and far between in Sheffield and by marrying fine flavour combinations, a modern menu and supreme customer service, Lavang is already up there with the best.

N OW TA K I N G B O O K I N G S

At Lavang we provide our guests with a unique and exceptional experience. Food devised and created by our executive chef with a menu that cannot be found anywhere else, fully licensed premises with a drinks menu that caters for all palates, a personalised service that makes you our number one priority and a venue that has been designed and created for every occasion.

478/480 Fulwood Rd, Sheffield, S10 3QD Phone: 0114 263 0106 // Email: contact@lavangsheffield.co.uk

TOP PICKS

TOBY FOSTER’S LAST LAUGH COMEDY CABARET Sheffield City Hall // April 14 & 15 // £18 Laugh, eat, dance and drink as Sheffield’s Toby Foster brings some of the finest fresh and established comedians to Sheffield’s intimate Memorial Hall. Starting the evening with both national and international comedians, the night will move onto the dancefloor once the standups have finished.

Acts include Dave Longley, Eddie Brimson and Jamie Sutherland. www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk SATURDAY NIGHT BISTRO – THE REAL JUNK FOOD PROJECT Steeple Corner Café // April 15 // £2.50 deposit // Pay as you feel Book a table to have 2-3 courses of freshly cooked, hearty food in a relaxed bistro atmosphere. You’ll be presented with a surprise menu and the night will run on a ‘pay as you feel’ system, on top of a small £2.50 deposit. More importantly, all of the dishes served are made from (perfectly good) food that would have otherwise been wasted by supermarkets and retailers. Head to the website more details of the charity’s work. www.realjunkfoodsheffield.com EASTER MARKET AND FUN DAY Handsworth Old Rectory Community Centre // April 17 // £3 With egg hunts, Disney princesses, dressing up area, storytelling and bouncy castle (plus BBQ and bar for the grown-ups), the Easter Market at Handsworth Community Centre is the place to go for a day of family fun this bank holiday. www.skiddle.com CHAINSKA BRASSIKA’S REGGAE CARNIVAL The Harley // April 17 // From £5 After winning the first ever World Reggae Contest, touring with Madness, playing the likes of Glastonbury, Notting Hill Carnival and Poland’s Ostroda Reggae, London ska outfit Chainska Brassika are bringing their own brand of horn-driven tunes to The Harley for some chilled bank hol entertainment.

Following their first album Skinna in 2015, hey’ll be releasing their sophomore album in July, which they recorded at the acclaimed Harry J Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Check out first single ‘Don’t You Try’ with the legendary Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals online. www.harleylive.co.uk EASTER CARNIVAL - GRIME MEETS JUNGLE Corporation // April 16 // £15 Bringing you two rooms of noise with headliners Rebel MC aka Congo Natty plus Big Narstie, K.O.G, RubberDub DJs, UK Mondo Radio Takeover, DJ Cardiac and more, this Easter Sunday Corp will host a showdown of grime vs jungle, powered by the epic Sinai and Higher Fidelity sound systems.

Pop-up merch and market stalls will also be avaialable to browse on the night. www.corporation.org.uk

Going through the gears!

Biking fever is soon to envelop the city once more as cyclists soon hit the road for the Tour de Yorkshire 2017. It will mark the race’s third year and the challenging route takes participants all over God’s Own County, leading cyclists from the starting point in Bridlington to the finishing line in the Steel City itself.

This year’s Tour De Yorkshire is scheduled to take place between April 28-30 and is made up of three stages and a Women’s Race measuring 122.5km.

Friday’s Stage 1 will be 173km long and begin outside Bridlington Spa at 12:45pm. Heading towards Pocklington, followed by three mountain climbs on Côte de Garrowby Hill and Côte de Goatland. Racing down the Whitby coastline and past the iconic Whitby Abbey, Robin Hood’s Bay will play host to the final climb before the race enters Scarborough. The finish will be along North Bay with the caravan finish at 15:59pm.

The 122.5km long Stage 2 on Saturday brings everyone together with the Women’s Race following the same route. Tadcaster marks the start of the day’s event at 9:10am for the women’s race and 12:05pm onwards for everyone else. Then it’s onto Knaresborough and the big climb of the day at Côte de Lofthouse. Once conquered, riders face a sprint onto Ripon, skirting Fountains Abbey and then concluding at Harrogate.

The third and final day proves to be the most daunting for cyclists. With a staggering eight climbs to contend with, it’s obvious that Sheffield comes into the equation. Being the longest stage, measuring at 194.5km, the day begins at City Park in Bradford at 12:30pm. With a swish of the flag, the cyclists make their way to Burley-in-Wharfedale and entering the Yorkshire Dales.

Pushing onto Skipton, participants will come face-to-face with the first of the eight climbs: Côte de Silsden. Haworth’s cobbled elevation and the upward climb at Lemmings presents a challenging succession of tough terrain. Côte de Shibden Wall adds a final grand obstacle for the riders to face. Relief (if you can call it that) from hill climbs comes in the final intermediate sprint through Stocksbridge.

In a grand finish, the 22km circuit presents four testing climbs at Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height and Midhopestones. Thighs presumably sore and tires red hot, the big finish will take place at Fox Valley, situated just off Manchester Road, ending from 4:13pm onwards.

More detailed timings and a map of the route can be found on the official Tour de Yorkshire website: www.letour.yorkshire.com.

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Popular South Shields funnyman Chris Ramsey cut his comedic teeth in stand-up up this neck of the woods, playing Sheffield’s Last Laugh Comedy Club at The Lescar and City Hall during his formative years. Since then Chris has established himself as one of the UK’s best-loved comedians and returns to the city this month with a brand new tour in tow. Andrew Martin went to find out more.

So, we hear you’re fairly well-acquainted with Sheffield when it comes to stand-up?

I’ve gigged in Sheffield since I started doing stand-up. It’s a brilliant place for comedy.

One of my first and most memorable heckles happened there. I was fairly new to it at the time and the gig wasn’t going too well, so I put the mic back in the stand and said, “I’m going to leave now because this hasn’t been great” – and a lady shouted, “Stay on, son, you’re doing fine!” There was so much pity in her voice!

Tell us about the ‘Is That Chris Ramsey?’ tour. What’s behind the name?

There is a story, and it’s all about a moment in life where I found out who I really was. A fight or flight moment that happened when I was arrested in a London hotel last year… you’ll have to come see the show to hear more.

People often speak about a North/South divide when it comes to comedy. Is this something you ever notice on stage?

No, not at all. Every crowd is different, no matter where they are. The only thing I notice is that in some parts of the UK I have to speak slower so they can understand me.

And how do you cope with touring as a comedian? Is it more tiresome or rewarding going out on a big UK tour?

It’s both in equal measure. It’s very tiring, but I’d take this over working in an office any day.

It’s the best job in the world, and when it’s hard, you just have to remind yourself how lucky you are to be making people laugh for a living.

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TOP PICKS Which comedians have inspired you?

Billy Connolly. The way he keeps an audience hanging onto his every word is brilliant. I saw it as a kid and just wanted to do the same.

LEADMILL COMEDY CLUB The Leadmill // 5th April // £6 Each month The Leadmill Comedy Club serves up a variety of talent from the best up and comers on the circuit, and this month’s no different.

Imagine if Jack Black and Frank Sinatra had a son, in this strange universe you’d have Charlie Baker, a likeable and charming comedian, followed by funny bones Nigel NG, So You Think You’re Funny finalist Kelly Convey and Edinburgh Fringe Laugh Off winner George Lewis. leadmill.co.uk

What has been your strangest onstage experience?

There are far too many to even try to pick the strangest! So I’ll pick the most recent: I caught a moth onstage last Saturday in Milton Keynes.

The crowd went wild!

You’ve made many appearances on different TV shows (8 Out of 10 Cats, Hebburn, Virtually Famous, Celebrity Juice, etc.). How does the stage differ from TV comedy and which do you prefer?

I always prefer live stand-up as there’s SO much more freedom! Plus you don’t have to share the experience with anyone: when there’s a laugh, that’s your laugh.

How did your show (The Chris Ramsey Show) on Comedy Central come about?

And what’s the best thing about having your own show?

It basically came about as an extension of all the other stuff I was doing. Appearing on other shows and doing bigger and bigger tours just paved the way really. It was such an amazing thing to do and I hope I can do it again for another series!

You’re now a parent. Do you think it has changed you in any way?

I talk about this in my show… so… see you there?

Done. And what do you have planned after this tour?

I’ve got a few TV things in the pipeline, and probably another run of dates with this show.

But immediately after this tour, I’m going to have a holiday and sleep a lot.

What advice do you have for anyone wanting to get into comedy? What are the dos and don’ts?

No advice. There are too many comedians.

Comedy is closed. Find a real job!

Chris Ramsey brings his Is That Chris Ramsey? tour to Sheffield City Hall on Saturday April 1st.

Tickets are available from www.sheffieldcityhall. co.uk

SO WHAT IF JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE… I TURNED A WHOLE STUDENT LOAN INTO VODKA ONCE. YOUR MOVE, JESUS… Sean Lock

CHRIS RAMSEY – IS THAT CHRIS RAMSEY? City Hall // 1st April // £22.40 A brand new stand up show for 2017 from the comedian you’ve seen on The Royal Variety Performance, Celebrity Juice, Hebburn, Live At The Apollo’ and various news outlets after being wrongly arrested in a hotel in his underpants. The outlandish and boisterous storyteller has recently hosted The Chris Ramsey Show, a Comedy Central programme where Ramsey’s guests are set a range of ridiculous yet hilarious challenges.

“Ramsey is so completely likeable it’s hard not to join in with the laughter.” - Manchester Evening News sheffieldcityhall.co.uk RICK GERVAIS – HUMANITY City Hall // 3rd April // £30.80 Considered one of the most influential British comedians on the scene, Ricky Gervais was awarded the BAFTA ‘Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy’ in 2016.

The comedy superstar is now returning to the stage with his first stand-up tour in seven years: Humanity. The creator and star of The Office, Extras and Derek, Gervais has jokingly described the show as, “me moaning about everything in the world from the most privileged position imaginable.”

“With his most cohesive and heart-on-sleeve show yet, it’s good to have him back.” – The Telegraph. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk SEAN LOCK – KEEP IT LIGHT City Hall // 20th April // £23 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You and Big Fat Quiz Of The Year regular, Sean Lock has made a name for himself as a hilariously cynical and dry-witted panel guest. Not one to shy from the stage, every three years the comedian writes and tours a new stand-up show. His latest reflects upon everyday subjects such as parenting, old age and immigration.

‘He just lets the brilliance of his material dominate the room.’ - The Guardian sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

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TOP PICKS

GATECRASHER EASTER SUNDAY Area // April 16 // From £25 The lion roars again this Easter Bank Holiday as Area Sheffield is taken over by a massive party celebrating 23 years of Gatecrasher and Republic.

The line-up includes the likes of John O’Callaghan, Bryan Kearney, Standerwick, Seb Fontaine, Scott Bond, Paul Pearson, Judge Jules and more. www.areasheffield.co.uk SF17 (SPRING FEST) Magna // April 16 // From £35 In the heart of Magna’s huge steelworks, Spring Fest returns with massive headline sets from Tinie Tempah, Charsley, Eats Everything and Bugzy Malone, on top of loads more artists and DJs keeping the party going for 10 straight hours over four arenas.

Tickets available from www.skiddle.com CLONE RECORDS TOUR FT LEGOWELT & RANDOMER Hope Works // April 21 // From £11 Surging from the heart of Rotterdam, Clone Records celebrates their 25th year in Sheffield with their Return of the Future Tour. With a heart for the classic and an ear for the new, the Dutch label are bringing along Legowelt and Randomer to the event. Expect plenty of classic throwback vibes throughout the night. www.hope-works.co.uk HUNEE & VKULA Hope Works // April 28 // From £20 After his explosive set in November, Hunee returns to Sheffield, this time accompanied by Ukrainian DJ Vakula. Two minds that play by their own rules, fusing techno and house with whatever they feel it needs. There will be no cheap thrills, just pure musical joy. www.hope-works.co.uk REWIND: NON-STOP GARAGE Foundry and Fusion // April 28 // From £3.30 After the success of last year, Rewind is returning once again for another night of old school garage.

Spanning from the early-90s to mid-00s, expect a night full of hits from DJ Luck and MC Neat, Artful Dodger, So Solid Crew and many more. tickets.sheffieldstudentsunion.com SMILEY SELASSIE X DON’T LOOK NOW The Night Kitchen // April 16 // From £5 Merging the very best in techno and jungle, Simley Selassie and Don’t Look Now are putting on an unholy collaboration this Easter Sunday, celebrating the last days of Sheffield’s beloved Night Kitchen. The line-up includes UK garage and dubstep master Sully, GreenBay Wax’s Percussive P, Jungalism Scotland’s Anikonik, Flashmaster Lexx, Absulum, Beneath, Mark Forshaw AKA Casio Rotale, Godot and more. www.thenightkitchen.org

Judgement Day 5 Things you might not know about Judge Jules He knows how to lay down the law Despite being renowned worldwide for his DJ skills, Judge Jules – real name Julius O’Riordan – also works as a music lawyer during the week. So the name has more relevance than ever.

He’s a Yorkshire lad, kind of.

As well as enjoying the heritage the city shares with the Gatecrasher brand, another reason Jules loves coming up to Sheffield is because it gives him the chance to visit his dad, who lives not too far away from the Steel City in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

You’ve probably heard of his uncle He is the nephew of none other than famous chef and television presenter Rick Stein OBE. Judge Jules and Gatecrasher go way back In fact, he actually holds the title of longest-standing resident DJ since it started out as The Republic back in 1996.

DJ talent runs in the family His son, Jake, is working hard at becoming as successful a DJ/Producer as his old man. Watch this space.

On April 16th Judge Jules plays the Gatecrasher Easter Sunday event at Area Sheffield.

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After spending the last few years pouring every bit of their energy into touring, Circa Waves have got back in the studio and worked tirelessly to produce their second album, Different Creatures. Released on 10 March, the new record taps into both intimate and wide-ranging issues, from seismic political shifts to personal battles faced by singer-songwriter Kieran Shuddall. The resulting gritty, rockheavy sound paired with their knack for a good melody is sending Circa Waves sky-high at the moment.

Amy Ridden caught up with Kieran before the band arrived in Sheffield later this month.

So your brand new album Different Creatures is out tomorrow. How are you feeling about finally getting it out there?

It’s exciting finally letting go of something you’ve had for so long.

I just want it to be out there now, so I can see what people think and everything. I’m very, very excited for it to happen.

From Young Chasers to Different Creatures, does the name represent how the band has grown musically?

It’s a bunch of things. The band has evolved loads over the last three or four years and we’ve all changed as people. We’ve become much more ambitious and much more focused really, so it kind of references the fact that we’ve all turned into different creatures. It was also based around

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the song ‘Different Creatures’, which is inspired by the refugee crisis. I was frustrated about people being angry about vulnerable people coming into the country; it’s like, if you were in their position you’d be doing exactly the same thing. We’d all be different creatures if we I felt like I wanted a track with more presence and more of what I were in their position. was feeling at the time. I wrote a bunch of songs at the start of 2016 There are plenty more and they started coming out that way. I was sick of the TV I was political references, seeing every day, fucking X-Factor and Made In Chelsea stuff, and such as the refugee crisis felt more and more disillusioned by it really. Then there are songs you mentioned, as well like ‘Out On My Own’, which was more about my own depression as personal reflections because I’d become so much more aware of it. I’ve seen more of my in this record. How friends suffer with depression and wanted to think that if someone important do you think could be slightly helped by listening to that song then it’s job done it is to express these in to me. your music?

What was it that inspired you to make the change to a much louder, grittier record?

I’ve always been a fan of big rock records so I wanted this to be sort of our generation’s The Colour and Shape by Foo Fighters. That’s the sort of record that will last forever and something that encourages kids to start bands. You know they can’t help but pick up a guitar

after they listen to it. I’ve always been into heavier music and it’s like a natural progression. It still has the Circa Waves sound you know, the same sort of melodies that I would always use, but it’s just dressed in a rockier outfit.

Considering the success of the debut album, was it a risk heading in another musical direction?

I mean, everyone is different but I’ve always loved bands that evolve like The Maccabees and Arctic Monkeys. You’re changing your style but you’re still the same, it’s just sort of arranged in a different way.

For me, I don’t see it as much of a risk because I would hate to make the same record again. I’m done with that, that’s a part I’ve moved on from and I love bands like The Beatles where every record feels different and each record can be seen in its own right. I think this generation are much more open to chopping and changing between genres. Someone will listen to Ed Sheeran followed by Foo Fighters followed by Kendrick Lamar. No one sticks to one genre as much as they used to.

Do you think you will still be branded as an indie band after

this record?

Maybe not. I’ve always just called us a rock band anyway. I suppose the first record was more like that noughties indie sort of sound, so I don’t know what you’d categorise this as. I suppose I’d just like us to be known as a rock ‘n’ roll band.

You have said you’re more willing to push with this record and you want to headline festivals. What are you going to do to achieve this?

We’re just doing what we can! We’ve made a great record and we’re just gonna play the best shows we can possibly play – that’s all we can do. When we’re live we don’t take it lightly: we play until we’re sweating and bleeding and struggling to carry on. I think

we’ll just keep doing that and making great music, and if people want to get on board then great!

Young Chasers had four A-List singles on Radio 1. Are there a similar number of standout tracks on Different Creatures?

I mean, I don’t know. Radio 1 has their own agenda and we’ve had two A-List singles already from the new album so it’s going well. I would never count my chickens before they hatch; we just put out good music and hope they get involved. The more they play it the more our audience widens. The songs are better than the first album I think, so if that’s anything to go by then we’ll be more successful. Who the fuck knows? If I was in charge I’d A-List them all myself.

Circa Waves’ new album Different Creatures is out now. Head to circawaves.com for tour and festival dates.

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SHAKESPEARES LISTINGS SATURDAY 1ST APRIL.

Isembards Wheel. Isembard’s Wheel are without a doubt one of the most wild and Rabelaisian acts on the folk scene today. Starts 8pm, entry £TBC.

SATURDAY 2ND APRIL.

Black Swan Rapper. Fast, physical and often acrobatic, Black Swan Rapper regularly stun audiences throughout the country, using the teams unique and genre defining style of rapper dance.

MONDAY 3RD APRIL.

Sacred Harp Singing. We are an informal, friendly group of people from the Sheffield and South Yorkshire area who sing Sacred Harp music which is traditional, acapella harmony singing. Starts 7:30pm.

Voted Sheffield Camra Pub of the Year 2013 Cask ales on rotation (over 2000 in less then 3 years), Over 125 whiskies, wide range of rums, gins, vodkas and ciders.

EVERY THURSDAY Shakespeares Pub Quiz.

Test your knowledge of Shakespeare, Sport, Science and stuff from 9.00 Free entry & drinks to be won

EVERY wEDnESDAY Reg & Friends open acoustic night.

Come along and play, sing or just watch. Free entry

0114 275 59 59

WWW.SHAKESPEARES-SHEFFIELD.CO.UK Shakespeares Ale & Cider House, 146 – 148 Gibraltar Street

TUESDAY 4TH APRIL.

CAMRA AGM meeting. All Sheffield & District members are invited to attend.

Starts 8pm.

FRIDAY 7TH APRIL.

Lift up your skirt and fly. An enjoyable night of psychedelic soul music starting at 8pm with entry being £3 before 9pm.

TUESDAY 11TH APRIL.

Rob Richards hosts an interesting night of traditional Ceilidh music in the upstairs function room.

THURSDAY 13TH APRIL.

Eurosession. Anyone who wants to play can lead a tune or join in at their own level. Dance workshop starts at 3:30pm, Performances and session starts at 8:00pm. Tickets £12/ £7.

FRIDAY 14TH – 16TH APRIL.

Sheffield folk sessions festival. Go to www.sheffieldseshfest.org for more information regarding acts and timings.

SATURDAY 22ND APRIL.

Mysteron, Dense, Katie’s pham and the moonbathers. Times and entry £TBC.

SATURDAY 29TH APRIL.

Rich Masters hosts an acoustic gig in the upstairs function room. Start time and entry £TBC.

SUNDAY 30TH APRIL.

Green city blues. A fun and relaxed event where people get together and have a dance to some blues music. Also, attendees can get some tips from the host Lisa!

Starts at 7:30pm.

LIVE REVIEWS SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX SHEFFIELD CITY HALL Tongue was most firmly in cheek as Sheffield was treated to some sultry Stateside smoulder with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.

Our fabulous ‘Femme C’ Ariana Savalas set the innuendo-filled tone for the evening, as we were whisked on a jazz-fuelled journey through unlikely modern day song choices, which strangely worked when transported to a different era.

Stripped back versions of Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’, and Britney’s ‘Womaniser’ met fifties style renditions of Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and Meghan Trainor’s ‘All About That Bass’.

Doo-wop morphed into Hanson’s ‘Mmm Bop’ (yes, really!) and the night was topped off with a crazy rendition of ‘Stacey’s Mom’.

Long haired lunatic, Casey Abrams stole the show, balancing Peroni swigging buffooning with a haunting rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’. In true PMJ style, even that was saved from being indulgent, when his band members ironically swayed their phones overhead.

The beauty of the PMJ experience is that none of the artists take themselves too seriously, when in fact they have every right to. Throw in some breakneck tap dancing, a touch of burlesque and a red plastic kazoo and you get the picture that anything goes with the PMJ. Words: Samantha Cockayne Photo: Braverijah-Gregg

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TOP PICKS LIVE REVIEWS

THE AMAZONS April 5 // Plug // £8.50 With a knack for huge choruses and screeching riffs, the Reading quartet are currently bang on form following the release of latest single ‘Black Magic’. One of the most exciting rock bands on the scene at the minute, catch ‘em live and see what all the fuss is about. www.the-plug.com THE WHO April 10 // Sheffield Arena // From £67.20 The rock & roll, mod and power pop legends are coming to Sheffield for their 2017 ‘Tommy & More’ tour. For this rescheduled Greatest Hits show Roger and Pete will play all the hits as well as some lesser known songs which will also include a presentation of Tommy drawn from the Royal Albert Hall concerts through a specially produced video programme. www.sheffieldarena.co.uk

DUTCH UNCLES PLUG

SMILING IVY + USHTI BABA YELLOW ARCH STUDIOS

“This is a song about feeling unemployable.

It’s funny.” Dutch Uncles lead, Duncan Wallis, asserted mid-way through their set.

It’s clear that the bulk of this set list is made up of songs describing a discomfort under your own skin. But Wallis’ blissfully androgynous and wrist-flicking dance moves are his way of crushing this notion; a way of breaking free from any shackles of self-doubt.

The set begins with the new cut ‘Baskin’’ – an opener displaying the new intensity from recent album Big Balloon. Twitchy rhythms are blended with hectic synth stabs and orchestral flurries hereby on, and there’s no questioning this outfit’s eclectic use of instrumentation.

Rammed with unexpected key changes and intricate chord sequences, the jagged intricacy of Dutch Uncles can often be too mind-boggling for the masses. But their niche brand of proggy math-pop kept even the most casual of punters on their toes at Plug throughout what was a wholly impressive performance.

Jordan Foster

To most, St Patricks day is about donning a fake beard, putting on an overpriced green hat and pretending to like Guinness. This year, rather than buckling to the cliché, Yellow Arch decided to throw a good ol’ knees up, blending both the traditional and the alternative to make the ultimate Paddy’s Day party.

Sheffield’s resident partystarters Smiling Ivy kick off the live portion of the night with their dub, hip-hop and ska-punk vibes. The main room begins to overflow with revellers as the band proves that they are masters of their craft, blending genres seamlessly to create the perfect early doors atmosphere.

Next up, Bristolian 8-piece Ushti Baba blend a mixture of European folk music with jungle, drum‘n’bass and dubstep rhythm.

Not the onslaught of random musical genres it sounds, the band mix influences professionally, presenting their unique world to the guests of Yellow Arch, enticing them in with beat boxing, veil dancing and fiddle twiddling escapades. The whole set is a tantalising mash-up of sea shanties, Romany gypsy numbers, Sicilian exorcism tunes and traditional Klezmer songs.

The night rolls on with the rave cave providing dub, ska, Balkan and tropical beats to keep the party going. Historically, St Patrick’s sees the Lenten restrictions on excess lifted for the day, and nothing feels more in keeping with tradition than overconsumption of musical madness and good times. Lewis Budden

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REDFACES April 14 //Queens Social Club // £7.50 Following signing a deal with RCA Records and the release of debut single ‘Kerosene’, things are continuing to look rosey for Redfaces. Head down for some hugely infectious rock and roll vibes from a band destined for big things. www.leadmill.co.uk OCTOBER DRIFT April 22 // The Foundry // £7.70 Selling out venues across the UK due to a flourishing reputation for live shows, ‘sugar coated power-rock’ October Drift are a bellowing bluster of guitars and thumping instrumentation. tickets.sheffieldstudentsunion.com THE ORIELLES April 26 // Bungalows and Bears // Free Recently joining the likes of Amber Arcades and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard on the Heavenly Recordings label, expect soaring harmonies and sumptuous surf pop from this highly-rated Halifax trio. www.bungalowsandbears.com CABARET VOLTAIRE April 29 // Devil’s Arse // £44.55 Cabaret Voltaire’s iconic industrial post-punk sounds echoing around an ancient cave in the Peak District? That’s us sold. www.leadmill.co.uk

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16/03/2017 10:29

COLD WAR KIDS L.A DIVINE

MAXIMO PARK RISK TO EXIST Putting out one of their most statement-driven albums yet, Risk To Exist is jam-packed with 11 short but punchy tracks showcasing in snapshots the Maximo Park view of the world’s affairs. Bubble-wrapping the hard truth about the current state of the nation in their unique brand of eccentric pop, the album looks at everything from the refugee crisis to crumbling political systems. Striking messages are relayed over old-school synth, punchy guitars and harmony-led tracks, making you dance as much as it makes you think. The live recording approach gives proceedings a great sense of rawness and urgency. Unlike many before them, they’ve managed to crack the balance between offering political observations without being too preachy, blending this in well with the catchy, inimitable style of their past discography. Standout track ‘Work and Then Wait’ is the perfect example of this: exploring the hard-hitting consequences of an alt-right society with soft pop melodies running throughout. While Risk to Exist manages to deal with the difficult issues of our recent history, it somehow manages to remain an easy listen, with groove-led melodies, soaring vocals and alternative pop sensibilities making it a strong offering from the indie pop legends. 8/10 Amy Ridden

Cold War Kids’ sixth album LA Divine builds upon their typical heavy piano chords and foottapping styles, mixing in a funkier, summer-kissed tinge to the sound.

Dedicated to the relationship frontman Nathan Willett has with his home city of Los Angeles, the album is less melancholic than previous outputs, offering a more upbeat and sparkly sound, regularly illuminated by Willett’s powerful vocals. Speaking of which, guest vocals from Florence Welch feature on track ‘So Tied Up’, a welcome addition after years of the band and singer intertwining with each other.

The end track ‘Free to Breathe’ takes a softer and minimalistic dive and draws on the current political climate in the US and across the globe. One to listen to from start to finish, it’s definitely an album you’ll be playing and returning to throughout the summer, making you dream of the LA life.

8/10 Amy Ridden

THE BIG MOON LOVE IN THE 4TH DIMENSION

First thing that’s great about this debut album: it kicks off with a beefed-up version of their early single and certified grunge-pop banger ‘Sucker’. Loud, brash, hookladen, explosive, and tons of fun, it’s a good analogy for the record as a whole. The soft-yet-menacing vocals of lead singer Juliette Jackson, which go from angelic to snarling in a split-second, are the perfect accompaniment to the whirring guitars and heavy-hitting riffs that repeatedly make their presence felt in earnest over the 11 tracks. They prove to be masterful at teasing you in slowly with soft, guitar picking innocence before exploding in powerful, piledriving fashion (see ‘Cupid’ and ‘Formidable’); they make it seem so easy, yet it hits the spot every time. ‘Bonfire’ is a superb blend of wandering basslines and angsty frustrations, while ‘Silent Movie Susie’ is a euphoric, summertime festival gem. And on that note – roll on their set at Tramlines! 8/10 Joe Food

RENEGADE BRASS BAND TOTEMS Still, for my money, the biggest, boldest, most hard-hitting brass outfit about, Renegade Brass Band make a hugely welcome return with Totems. “Once you go brass, you never go back” spits Vex, the 12-piece’s resident MC, over grandiose horns and thumping percussion on intro track ‘EAF’. Naturally, it takes a decidedly strong flow to stand out amongst the pure power generated by the brass section in RBB, but perfect timing and vicious lyrics sees him more than hold his own throughout.

Over the course of the album, sound and genres are frequently crossed. From the swaggering old school hip-hop and live scratching of ‘Torches and Pitchforks’ to the rousing latin jazz of ‘All Out’, it’s another riveting journey from an outfit that are so much more than a festival band. That said, monumental closing track ‘Monte Carlo’ had the hairs raised on my arms as I instinctively Googled their next Sheffield live appearance … Yep – 22nd April, O2 Academy. Give this a listen and I’m sure I’ll be seeing you there.

5/5 Joe Food WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 81

scheduled for release on 14 April, and follows the band’s recent success in reaching the final 120 acts for the Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition. facebook.com/TheSeamonsters // @cmonstersmusic

Gig-wise, it doesn’t get much bigger than what’s going down at The Devil’s Arse (Peak Cavern, Castleton) this month. The largest cave system in the Peak District will be hosting two iconic Sheffield acts – Pitsmoor-born crooner Richard Hawley (April 30) and industrial pioneers Cabaret Voltaire (April 29). Tickets for both events are available from The Leadmill’s website. www.leadmill.co.uk // www. peakcavern.co.uk It’s exciting times at the moment for Exposed In Session stars SHEAFS. Fresh from winning Virgin Radio’s #FreshFest17 award, the band head out on tour this month (Sheffield date at The Rocking Chair is sold out) and release new single ‘Mind Pollution’ on 14 April. Head to the socials below for more info. www.sheafsband.co.uk // facebook.com/sheafsband // @ SHEAFSBand

Vultures are another band with new music coming soon. A new single will be dropping in June – but in the meantime check out what they’ve got out there already at tinyurl.com/jvj2qfv. facebook.com/ VULTURESBANDUK // @ Vultvres

October Drift have recently been touring their mind-blowing live show around Europe, but the Somerset shoegazers return to their home from home for a mahoosive gig at The Foundry on 22 April alongside special guests KONG. facebook.com/octoberdrift Following the release of what is, in our humble opinion, one of the finest local albums so far this year, Pilosa bring their heady mix of indie rock, synth-pop and hip-hop to The Mulberry Tavern on April 23. facebook.com/pilosaband // soundcloud.com/pilosaband // pilosa.bandcamp.com

The debut single from up-andcoming Sheffield six-piece The Seamonsters will be out this month. ‘Lost (and Found)’ is Head to www.exposedmagazine.co.uk for the full list of live music events and things to do in Sheffield this month.

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A QUICKIE WITH…

ST PETERSBURG

Good to have you back, lads. What gave you the itch to start making music again as Saint Petersburg?

Between you and me (and everyone else who’s reading this), it had all been planned out before we announced the end of our previous band, The Ratells, back in 2015. We’d been at it for five or six years under the old name, and there was a lot of songs out there, many that we’d grown out of and wanted to move on from. It felt like the right time for a fresh start.

That new tune ‘Lies’ is a belter and certainly whetted the appetite. Can we expect another soon?

Thanks! We’ve got the next single all lined up and ready to go, actually. We spent some time up in Scotland towards the end of 2016 recording both songs and then spent the following six months debating which one to put out as the first single! Basically, we’re dead happy with them both and buzzing to get the next one out already!

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of hearing the debut track, give them three solid reasons why they should search it out.

It’s massive. It’s Pop ’n’ Roll. Danny has his hair down in the video.

And there’s your first live show coming up at The Leadmill on April 14th. How do you see that one panning out?

To say we’re absolutely buzzing is an understatement. We’ve been locked in a studio for two years so to finally get out and play our first show will be special. The tickets sold out after four minutes so thankfully the kind folks at The Leadmill have let us move it into the main room so we can fit everyone in. The reaction has been mental– we never expected it!

Tickets for the Leadmill gig on Good Friday are available (for free!) from www.saintfuckingpetersburg.com WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 83

5 Since 1932

Sheffield City Hall

Live Music 1932 2017| Comedy | Entertainment

April 2017

Saturday 1st April | 7.30pm

Ramsey – It’s ourChris 85th Birthday!

Is That Chris Ramsey?

Sunday 2nd April | 3.00pm

Cinemagic

3rd & 4th April | 7.30pm SOLD OUT

Ricky Gervais: Humanity Saturday 8th April | 7.00pm

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Monday 10th April | 2.00pm

Naomi’s Wild and Scary Easter Holidays Family Show Tuesday 11th April | 7.30pm

The Solid Silver 60s Show Wednesday 12th April | 7.30pm

Psychic Sally: Call Me Psychic Friday 14th April | 7.30pm

The Chicago Blues Brothers Thursday 20th April | 8.00pm

Sean Lock ‘Keep it Light’ Friday 21st April | 7.00pm

The Hallé

Sunday 30th April | 7.30pm

Red Hot Chilli Pipers Every Friday & Saturday Doors 7.00pm | Show 8.15pm

Last Laugh Comedy Cabaret

 sheffieldcityhall.co.uk Box Office: 0114 2 789 789

ROOTS OF STEEL This month Yellow Arch Studios will host a fundraising event in association with The Fun Branch to help Sheffield Tree Action Groups (STAG) continue their work of preventing the unnecessary felling of healthy trees in the city. The bill includes the likes of Mik Artistik, Franz Von from K.O.G. and the Zongo Brigade and DJ Winston Hazel. Joining them is up-and-coming afro-funk group Forefathers, along with some Americana vibes from the 20ft Squid Blues Band. Ex- Reverend and the Makers percussionist Bongo Bert will be performing a live dubreggae set with vocals by Sofia Vargo. There’ll also be plenty more live funk, soul, blues and roots music acts performing throughout the day.

One of the organisers, Mark Walton from STAG, told Exposed: “The actions of Sheffield City Council have inadvertently forged a community which may have never previously met, under the common cause of protecting healthy roadside trees. The event we’ve set up is to celebrate this unity, bringing in a raft of entertainment for the bank holiday weekend so that we can party with some amazing bands on the Sheffield music scene and raise some awareness of what’s going on in the city.”

Music isn’t all that’s on the day’s agenda as from 3pm there will be a street food market featuring everything from Jamaican delicacies to classic pizza. Daytime activities for children will be available and you’ll also be able to enjoy some art installations and browse the market area.

Roots of Steel takes place on April 15th at Yellow Arch Studios. Tickets are available from partyforthepeople.org; you can get more info on the festival and its cause by following @ thefunbranch on Twitter.

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PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

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MAKING WAVES BRIGHTON INDIE ROCK OUTFIT BRITISH SEA POWER ARE BACK WITH A NEW ALBUM, LET THE DANCERS INHERIT THE PARTY. CHATTING EVERYTHING FROM “INTERNATIONAL LUNACY” TO WRITING FILM SCORES, DREAM VENUES AND PERSUADING FANS TO GET BSP TATTOOS, GUITARIST MARTIN NOBLE FILLS US IN ON WHAT THE BAND HAVE BEEN UP TO IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WORDS: MATT TILL So the new album’s out now. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Yeah, of course. It was made to a background of politicians perfecting the art of unabashed lying, of social-media echo chambers, of clickbait and electronic Tonka Toys to keep us entertained and befuddled. All this can easily make the individual feel futile. But I think we’ve ended up addressing this confusion in an invigorating way, rather than imprisoning the listener in melancholy. There wasn’t a plan to create an album with any particular subject matter but we’ve kind of ended up with a case of ‘think global, act local’ – an album where individuals are dealing with their domestic and personal lives against a background of uncontrollable international lunacy.

It’s been four years since your last LP. That’s the longest break you’ve had between albums.

What have you been up to in the meantime?

Yeah, it’s been a while. We’ve been busy in that time though. We’ve done a few film scores, including one for a French film called Happiness about an eight year old monk that desperately wants a TV. That was really fun.

We also did one for a film about Captain Webb, the first man recorded to swim the English Channel (Sea to the Land Beyond: Britain’s Coast on Film). We also re-released our first album, The Decline of British Sea Power, and released a compilation album of some of our more atmospheric work with Peter Wright and a full brass band called Sea of Brass.

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What process do you go through before going into the studio?

We’ve been writing ever since we released our last album, Machineries of Joy, so we had amassed quite a large collection of demos.

We’d been going over our old material so much with the re-release of our first LP and Sea of Brass that we were really keen to get back to recording some new material. Our producer went through all the demos we had, which was about 30-40, and picked the most coherent and melodic tracks and ideas.

You always try to do something different with every album. What was the angle you took with Let The Dancers… ?

Yeah, since we had so many demos, we were in a really good position to make our most coherent album to date. If you listen to Valhalla Dancehall, that album was all over the place. We never really thought about it back then. We wanted to make an album that was really focused and flowed well. After doing soundtracks we wanted to get back to writing classic songs.

One of the things that struck me about the album was the cover. I instantly recognised it as very Dada. What’s your relationship with the art?

In a lot of our early shows we used the sound poetry of Kurt Schwitters. Yan and Hamilton Wilkinson (vocalists) were really influenced by his style. They liked the creativity of inventing language. We actually got the opportunity to

Let The Dancers Inherit The Party is available now. They kick off their tour on the April 7th with dates across the UK. Get tickets and more info at britishseapower.co.uk/live.

visit his home in the Lake District where he fled to from Nazi Germany. Yan and Hamilton have always loved his work so it was an obvious choice to take that style and create something our own that was inspired by that.

Was the decision to crowdfund the album necessary or was it just a different approach that you were interested in trying?

We got the idea when making Sea of Brass. We contacted our fans about doing a special box set pre-order and they were incredibly responsive.

So we looked at how we could approach the next album and crowdfunding seemed like the perfect idea for us.

One of the things I enjoy about crowdfunding is the ridiculous packages you can offer people.

Were there any packages you thought fans

wouldn’t purchase but did?

Oh, we had fun with that. We offered the opportunity for people to get a British Sea Power tattoo that allowed them entry into every one of our shows they wanted to attend.

It was really brilliant having the support from fans. Not only having them come to the shows and buying the album, but being able to directly contribute to our record.

Your videos are always incredibly distinct and very creative. Can you talk me through how you approach making them?

Well Hamilton went to film school in Derby and he and Yan have made over half our videos.

They can all a bit rough around the edges and a bit cut and paste, but they really capture what the band is and wants. They always create

something that fits the ethos of the band.

One of the things that BSP is known for is the bizarre and unconventional venues you play.

What’s been your favourite?

We played this festival in Norway. The stage was inside this wooden church in a fishing town. It was such an atmospheric location and we played the entirety of our Man Of Aran album. It was the closest to being in the film as we could get.

Is there anywhere you’ve wanted to play but haven’t got round to?

Hmm, there’s an open air theatre in Cornwall called the Minack Theatre. They normally do Shakespeare there but it’s on the edge of a cliff face with the sea as a backdrop. That would be the dream venue to play. It fits with our image so well.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 89

Soon to be swapping the Jamaican sun for slightly chillier Steel City climes, we catch up with reggae star Protoje.

WORDS: ANDREW MARTIN I imagine it’s a lot nicer in Saint Elizabeth at the moment. Have you ever been to the Steel City?

No, I’ve never been to Sheffield. I just know MC Coco from Sheffield and that’s my whole knowledge of the city. But I am always excited to perform in new cities and get to spread music across the UK, you know? It’s not just about London or Manchester or whatever, it’s about getting music into every space available.

You mentioned Sheffield artist Coco there, who you recently collaborated with on the track ‘Ova Here’. How did that come about?

I heard a beat that I thought would be good for a UK artist and wrote the hook. When I actually gave it to Toddla T in London, Coco was there and heard it and just did a quick verse to it; and then I was like ‘let’s do a hook now!’ But Toddla said ‘nah, let’s just use the demo as a hook’ – and it just kind of happened from there.

What inspired you to become a musician?

Just wanting to be on a stage, to entertain people and to be creative. Everybody in Jamaica wants to be a musician. When I realised that I actually have the talent and drive for it, I first tried out at being a rapper. Then I decided not to be a rapper and be a Jamaican artist instead.

When you write your music, what’s going through your mind?

Just all the things I’m thinking about; I write almost like I’m having a conversation. So, if I spend time talking and discussing something, it invariably comes out somewhere in my songs. I keep my mind active and let all my ideas come out.

The world’s a strange place at the moment.

What do you make of it?

It’s good and bad; it’s love and hate; it’s good versus evil. But it’s always going to be like that. There are lots of positive things happening in the world and lots of negative things, but usually the negative things are more publicised because the best way to control people is with fear. There’s never any good news. You know, I should do a show or something called ‘The Good News’ where it’s all about the good things that happen.

Protoje & The Indiggnation play O2 Academy Sheffield on Sat May 6th. Get tickets and more info from www.academymusicgroup.com

90 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Tell us a bit about your latest album, Royalty Free.

It was half of an album that I gave away for free.

My producer had other stuff to deal with in the studio and told me that I should produce something for myself and also have some fun and keep active while we wait to go back into the studio. I tried some different songs and styles because I always wanted to do something like that, and people could listen to it for free.

Do you feel your music helps to give a voice to people?

Yeah, for sure! I make sure I always listen to what people are concerned about and give my views on them through expressing it in my music. I really like when I’m able to say something and people can be like, ‘Yeah! I was thinking this and I’ve been waiting for somebody to come out and say it.’

Tickets available from foundrysu.com Box office: 0114 222 8777 all shows open to the public.

(14+ unless stated otherwise) Friday 7th April

Friday 14th April

oddity road

Holy holy ‘the rise and fall of ziggy stardust’

Doors 7.00pm Tickets £5 (advance)

feat. tony visconti & woody woodmansey Doors 7.00pm Tickets £29.50 (advance)

Saturday 22nd April

Sunday 14th May

October Drift

the view

Doors 7.00pm Tickets £7 (advance)

Doors 7.30pm Tickets £17.50 (advance)

Friday 2nd June

Friday 10th November

the sugarhill gang Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio's Furious Five

heaven 17 & blancmange

Doors 7.00pm Tickets £20 (advance)

Doors 7.00pm Tickets £25 (advance)

Friday 8th December

Saturday 3rd March 2018

& Kong

SLADE Doors 7.00pm Tickets £23.50 (advance)

& The blinders

guns 2 roses

‘APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION’ Doors 7.00pm Tickets £12.50 (advance)

Foundry, Sheffield Students’ Union, Western Bank, S10 2tg facebook.com/fsfsheffield twitter.com/su_foundry

foundrysu.com foundry@sheffield.ac.uk

After ten years of While She Sleeps, why go DIY now?

When we started the band, this is how we worked. In the beginning, we loved doing everything ourselves, and when any good things came to the band, it kind of felt like we really deserved it. As with most musicians, there’s that dream of getting signed, and that the be all and end all is being on a major label.

We did that, but then realised a couple of years later that it’s not really the main thing, and that this thing we cared about so much, and put our whole fucking lives into, we’d put into the hands of people who could be quite careless with it. To them, we’re just another number on a sheet. Or in our case, a very small fish in a very big pond.

We thought pulling everything back to how we did it at the beginning, but on a bigger scale, would give us the full creative control to be able to release this record exactly how we want to.

Is it something you’ll do again?

I think so. We don’t want to go around telling people that being on a major label isn’t the be all and end all. We’re not saying that it’s wrong.

It could be right for you, but we just want to encourage people that this is possible, that you can have just as successful releases doing things on your own. It’s your baby, essentially.

Considering the title, You Are We, how important is the band’s close relationship with its Sheffield fan base? Is that a reference to your local fans?

Yeah, but it’s also a reference to the way we made the record. We made the music, but the fans actually made the record possible [through PledgeMusic]. It’s been a collaborative effort getting it out there. There’s no we without you.

It doesn’t happen unless everyone gets together, and that’s also a view we’d like to promote in a wider sense. We stand against discrimination between different races and religions, and we believe that if everyone worked together, and considered us one enormous race, we’d all be a lot better off.

What are the central themes on the new album?

The sense of detachment in society is a big one.

We’ve got such a network to be able to connect with each other, and in ‘Civil Isolation’, we’re talking about how easy it is for people who

use it to become completely isolated. Because of social media, you can have a million friends, but still be sat alone in your bedroom. We’ve actually created a civil isolation.

There’s a sense of progression and genuine maturity about the likes of ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Civil Isolation’. Is this album your finest work?

I’m confident in saying that it’s by far our best work. We felt free making it. It wasn’t about what genre it was, or what style it was, it was just about us collectively feeling good as musicians.

Some might argue that Oli Sykes’ guest vocal appearance on ‘Silence Speaks’ is an obvious choice. How did it come about?

They have a warehouse directly across the road from ours, and we’ve been friends with them for a while. When this campaign started, Oli was really interested in it, and he loved the new music we were putting out. So he reached out to us to ask if there was any way he could get involved, and we eventually invited him in to sing. We worked together on that bit, and we’re really happy with how it turned out.

Which bands and artists influence the band the most these days?

To be honest, we often dig back to the original influences that got us excited about being musicians and inspired us to actually do this in the first place. We’re usually influenced by a band called Thrice. They’ve been a band that we’ve loved throughout our entire career. There’s a lot of punk stuff, too. I’m a huge Rancid fan, and a big Anti-Flag fan. I like bands who sing positive messages about making acts of change in the world. I think it’s important that, if you gain a large audience with a band, you use it to say something positive to people.

Could the upcoming tour be the last time we see Sleeps in club venues?

Maybe, but at the same time, I think we’ll always be a band who go back and play smaller venues, just because we love that sort of intimate atmosphere. And even when we play the bigger places, that gives us an urge to take it back and do something smaller.

What can fans expect from your hometown show this month?

Hopefully absolute chaos! And a fun party atmosphere. It should be great.

AS THE SAYING GOES: IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, JUST DO IT YOURSELF. LAST YEAR, SHEFFIELD METALCORE OUTFIT WHILE SHE SLEEPS MADE THE DECISION TO STEP AWAY FROM LABEL BACKING AND RELEASE YOU ARE WE, THEIR THIRD STUDIO ALBUM, VIA A CROWDFUNDING PROJECT. AHEAD OF THEIR HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED HOMECOMING SHOW THIS MONTH, CHRIS LORD SPOKE TO GUITARIST MAT WELSH ABOUT WHY THEY BELIEVE IT’S A RISK THAT CERTAINLY PAID OFF.

94 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

While She Sleeps play Plug Sheffield on April 21st.

Tickets and more info from www. the-plug. com.

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TOP PICKS GIRL GANG SPICE GIRLS PARTY @THE GREAT GATSBY Sat April 8 www.wearegirlgang.co.uk PRIDE SHEFFIELD VOLUNTEER TRAINING Mon April 10 www.pridesheffield.org SOUTH YORKSHIRE LGBT+ AWARDS @ LIBRARY THEATRE Sat April 15 www.sylgbtawards.co.uk ANDRO & EVE: DRAG KING WORKSHOP @ UNION STREET Sat April 22 www.facebook.com/SHUSULGBT

Spring has sprung! Those lovely light evenings have returned (making it officially beer garden time, even if it’s -3C outside in reality) and we have a national holiday consisting of a four-day weekend chocolate binge – happy April! And this month Girl Gang know what you want, what you really really want … the Girl Gang Spice Girls Party! So grab your gang and get your Spice Force Five on for one of their biggest bashes yet at The Great Gatsby on 8 April. Girl Gang DJs will be playing all your favourite 90s/00s hits with, naturally, a heavy dose of Spice. Fancy dress is encouraged with prizes for the best outfit of the night, plus there will be a host of party extras with glitter face painting, a special photo booth, sweets and treats, and the usual good vibes and giveaways.

And another huge event could see you strutting your stuff down the red carpet this month, as we welcome the first South Yorkshire LGBT+ Awards to the Library Theatre on 15 April. Raise a glass of something sparkly as the groups, organisations and individuals who work throughout the year to organise events, groups and services are celebrated with an evening of live entertainment and a glitzy awards ceremony.

Check out next month’s column for all the winners. While we’re on the subject, if you want to get involved in LGBT events yourself then why not become a Pride Angel? Join the training session on April 10 (venue TBA, check website for details) to be a part of South Yorkshire’s largest LGBT event, Pride Sheffield, both at the main occasion and throughout the year.

Finally, if you have always thought your place should be on the stage rather than behind the scenes, then Andro and Eve’s Drag King Workshop on April 22 could be for you. Taking place at Union Street, the event will be open to women, non-binary and trans-masculine people and teams up with Boi-Box who give participants the chance of spending a day with the UK’s best known drag king Adam All, and his partnerin-drag Apple Derrières. This dynamic duo will take you through the process of becoming your Drag King alter-ego. Including a brief history of drag, choosing a name for your gender-bending doppelgänger, performance skills, plus tips on packing, strapping and beating your face. They’re throwing lunch into the mix to keep your strength up with delicious vegan fare from new ‘100% plant based’ pop-up café, Fanfare.

Whether you’re a fully-formed act looking for some finishing touches, or you’re still cocooned in your chrysalis, longing for transformation – Adam & Apple will cover all your bases. If you’re mad for drag, give it a whirl. And that’s all for this month, folks!

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PC DAYS Our gaming blogger Kieran Wade has been rolling back the virtual years, all the way to 1996.

Here’s what tickled his joystick back in the day.

1. BROKEN SWORD: SHADOW OF THE TEMPLARS

2. DUKE NUKEM 3D

One of the best point-n-click adventure games to have ever graced the PC, Shadow of the Templars follows the likable George Stobbart as he gets himself into often bizarre and dangerous scenarios. Full of beautiful visuals, clever puzzles, distinctive characters and a charm that makes this game as enjoyable to play today as it did back then.

If you’ve seriously never played Duke Nukem 3D (DN3D), you simply can’t call yourself a true gamer. Full to the brim with glorious 90s FPS action, pop culture references, alien scum, and an appetite for destruction, DN3D is an absolute classic within the genre.

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3. DIABLO

4. COMMAND & CONQUER: RED ALERT

Diablo is a top-down RPG action adventure with a heavy emphasis on hack-n-slash gameplay, and is considered one of the greatest of its kind.

With randomly generated dungeons to explore, hellacious enemies to plough through, and a ton of loot to collect, Diablo is pure greatness.

Released on New Year’s Eve 1996, Diablo became an instant favourite among PC gamers at the time, and is still very popular to this day.

Arguably the best entry into the Command & Conquer series, Red Alert truly put the series on the map. Red Alert had such an accessible sense of gameplay that welcomed people into its arms with open arms. As someone who really doesn’t get on with RTS games, I still find myself coming back to Red Alert in complete awe.

65 days of static. BASF. BBC. Ben Ottewell/Gomez.

Bent. Bill Gautier. Bob Sinclar. Bombay Bicycle Club. BMW. Braun. Clear. Dave Woodcock & The Dead Comedians. Frankie Vera. Frogbelly And Symphony. Future Music . Futuristic Polar Bears . Golden Age Magicians. Grolsch. Groves.Hot Soles. Ish-Brother. Island Records. Jato. Jon McClure Reverend and the Makers. Joe Carnall.

Latch (founder of anti-folk movement). Mark Wilkinson/Kidology. Michael Gray. Mouldy Peaches. Reebok. Red faces. Richard Formby.

Richard Hawley. Nightmares On Wax. Sam Genders Tunng. Diagrams. Screaming Maldini. Soulsound . Sound On Sound Magazine. Stand Amongst Giants. Steve Papa Edwards. Sticky Blood. The Be seen on youtube - Recording and Prodigy. Tom Prior.

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Warner video packages available. Book now - Call 0114 2014069 Music Group. Underground Toys/Forbidden Planet. Universal Music Group. Zoo Digital.

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SHOWROOM CINEMA WHAT’S ON IN april

From friday 31 march A SILENT VOICE (12A) FEAR EATS THE SOUL(12A) THE GRADUATION (15) FREE FIRE (15) THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (12A) FROM FRIDAY 7 APRIL ZIP & ZAP AND THE MARBLE GANG (PG) THE EAGLE HUNTRESS (U) NERUDA (15) I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO-FILM OF THE MONTH PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CINEMA EXPERIENCE (U) RAW(18) A QUIET PASSION (12A) FROM FRIDAY 14 APRIL SMURFS: THE LOST VIL GE (U) THE HANDMAIDEN (18) MULLHOL ND DRIVE (15) THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (15)

STAGE ON SCREEN NTL: THE TWELFH NIGH T(12A) BOLSHOI: A HERO OF OUR TIME NTL: ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (12A) RSC: JULIUS CAESAR (12A) FILM STUDIES WENDY & LUCY(15) NIGHT MOVES (15) ¡VIVA! PASAJE DE VIDA + Q&A (15) RARA (15) CIEN AÑOS DE PERDÓN (15) FASSBINDER SEASON From friday 21 APRIL THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BUNCH OF KUNST BRAUN (15) EFFI BRIEST (U) THE HAPPIEST DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MAKI THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA (12A) VON KANT (15) CLASH (15) SPECIAL SCREENINGS THEIR FINEST (12A) WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? FROM FRIDAY 28 APRIL + SATELLITE Q&A (15) DY MACBETH STOP MAKING SENSE (PG) HEAL THE LIVING (15) UN CONDOR SUNTAN (18) MINDHORN+ Q&A (15) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (18)

Showroom Cinema 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX Box Office (0114) 2757727 FOR FULL DETAILS OF SCREENING TIMES VISIT: SHOWROOMWORKSTATION.ORG.UK/GUIDE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK @SHOWROOMCINEMA

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Film edited by Ali Bianchi

Kong: Skull Island

Beauty and the Beast It seems that most ‘sacred cow’ films are being sacrificed at the altar of corporate penny pinching, but there are few films as beloved and revered as Disney’s classic tale of girl meets hairy creature.

On the surface, it doesn’t appear to be a story that needs retelling, but with Disney’s recent track record of making solid live action versions of its animated classics, it probably seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.

In the most part it works. It certainly doesn’t break any new ground, being mostly satisfied to walk in footsteps of its forerunner, rather than risk alienating its audience. Most of the musical items hit the right notes (though I personally felt ‘Be Our Guest’ fell a bit flat), relying on the nostalgia effect to create the magic – which works.

Most of the casting is good (Emma Watson has a long career ahead), with some irritating exceptions, and the production is suitably lavish. That said, there was an opportunity to spin the yarn a bit more – as Favreau’s darker take on the Jungle Book did to great effect – and therefore justify its existence a little more convincingly. However, as a faithful retelling of a beloved tale, it ticks the boxes; though it just feels like the tale as old as time would have benefited from a few new ideas being thrown into the mix. Rated: 3/5

GHOST IN THE SHELL (31ST MARCH)

Bold visuals and brutal action sequences make this live action retelling of a manga’s cyberenhanced super soldier (Scarlett Johansson, the go to female action icon of the moment) an intriguing proposition.

Let’s set this straight – here is a film, like its key character, that is big and bolshy. Go in expecting a dissection of a legend and its place in modern world, and prepare to be disappointed. This is ‘Apocalypse Now’ meets ‘Predator’, and it does just fine. A team of scientists and military fresh out of the war in Vietnam, head to an island previously hidden from civilisation in order to uncover its dark secrets. Except it is no secret. The opening scenes give us Kong in all his brutal glory, laying out the film’s intention to not worry about slow reveals of hulking beasts, but instead focus on what happens when said beasts come across men with guns. In short: carnage.

It’s all a lot of fun, with almost every character being so bland as to provide perfect and plentiful cannon fodder. The only real standout is John. C Reilly as a stranded WW2 veteran who has been stuck on the island for 25 years, and he provides pretty much all of the heart and humour. But the film is savvy enough to know that we didn’t come to see humans interacting with each other: we came to see a giant ape beating up other giant creatures, throwing trees and stuff. And in this we are richly rewarded. Rated: 3/5

FAST & FURIOUS 8 (14TH APRIL)

The Fast franchise shows no sign of slowing down, with new cast additions pulling in more star power in the form of Charlize Theron and a return for Jason Statham. It’s cars being chased by a submarine. Plus, you know, The Rock.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (28TH APRIL)

Arguably one of the best of the Marvel films to date, GotG surprised everyone with its blend of humour and action centring around a ragtag group of aliens, humans, raccoons and talking trees. The second instalment promises more of the same, which is fine with us.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 103

FOR EATING, DRINKING, MEETING, & EVENTS Sheffield’s best kep secret, INOX is a flexible event space and restaurant located on the fifth floor of the University of Sheffield Students’ Union Building.

We offer brunch, all day dining, venue hire and a place for meetings, with a newly designed lounge. Book a table today or drop in and see for yourself.

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Adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning director Simon Beaufoy, The Full Monty washes up on home shores once again this month. With the star-studded production currently streaking its way through theatres across the UK, lead actor Gary Lucy found the time to speak with Amy Ridden about the challenges and delights of taking on one of Sheffield’s best-known tales.

You’re heading to the Steel City for the final dates of the tour. I imagine you’re anticipating a big welcome?

Yeah! I personally love it up there. Obviously, it’s the home of the play so it’s always great to bring it back to the city. Because of the links and background to the story, the audience can get so much more invested into the play – I mean, it’s their story. I’ve been there three times now with the play and we’ve always had a fantastic time.

How difficult was it as an Essex boy to put on the Sheffield accent? Have you had any feedback from the locals?

So far I’ve had no complaints! I can only do my best and hopefully do it some justice. It’s gone down fine before in the city and the audience tend to like me as a character, so it should be fine.

How did you find it adapting from your television background to the stage?

I was very well supported by the producers; I had a voice coach for projection and a dialect coach for the accent.

The director, Jack Ryder, is a very nurturing character and very experienced. I just threw myself into it to be honest, that’s all you can do. I’ve been lucky in the sense that it’s such a great play and everybody involved has been brilliant – it’s just been a great journey.

You’ve been in the production for quite a few years now. How do you still keep it exciting?

I’m on stage pretty much the whole time, so there’s no room for complaints on that front. If you mess up, then the whole thing is gonna mess up – so that obviously keeps you on your toes. All the cast get on really well and love their time onstage together, and I think that rubs off on the audiences because we get big reactions every night.

Be honest, are there any nerves about having to ‘go the fully monty’ in the final scene?

Ah, well I’m used to it now. It’s second nature. It’s just a case of whip the clothes off, job done, thank you, good night. So no nerves at all! You can feel the audience with you all the way through. They’re part of the play throughout and they love it, which sounds funny, but it’s usually a great reaction.

What sort of reactions are we talking here?

They go absolutely bonkers! Dancing, singing and whistling. There’s a clever trick at the end with the lighting which blinds the audience momentarily so they don’t quite get to see your meat and two veg. They still go ballistic though.

Have there ever been any embarrassing slip-ups during the strip routines?

Ha! Only really if the lights didn’t work, and that’s when you’re stood in front of a large room of people wearing your birthday suit.

God forbid.

The Full Monty comes to the Lyceum Theatre 3-15 April. Tickets and more info available from www. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 105

TOP PICKS Culture Review

THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES The Montgomery Theatre // April 1 // Tickets from £10 A play inspired by the Muppets, Danny Kaye and old family movies – this classic tale of an Emperor whose love for his clothes leaves him with nothing to wear on his birthday promises to be “inventive and energetic”. The play features puppets, music and fun for all ages. www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk THE FULL MONTY Lyceum Theatre // April 3 – 15 // Tickets from £23.50 A stage adaptation that needs no introduction and leaves nothing to the imagination. Brought to life by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, the heartfelt Sheffield male striptease story will make its home at the Lyceum Theatre – where it premiered back in 2013. www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk PROJECT REFUGE/E Millennium Gallery // April 4 – 9 // Free This installation of a real refugee shelter transported from Lebanon will shine a light on the experiences of over 65 million refugees around the world. The same number as the population of the UK, this exhibition will share the voices of some of these displaced people as they struggle in their daily lives following escape from conflict and oppression. www.museums-sheffield.org.uk GYPSY QUEEN Drama Studio // April 13 // Tickets from £8 Featured as part of the Enable Us Project, the Hope Theatre Company presents the story of traveller ‘Gorgeous’ George and his journey into professional boxing. A tale of fighting verses love, his world will be shaken when he meets a gay boxer called Dane. www.sheffield.ac.uk

DR FRANKENSTEIN @CRUCIBLE THEATRE Turning Mary Shelley’s famous gothic novel on its head, Northern Theatre’s brilliant production subverts the classic story by casting the protagonist as female, taking a tale which explores the boundaries of possibility that one step further. A passionate and visionary woman, Victoria Frankenstein is determined to study medicine, despite the fact that it is forbidden for women to do so in England at the time. In Ingolstadt however, she is given freedom to discover the secret of life; resulting in disastrous consequences.

Lead Polly Frame’s performance captures the character’s wild ambition excellently and

while Ed Gaughan’s Creature is startling to begin with (his awakening genuinely makes the majority of the audience jump out of their seats), he soon evokes a sense of pity as the downtrodden outcast.

Lorne Campbell’s sensitive direction makes for multiple readings; a feminist usurpation of traditional gender roles, the destructive nature of human aspiration or the tragic consequences of exiling those seen as ‘other’ – the production cleverly captures the nuances of the original story whilst delivering a highly captivating show full of intrigue and drama.

Rachel Heward

JANE EYRE Lyceum Theatre // April 18 – 22 // Tickets from £18.50 Jumping from page to screen is Charlotte Brontë’s classic tale of a woman’s fight for her own happiness and fulfilment. The production comes to Sheffield following a critically acclaimed season at the National Theatre. www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Site Gallery Expansion

AN EARTHLY PARADISE: GARDENS IN ART Graves Gallery // Until July 1 // Free An exhibition exploring the various ways artists have represented what the garden means to them, from Stanley Spencer’s Zacharias and Elizabeth to paintings by Paul Cézanne, James Tissot, Evelyn Dunbar and more. www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

One of the city’s leading contemporary art galleries has closed its doors while it undertakes massive expansion work. Encompassing the neighbouring building, Site Gallery will gain 262²m of gallery space, including room for education, commercial and creative spaces.

A café, gift shop and business units will be added too. Estimated to cost £2.7 million, the gallery are currently fundraising to secure the final £75,000 needed to complete this goal. Site is well known for showcasing the works of both local and international artists, along with providing young people the chance to engage with contemporary art through workshops. While the gallery is closed lookout for their exciting, offsite programme of events which will be announced in the coming weeks. See sitegallery.org for more.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 107

Chris Graham

Atrium Occupation Currently occupying the atrium of Bank Street Arts is experimental artist Chris Graham. His installation is a changing exhibit which he is constantly revising and reorganising each day. Using a multitude of different mediums and themes, Chris’ works aim to provide a critique of institutional power and obsessive capitalism. This installation features imagery inspired by pornography, world events and the military industrial complex, utilising a range of mediums like plastic, cardboard and black tarpaulin.

Chris Graham // Atrium Occupation // Bank Street Arts // Ongoing // bankstreetarts.com 108 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

EASTER SUNDAY

16TH APRIL

COMMUNITY

AT SOYO OPEN 8PM UNTIL 4AM

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THE SOCIAL N E T WO R K

ON THE TWITTERSPHERE… Our monthly round-up of all things webby, social and generally searched for, so you dont have to...

@onefromthemodem Overheard on train “Sheffield is pretty hipster isn’t it?”

Presumably they’ve started serving craft ale at Owlerton dogs since I left Sheff. @srhmcshn In Spoons and have heard a gentleman say “love” 7 times in the space of 2 minutes. #onlyinSheffield @megtank07 Last April fools day my dad flipped the tv so it was upside down & it fell of the wall and we had to get a new one

CASANOVA “It’s everything you would expect from a ballet called Casanova: sex, passion, tension… But he also spoke six languages, he played the violin, he was a spy, an author, a mathematician, a lover of food. The ballet is about these unknown aspects too.” We chat to Giuliano Contadini about his role in Northern Ballet’s Casanova. tinyurl.com/lxdj899

BLACKJACK21 “I like to think of it as the track that is the warm-up tune in the rave... the perfect way to start the ball for the next phase of Toddla T rolling.” Teasing new album Steeze with the release of its first track, check out the video to ‘Blackjack21’, featuring Andrea Martin. tinyurl.com/l7ozyau A BIT STEEP A recent BBC study asks the population where the steepest streets are in the UK. Naturally Sheffield features high up on the list, with Jenkin Road and Blake Street the main contenders for their pulse-raising inclines. tinyurl.com/k9xb3kg

PARK HILL: UK’S SIXTH COOLEST PLACE TO LIVE The Times have listed Park Hill in their Top 20 coolest places to live in Britain.

Looming over the city, the estate once condemned by some as an eyesore is in the process of being brought back to life after company Urban Splash’s regeneration, with the second phase soon to be underway. tinyurl.com/zdexybm

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VITALS Three members of popular South Yorkshire outfit Four Authors have returned as alt-pop trio VITALS. We collar them for a chat to find out more. tinyurl.com/jwt9t7z

SHEFFIELD: BEER CITY Beer writer and renowned local brewer Rich Hough takes a look at the Sheffield beer scene and how it has changed over the last 20 years. tinyurl.com/zcvyfs6

@eyupbabs Overheard in Sheffield bus station: “Nah, nah, I knew he was cheating, so I dumped him. What? Not by text - I made him a collage.”

Beautiful. @flosshn #Overheard in Sheffield Wetherspoons. Lady 1: ‘Garlic and herb roast potatoes’.

Lady 2: ‘Ooo that’s exotic!’ @olivia_vas Trust me to leave a sainsburys bag with only my knickers in, in a random ice cream shop in Sheffield @rose_harperx I want a huge Yorkshire pudding with loads of gravy and stuffing, so big I could swim in it and the only way to escape is to eat urself out

SHEFFIELD

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