Exposed Magazine August 2026

FATBOY SLIM BRINGS THE BIG BEATS TO TRAMLINES '26

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

TRAMLINES 2026 // K DOT // CONOR ROGERS // SARAH EBERLE // CHRISTOPHER HAWKINS // JAMIE FERGUSON // RUMBI TAURO

salsainthesquare!

LATIN MUSIC & DANCE FIESTA!

BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY

AUG 30

FREE OUTDOOR SALSA SPECTACULAR IN LEOPOLD SQUARE FROM 5pm UNTIL 10pm. For the last Salsa in the Square of 2026, we’ve the amazing 8 piece all Latin band ‘TIMBA DE CUBA’ AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

Luis Tumbamilian (Congas)

Eros Spataros (Bass)

Felix Conzales (Singer)

Rolando Dominguez Munive (Trumpet)

Pete Williams (Saxo Tenor)

Kike Belleza (Drums)

Jeus Batallan (Piano)

Gustavo Andrade (Saxo Tenor)

Plus DJ ANNA DE ORTE (Direct from Barcelona) and DJ ROLY (Havana, Cuba). Salsa Dance Performances from LAS BAILARINAS, Bachata Dance Performance from LAS FIERAS, Latin Dance animation with MACU HERNANDEZ and Latin-inspired Breakin’ performance by INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS.

The party continues inside CUBANA from 10pm through to 2am:

BARRIO LATINO

BANK HOLIDAY FIESTA!

FOUR TOP DJS PLAYING OVER TWO FLOORS

> DOWNSTAIRS: > DJ ANNA DE ORTE (BARCELONA)

> DJ EBO (BAILA REGGAETON UK)

- Reggaeton, Salsa, Samba, & Latin House

> UPSTAIRS: > DJ ANTONIO ( SABROSO)

> DJ SEAN WILSON

- Kizomba, Semba, Kudoro

Playing in the square from 6pm

TIMBA DE CUBA

Timba De Cuba is an exciting Cuban band offering a unique Latin sound that blends Timba, Salsa, Latin Jazz/Funk, and Son. Their repertoire features the latest musical styles from Havana, Cuba — including “Timba”— with many original compositions, harmonies, and rhythms by some of the best Latin Grammy-winning composers, including Tony Perez and Luz Viajara.

TA

Get ready for a perfect evening of dancing and cool Latino vibes.

S RES

DJ Anna De Orte

AUGUST BIG SWING Every Thursday

Improvers SOCIAL DANCING from 5pm FREE Swing Dance class from 8.30pm Live music from 9pm

THE BIG SWING IS AN EXCITING NIGHT OF UPBEAT JAZZ AND SWING EVERY THURSDAY @ CUBANA’S DOWNSTAIRS COCKTAIL BAR.

“ A raucous mix of live music and dancing that everyone can’t help getting involved in!”

JJ’s COCKTAIL CLUB

A swing dance with a twist - JJ’s Cocktail Club will have you swinging to the sounds of pop music throughout the ages. Fronted by ‘Big Swing’ regular, Jenny Chamberlain Smith is joined by her toe-tapping band playing a collection of specially arranged hits - nothing is off-limits!.

THURSDAY

NIAMH KAVANAGH & THE HIGH FIVES

Niamh Kavanagh & the High Fives are a gathering of sinners who know their only path to salvation is to perform music that will make the devil weep with joy. Singing at the crossroads of swinging jazz and blues, get ready to groove and experience the exhilarating atmosphere created by Niamh Kavanagh & the High Fives. If you want redemption, prepare to set the dance floor on fire, and let their infectious rhythm cleanse your soul.

THURSDAY

HOT FLAMINGO

Get ready for a night of sizzling Django Reinhardt-inspired hot swing with Hot Flamingo! Led by the captivating vocals of Molly Amour, this dynamic group features the driving rockabilly and Gypsy guitars of JD England and Antoine Gourdon, with Charlie Fothergill on clarinet and Kate Whittaker on double bass. Their vibrant energy and swingin’ tunes will keep you dancing and tapping your toes all night long. Expect nothing less than a night of hot rhythms and dazzling performances!

THURSDAY

THE BIG EASY

An energetic swing band from Leeds, consisting of vocals, trumpet, sax, guitar, piano, double bass and drums. They give a lively and varied performance of the best swing from throughout the 20th century Their dynamic, energetic and often virtuosic performances make them great to watch. This no-nonsense music will get your toes tapping and onto the dance floor without question.

16 RIGHT ABOUT NOW

18 years on, Tramlines continues to throw the city's biggest party, this year featuring an epic Friday night set from Fatboy Slim. Photographer Hamish Yewdall gives us his unique take from the photo pit in Hillsborough, before Ash Birch shares his view from the ever-expanding Fringe.

28 FULL OF BEANS

Worker-owned wholefoods shop Beanies turns 40 this year. Ahead of its anniversary Market Party, we pop in to find out how the Sheffield institution has grown into Yorkshire's biggest organic grocer while staying true to the values that have defined it from day one.

38 SPIRIT OF SHEFFIELD

Glasses at the ready as Sheffield Cocktail Week returns this September. We round up everything you need to know about 10 days of signature serves, exclusive offers and the venues shaking up the city's biggest cocktail celebration.

62 ROGER THAT

We go inside Conor Rogers' Bloc Projects studio for the first in our series exploring the creative spaces shaping Sheffield's art scene. Conor discusses finding poetry in overlooked places, the role his studio plays in his process, and why the everyday deserves reverence.

GAFFERS

Phil Turner (MD) phil@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Nick Hallam (Sales Director) nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk

FINANCE

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

GRAFTERS

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

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

Lizzy Capps (Content Creator) lizzy@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Marc Barker (Design Dogsbody)

US A HAND PLZ

Deakin, Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins

FFS.

The wait for World Cup glory continues after England crashed out in the semi-final following a 2–1 defeat as one Lionel Messi inspired a late Argentinian comeback. Thousands gathered at the Fan City fan park on Devonshire Green to experience all-too-familiar emotions of excitement, joy and, ultimately, despair as the reigning champions scored twice in seven minutes to cancel out Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener.

Oh, well … we’ll always have the Azteca and that second half against Croatia. Roll on Euro 2028, eh?

BOOM TOWN

New figures reveal Sheffield’s visitor economy reached record-breaking heights in 2025, with booming tourism numbers generating over £2 billion for the city’s communities and industry.

As Sheffield’s independent shopping scene continues to grow, along with fresh developments in the Heart of the City project, new visitors are flocking to soak up the buzz. In 2025, the city welcomed over 18 million visitors – up by 7.3% from the previous year – with day visitors making up the majority of Sheffield’s tourism.

The statistics, compiled using the Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Model (STEAM), show the strength of Sheffield’s cultural output, with the city also offering vital contributions to the wider South Yorkshire picture. Spending patterns reveal that shopping keeps its spot as the top expenditure category, followed by food and drink, transport and accommodation.

With local tourism now supporting over 16,000 fulltime equivalent jobs, the steel city remains dedicated to creating new opportunities across an enormous range of sectors and industries.

Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Economic Development, Skills and Culture Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “As we look ahead, we’re committed to building on this momentum, ensuring that tourism continues to benefit communities across the

city, plays a central role in Sheffield’s growth and provides opportunities for entry levels jobs that are so important for the young people of our city.”

Sheffield’s cultural calendar continues to rack up new events and social functions year on year.  There’s something for everyone, from nationally renowned festivals like Tramlines, Crossed Wires and DocFest to award-winning food, calming green spaces and a vibrant nightlife scene.

In 2027, the city will also celebrate the World Snooker Championship’s 50th anniversary in its iconic home at the Crucible Theatre.

“What’s really exciting is seeing more and more people coming here and falling in love with it the way we already do,” said South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard. “We’re working hard to make it even easier for people to get around and experience everything we have to offer. And we’re supporting the venues, artists and communities who give South Yorkshire our independent spirit."

“Whether you’ve been before or not, I’d just say come and take a bit of time to explore South Yorkshire. It’s our home, and it’s a pretty special place.”

SELLING SHEFF: THE TOURISM PITCH

We are the only major UK city located entirely adjacent to a national park, with the Peak District literally beginning within the city boundary, serving up a unique mix of urban culture and outdoor adventure.

The city is increasingly marketing itself around its combination of major cultural events (including Tramlines, the World Snooker Championship, DocFest and Crossed Wires) drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Sheffield is often described as the UK’s greenest city, with around 61% of its area made up of green space, including more than 250 parks, woodlands and gardens. It’s also home to roughly 4.5 million trees, meaning there are more trees per person than any other city in Europe.

Food and drink-wise, the city is becoming increasingly known for a thriving independent food and drink scene, with areas such as Kelham Island, Neepsend, Abbeydale Road and Leah’s Yard regularly cropping up in national travel and lifestyle guides as reasons to visit.

Beer tourism is booming – and Sheffield was recently lauded in a BBC News article for having one of the densest clusters of breweries in the UK: 10 within a mile radius. Throw in some excellent award-winning real ale and craft beer pubs, plus annual events like Sheffield Beer Week, and you can see why hop-botherers will gladly travel to visit.

‘The Outdoor City’ brand has helped to sell the Steel City as one of the best places for adventure, whether that’s climbing, mountain biking, hiking, trail running and kayaking. We boast the UK’s only innercity mountain bike trail at Parkwood Springs, alongside hundreds of miles of road and off-road cycling routes.

FULL OF BEANS

Sheffield is set to celebrate its thriving independent coffee scene with the launch of Sip Fest, a new citywide festival taking place from 28 September to 4 October 2026.

The week-long event will combine a programme of free activities across the city with a major finale at Trafalgar Warehouse, showcasing the businesses and people behind Sheffield’s growing reputation as a speciality coffee destination.

More than 40 cafés, coffee shops, roasteries, brunch venues and creative spaces will take part in a free fringe programme running throughout the week, encouraging visitors to discover independent venues and support local businesses.

The festival culminates on Friday 2 October with a free industry party for those working across coffee, hospitality, food, drink and the wider independent business community. On Saturday 3 October, Trafalgar Warehouse will host a ticketed public festival featuring more than 30 exhibitors, talks, tastings, Coffee School sessions, street food, DJs, Sheffield’s biggest latte art competition and what organisers describe as the UK’s biggest coffee run.

Sip Fest has been founded by Matt Cottrill of Steam Yard and Corner Store and Neil Midgley of Motore Cafe, with creative direction by Molly Kirk of Steam Yard.

Matt Cottrill said: “Sheffield has one of the most exciting independent coffee scenes in the country and we want to showcase this to the city and beyond.

“Sip Fest is about celebrating the places, people and energy that make Sheffield’s coffee culture what it is. We want it to feel like something people genuinely look forward to every year.”

Early bird tickets for the Saturday event are available now, priced at £5, from sipcoffeefestival.com.

DID YOU NOW?

The UK has more than 11,400 coffee shops, of which around 45% are independent businesses Sheffield has several nationally recognised speciality coffee businesses, including Steam Yard, Foundry Coffee Roasters, Smith Street Coffee Roasters, Frazer’s Coffee Roasters, Pollards Coffee and Kilnfolk Coffee, with many regularly featured in national coffee guides.

RAISING THE CURTAIN

New images have revealed how Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre could look following its £45 million refurbishment, set to begin in summer 2028.

The ambitious redevelopment will expand the venue's main auditorium by 50 per cent while delivering major upgrades throughout the Grade II listed building, including a new kitchen and café, a reimagined foyer and a balcony overlooking Tudor Square.

Plans also include reshaping the auditorium to bring audiences closer to the stage, creating a more immersive experience while increasing flexibility for future productions and events.

The redevelopment is expected to play a key role in securing the future of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, which has been held at the Crucible since 1977.

Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "These new images bring the vision for its future to life, showing how we can preserve both its unique atmosphere and its legacy while creating a modern, sustainable venue fit for generations to come."

Designed by architects Allies and Morrison, the proposals focus on expanding auditorium capacity, improving public and backstage spaces, and strengthening the building's connection with its surroundings.

Oliver Heywood, director at Allies and Morrison, said: "We have been inspired throughout by the spirit of the original building – a beacon of culture and community. These proposals will restore and celebrate this character while equipping it for the future."

The Crucible and neighbouring Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse will close temporarily during the works, with Sheffield Theatres continuing productions at the Lyceum, the Montgomery and on tour.

Belbin added: "This investment represents a huge vote of confidence in Sheffield's cultural offer and city centre, helping secure the long-term future of this world-renowned venue and the benefits it brings to our city."

URBAN LEGENDS

Sheffield's retail scene is set for another boost as Urban Outfitters prepares to open a new city centre store in the Heart of the City development.

The American fashion retailer, founded in Philadelphia more than 50 years ago, will begin fitting out its new home at the bottom of Pinstone Street this month, with an opening date expected to be announced soon.

The arrival marks another milestone for the ongoing regeneration project, joining a growing mix of shops, restaurants, offices

and homes in the heart of the city.

Councillor Alexi Dimond described the move as another sign that the transformation of Sheffield city centre is gathering pace, while Heart of the City asset manager Mark Williams said Urban Outfitters' decision to invest reflects the success of the area's evolution over the past decade.

The Sheffield store will become one of more than 700 Urban Outfitters locations worldwide.

CITY VIEWS

STORIES FROM THE HEART OF THE STEEL CITY

JAMIE FERGUSON

WORDS: XANTHE PALMER / PHOTO: MARC BARKER

In the late ’90s, 14-year-old Jamie Ferguson plastered the four walls of his room in a secure unit in Manchester with flyers for hardcore raves in Sheffield. He even crafted his own, boldly listing himself as the headliner. Jamie describes himself as a “lost soul” during these early years of his life, after a turbulent childhood in foster care and multiple expulsions from schools across Sheffield. He’d fallen into a life of crime and was facing the possibility of prison. The idea alone of getting his hands on a set of decks seemed far-fetched, let alone becoming an actual DJ.

His key worker, Jason, whom he fondly remembers, saw Jamie’s potential. While most of the young people Jamie lived with spent their modest allowance on tracksuits and trainers, he saved money for vinyl. It was that genuine love for music that compelled Jason to track down a pair of decks.

“It was at that point my life changed,” recalls Jamie. “Music saved me. I would have ended up in prison if it wasn’t for music.”

Jason’s kindness gave Jamie something to throw himself into, helping him find a new focus and narrowly escape a very different life.

After leaving the secure unit, Jamie returned to Sheffield to a new place of his own and focused on his music career. His weeks consisted of raving, collecting even more music and recording sets on a Philips CD recorder from his bedroom in Shirecliffe, the results of which he’d then share with taxi drivers, people on the street – anyone he could.

After building a name for himself across Sheffield, Jamie was approached by Martin Leverton, a promoter from a club night called Reflective at the then Capitol, now known as Network. He found himself there every Friday night. It was the place to be. Jamie became a popular DJ known for his eclectic musical taste and impeccable ability to read a crowd. So much so, he was approached by Sheffield’s most infamous nightclub, Niche.

The club’s owner Steve Baxendale asked Jamie to jump ship – and he didn’t hesitate. “I felt like I’d just been signed

by Man United,” says Jamie. He had been a regular punter at Niche for years, often spending entire weekends there and, consequently, the rest of the week recovering. The first time he walked through the doors on Sidney Street, he was hooked. “It blew my mind – I was like, what is this sound?” He quickly fell in love with the melting pot of genres Niche was known for: house, deep house, speed garage and bassline.

“Niche was like my church. You’d meet new people, you’d socialise, it’s all you’d talk about,” he explains. The club drew DJs and partygoers from across the UK and became widely recognised for its role in the birth of bassline. But it also became infamous for frequent police raids, which eventually led to its closure.

In November 2005, Jamie played at Niche one final time. He was behind the decks the night the club was raided and shut down for good. Even after the original venue closed, Niche’s legacy lived on, with reunions and events celebrating the music and atmosphere that defined a generation.

Leaving the club life behind, he began to seek a new purpose. This led him into youth work and residential childcare, supporting young people in crisis units, all the while DJing across Yorkshire and staying connected to his musical roots.

Jamie went on to make his own music, often collaborating with a good friend and producer, Detox. Working quietly behind the scenes, he began honing his sound, diving deeper into house music. He later teamed up with producer Scott Lowe, who helped him refine his technical skills, a partnership Jamie describes as “a gamechanger”.

When lockdown hit, Jamie locked himself in the studio, channelling his energy and free time into making music. This is where his next venture would unfold: not only making music but teaching others how to do it too. In 2022, he became manager of Stem Studios in Attercliffe, working with both young people and private clients on music production and ghostwriting. In January 2024, a new opportunity emerged: the chance to have his very own studio on

Arundel Lane in Sheffield city centre, hence the name Arundel Lane Studios.

Jamie was able to bring together his two greatest passions: music and supporting those who need it most. As well as private lessons, he works with Sheffield City Council to offer alternative provision for young people who, for one reason or another, don’t suit a traditional school setting.

The studio has since expanded to Stag Works on John Street and recently partnered with Sheffield City College. As part of the collaboration, he’ll be delivering lectures on the music industry, covering topics including breaking into the business, artist development, music production and sound design. From September, he’ll also be running courses for the college from Arundel Lane Studios.

Jamie tells me that, for some people, engaging in music has given them a sense of direction: “A lot of people don’t know where they’re going. But if they come here and realise it’s music they’re into, we empower them through it.”

“Some people don’t even leave the house because they’re struggling with anxiety,” he adds. “Then they come here and before they know it, they’re out there getting jobs. Those stories are really rewarding.”

On top of running the studio full-time, Jamie continues to make his own music, DJs across the country and makes the occasional appearance on an Ibizan stage.

“It’s the opinion you have of yourself that will take you further,” he says. Perhaps it’s that unwavering self-belief, even when the odds were stacked against him, that has shaped Jamie’s success.

Not only did he go on to headline some of Sheffield’s best clubs, Jamie has achieved even more by helping people who, like he once was, simply need someone to believe in them.

It turns out his attempt to manifest a career in that secure unit in Manchester was not so far-fetched after all.

arundellanestudios.co.uk

@arundellanestudios @djjjamieferguson

FORAGER

YOU READ A WOOD BEFORE YOU STEP INTO IT

Most people walk into a wood and look down. I look up first. The lie of the land and the trees tell you where to start. Conifers often mean acidic needle litter and a different set of fungi. Old oak and beech can mean a richer understory: bramble, wild garlic and, in a good year, chanterelles. Read the big picture first. Then you are not wandering at random; you are following clues.

2

BRITAIN'S BEST SUPERFOOD STINGS

Everyone knows stinging nettles. Everyone knows the sort of places they grow, and everyone knows why they are called that. Almost nobody thinks of them as food. Nettles are a nutrient-rich wild plant and, once you know how to handle and prepare them, they can become soups, sauces, tea and more. We walk past them every day, and most of us have been taught to hate them. A forager sees a useful food plant.

3 4 5

FIVE MORE LIFETIMES WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH

People ask how I know so much. The honest answer is that I could have five more lifetimes and still not know everything. Foraging is my area of expertise, so two hours with me can feel like a lot of information. But I forget things too. The real skill is not memorising every plant in a book. It is knowing how to look, where to check and when to leave something alone.

TEENAGERS SURPRISE YOU EVERY TIME

The best moment on any walk is the sceptic, the one who came because someone else bought the ticket, tasting pineapple weed and watching their face change. The people who surprise me most are teenagers. They might arrive unsure what to expect, then start asking about the stories behind plants and mushrooms. That shift, from watching to wanting to know more, fills your heart up. I should not be surprised any more. I am, every time.

WORRYING IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE

A little worry is healthy. The mistake is worrying so much you never start. People open a foraging book, see two hundred species and freeze. Start with what you already know instead: nettles, dandelions and plantain. You might not know the name of plantain, but the moment someone points it out you will recognise it. Build confidence with a handful of plants, learn each one properly and add another when you are ready. That is how people become capable foragers. 1

Gavin Ireland is Chief Forager at Forage Box, the UK-wide foraging workshop network behind Foxchaser's Sheffield sessions this summer. Forage Box tutor Joel Young leads two-hour Foxchaser foraging learning experiences for ages 10 to 18 at Endcliffe Park (21 August), Graves Park (24 August) and Meersbrook (7 September). Book at foxchaser.co.uk/experiences or scan the QR code.

Sheffield's biggest bash returned to Hillsborough Park for its 18th edition last month, with more than 40,000 revellers packing the park to see headliners Fatboy Slim, Courteeners and Wolf Alice, alongside dozens of other artists across the festival's five stages.

This year, rather than sending one of the Exposed team to review Tramlines, we handed the reins to someone who sees the festival from a very different angle. We asked music photographer Hamish Yewdall to keep a diary across the weekend, sharing what it's really like documenting one of Sheffield's biggest events from behind the lens.

When Joe, Exposed's editor, asked me to write about Tramlines from the perspective of a photographer, my first thought was simply: "I'm nervous."

I certainly don't feel qualified to provide any technical advice. My only tip would be to shoot the music you love.

I'd much rather show you the weekend through my camera than tell you about the stress of photographing a band in just three songs before a PR agent comes along with a giant crook to shepherd you away. Or the early starts spent cutting a thousand photos down to ten. Or the sinking feeling of seeing a full memory card and an empty battery at exactly the wrong moment.

But maybe that's only half the story. I sometimes forget what a fortunate position I'm in. The joy of live music is the magic created between artist and audience. As a photographer, I get to stand right in the middle of that tempest, desperately trying to capture those fleeting moments before they're gone.

That's true of any gig I photograph, but even more so at a festival, where so much is happening all at once. So, rather than a traditional review, here are my snapshots of Tramlines Festival 2026.

THE HEADLINERS BRING THE PARTY

Because of the flames and confetti, I spend the first 15 minutes of Fatboy Slim's set standing at the front of the stage, waiting to photograph the master DJ. All I can see is a field of 30,000 people. Everyone is losing their shit.

From the security at the front to the bar staff at the back, no one can avoid dancing.

Even Fatboy Slim has a groove on –jumping up and down, smiling, blowing air horns, all while simultaneously orchestrating a rave.

The next night, I'm photographing Courteeners when they start playing Cavorting. Behind me, I hear thousands shouting, "Your club is full of overrated, dehydrated, goggle-eyed girls." I swing my camera round to a sea of bouncing bodies. Above the crowd, two youths emerge, singing their hearts out while flying a banner reading: "God Bless the Band."

Closing out the weekend, watching Wolf Alice, I'm struck by how much fun they're having. Bass player Theo Ellis has the biggest grin on his face throughout the set. It moves effortlessly from the punk anthem You're A Germ to the huge ballad Last Man on Earth and the psychedelic swirl of Wild Horses. There was even a Nirvana cover. The band were joined on stage by two young girls to sing Just Two Girls, bringing the song's themes of youth and friendship to life.

Other big names included Rick Astley, Blossoms, Wet Leg and Kaiser Chiefs.

NEW BANDS LEAVE THEIR MARK

When Bleech take to the stage there is raw energy in the tent. The crowd erupts as the band open with Jacky. The singer jumps straight from the stage to the barrier. I'm thrown in to photograph

MUSIC: TRAMLINES FESTIVAL

them midway through the second song and find myself stuck between these spiky-haired punks and their adoring, roaring fans. It is wild, but brilliant. I spend at least the next hour telling everyone I see, "I've just been blown over by Bleech."

The Leadmill tent played host to countless moments like this throughout the weekend. Like the venue it's named after, the stage focused on the best upand-coming artists, and every one of them left their mark on the festival crowd.

Westside Cowboy are one of my favourite bands. The tent is packed for the Manchester group, and they sound fantastic. Their music is intricate, with different riffs and harmonies weaving in and out of each other.

Seb Lowe headlines the stage on Saturday night. A natural performer, he delivers his political songs with equal measures of frustration and humour, supported on violin by Kate Couriel – a great musician who has just started releasing their own music too.

Sunday night's Leadmill headliners are Florence Road. The Irish indie band have already played huge gigs, including supporting Olivia Rodrigo. With the lights, the fans and the sheer power of the music, it feels like a great chance to catch this band before they blow up.

LOCAL BANDS AND HOME CROWDS

"Go on Jen," someone from the crowd shouts as Girl In The Year Above walk on stage to do a mic check. Jen looks up, recognises the voice and smiles. The band launch into 30 seconds of Best Behaviour. The Leadmill tent erupts. Jen laughs: "It's just a soundcheck, guys."

Jen spent time living and cutting hair in Sheffield, and rightly, the city has turned up to support her and the band at Tramlines. They're embraced as one of our own. As the band launch into the set for real, the tent gets fuller and the cheers get louder.

Similar shouts can be heard throughout the weekend. "Come on Keelan," rings out as Rosadocs perform, while Freddie Halkon has a whole chant

going. Both artists are on the Main Stage this year, having played the Leadmill stage last year. Tramlines has a brilliant way of helping artists grow, and it's fantastic to see these acts taking that next step in front of bigger and bigger crowds.

Then there are the more established local names – Reverend and the Makers, Everly Pregnant Brothers and Lucy Spraggan. Each delivers a set full of Sheffield pride. For Reverend, it's the "If you don't dance, you're not from the North" attitude. For Everly Pregnant Brothers, it's getting thousands singing, "You're Yorkshire, I'd do anything for you." Meanwhile, Big Ang and Siobhan's Saturday night set makes sure bassline is represented, creating one huge party in the process.

Beyond the local bands, there's also space for local organisations. Pattern + Push host a stage celebrating female artists from Sheffield, with performances from Lavelle, Aziza Jaye and DJ Kyla C. Under the Stars, a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism, perform on the Saturday, while Sheffield Foodbank ask festivalgoers a simple question: how many beans are in this tin? How many sheets make up this loo roll? (*Answers at the end.) Both products have been developed by the food bank to support those in need, and it's a great way to highlight the important work they do.

Local artists and local organisations will always be an important part of the festival. Because Tramlines stays rooted in place and identity, it has a unique feel. We're not just standing in a random field – this festival could only happen in Sheffield. It's brilliant that it hasn't lost that sense of local celebration. It really is the city's biggest party.

Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky to have photographed Tramlines 2026. Only problem? I forgot to get any photos of me photographing the bands, which would've looked quite good in this article. Oh well... maybe next year.

* Answers

370 beans

200 sheets

A View from the Fringe

Ash Birch spent the weekend popping into venues around town and soaking up the DIY spirit that really sees Sheffield come into its own on festival weekend.

The Fringe at Tramlines is officially a fully fledged festival in its own right now. A few years ago, it looked like the city centre might be giving up on the idea, particularly in the aftermath of Covid. Fewer and fewer venues seemed to see the value, and only the hassle of putting on gigs.

Thankfully, for those of us who love the original spirit of Tramlines (while appreciating the need for the main festival to evolve), The Fringe is very much alive and well these days. In fact – and I'm not just saying this – it's bigger and better than ever before.

I can officially confirm this because, along with our crack team of interns, Sheffield City Council, Alex Deadman and Mark 'Raw Dog' Rawson at Seven Hills Creative, we once again painstakingly put together the listings in both print and digital formats. This year there were close to 1,000 entries across four days, from Thursday to Sunday!

Obviously, getting to even one per cent of those was a tall order, so here are a few of my highlights from the weekend.

Sidney & Matilda was the place to be on Friday night, with The Pearl River Band, Junk and, of course, the Mighty Femur all on the same bill. Sexy, sweaty scenes.

Saturday saw us spoilt for choice, zipping from Shakespeares for the irreverent Spook Muziek, complete with a full band no less, to Sidney for the bone-shaking Drastic // Automatic (no one plays guitar quite like Drastic's Sean Hession). We then hightailed it to Hagglers for Malah Palinka and the flawless vibes of The Yarni Ensemble, before heading all the way back to where we started for sweaty mosh pits courtesy of Hard as Nails and Gaydar!

Sunday brought things down a notch with chilled-out vibes from since torino at The Harlequin, followed by a beautiful acoustic set from Wynter at Arundel Emporium. Long live The Fringe.

PHOTO: OLLIE FRANKLIN

THE BEST STREET FOOD SCRAN IN SHEFFIELD TRACKED DOWN – AND PROMPTLY DEVOURED

GRAVY TRAIN POUTINE AT THE BOSTON ARMS

Everyone knows pizza and beer are a match made in heaven. But chips, cheese curds and gravy with a pint?

FUHGEDDABOUDIT!

Woodseats favourite The Boston Arms have been knocking out authentic Canadian poutine through a collaboration with Gravy Train,

the team behind Neepsend Social. If you've sampled their gravy-soaked creations at festivals or food halls over the years, you'll already know why this one is worth shouting about.

The partnership has been simmering away since February, giving S8 residents an easy way

developing our recipes along the way.

to get hold of one of the city's best-known street food brands without trekking across town. The Boston Arms still serves its popular American-style pizzas, with Gravy Train's poutine sitting comfortably alongside them as the ultimate pub-based comfort scran.

"For the uninitiated, 'poutine' is a French-Canadian cult classic dish consisting of fries, squeaky cheddar cheese curds and we've been pushing the good stuff since 2016," Tom from Gravy Train tells Exposed.

"What started as a tiny street food stall has grown into a proper obsession. The early years were spent venturing around the North of England selling our wares before being part of the opening lineup at Cutlery Works back in 2018,

"These days you'll catch us trading at Glastonbury and Tramlines, plus dishing it up at The Boston Arms – a proper pub that felt like the right home for a dish that's always gone best with a pint in hand.

"And we've got plans brewing for a takeaway too – so consider this stop one. Watch this space."

To keep things authentic, the pub prepares Gravy Train's recipes under licence, using the brand's signature meat and vegan gravies, authentic Canadian-style cheese curds sourced especially for the dish and the same recipe cards used by the Gravy Train team.

Owner Robbie Macdonald says the collaboration made sense for both sides. Gravy Train wanted to bring its food to another part of Sheffield, while The Boston was looking for something new that fitted

naturally alongside its existing kitchen.

And it works. Their poutine is hearty, filling, quick to serve and tailor-made for eating with a pint in hand. Better still, there are vegan and gluten-free options available, making it one of the most inclusive dishes on the menu.

If you need another excuse to give it a go, Wednesdays are hard to ignore. Between 5pm and 9pm, the classic Montreal poutine – fries, cheese curds and rich gravy – drops to just £5, with 20 per cent off everything else on the food menu.

The snap is only one reason this small but perfectly formed boozer has become such a popular neighbourhood hangout. As well as rotating craft beers and a lovingly curated cocktail menu, it continues to pack its calendar with events throughout the

year, starting with its annual Sour Beer Festival this August.

After that, there's an Italian beer takeover paired with pizza, followed by the pub's own “lowkey” take on Oktoberfest: no lederhosen or oompah – just a showcase of great German beer in a relaxed setting. Throw in regular brewery tap takeovers alongside community events ranging from clay workshops to art exhibitions and there’s always something to keep you occupied.

So, whether you're already a poutine convert or you're about to discover why Canadians swear by chips, cheese and gravy, The Boston might just become your new go-to for beer and a bite.

Follow: @bostonarms.

sheffield

Pop in: 676 Chesterfield Rd Woodseats, S8 0SD

FOOD & DRINK: WHAT'S COOKING?

EVER WONDERED WHERE SHEFFIELD’S TOP CHEFS GO TO GET THEIR SNAP? … NO? WELL, WE’RE GONNA TELL YOU ANYWAY.

THIS MONTH WE CAUGHT UP WITH WITH THE HEAD CHEF AT MARIA, TO GET HIS TOP SHOUTS ON THE STEEL CITY’S FOOD AND DRINK SCENE.

SAM ARMITAGE

CHEEKY TAKEAWAY

PIZZA PRONTO & MONG KOK

My top two are Pizza Pronto and Mong Kok. Get the thin-stretched pizza base from Pizza Pronto. It’s really good, almost like Neapolitan style pizza on a budget. Mong Kok is a Chinese takeaway in Hillsborough. The salt and pepper box is the best quality and value, the delivery is speedy, and it’s always hot and fresh.

DATE NIGHT MEAL

CHINA RED

There’s a special pork belly dish that you can only get there. It’s a cold dish of pork belly and cucumber slices, served with a hot raw garlic sauce, and it’s really tasty. I also like the tripe platter from there as well.

BEST VALUE

KURDISTAN CHARCOAL GRILL

London Road opposite Barry’s Bar. It’s the best shawarma in Sheffield. They’ve also got the best bread, the best salad and the best sauces – their green sauce is amazing – and the £20 Kurdistan special mixed grill feeds two people, so it’s great value. For an extra quid, you can even get chips and rice with it. The quality of the meat and seasonings in their kofta is great, and their lentil soup with the sumac (that you get for free at the start of your meal) is so good. I can’t shout out or big up Kurdistan enough.

UNDERRATED GEM

NAPOLI CENTRO

I know Glossop Road’s Napoli Centro they’re quite well known already, but I don’t think they are well known enough. It is by far the best stonebaked Neapolitan pizza you can get in Sheffield. They do a friarielli, which is a white-based pizza with salsiccia (fennel sausage) and cime di rapa (spinachy-broccoli type stuff).

OUT FOR LUNCH

CHINATOWN

My favourite go-to lunch is dim sum at Chinatown on the bottom of London Road. I know the owner and he’s absolutely lovely. I’d say get the steamed beef short ribs in black pepper sauce, the roast pork puffs, the cheung fun and the steamed sticky rice rolls. Yeah, to be honest, it’s all good! Love the dim sum.

BRUNCH BREAK

PBZ & THE CHINESE CANTEEN

For brunch, I would say PBZ in New Era Square. My favourite is their congee – I love the preserved pork and the century egg ones. The Chinese Canteen on West Street is another favourite of mine. They handmake their own cheung fun and they make savoury pancakes – jianbing they’re called.

So, it would seem Sam's somewhat partial to Chinese cuisine. You can try his Italianinspired dishes for yourself by booking a table online at mariarestaurants.co.uk. If you're a chef with some top tips, drop us a line at joe@exposedmagazine.co.uk and we'll line you up for a future issue.

ABBEYDALE BREWERY

30 years on from its beginnings in a single industrial unit on Aizlewood Road, Abbeydale Brewery is still growing. What started in 1996 as the vision of founders Pat and Sue Morton has become one of Sheffield’s bestknown breweries, currently producing more than 220 barrels a week across 15 different beers, while remaining proudly independent.

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER

Alongside the brewery, the business includes The Rising Sun in Fulwood and the recently opened Abbeydale Beerworks Taproom on Abbeydale Road. Since October 2024, it’s also become employee owned, with every member of staff sharing a stake in the company.

To mark the milestone, Exposed joined marketing manager Laura Rangeley for a walk through the brewery’s past and present, following the journey of a perfect pour from grain to glass, before crossing the road for a pint at their newest venue.

Fittingly, the tour begins where the brewery itself started out. Unit Eight, now just one part of a much larger site, was once the entire operation. Today the surrounding space has gradually been absorbed as Abbeydale has expanded, each new unit, gleaming tank and production space reflecting steady, organic growth and a willingness to keep evolving.

No matter where you are on the premises, the unmistakable aroma of malt and fresh hops hangs in the air. “I’ve worked here for just over 11 years,” says Laura, “but that smell never gets old.”

While the brewery is best known for flagship pale ale Moonshine, innovation has always sat alongside tradition. Laura points out that their first ever

beer, now viewed as something of a local institution and drank right across the country, was itself ahead of its time when it launched.

“It’s easy to look at a beer like Moonshine and think it’s quite traditional – and it is,” she explains. “But when we started making it 30 years ago, using American hops was really innovative. We’ve always stayed true to ourselves, but we’ve always made an effort to stay current and forwardthinking.”

That philosophy can be seen across the brewery’s core range, which has grown from five to ten over the past three decades. While Moonshine remains the calling card, still accounting for half of their output, later additions such as the Mosaic-hopped American pale ale Heathen and crisp lager Heresy have become favourites in their own right, sitting alongside an ever-changing lineup of seasonal brews and experimental releases.

Inside the brew house, brewer Sam is hard at work as the latest batch works its way through the system. Laura talks us through the process, from milling grain to extracting sugars before hops are added during the boil. One particularly striking vessel contains what she describes as “essentially like making a big cup of loose-leaf tea with hops”, slowly infusing aroma into the wort before

fermentation begins.

For all the craft and creativity attached to brewing, it’s also an operation built on precise engineering and logistics. Fermentation vessels tower overhead, while dedicated tanks condition lagers, and yeast quietly does the work of converting sugar into alcohol over several days. New investments, including a larger brew kettle and centrifuge, have helped improve efficiency without changing the character of the beer.

Moving into an adjoining room, the production line hums away. Casks are washed, filled and prepared for delivery while cans move steadily along the conveyor at up to 27 a minute before being checked and boxed by hand. Six drivers head out daily, supplying pubs across Sheffield four days a week before reaching customers throughout the Peak District and much of northern England. There’s some export, too, and we’re told that Abbeydale beers make occasional appearances in watering holes across Italy, Denmark and Finland.

The final stop is perhaps the most intriguing. Tucked away behind heavy doors sits the Funk Dungeon, home to the brewery’s exciting barrel-aged and mixed fermentation project. Lead by head brewer Jim, rows of former wine, bourbon and Madeira barrels quietly mature beers that spend months, sometimes years, developing layers of flavour and

complexity.

Rather than chasing bold wine or spirit flavours, the focus is on how the wood itself shapes the beer over time, creating complex bottles that blur the line between brewing and winemaking. The room smells incredible and I can’t help but wonder whether I’d have enjoyed GCSE Chemistry far more if a craft brewing module was included.

Arriving at the onsite shop, shelves are stocked with freshly canned releases, merchandise and the full Abbeydale range, offering visitors the chance to take a little piece of the brewery home with them. We’re furnished with complimentary pin badges – a barrel emblazoned with the words ‘Drink Cask’ –  before calling time on the tour.

Just 200 paces away, though, there’s another chapter to the story. In May this year, Abbeydale Beerworks opened its doors, giving drinkers a dedicated place to experience the brewery’s beers at the source.

Situated in the former Turner’s Bottle Shop on Abbeydale Road, the cosy taproom has quickly found its place in one of Sheffield’s liveliest independent hubs. For Laura, taking over the site wasn’t about replacing a muchloved venue, but building on what was already there.

“When we heard Turner’s were moving

on, it felt like a good fit,” she explains. “It was important that we could keep it as an independent beer venue.”

The taproom acts as both a showcase and an extension of the brewery itself. Twelve draught lines feature an ever-changing cross section of Abbeydale’s output, with ten dedicated to their own beers (all of which are gluten free) across cask and keg. Moonshine, Heathen and Heresy are permanent fixtures, while seasonal releases, limited editions and beers from the Funk Dungeon regularly rotate through the remaining lines. A single guest tap – the aptly named ‘Friends of Abbeydale Brewery’ line – is reserved for fellow independent breweries that share the company’s values.

“We wanted somewhere that really showed who we are,” says Laura. “We’ve got this huge range of beers and we don’t like making assumptions about what people drink. Just because someone likes Daily Bread doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy a double IPA or one of our Funk Dungeon beers. This gives us somewhere to showcase the range we offer.”

It’s also where visitors on the monthly tours finish their experience, settling down with a tasting flight after seeing exactly how the beers are made just a few hundred feet away.

Beyond the beer, the taproom is becoming a community hangout in its own right. A monthly social run club sets off from the bar before returning for discounted pints, while quizzes, tasting evenings and collaborations with local businesses are all in the pipeline. Plans are already taking shape for a 30th birthday celebration in August, while October will see the arrival of the brewery’s annual Pilgrim Party, celebrating its cultfavourite pumpkin beer Pilgrim.

For Laura, that community focus has helped Abbeydale navigate three decades in an industry that has seen huge change.

“I think it’s because we’ve always stayed true to what we do. We’ve always put the emphasis on doing business in the right way: looking after our people, focusing on quality, keeping up with the times without following fashion too much. We just believe in what we do, what we make and the people who make it. If we can carry on doing that, hopefully we’ll still be here in another 30 years.”

@abbeydalebeers

@abbeydalebeerworks

The Baby Ultrasound Clinic

Ultrasound Clinic Sheffield are offering ANY scan for just £30 for a limited time, including reassurance scans from as early as 7 weeks, gender scans from 14 weeks, and beautiful 4D scans to capture those unforgettable moments.

Based on Ecclesall Road, this brand new Sheffield clinic is giving expecting parents something really special — whether you want peace of mind, that magical first glimpse, or to finally find out if it’s a little boy or girl earlier than most places offer.

The Baby Ultrasound Clinic 965 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8TN 0333 444 0174 www.babyultrasoundclinic.co.uk

ANY scan for just £30 for a limited time

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

Abbeydale Road Beer Festival returns this summer, bringing four days of brewery takeovers, live entertainment and a specially curated beer crawl from 30 July to 2 August.

Now in its fifth year, the festival celebrates the independent pubs, bars and breweries that have helped make Abbeydale Road one of Sheffield's bestloved destinations for craft beer. Part of Sheffield Year of Beer 2026, the event spans 20 venues, including 15 dedicated beer stops and five 'wild card' locations offering more unexpected drinking experiences.

This year's trail adopts a North v South theme, with each stop pairing breweries from either end of the country. Festival-goers can sample beers from both and decide for themselves which comes out on top.

Those looking for more than a leisurely pint can

WING IT

The world's largest chicken wing festival returns to Sheffield this August, bringing three days of wings, live music and spicy competition to FORGE warehouse from 14–16 August.

Now in its third Sheffield edition, Wing Fest will welcome independent street food traders, restaurants and barbecue teams from across the UK. Around 60,000 wings are expected to be served over the weekend as vendors compete for places in the Hall of Flame and awards for Best Buffalo Wing, Best Wild Wing

and Best BBQ Wing. Visitors can also vote for their favourite to help crown Sheffield's Wing Fest champion.

The ever-popular Wing Eating Competition returns, challenging contestants to eat as many wings as possible in the fastest time. Those with a higher tolerance for heat can take on the Lava Wing Challenge, featuring the hottest sauce in the festival's history at 15 million Scoville units. A £500 prize awaits the fastest person to finish.

Away from the food, there's a packed programme of live music, DJs and entertainment, alongside axe throwing, bourbon masterclasses and arcade games. Tickets include a Wing Fest trucker hat and access to all live entertainment and competitions. Find out more and book tickets at wingfest.co.uk

take on the festival challenge by collecting 15 stamps from across the trail, including at least 12 beer stops and three wild card venues. Stamp cards are available from Festival HQ at Abbeydale Ballroom and can be exchanged for a limited-edition festival print designed by Sheffield artist Mila K, who will also create a live mural at Bare Alternative during the weekend. The first 12 people to visit all 20 venues will receive a signed and framed print.

Alongside the beer trail, there's a packed programme of food, DJs and live entertainment, including performances in the Abbeydale Picture House car park and a special Voodoo Jazz session at Cole's Corner on Sunday 2 August.

Find out more and view the full programme at arbf.co.uk.

BEANIES

Beanies is turning 40. Ahead of its anniversary Market Party, we look at how Sheffield’s worker-owned wholefood shop grew into Yorkshire’s biggest organic grocer without losing sight of its founding values.

By 3am, while most of Sheffield is still sound asleep, the first Beanies workers are already at 1 Barber Road.

One heads towards the wholesale market on Sheffield Parkway to source the day’s non-organic produce. Another begins packing veg boxes for deliveries across the city, often travelling as far as the Hope Valley and the Peak District. Stock arrives, boxes and crates shift while orders start taking shape. By the time the Crookesmoor shop opens at 9am, five or six people may already be in full swing, some halfway through their working day.

The work continues after the final customer is served and doors close at 7pm. Produce needs chilling, the following day’s orders need preparing and the shop needs tidying and refilling. The last workers leave at around 8.30pm.

It’s a sizeable operation for a business that began with just a handful of people in Hillsborough in 1986. This year,

Beanies Wholefoods celebrates its 40th anniversary – four decades spent proving that an independent food shop built around fairness can do more than simply survive.

Today, the shop has grown into Yorkshire’s biggest organic grocer, home to the county’s largest organic produce section. It’s an achievement built not on scale or shortcuts but on four decades of sticking to the same principles: organic food, fair trade, local suppliers and a worker-owned business model.

“The vision then was to create work that was fair, and to get food to people in ways that was also fair,” workerowner Ella Kent tells Exposed.

“That ethos has remained; the two have always been totally intertwined for Beanies.

Six years ago, Beanies moved to its current home, gaining a larger shop floor, room for its delivery operation and a car park that will soon host its anniversary celebrations.

On Sunday 6 September, the Beanies Market Party will bring together local food producers, craftspeople, live bands and a bar serving alcoholic drinks (organic, naturally). Smith Street Coffee Roasters are producing a special 40th anniversary roast for the occasions, while former workers, suppliers, customers, community investors and anyone looking for a fun

afternoon are all invited along.

“We wanted to throw a party to say thank you to everyone for all this time,” explains Ella. “A major reason that we’re still here is because of our wonderful customers and staff, and the fact that people keep coming back is integral to what we’ve been able to achieve.”

That support has been practical as well as sentimental. The move into their current premises was funded through a community loan scheme, making the anniversary party partly a thank you to the people who helped secure its future.

As a co-op, the company is owned and run by its fulltime workers, who share responsibility for the business and serve as company directors. The structure is proudly nonhierarchical and decisions are made collectively.

For Ella, that model has been central to its longevity. Independent retail is rarely stable, even less so in the current climate, and recent decades have seen household supermarket names including Safeway, Netto and Woolworths disappear. Beanies, meanwhile,

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER

has staunchly held its ground.

“When we’re under pressure, people work together to respond,” she says. “The business functions much more like an organism – you couldn’t cut the head off a co-op.”

A shared sense of commitment also guides what appears on the shelves. The shop was founded to promote wholefoods, organic produce and vegetarianism. It has never sold meat, “and it never will,” reaffirms Ella. They prioritise fair trade goods, local suppliers and working with fellow cooperatives to build a range that covers fresh fruit and veg, bulk dried goods, international ingredients, vegan and glutenfree staples, refillable cleaning products, natural health and beauty lines and locally made treats.

Much of its seasonal produce comes from British growers and nearby farms. Fruit and vegetable waste is composted and returned to some of those farms, creating a closed loop that larger retailers would struggle to replicate.

While values have stayed fixed, the way people shop

has changed and they’ve pivoted accordingly. The veg box scheme began as a postal subscription service and is now run through an online shop. It accounts for around a third of the business and has introduced Beanies to younger customers, people without means of transport and those living beyond easy reach of Crookesmoor.

That said, Ella doesn’t see digital retail ever replacing the bricks and mortar. Most online customers also visit in person, switching between deliveries and browsing the shelves according to what suits them.

“The reason they trust us is because they’re familiar with the shop and know the quality it offers,” she says. “There’s a friendly face to it. We’re accountable and consistent. Over time, what that builds up is these very rich relationships.”

Nearby students often become regulars, then proudly bring their parents in when they visit Sheffield. Former customers send messages from overseas after spotting a Beanies tote bag at a clothes swap in Germany or finding

a wholefood shop in Australia that smells just like home.

Today, the co-op provides a livelihood for around 20 workers while keeping money within the surrounding area and supporting jobs among local growers, makers and suppliers. Its latest Best Sustainable Brand trophy from the Exposed Awards sits alongside three previous wins on a shelf inside the shop –another reminder that its values continue to resonate with the Sheffield public.

When I ask Ella what she thinks lies behind that enduring support, her answer is simple: for all the serious work and messaging behind what they do, Beanies has never wanted food shopping to feel like a chore.

“Food’s supposed to be about survival, but for us, it can also be fun. Trudging round a big supermarket is a pretty miserable experience. So if you want to switch that around a bit, come and see us.”

beanies.coop

@beanieswholefoods 1 Barber Road S10 1EA

FOOD & DRINK: CAWA

PLATFORM FOR SUCCESS

If your experience of grabbing food before a train journey usually involves settling for a limp sandwich and an overpriced coffee, Cawa is hoping to change your expectations.

The South Yorkshire coffee company has officially opened its latest venue inside Sheffield Station, transforming the former First Class Lounge on Platform 5 into a brand-new café serving freshly baked pastries, loaded croissants and its own locally roasted coffee.

With cafés in Sheffield, Chesterfield and Nottingham train stations, as well as an outlet at Leeds City Bus Station, Cawa has built a reputation for doing things differently. Rather than offering standard grab-and-go fare, the business bakes fresh seven days a week and sources as many ingredients as possible from local suppliers.

"When you travel, your expectations of the food that's available at most train stations and services are probably pretty low," says Business Development Director Deon Jacobs. "So, we wanted to create something new.

"People drive to Tebay Services because the food's very, very good. We're kind of similar. People will actually jump on a train at Chesterfield rather than Sheffield because they want

to buy something there. They know they're going to get good quality."

That quality-first approach runs throughout the business, which now employs around 80 people across six primary locations.

"We bake seven days a week, fresh, so we supply all our stores every day," Deon explains. "From the milk to the flour, to the butter, whatever we can get locally, we do."

While the new station café offers much of the existing Cawa menu, it's been designed with commuters firmly in mind.

"It's basically most of the products that we offer anyway, but what we try to do here is more of a fast-food offering," says Deon. "People are very welcome to sit in, but a lot of customers will be catching a train, so they'll come in and grab something. It's going to be warm, it's going to be fresh. We roast our own coffee as well, so it's really, really good fresh products."

Of course, no visit to Cawa is complete without one of its now-

famous loaded croissants.

The business first grabbed international attention with its Fish Finger Croissant, which quickly went viral online and has since been joined by increasingly adventurous creations including Wagyu beef, chicken tikka and lamb doner fillings. It's enough to make a few French bakers wince, but Deon is more than happy to defend the concept.

"With a croissant, because of the buttery side of things, it's like a sandwich, but much creamier," he says. "Instead of a dry sandwich, you've got a buttery pastry, with really nice filling."

The Platform 5 site also marks something of a homecoming for

the business.

"We've been wanting to get onto Sheffield Station for a long time," says Deon. "This is our home, and I think the station is the first place a lot of people see when they come into the city. We want to offer something that shows the kind of feeling that Sheffield is about."

The new café has retained the character of the historic First Class Lounge while giving the space a fresh lease of life.

"Our vision was simple –to respect the character and heritage of this remarkable space whilst creating something fresh, welcoming and relevant for the future," Deon says. "We didn't want it to be somewhere people just grab a coffee before a train. We wanted it to be somewhere people can enjoy being part of Sheffield life."

Given the choice between another disappointing station meal or a viral fish finger croissant and freshly roasted coffee, we know which platform we're heading for.

For more info, check out Cawa’s socials: @cawacoffee

GILLSON’S BRASSERIE

On a road that feels like it’s rediscovering its appetite, is Gillson’s exactly the kind of neighbourhood brasserie that Eccy Road has been waiting for?

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER/JAMES AYLIFF

For the past four years, husband-andwife team Andy and Vic Trudgill have quietly built something of a hospitality holy grail on Ecclesall Road. It started with Gills & Co, a neighbourhood wine bar centred around hand-selected bottles and sharing plates, before expanding earlier this year with The Gillmont – an elegant cocktail bar inspired by the grand hotel lounges Andy fell in love with while working in London. Now comes the final piece of the puzzle: Gillson’s Brasserie, a restaurant designed to bring classic dishes, warm service and a bit of bustle back to one of Sheffield’s bestknown stretches. Andy and Vic have been joined by business partners and investors Alan and Joanne Henderson, whose support has helped bring the brasserie to life.

With its forest green frontage, gold signage and expansive windows, Gillson’s

immediately catches the eye. Step inside and the timeless brasserie influence is clear: walnut panelling, banquette seating, black-and-white chequerboard flooring and glowing brass lamps create a space that’s suitably polished for a celebratory evening out, but still laidback enough for a spontaneous midweek lunch

“The missing piece to our offer was a fully dry-led business,” Vic tells Exposed. “We really wanted a friendly neighbourhood restaurant where the food was the main event.”

The differing experiences across the trio of venues – all within a short stroll of one another – was no accident. Each complements the next, allowing customers to drift between wine, cocktails and now lunch or dinner during an evening or afternoon out in S11.

“We had it in mind that all three businesses would be on the same stretch

of road because they feed each other,” she says. “We’ve got lots of loyal customers who have become friends and now they just go up and down Ecclesall Road between the three venues. It’s lovely.”

Inspiration-wise, Gillson’s takes a cue or two from the classic brasseries Andy and Vic admired while visiting Paris, particularly the famed Bofinger, where impeccable service sat alongside an atmosphere that never felt overly formal.

“It was bustling,” Vic recalls. “The service was incredible and you could get dressed up if you’d like, but it didn’t feel like a posh dinner out.”

Back in Sheffield, that sort of balance is exactly what they’ve aimed to recreate. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Gillson’s celebrates dishes that have earned their place on the menu through tried-and-tested longevity.

“The vibe here is very much food-led. You come and have a really nice meal, with big portions that fill you up. We often say these are dishes that stand the test of time. There’s no Googling to understand what an ingredient is. It’s all things you’ll know and that will be familiar – a nod to nostalgia.”

That philosophy extends throughout the menu, where familiar favourites are given thoughtful refinements rather than radical makeovers. Head chef Dave, whose experience spans numerous kitchens, has helped shape that approach.

“Dave’s taken our ideas and run with them,” says Vic. “He’ll make dishes a little bit more interesting with the odd tweak while sticking to what people will know and love.”

Early favourites already include the crab and prawn cocktail, steak tartare, three cuts of steak – bavette, sirloin and fillet – sea bass and the French onion soup, a subtle nod to the Parisian inspiration behind the concept.

While the food may lean classic, the pricing has been designed with flexibility in mind. Just as Gills & Co caters for both casual drinkers and wine collectors, Gillson’s aims to welcome everyone.

“You can come here and spend £500 or you can come here and spend less than £50 – the range is deliberately broad,” Vic says. “It is for everyone. We want people to come here after work, have a spot of tea with the kids or come for an anniversary evening meal and splurge out. There’s the ability to do both.”

With that in mind, Gillson’s opens seven days a week, filling a noticeable gap on Mondays and Tuesdays when many independent restaurants remain closed. There’s a weekday set lunch offering, alongside what Vic hopes will become one of the city’s standout Sunday roasts.

“We wanted somewhere that’s a nice venue where the service is really good, the wine list is great and the roast is just spot,

served with all the trimmings. We’re really proud of that.”

For the Trudgills, opening a third venue on Ecclesall Road was also a vote of confidence in the area. As Kelham Island has flourished over the past decade, many questioned whether Eccy Road had lost some of its pull. Vic believes things are changing again.

“One of the nicest bits of feedback we’ve had is that people say we’re helping bring Ecclesall Road back to life. That’s definitely a joint effort with all the other brilliant businesses on here, but it is nice to have more places to go and be part of providing people with more choice.”

As Vic heads off to prepare for a busy afternoon of graduation bookings, she explains that success isn’t measured by décor or even the dishes on the menu. It’s about how people feel when they walk through the door.

“We want it to be bustly. Our team are slick, but they’re friendly and approachable. We want a relaxed space where we can have a conversation with people; it’s an ethos that runs right across our venues. The guest experience drives every decision we make, and it will always stay that way.”

gillsonsbrasserie.co.uk

@gillsons_brasserie

607-609 Ecclesall Road

S11 8PT

Leahs Yard, Cambridge St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield

PLAY ALL SUMMER AT THE UK’S ONLY MUSEUM DEDICATED TO VIDEOGAMES, WITH OVER 100 PLAYABLE GAMES AND UNLIMITED RETURN VISITS FROM 18TH JULY UNTIL 1ST SEPTEMBER.

This summer, the National Videogame Museum is turning its gallery over to players and fans in a unique exhibition that puts personal videogame stories centre stage.

‘Together We Play’ celebrates the communities, collections, friendships, and spaces created through a shared love of videogames.

And that’s not all; you can play throughout the holidays thanks to the Museum’s ‘One Ticket. Play All Summer’ offer.

Enjoy unlimited return visits between 18th July1st September 2026.

Celebrating Players Voices

At the heart of the exhibition is a specially commissioned piece, created by Sheffield artist William Exley. The ‘Your Videogame Stories’ mural celebrates player stories and memories, collected from hundreds of conversations with players and fans across the UK and celebrates how videogames have impacted our lives in positive ways.

Reliving Memories. Making New Ones

Step back in time and revisit places where many gaming memories began. Explore Lee Smithson’s meticulously crafted miniature 1980s living room, complete with an iconic Commodore 64, or play together in a 1990s-inspired play space, featuring Doom (1993). Both the Commodore 64 and Doom featured heavily in the player stories collected,

VIDEOGAMES ARE NOW A HUGE GLOBAL INDUSTRY SO IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PLAYERS, FANS AND COMMUNITIES WHO BRING VIDEOGAMES ALIVE THROUGH PLAY. IN THIS EXHIBITION MEMORIES, STORIES AND PERSONAL FAN COLLECTIONS ARE CELEBRATED AS CENTRAL TO VIDEOGAME CULTURE.”

JOHN O’SHEA, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & CO-CEO, NATIONAL VIDEOGAME MUSEUM

leading to their inclusion in this exhibition

Celebrating Fan Passion

Encounter personal collections that tell stories of passion and connection, featuring games, memorabilia, merchandise, artwork, and treasured items from favourite franchises and gaming communities.

Highlights include items from a Guinness World Record collection of Tomb Raider videogames, and the Mario Museum, a vast personal collection of rare Mario games and Nintendo memorabilia.

Artwork by Peony Gent also celebrates the creativity, passion and craftsmanship of cosplay culture, captured live at MCM Comic Con 2026. The exhibition is supported by the BFI National Lottery Screen Heritage Fund.

FIND OUT MORE thenvm.org/togetherweplay/

The National Videogame Museum Castle House, Sheffield, S3 8LN Open every day from 18th July until 1st September 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm

THINGS TO DO

SPOTLIGHT ON:

CELEBRATING SHEFFIELD’S COOLEST INDEPENDENT VENUES, NEIGHBOURHOOD HANGOUTS AND HIDDEN GEMS.

There aren’t many places in Sheff where you can grab a stacked vegan burger, catch a live band, take on your mates across a collection of retro arcade favourites, then end up at a ceramics workshop – all under one roof.

Eight years after opening inside the Grade II-listed Osborn Works, Church – Temple of Fun continues to evolve without losing the offbeat identity that’s made it one of the city’s most distinctive independent venues.

Brought to life by Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes, Church has always occupied its own lane. Inspired by South American religious iconography –albeit with a decidedly twisted take – it’s a venue packed with hidden nooks and crannies, striking interiors and enough curious details to discover something new each time/

While plenty of venues wear several hats these days, Church manages to juggle a surprising amount without feeling scattered. At its core, it’s still a 100% vegan bar and restaurant, serving food from Wednesday through Sunday with a menu that’s constantly changing. Alongside the regular favourites, there’s a monthly special, rotating seasonal desserts (the cheesecakes are insane), guest beers and cocktail menus that shift throughout the year. Sundays bring the popular Sunday Service roast, with seasonal tweaks keeping things fresh.

“We’ve always been about more than one thing,” says events manager Liv Moseley. “People know us primarily for the vegan food or the gigs, but we’re always adding new reasons for people to come through the doors.”

Earlier this year saw the launch of The Catacombs, a private events space tucked away upstairs. Once an underused area, it’s now available for birthdays, celebrations and private parties, complete with its own bar, photo booth and plenty

of opportunities to make the space your own. For larger gatherings, the whole upper level can be hired, with buffet options, personalised cocktails and even custom photo booth prints helping guests put their own stamp on the occasion.

“The Catacombs had been something Oli wanted to do for a while,” says Liv. “We had this unused space upstairs and it felt like a missed opportunity. Now it’s somewhere people can celebrate birthdays, host private events or just experience another side of the venue. It’s become a really versatile addition.”

Even when it’s not booked out, the upstairs remains part of the experience. Visitors can head up to try the venue’s interactive darts lanes, which can accommodate up to 12 players, or just find a new space to explore on a night out.

Local organisers regularly use the space for everything from dog life drawing and ceramics workshops to Sip & Paint evenings, while live music remains firmly woven into Church’s identity. The 220-capacity venue has hosted performances from Bring Me The Horizon, Deaf Havana, Static Dress and Mouth Culture over the years, while monthly jazz sessions offer a more laidback soundtrack to Sunday lunch.

“We’re here for the community and always open to trying new things,” adds Liv. “If someone has an idea for an event, we’re always happy to have a conversation and see if we can make it work.”

More recently, the venue has also opened itself up to alternative wedding receptions. While legal ceremonies still need to happen elsewhere,

couples can now celebrate everything afterwards at Church, whether that’s an intimate gathering in The Catacombs or a full venue takeover. Given the dramatic interiors and unconventional atmosphere, it feels like a natural fit for anyone looking to avoid the traditional hotel function room.

For a venue with eight years under its belt and the backing of one of Sheffield’s best-known musicians, Church could easily have coasted. Instead, it’s continued to do the Lord’s work: growing, adding new spaces and providing plenty more reasons to visit. The result is one of the city’s most original independents – and somewhere that rarely feels the same twice.

ROOM TO BREATHE

One wristband. Sheffield’s best venues. A city’s worth of signature serves, over 10 days.

4-13 SEPTEMBER 2026 // ACROSS SHEFFIELD // WRISTBANDS £9.90-£19.90

Get your glasses ready, Sheffield. Cocktail Week is officially back from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 September 2026, and it's shaping up to be the biggest edition yet. Spanning two full weekends, the 10-day celebration will see cocktail bars, breweries, restaurants and hidden speakeasies across the city pour their finest signature serves, roll out exclusive cocktail menus, and throw the doors open to anyone chasing the ultimate day or night out.

One wristband is your key to the whole city: signature cocktails from £5 at every participating venue, exclusive alcohol-free serves for the sober-curious, and food offers

to soak it all up. Whether you're a negroni purist, a daiquiri devotee, or firmly team mocktail, there's a glass with your name on it somewhere in Sheffield this September.

WHO'S POURING?

Some of Sheffield's best cocktail bars, breweries, restaurants and social spots have already signed up to get involved, including:

• Forum

• Sheffield Plate

• The Common Room

• Hymn To Ninkasi

• Riverside Kelham

• Bamboo Door

• The Gamers Guide Cafe

• Heist Brew Co

• Abbeydale Ballroom

• Tiger Works

• Pina

• Two Thirds Beer Co.

• The Lost & Found

• Cosy Club

• Mr Wilson's

• Capone's Speakeasy

• Hallamshire Hotel

• Guyshi BBQ & Bar

• Manahatta

• The Psalter

• The Local

• Kapital

• The Botanist

• PAD12

• Skylight Bar & Club

… and that's before we even get to the venues still to be announced. Keep an eye on the Sheffield Cocktail Week socials @sheffieldcocktailweek, as more names are being added by the week.

WHAT'S IN THE GLASS

Every venue is bringing its own signature showstopper, and the early previews are seriously good. Expect Forum's Pink Aperol Sour, a vibrant, bittersweet mix of Aperol, fresh lemon and strawberry, alongside Sheffield Plate's Strawberry & Lychee Daiquiri, bringing eastern-inspired sweetness to a classic. The Common Room is shaking up Kick Off!, a fruity raspberry, cherry and blackcurrant number, while Riverside Kelham goes full sunshine mode with its Riverside Peach Iced Tea.

Over at Tiger Works, it's all about the Tiger Juice, a tropical vodka-tequila-cherrycoconut hit, while Kapital is going seasonal with its Harvest Rum Old Fashioned, blending summer and autumn fruits into one decadent stirred serve. The Psalter is welcoming in the new season with the September Orchard, blackberry, apple and honey in a warming autumnal sour, plus a full exclusive cocktail menu running all week. The Local turns up the heat with its Chilli Yuzu Margarita, and Skylight Bar & Club is serving Bird on the Nest alongside its own dedicated Cocktail Week menu.

And it's not just about the alcohol: every venue is doing a mocktail alongside its signature cocktail, so no one has to sit Cocktail Week out. Several venues are also throwing in food offers for wristband holders, from 20% off mains at Kapital to 20% off food at Forum, The Common Room and Riverside Kelham, because a proper night out needs proper fuel.

BACKING SHEFFIELD'S BARS AND HOSPITALITY SCENE

Sheffield Cocktail Week isn't just a party. It's a vital boost for the independent cocktail bars, breweries and restaurants that make this city's nightlife what it is. After years of rising costs and squeezed margins, local hospitality needs the city behind it, and Cocktail Week does exactly that: driving footfall and midweek trade into locally run venues and putting a spotlight on the bartenders and teams who pour their creativity into every single serve.

Every wristband sold and every cocktail ordered is a direct vote of confidence in Sheffield's independent hospitality scene, so this September, drinking local really does mean something.

GET YOUR WRISTBAND

Cocktail Week only comes round once a year, and wristbands won't hang around, so grab yours now (see the ticket QR code) and get ready to drink your way around Sheffield from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 September 2026.

Leahs Yard, Cambridge St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield

THINGS TO DO: MASTER OF TASKS

Every now and again, the Exposed team are released from the shackles attached to our desks and encouraged to mingle with each other – even, on occasion, being asked to fraternise with members of the general public!

Ahead of a busy weekend of socialising at Tramlines, we got some practice in thanks to Wildfire Events and their Master of Tasks event.

Held at Gold Digger Trust's Refinery Café on Ecclesall Road, the Master of Tasks is absolutely nothing to do with the hit TV show – and potentially litigious – Taskmaster. The fact that you're asked to compete in a series of quirky challenges, judged by the Master of said Tasks until a winner is crowned, is pure coincidence. There's nothing else to see here... so look over there... and shut up, yeah!

We began with the first of several drawing rounds, which should have been an easy win for us because our designer is an artist. Unfortunately, he was on photography duty today, so we had to make the best of it with our limited talent. Asked to recreate everything from the Northern Rail logo to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon album cover (this was my time to shine), we made some interesting artistic choices but came through with a solid showing in round one.

Onto round two and a headlines challenge. Two

points were awarded for correctly identifying the redacted headline, with one point given for an answer the Master of Tasks simply liked. We're a witty bunch but apparently know nothing about current affairs, so it was single-point scoring all the way for Team Exposed!

Round three was more drawing. This time, we were asked to draw the Master of Tasks' assistant, but upside down. Our attempts at bribery and flattery failed, but we were still in the running and it could have gone either way at this stage. The competitive streak had fully kicked in.

Luckily, the penultimate round played into our skill set: eating out! Asked to pick up marbles with chopsticks and move them from one cup to another, we breezed through the task and probably set some sort of world record.

For the final round, the gloves were off and the balloons were out! Each team was given a category and asked to create a balloon sculpture inspired by it. We got historical events. In what was a calculated decision – and totally not just tying a load of balloons together – we somehow managed to represent Covid in balloon form (see above - we nailed it!). With only a slight feeling of guilt for the team that had painstakingly created a full set of traffic lights, we romped to victory.

Collecting our medals (no expense spared here) rounded off a really fun morning and was the perfect way to push any looming deadlines to the back of our minds. Check out Wildfire's website for their full range of events and activities. www.spreadlikewildfire.co.uk

THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE MORE INTIMATE; YOU’LL LEAVE FULLY KNOWING THE REAL ME.”

LIVE AND DIRECT

For most of his fans, a K Dot show means one thing: guaranteed shutdown. Whether he's firing up festival crowds, shutting down warehouse raves or orchestrating mass skanks in sweaty nightclubs, the Steel City bassline favourite has built his name on high-energy sets and dancefloor mayhem.

So, seeing him headline Sheffield City Hall might raise a few eyebrows. But don't worry, he's not trading in the bangers. Instead, he's putting on something a little different: a live show with a full band, an honest Q&A about his journey on and off the stage, plus meet-and-greets and signings for fans of all ages. We caught up with the artist himself to chat about why this one's a little different from the usual formula.

K Dot, it’s been a minute!

How’s the summer been so far?

Yeah, the summer has been great so far. We got to do a few international shows in the sun and took the family, so the work and holiday mixed well.

As a guy known mostly for shelling down raves in warehouse venues and on festival stages, we won’t lie, it was a bit of a surprise to see you on stage at Sheffield City Hall. What’s the night all about?

Well, you just said it – the main reason I want to do this show at such an iconic venue is because I want to bring a different show to my core supporters. This is something the whole family can enjoy, as I feel kids don’t often get to see me at festivals and the like. This show is going to be more intimate; you’ll leave fully knowing the real me. When I say intimate, I don’t mean small crowd, no vibes. There will be plenty of shutdowns, don’t worry about that!

How does working with a full live band change your sound?

Working with a full live band brings so much more energy to the show. The sound is ten times louder in the best way possible; you can feel every kick drum. Also, working with a live band gives me so much freedom when performing – you never know what’s coming next!

There’s an exclusive Q&A session too. What sort of things do you expect to be

chatting about?

I will be chatting about my journey, particularly over the last few years. As we know, I’ve been around a while, but things started to blow up again in recent years due to a lot of personal changes in my life. We’ll get into some of that and everything that happened in between all the career highlights.

As you’ve mentioned, it’s all ages welcome too. How important is that to you? Having this show as all ages welcome was the first thing I wanted to get across to the venue. As I said, my younger fans don’t get to see me as much, so I wanted to put on something special for them – and their parents!

Festival season always throws up a few stories... what’s been your most fun or most chaotic

moment this summer?

I wouldn’t say it was chaotic, but it’s been a lot of fun performing out in Malta and Tenerife to a few thousand people this year. The sun sea and sand… it was immense!

What’s next after this? Any new music or projects bubbling away that you can give us a cheeky hint about?

After this, we have a lot of new music planned, with some big features as always. The live experience is growing, so we’ll be putting on more shows in iconic venues across the country.

If your younger self could see you headlining Sheffield City Hall with this type of show, what do you reckon he’d say?

If you'd told me I'd be headlining Sheffield City Hall, my younger self would probably have been like, "I told you so!"

I always believed I'd do music for a living from a young age, but actually doing it is a whole

K Dot heads to Sheffield City Hall with a full live band on 13 August. Tickets are £8-£15 (+bf) and available by scanning the QR code on this page. All ages welcome.

MUSIC: FESTIVAL PICKS

Rock N Roll Circus is gearing up for its biggest Sheffield outing to date, with organisers unveiling fresh details of this summer's Bank Holiday festival at Don Valley Bowl.

Returning from 27–30 August, the four-day event will bring together around 40 live acts and 40 circus performers, alongside street food, immersive entertainment and an expanded festival site that's become one of the city's standout annual events.

The headline bill is stacked. Thursday sees Inside In / Inside Out turn 20 as The Kooks perform their breakthrough album in full, joined by Sheffield faves Milburn, revisiting Well, Well, Well, and Miles Kane.

Friday belongs to Mike Skinner and The Streets, who'll play A Grand Don't Come For Free in full, before one of Britain's most talked-about bands, Wunderhorse, headlines Saturday with support from Baxter Dury, English Teacher and Fat Dog.

Richard Ashcroft rounds off the weekend on Sunday, fresh from his stadium tour with Oasis, joined by The Fratellis,

Cast and Yorkshire favourites Embrace.

As ever, Rock N Roll Circus is placing just as much emphasis on emerging talent as established names. The Discovery Stage returns with a line-up featuring artists including Gurriers, Basht., The Molotovs, The Clause, Heidi Curtis, Goo, Sundress, Tidetied and Sonni Mills, while newer acts such as Cruz Beckham and The Breakers, Spanish Horses and Villanelle

continue the festival's tradition of showcasing tomorrow's headline acts.

More than 40 circus performers will roam the site throughout the weekend, with aerialists, acrobats, fire performers, stilt walkers and theatrical characters transforming Don Valley Bowl into an immersive spectacle. Festival favourite Ellis Grover returns with his high-wire performances, while a giant mechanical elephant will once

again wander the site.

Rock N Roll Circus also continues to put its own spin on the festival format. The iconic Big Top means every headline performance takes place under canvas, creating an arena-sized atmosphere without the usual long-distance views, while carefully planned scheduling means there are no headline clashes.

Festival director Ali O'Reilly said: "Sheffield has played a huge part in the Rock N Roll Circus story and every year the city pushes us to think bigger.

"To welcome artists like Richard Ashcroft, The Streets, Wunderhorse, The Kooks and Milburn alongside around 40 live acts and 40 circus performers makes this our strongest Sheffield programme yet."

Rock N Roll Circus takes place at Don Valley Bowl from 27–30 August, with tickets on sale now via rocknrollcircus.co.uk.

THE SOUND OF SOLACE

Sheffield composer Christopher Hawkins has swapped last album’s widescreen electro-rock for something far more intimate on Where the World Can’t Find You. He spoke to Ruby Deakin about finding comfort in silence, capturing the city’s contrasts and teaming up with brutalist artist Mandy Payne for an album rooted in Sheffield from first note to final image.

The album focuses on exploring personal, inner spaces of healing and sanctuary. What encouraged you to delve into these experiences of selfreflection?

I just wanted to capture those quiet moments that nobody else ever really sees. Whether that's sitting somewhere in total isolation or simply getting lost inside your own head. When you stop and think about it, so much of what we actually go through – all the highs and the really heavy lows – happens completely out of sight. It’s entirely private. I wanted the music to feel like a space where you can just sit with that for a while.

You mention that the tracks are inspired by the urban spaces of Sheffield. What drew you to this and how is it reflected in your music?

I was born in Sheffield, and growing up here means living in this constant state of contrast. You’ve got all this sprawling concrete and industrial soul, but then you look up and you’re totally surrounded by the green hills, rocks and wild moorland of the Peak District. I love that tension. In the music, I try to find sounds that mirror that in some way. It’s the same with the city's character today; you have this heavy industrial history sitting right next to indie pop-up bars and creative spaces buzzing with energy. I love it! That’s actually why collaborating with Mandy Payne felt so right for the cover. She’s a brilliant local artist who explores brutalist architecture – she even paints directly onto physical slabs of concrete. She let me use one of her pieces featuring the Park Hill estate, and there's a perfect parallel there. Park Hill is this iconic, raw concrete structure, but it’s full of human stories, warmth and history. She captures that exact balance visually, and that’s something I’m trying to do with the textures and sounds on this record.

Tell us a bit about your DIY recording process. Where do you start, and how do the tracks evolve from there?

It always starts with a feeling. I’ll sit at the piano trying to find a couple of chords or a melody that matches the emotional residue of an experience. Once that spark is there, my main rule is to leave space. The silence between the notes is just as

important as the music itself – it lets the track breathe and invites the listener in. From there, I just play around with colouring in the sketch, whether that’s layering up strings or keeping it completely stripped back. Because it’s a DIY setup, I always chase the raw mood over perfection. If a take captures the right feeling, I keep it – even if there are tiny flaws, or a bit of background noise from my dog, Alfie. It just keeps it real.

How does this album follow on or diverge from your previous releases? Did you want to try out anything new with this project?

This record is a massive contrast to my last one. That project was a fullon, collaborative electro-rock album inspired by the local poet Rowan Blair Colver. I got to work with the brilliant James Bacon on guitars and production, and featured amazing musicians like Sheffield's own Jody Davies from Fargo Railroad Co., and even rock legend Wayne Hussey of The Mission. It was an incredible, high-energy experience, but after something that loud and collaborative, I felt a natural pull to swing the pendulum completely the other way. Where the World Can’t Find You is a deliberate retreat into a quieter space. I wanted to see what happened if I stripped everything back and looked for solitude instead. Instead of the shared energy of working with other people, this project was just me, sitting alone at the piano

trying to find sounds that felt deeply reflective. It’s definitely a more ambient, cinematic departure for me, but it felt like the exact sanctuary I needed to create right now.

Your tracks feature a diverse range of instruments and sounds. What draws you to these particular tones?

My musical taste is pretty broad – it spans classical, jazz, blues, folk, rock and electronic music. On any given night before going to sleep, I might be listening to anything from a Beethoven string quartet to Brian Eno. I've always loved how you can blend elements from completely different worlds to create specific tensions or emotions.

When I’m working on a track, I just explore whatever texture feels right for that specific mood. Sometimes that means adding some really restrained, atmospheric guitar lines, and other times it means layering in a sweeping synth pad to lift the piano. There's always a new sonic combination to discover, and for me, that’s the most exciting part of making music. It keeps the process fresh.

The album’s title track has a noticeably darker vibe than a lot of the album. Was there a specific mood you wanted to convey through this piece?

It’s funny, I actually remember dropping a microphone inside the piano to capture the sound of me plucking the high strings for the intro, and thinking to myself, 'Right, this is going a bit haunted house now!'

But it felt right because the track touches on those darker, heavier mental spaces that we all go through completely out of sight. It starts in that isolated place, but when the drums and guitars finally kick in, it completely shifts the energy. To me, that moment signals a sense of healing and relief – almost like being lifted up out of your own head by the people around you. It captures that cycle we all experience, where you fall into the dark for a bit, but then find your way back to the light. It's heavy, but it ends with hope.

Where the World Can’t Find You is available to stream now across all major platforms

The must-see, electrifying tribute concert to Michael Jackson. This show captures the essence of The King of Pop’s unique style and charisma!

7 SPELL SONGS

MON SEP‘26

EDDI READER

With her work in song, from the traditional to the contemporary, Eddi Reader extinguishes the preordained boundaries of genre, bringing joyous life to all forms.

Renowned for their enthralling live performances that expertly blend musical and linguistic influences spanning from Orkney to Senegal. 8PM | OCTAGON CENTRE 12 ORCHESTRA BAOBAB

Founded in 1970 in Dakar, Orchestra Baobab is a cornerstone of African music. See you at the Octagon for a deep dive into the soul of Senegal!

AMBLE

8PM | OCTAGON CENTRE MON SEP‘26

Formed in 2022 with the intention ofobtaining free pints by performing cover songs in pubs, the Irish folk band Amble now have acclaimed material all of their own!

18 SUN OCT‘26

HEAVEN 17

8PM | OCTAGON CENTRE

19 MON OCT‘26

8PM | OCTAGON CENTRE

Don’t miss The Mary Wallopers as they return to bring their iconic twist on Irish folk music to The Octagon stage!

5 MARIAM

8PM | OCTAGON CENTRE

Vibrant, Malian, worldbeat music! Music from the duo Amadou & Mariam, and new works by Mariam. THU NOV‘26

YARD ACT

Since first steering their golden rover into swift public acclaim back in 2020, Leeds quartet Yard Act have become one of the great UK indie success stories of the decade so far.

See the legendary 2-Tone group on tour with support from The Selecter and a special DJ set from Rhoda Dakar.

Synth-pop pioneers Heaven 17 have announced an exciting new hometown show! Give into the TEMPTATION and book a ticket! VIP booking option available.

6PM doors | 7:30PM lastentry

19 SAT SEP‘26

6PM doors | 7:30PM lastentry

5 MINS WITH…

RUMBI TAURO

South Yorkshire singer-songwriter and old pal of the mag Rumbi Tauro is back with new single Never Let You Go –we caught up with her to hear all about it.

Hi Rumbi – long time no speak! How are you getting on?

Hello, it's been a minute! I'm doing well, really enjoying the summer. I'm getting ready for Tramlines Festival and I'm super excited to be back at Hillsborough Park. Otherwise, I've been busy creating new music, going to concerts and eating out –all the vibes.

Talk to us about your new tune, 'Never Let You Go'. What can we expect in terms of sound and general vibes?

It's soul with a hint of pop! Honestly, this is my most playful record yet. The song starts with the word 'oops', which draws the listener into this love story I have to share. It's a feel-good summer track, perfect for the sun.

We've heard you were one of the first artists to record at the new Abbey Road Studios at Co-op Live in Manchester. That sounds mega – how was the experience?

Honestly, it was such an incredible opportunity. Yvan, the studio engineer, was amazing to work with. I just reached

out to the Co-op team and asked whether it might be possible to be considered for a recording session there. As an emerging independent artist, I'm learning that if you don't ask, you don't get. Lady Gaga and Little Simz had the studio booked the day before and the day after my session –how epic is that?!

How's the rest of 2026 shaping up for you?

I've got three new singles on the way. I'm back and I'm here to stay. I'm also curating events for emerging artists off stage, which is a huge passion of mine.

For readers who want to hear more of your music or catch you live, where should they head?

Head to rumbitauro.com for all the details. I'll also be in Sheffield on Friday 18 September for the opening of the new music venue, The System.

‘Never Let You Go’ is out now. Follow @rumbitauro on socials for updates.

SISTERS

6 AUG // SIDNEY & MATILDA // £8-11

Formed in Liverpool, the part-British, part-American five piece are heading out for their first-ever UK tour following the release of their debut EP. Self-described as “dreamy, poetic, weepy, rock”, the band quickly received support from BBC Introducing and has headlined iconic local venues including Rough Trade in Liverpool.

FAIRLY WELL

14 AUG // YELLOW ARCH // £8

Fresh from their Tramlines Fringe performance at Frog & Parrot, the Sheffield four piece will be performing one last headline show at Yellow Arch Studios before their brief hiatus. Their atmospheric blend of indie, rock and shoegaze has seen them play to a loyal fanbase across many Sheffield stages and earned them a nomination for best unsigned band at this year’s Exposed Awards.

HACKTIVIST

21 AUG // CORPORATION // £15 British rap metal band Hacktivist are heading to Corporation as part of their UK summer tour. Known for their proudly political music that speaks to government corruption, censorship, solidarity and the dangers of misinformation, their no-nonsense approach, dark sound and poignant lyrics are sure to kick up a storm with a set of well-loved and brand-new music.

BANTU CONTINUA

UHURU CONSCIOUSNESS (BCUC)

26 AUG // SIDNEY & MATILDA // £2O

Described as “afro-psychedelic future pop”, the award-winning South African seven piece are hitting Sidney & Matilda for their The Road is Never Easy tour. Starting off rehearsing in a shipping container in Soweto, the band have gone on to play some of the world’s most important festivals, captivating audiences worldwide with their indigenous funk sound and high-energy live shows.

MAYBE GOLD

28 AUG // YELLOW ARCH // £10 Barnsley band Maybe Gold has made waves in the local music scene, known for their distinctive indie synth rock sound and explosive live performances. They’re on a mission to “bring back stadium filling anthems” and their raw, gritty Yorkshire vibe makes them the perfect fit for a headline set at Yellow Arch.

EACH MONTH, WE INVITE LOCAL ARTISTS TO GREENY’S REHEARSAL SPACE TO LAY DOWN A STRIPPED-BACK LIVE SESSION. ONE TAKE. NO DO-OVERS. THIS MONTH, HOWEVER, WE DID THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. SAY HELLO TO THE WINNERS OF THE THE INAUGURAL...

RED LIGHT COMPETITION

One of the best parts of putting together the Red Light Sessions has been shining a spotlight on Sheffield's next wave of talent.

Every month we've welcomed a different artist into the studio for a stripped-back live session, podcast interview and feature, all with the shared aim of championing grassroots music alongside Milburn drummer Joe Green.

This month, though, we did things a little

WYNTER

How did Wynter come together?

"It started with just me singing and playing guitar by myself (Jenn). Then I met Louis, who's my boyfriend and plays guitar really well. I'd known the others from different places – me and Laurie actually met doing karaoke. We sang Video Games by Lana Del Rey. Eventually everyone was putting an equal amount in and it just made so much more sense to have a band name."

What does being selected for the Red Light Sessions mean to you?

"It's really important. It's actually the first photoshoot we've done together. We all work a lot, so when there's an opportunity like this it means we can all get together and do something as a full band."

What's next for Wynter?

A: "We're trying to get some studio time booked in August. We've got one song out already, but we want to do an EP. We keep coming up with new songs though – I keep sending demos to the people we want to work with and they're probably just like, 'Please stop!'"

differently. We invited bands from across the region to enter a competition to win a professionally filmed live session at Electric Studios with Dan Booth, a photoshoot with Emma Ledwith and a Red Light Podcast appearance. After hundreds of entries, we selected three winners – Since Torino, Tellyeaters and Wynter.

Ahead of the full sessions landing online, here's a taste of what each band had to say.

SINCE TORINO

How did the band come together?

"Luke and I have been playing music together since about 2019, but the band proper started in 2023 when we met Alex. Before that we were just making rubbish songs in our rooms. We'd hang out, have beers and write music. We actually met on Reddit – I posted on the emo subreddit asking if anyone wanted to start a band in Sheffield and Luke messaged me in about a minute. Then we met Alex through a Facebook musicians group." You were picked from hundreds of entries for the Red Light Sessions competition. What does that mean to you?

Pretty awesome – it feels good. It's a bit weird, to be honest. I've been playing in bands for about 12 years and it's hard, whether people like you or not, to get anyone to pay attention. So it feels kind of weird that anyone decides to pay attention to what you're doing, whether it's a live show or something like this."

What's next for since torino?

"We're in progress with an album, which is taking up a lot of time. We have quite an oldschool ethos – it wouldn't seem right to just do a random collection of songs. It doesn't have to be a concept album, but it should have some underlying theme. We're doing it ourselves and Alex produced, mixed and mastered the last EP, so he's doing the album too."

TELLYEATERS

How did Tellyeaters get started?

"We all went to the same school. Me and Otto met doing an after-school open mic and learnt a Front Bottoms song together – that's what started it all. Then we all kind of realised we were trying to start a band. We ran into each other in the practice rooms in sixth form and thought, 'We should just do it together.'"

What was your reaction when you found out you'd been picked from hundreds of entries?

"'Really?' We thought it'd be about ten! We didn't realise there were hundreds. We were very honoured. It's a great opportunity."

What's next for the band?

"The main thing is Tramlines Fringe at Sidney & Matilda. We've just released our new EP, The Future Is Still 3D, and we're all heading off to university, but I think we'll definitely keep the band going. We'll see how it goes, but it's doable."

MUSIC: FESTIVAL PICKS

SMALL IN SIZE, BIG ON VIBES

Set among the rolling hills of Moss Valley, just a stone's throw from Sheffield, Povey Festival offers a reminder that the best festivals don't always mean sprawling arenas and eye-watering ticket prices.

Returning to Povey Farm from 14–16 August, this intimate, family-friendly event blends live music, nature and community into a laid-back three-day escape where the emphasis is firmly on quality over quantity.

Capped at just 500 people, Povey champions the idea that a great festival doesn't need endless queues, marathon walks between stages or a second mortgage to secure tickets. Instead, it's all about good music, good people and making the most of one of South Yorkshire’s most picturesque corners.

Set on a working farm just outside the city, the programme packs live music, DJs, family activities, wellness sessions and workshops into a compact site where everything is within easy reach and comfortable camping space provided. It's a festival designed to slow things down a little.

"It's a small, intimate gathering with community at its heart," says organiser Briony Tuplin, part of the Events Collective team behind the festival. "You're not going to walk a mile from your tent to the main stage, for example, or deal with queues at every turn. There’s a focus on a relaxed atmosphere and it’s very much quality over quantity. "

That boutique approach feels increasingly refreshing as

festival prices continue to climb. Weekend camping tickets come in at £90 for adults, with under12s going free, making it one of the most affordable festival weekends on the local calendar.

"We've priced it really nicely so it's affordable," says Briony. "It's pocket friendly. You can't really go out to those big arena shows these days without breaking the bank."

The music programme leans heavily into Sheffield's rich musical heritage while welcoming artists from further afield. Amen Sage headlines Friday with Steve Edwards performing a special guest slot, followed by Speed For Lovers on Saturday before Goldivox and Dutch New Orleans-inspired party starters Dutty Moonshine close things out on Sunday.

Elsewhere, you'll find sets from Canadians in Space, Mik Artistik, The Scribes. While DJs including Winston Hazel, Alex

Deadman and Jayney's Jackshack keep things moving long after the bands have finished. Elsewhere you can find DJs CJ, Cousin Ev & Dan Crookes, Dill Zogg, Andy Driver and plenty more.

Supporting homegrown talent sits at the heart of the festival. Established Sheffield favourites share the bill with emerging artists from across Yorkshire, giving the weekend a distinctly local flavour without feeling insular.

But there's much more to Povey than what's happening on stage. Throughout the weekend, visitors can dip into everything from gong baths and yoga to archery, football, pub quizzes, craft workshops and the intriguingly named Bee Bath listening experience. Children are well catered for too, making it a genuine all-ages affair rather than a festival where families simply tag along.

The setting plays a huge part

in the appeal. Nestled in the rolling countryside of Moss Valley, the site offers sweeping views that are a world away from city life, despite being only a short journey from Sheffield.

Food is another key part of the weekend, with a selection of street food traders, local producers and festival bars serving everything from quick bites to relaxed evening meals, alongside vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

At a time when many festivals are getting bigger and more expensive year on year, Povey's greatest strength is knowing exactly what it wants to be.

For anyone craving a festival experience without the usual logistical headache – and with a line-up that proudly flies the flag for local music – Povey might just be one of this summer's best-kept secrets.

poveyfest.com

WHERE?

Povey Farm, Moss Valley WHEN?  14–16 August

HOW MUCH?

Weekend tickets cost £90 for adults and £30 for 13–17-year-olds, while under-12s go free. Adult day tickets start from £40, with discounted teenage day tickets available from £15.

Backstage Pass

Well July came and went in the blink of an eye and as always, Corp never sleeps so we’ve made sure to keep the club nights rolling the gigs and full swing and never letting a week go by without giving you the chance to get a nice crisp Blue Pint no matter what.

Lets be honest, the one thing in July that Sheffield can’t go without shouting about it Tramlines and this year we made sure that we packed not one, but two stages with an absolute boat load of bands. Three days, two stages, 40 bands. Some would call us insane, others would say ‘you should make it bigger’, both comments are welcomed, and appreciated.

We filled The Greenhouse with headliners, Isaac Neilson, Cartoons Can’t Die and Honey Buzzard along with and had the return of Heel Turn Presents with Proglines, Rock The Fringe, and Metalish Allsorts bringing in Bad Actress, Moon Reaper, and Soul Wild along with even more of the best Rock, Metal and Alt that the city has to offer.

The Corp TV team abandoned ship for the weekend and headed down to Hillsborough for a Corp TV on tour with the Tramlines official team and chatted with some of the artists and you lovely lot. We played some games, asked some questions, and more than anything, did exactly what you would expect, had a great time.

What’s coming up you ask? Well… We’re in major planning mode, with September fast approaching the Club night team is organising party after party… There may even be some new additions coming to the Corporation Club night family very soon (we’ll keep you posted). The gig team are juggling an absolutely stacked line up of events coming up everything from the return of Punk Rock Factory, a back to back double MC Devvo show, if you're on the hunt for some live music after your summer holidays, we obviously recommend seeing what we have to offer.

We’ll see you soon!

Love

WHAT’S ON?

FROM UNDERGROUND METAL LEGENDS AND GENRE-BENDING CHAOS TO RISING SHEFFIELD INDIE TALENT – THE LINE-UP AT CORPORATION IS ABSOLUTELY STACKED.

MORDERSTEIN

FRIDAY 12TH AUGUST

Paying tribute to Rammstein’s “Neue Deutsche Härte” sound, this six-piece industrial act from the postindustrial North, has taken the British tribute scene by storm, (and fire), one venue at a time!

DREAM STATE

MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER

Welsh Rock band Dream State burst onto the scene in 2014, quickly carving a space for themselves at the forefront of modern rock. Combining elements from electronic and heavier genres, they have uniquely crafted their own sound.

PUNK ROCK FACTORY

SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBER

High energy, punk rock powerhouses Punk Rock Factory make easy work of their special brand of punk covers.

MC DEVVO

SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER

MC Devvo returns to Sheffield for a very special 20th Anniversary end of year show celebrating two decades of chaos and cult-classic moments.

PRIDE OF YORKSHIRE

ALEX SZAMBO-HASLAM

MONKEY BUSINESS

This summer, 300 lions are prowling the streets of South Yorkshire as Pride of Yorkshire transforms Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster in support of Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity.

For Sheffield designer Alex Szabo-Haslam, painting one of them almost never happened. Alex saw the call-out but assumed it wasn't for him…

What made you think the opportunity wasn't for you?

I'd seen the opportunity and thought about going for it, but because I'd never done anything in 3D before, I talked myself out of it. I do that a lot. I convince myself I won't be able to do things. Then Pride of Yorkshire got in touch to say the Arctic Monkeys had selected me to create their sculpture. I’d worked on their tour posters before, but I definitely wasn't expecting that!

That must have been daunting?

Definitely. I hadn't painted since I was about 18, so I genuinely had no idea what it was going to look like. Designing the soundwave was the easy part. Printing everything out, creating the tape masks and painting it accurately was the real challenge. Thankfully, it's turned out alright.

Tell us about the design.

Once I knew I was creating a sculpture for the Arctic Monkeys, using something from The Car album made sense. I wasn't sure which song to choose until it suddenly hit me – I'm painting the body of a lion. It had to be ‘Body Paint’! The sculpture is wrapped in the song's soundwave. Originally, I wanted it to be black and white, but their previous elephant sculpture had already used that colour palette, so I switched to a metallic finish instead.

I've deliberately not put any text

on it. I'm hoping people work out the connection for themselves. It'll be really interesting to see how people respond.

Have your friends and family been to visit it? How has that felt?

This was the last piece of work I made before my mum died. She was too unwell to visit it in person, but she saw lots of photos and videos while it was being made and installed. Design and artwork were always something she encouraged, so it means a lot that she got to see it before she passed.

My dad's been to visit it a few times. In fact, once he heard I was involved, he decided to cycle the entire trail of 300 sculptures, which is really impressive considering how spread out they all are! Would you like to create more public art?

Some of my other work is on display in London, and I've produced a lot of screenprints over the years, but the lioness is the first time I've painted something like this. Maybe it'll lead to more art trails. I've got loads of other work to draw from and would love to do more public art.

Finally, where would you like your lioness to end up after the trail?

I'd love it to end up somewhere public like the Winter Garden, where hopefully some kid walks by one day and thinks, 'I can do that.'

@szabohaslam

For more information about Pride of Yorkshire, visit prideofyorkshire.org or follow @prideofyorkshiretrail

Against all counsel, Karen Sherwood opened an independent gallery in Hillsborough in 1991. 35 years, more than 10,000 artists and countless brews later, Cupola remains one of the city’s most welcoming creative spaces.

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD

PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER CRAFT GALLERY

“I always say a temporary fit of insanity,” replies Karen Sherwood with a laugh when I ask what inspired her to open Cupola Gallery. “But the reality is I’ve wanted to open an art gallery from the age of 15, bizarrely. My friend Jeni and I would design some of the first art centres, with dedicated spaces for art, fashion, independent cinema, restaurants and even stress relief rooms … we were ahead of the curve!”

I’m sitting with Karen – an instantly warm and likeable character – in the front room of her gallery on Middlewood Road. It’s a veritable Tardis-like warren of artistic talent and creativity, with four rooms and a splendid sculpture garden currently displaying the work of more than 150 artists. There’s plenty to catch the eye: from Alison Dunn's oversized leather Mega Boob hanging in the Craft Gallery to Alexander Johnston's Straita 1, a geometric wall sculpture assembled from thousands of individually cut wooden slats.

It turns out that the idea for Cupola wasn't born from spotting a gap in the market so much as running headfirst into a big problem. When Karen graduated with a fine art degree in the late 1980s, she found herself looking for somewhere to exhibit her work in a city that had produced generations of artists but remarkably few places to show contemporary art.

"I could not find anywhere. People said, 'Oh, there's the university library,' or there was a tiny gallery in Crookes, but I couldn't even get an A1 portfolio through

the door there. There'd been an art college in Sheffield for 150 years, there were working studios, but nowhere to show or sell contemporary art. I thought, 'This is ridiculous.' People kept saying to me, 'It'll never work in Sheffield,' and I was thinking, 'It's the fifth largest city in the country. What the hell is going on?'"

Determined to prove there was an audience, Karen and fellow printmaker Shaeron organised an exhibition in the flat she was renting above a butcher's shop on Wostenholm Road. They designed and screenprinted invitations before handing them out anywhere they could think of.

"We took them to church, we took them to the theatre, I harassed people at bus stops. In the end, loads of people came. We had free alcohol, which probably helped, but people bought things too. The work wasn't expensive, but it was unusual, and people don't buy things just because they're cheap. They buy them because they like them."

The experience helped to convince Karen there was room for a contemporary gallery in Sheffield. However, finding anyone else who agreed proved another matter.

"The bank almost patted me on the head. Business support didn't understand the concept of an art gallery because you couldn't buy it, mark it up and sell it off. I even contacted the Arts Council and they said, 'We've supported so many galleries that have gone down the swanny. We don't bother anymore.' I thought, 'Oh, that’s inspired me with confidence.'"

The breakthrough arrived from

PIG BY MICK KIRKBY GEDDES

RUFFLE DOUGHNUT VASE BY JENNIFER COBB

somewhere unexpected. Following the death of her grandmother, a check arrived for around £15,000 a year later. Around the same time, she'd met the owner of the picture framing business on Middlewood Road who was planning to emigrate to Alaska.

"I suddenly thought, 'Blimey, I wonder how much he wants for the business?' Perhaps a picture framers could subsidise the gallery? Maybe I could make that work."

The asking price was £10,000. Karen negotiated to pay £6,000 upfront and the rest during her first year in business. The landlord offered favourable rent if she took the neighbouring unit as well.

"I ran off to Scotland to get married, came back, learnt how to picture frame in a fortnight and opened an art gallery," she recalls, still sounding faintly amused by the whirlwind nature of it all. "It was completely bonkers, really."

With a seemingly inexhaustible amount of energy expended in a short space of time, things fell into place and the doors opened in 1991. But there’s a wry smile as she adds, “and then came the cynicism.” Karen remembers putting out a call to Yorkshire Artspace inviting artists to submit work. Just one did.

"The thinking was it couldn't be any good if it was in Sheffield and it certainly couldn't be any good if it was in Hillsborough. I was like, 'I beg your pardon?' People said there was no money in Hillsborough. I said, 'Hang on. People buy houses, kitchens, holidays and cars. What do you mean there's no money?' They'd say people wouldn't choose to

DODO - BY BRUCE HARDWICK & LYNN CIRTCHLOW

GALLERY OWNER, KAREN SHERWOOD

STRATA I BY ALEXANDER JOHNSTON

spend it on art, but if you're never given the choice, how can you decide what your taste is?"

That determination to challenge assumptions still defines Cupola Gallery today. Karen talks less about selling artwork than she does about removing the invisible obstacles and presumptions that stop people walking through the door in the first place.

"The biggest barrier to any art gallery is often the door because people assume galleries are posh and unwelcoming,” she sighs. “But look: there’s free cake every Saturday, we've got Lego for children, we're dog friendly. There are things here that cost thousands of pounds and there are things for a couple of quid. We're here to deliver the pleasure principle: this is joy and it's personal and it’s for everyone."

Over the years, this dug-in philosophy has created as many memorable stories as exhibitions. During the huge disruption caused by the Supertram works in the early 1990s, when businesses across Hillsborough struggled simply to stay open, construction workers would often stand outside looking through the gallery window.

"I said, 'Come in and have a look,' and they said, 'We're mucky though.' They came in, I made them a cup of tea and they wandered round. A few months later one of them came back in and said, 'You don't remember me, do you? I'm one of those builders you invited in. You weren't rude to me and you didn't patronise me.' It just shows you how important those experiences are."

Another poignant encounter has stayed with her even longer.

"There was a man stood outside for about 10 minutes. Eventually I opened the door and asked if he'd like to come

in. He said, 'I didn't know whether you'd ask me to go away because I might not be the kind of person you want in your gallery.' That just broke my heart."

Listening to Karen, it's clear that interactions with customers matter just as much as the exhibitions themselves. Over the years she estimates they’ve exhibited work by more than 10,000 artists. Plenty, like ceramicist Edmund de Waal, have gone on to international acclaim. Others have remained part of the Cupola family for decades. Several artists from the gallery's earliest years are exhibiting alongside first-time contributors in the current show.

"I'm not here to be the arbiter of taste,” she tells me. “I'm interested in showcasing people's creative talents and I love showing the diversity of art. Creativity is absolutely essential. There's not a culture on the planet that exists without music, dance, poetry and some form of visual art. If that doesn't tell you

it's a fundamental need, I don't know what does."

The gallery itself has grown organically over time. What started as a picture framing workshop gradually expanded into neighbouring rooms, while Karen and her husband moved upstairs to make space for more exhibitions below. The sculpture garden followed once the building became entirely dedicated to the gallery.

There have been personal sacrifices too. Karen speaks candidly about putting her own artistic practice on hold while raising her two sons and running the business. It wasn't until a customer lent her a caravan in Seahouses for a much-needed break that she rediscovered painting.

"I went away for 10 days, did 22 sketches and I've not stopped since."

Now, Cupola's anniversary exhibition 35 Years brings together an eclectic mix of work in what she cheerfully admits is a busier hang than usual.

"I wanted to show as many people as I possibly could because that's what the gallery has always been about. I want people to come in, have a cup of tea or coffee, wander round and take their time."

The celebrations continue with a free party on Sunday 30 August featuring live jazz, Persian food from local restaurant Antler and, inevitably, Karen greeting visitors with the same enthusiasm that's carried Cupola Gallery through recessions, roadworks and changing fortunes over the last three and a half decades.

"All people have got to do is have a drink, enjoy the art on show and put up with me wandering round going, 'I love you all.'

“Now, that’s not such a bad deal, is it?"

cupolagallery.com

LONG GALLERY

OHGRRR DOLL BY ILLOLLLIE

THE HARE BY JENNIE MCCALL

Friday 4 sept 2026 the bootleg beatles

£28.50, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 12 sept 2026 THE molotovs

£15 00, Doors 7:30pm

wednesday 30 sept 2026 The amazons

£26 00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 2 oct 2026 the coral

£30 00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 3 oct 2026 matilda shakes

£10 50, Doors 7:30pm

Monday 5 oct 2026 fat dog album launch show

Wednesday 7 oct 2026 madra salach

£17 50, Doors 7:30pm

DAY DISCOS

£25 00 Doors 3:00pm 18+

saturday 8 aug 2026 SKA DAY PARTY

saturday 5 sep 2026 Reggae DAY PARTY

saturday 10 oct 2026

saturday 14 nov 2026

friday 9 oct 2026 antarctic monkeys

£20 00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 15 oct 2026 the wanted 2.0

friday 27 nov 2026 northside

£25 00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 28 nov 2026 the bracknall

£27 00, Doors 7:00pm friday 23 OCT 2026

£20 00, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 6 dec 2026

friday 16 oct & saturday 17 oct 2026 grace petrie

bleech 9:3

£17 00, Doors 7:30pm

THE UNDERTONES

£32 50, Doors 7:30pm

£21 00 / £18 00, Doors 7:30pm friday 30 OCT 2026

COLDPLACE

£24 00, Doors 7:30pm THE WORLD’S LEADING TRIBUTE TO COLDPLAY

thursday 5 nov 2026

£16 00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 6 nov 2026 craig charles

funk & soul house party

£20 00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 12 NOV 2026

friday 11 dec 2026 connor mclain

£22 50, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 12 dec 2026 indiepalooza

£32 00, Doors 5:30pm indie tribute festival

friday 18 dec 2026 rob lamberti: perfectly george

£31 00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 23 jan 2027 bad girls of country

£25 00, Doors 7:00pm

£27 50, Doors 7:00pm mike joyce & stephen street in conversation:

cOUNTRY DAY PARTY

saturday 19 dec 2026 80S DAY PARTY trance DAY PARTY

friday 25 SEPT 2026 CELYA AB

£19 00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 26 SEPT 2026 jazz emu

£22 00, Doors 6:30pm

friday 2 OCT 2026

MICHAEL SPICER

£22 00, Doors 7:00pm

TUESDAY 20 OCT 2026

CHRISTOPHER HALL-PIZAZZ

£23 00, Doors 7:00pm

£25 00, Doors 7:30pm the entitled sons

saturday 20 mar 2027 erasured

£19 50, Doors 7:30pm

Friday14 mar 2027

THE TUMBLING PADDIES

saturday 21 NOV 2026 the smyths

£20 00, Doors 7:30pm friday 13 NOV 2026

livewire

acdc tribute

£20 00 Doors 7:00pm

FRIDAY 23 OCT 2026 MORGAN REES

£21 00, Doors 7:30pm friday 6 NOV 2026

stuart goldsmith

£15 00, Doors 7:00PM

WEDNESDAY 11 NOV 2026

£20 00, Doors 6:30pm the Dark room

friday 20 NOV 2026 ginger johnson

£28 00, Doors 7:00pm

HANNAH EAST

£24 00, Doors 2:00PM / 7:00PM

sATURDAY 7 NOV 2026 amy matthews

£14 00, Doors 6:30PM SATURDAY 7 NOV 2026

all shows open to the public tickets available from foundrysu com box office: 0114 222 8777

wednesday 25 NOV 2026 mark simmons

£20 00, Doors 6:30pm

(14+unlessstated otherwise) foundry, sheffield students’ union western bank, s10 2tg foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk @foundrysheffield scan for tickets

CONOR ROGERS

Conor Rogers' studio at Bloc Projects is exactly the sort of place you'd hope to find the proudly working-class, Sheffield-based artist creating in. Dominating one wall is an oversized frame made from pebble dash, its centre deliberately left blank as he waits for the right idea to land. Opposite, monumental depictions of maisonette balconies hang on sheets of painstakingly layered Rizla paper, their fragile surfaces at odds with the hardedged architecture they portray. On the edges of the room, scraps of smaller works and myriad painting materials spill across tables.

Conor has worked from Bloc since 2020, moving into a larger studio a couple of years ago after outgrowing his original space. The extra room has allowed his practice to shift beyond painting into increasingly ambitious work, while giving him the distance needed to live with a piece in the periphery before deciding what’s needed next.

"As I've got this space, the work's got bigger, more challenging, more sculptural," he explains. "That's the main reason I wanted somewhere larger – to see where the work can go."

His multidisciplinary practice combines painting, sculpture and poetry to tell stories often rooted in lived experience, often using everyday spaces and rituals as a way to explore class and identity in modern-day Britain.

A current body of work being compiled pushes that idea further. Council estate architecture is reimagined through allegory, with one piece asking

what Icarus’ balcony might look like if he lived in a council flat on Winn Gardens. It's a recurring theme of his practice: taking environments often dismissed as unsightly or unremarkable and gently uncovering the poetic beauty within them.

"I'm trying to rewrite narratives around these spaces, capture the poetry in them and give a sense of reverence to places that are often unrevered," he says. "Why can't the everyday be revered too?"

His sketchbook is constantly filled with thoughts, overheard conversations and fragments of ideas, with inspiration arriving from wherever he happens to be looking. A walk around the city, old BBC archive footage or the triggered memory of an old friend can all find their way into a finished piece.

"Once I'm in a project, you become extremely observant. I'm always looking at the objects outside people's homes or taking bits from conversations I'm having. As an artist, you're engaging with your surroundings all the time."

Rather than keeping the creative process hidden away, Conor regularly likes to welcome collectors and visitors into the space, offering the chance to see work in progress and understand how it develops. It strips away some of the distance that can exist between artist and audience, replacing it with conversation and personal connection.

Like many artists, he balances his practice with a part-time job to fund his studio, often spending ten or twelve hours in the studio on the days he has free. The schedule can be relentless and frustrating at times, but he knows the danger of staying away too long.

"As soon as you're in here, you know you're building on what you need to be doing. You're keeping momentum going. One of the worst things is that absence – knowing you should be here, creating, and not being in. That’s not a feeling I enjoy at all."

conorrogers.co.uk @conor___rogers

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER

I'M TRYING TO REWRITE NARRATIVES AROUND THESE SPACES, CAPTURE THE POETRY IN THEM AND GIVE A SENSE OF REVERENCE TO PLACES THAT ARE OFTEN UNREVERED"

Hummus

Mixed

Cacik

Halloumi

Sigara Borek alafel

empura Prawn

Soup

Chicken

Lamb

Adana

Chicken

Vegetable

Lamb

Veggie

Tavuklu Pide

Sebzeli Pide

THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION

WORDS: MARK PERKINS

The film follows a young Mexican woman who fakes a pregnancy, only to become trapped in an ever-growing web of deceit. As events unfold, the story becomes so astonishing that it feels almost impossible to believe it isn't fiction – yet every moment is true. Alberdi has established herself as one of documentary cinema's most distinctive voices, earning two Academy Award nominations and widespread acclaim. When she visited Sheffield to present the film, I caught up with her to discuss A Child of My Own, along with some of the films that have shaped her remarkable career.

How did you come across this incredible story?

I first met Alejandra, the woman at the heart of this story, when I was doing some research and just became obsessed with her story. How can a woman fake a pregnancy and not be found out? As her pretence went on, more and more people ended up being involved and affected by it, and the fallout from what she ended up doing was unbelievable. She had had several miscarriages, but wasn’t offered any help with the toll this took on her mental health. As she was recovering on the miscarriage ward, she was even placed with mothers and their newborn babies. It was made much worse because of the expectation from family to have children in Mexican society. There were so many

points in her story where someone should have reached out or stepped in to help her, but she was left to cope totally on her own.

Did the story challenge the way you think about documentary storytelling? I studied cinema before making documentaries, and my training focused on the craft of fictional storytelling. The one thing they teach you is how the hero has to go on some sort of journey, and change in some way. When you’re making a documentary, you realise that this rarely happens in real life. As you’ll see in this film, despite everything, some people never change and are all the more fascinating for it. As much as this is a story about one person’s choices, it’s also a story of how the social system in Mexico failed. I really want the film to speak to women in Latin America about the heavy and pervasive social pressure to conform and meet expectations, which is so hard and so common, but so rarely discussed.

Your films all seem to be characterised by you showing the audience an intimate portrait of small worlds, like for example your first feature, The Lifeguard, and later on in The Grown-Ups. The Lifeguard follows a man who works at the most dangerous beach in Chile, and who is afraid of water. He doesn’t see this as a problem, as his job is mainly to prevent, not to save. His partner takes naps all day, but luckily is also the one who

is very good at the rescues. It is all about building a relationship with the people you are filming. I have to really love them, as I spend so much time with them. And also in the film I restrict the filming so we never see the sea. The Grown-Ups is about a group of people with Down’s syndrome, who are in their 50s but still go to school, and are still treated like children. No one features in the film who doesn’t have Down’s syndrome. I restricted this deliberately to show how they are living in a world totally isolated from society for their entire lives

I understand you have worked with the same crew for the last 15 years. Yes, all of us know what to do and film intuitively. I look at filmmakers who make both fiction films and documentary films as artists, but artists working in very different ways. One is a painter, the other a sculptor. Fiction directors have a wide canvas, where they add information to construct their characters, adding colour until the character appears. Documentary directors do completely the opposite. I am faced with a big rock in front of me –reality. Reality is so big that you can’t film everything. I take away the rock until the character appears. You need to trust that time will give you the scenes you need, but you need to be patient to let the story tell itself. You cannot moderate life.

At Sheffield DocFest this year, one film stood head and shoulders above the rest. A Child of My Own, directed by Maite Alberdi, captivated audiences, sparked countless conversations and left a lasting impression on everyone who saw it. It arrives on Netflix on 13 August.

ON THE EDGE

One of the UK’s most influential and celebrated landscape architects and gardeners is bringing her award-winning Chelsea Flower Show garden to a new home in Sheffield.

Sarah Eberle’s ‘On the Edge’, which won 2026’s Garden of the Year, is taking root at Park Hill flats to illustrate the necessity of greenery and connecting with nature in busy urban spaces. Exposed’s Ruby Deakin sat down with Sarah to discuss the new project and the importance of preserving nature on our doorstep.

‘On the Edge’, commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CRPE), invites visitors to envelop themselves in nature, cherish its beauty and healing power, and confront what is at stake if these spaces become overlooked and neglected.

Inspired by the fields, paths, parks, woods, and scrublands that provide a vital, everyday encounter with nature, Sarah’s garden illuminates the ‘edgelands’ of towns and cities where fragile land can become eroded by development. She draws on her upbringing on the edge of her hometown and a childhood fascination with local nature, creating a poignant space that offers a sense of hope for a greener future.

“This land is the first touchstone of nature that people who live in towns and cities have. It’s where we walk our dogs, it’s where our children play, and that access to land is important,” Sarah explains. “We wanted to call the garden ‘On the Edge’ because it describes both the location and the threat. It’s on the edge of towns and cities, but it’s also on the edge of development, it’s on the edge of climate change.”

At the centre of the garden lies the breathtaking Gaia sculpture who flows seamlessly through the landscape. As a guardian of nature, she represents the necessity of preserving the countryside surrounding every town and city and protecting the wild spaces that are at risk of being lost.

“Nature is a sanctuary,” says Sarah. “Of course, Gaia, although a Greek God, is well known as being Mother Nature, and so I knew creating her would really hold the place and explain the garden to people. And so, she needed to be big, as a symbol of protection of nature and sanctuary.

“Along the way, we had a couple of scenarios where things didn’t go as planned,” she continues, “but it worked for the better. I actually felt like Gaia herself was just guiding us along, and the whole thing came together.”

Following its enormous success at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, the garden has been rebuilt and reimagined for a new life at Park Hill Flats in Sheffield. After first visiting Park Hill in the 1970s as a landscape architectural student, Sarah says she had confidence that the luscious grounds would provide the perfect second home for Gaia.

“I knew immediately that this was the place for her. I’m almost more excited about her being there than I was at Chelsea, because I really think she belongs there. There’s something about the balance between her spirituality and her softness and the buildings, which are so brutal. It brings it together in a really nice way.”

The project has been an immense joint effort between so many artisan crafters and makers, who have seen the garden grow and bloom over many months. Collaborating with Sarah is the aptly named chainsaw artist Chris Wood, who conjured and carved the Gaia sculpture from fallen mature trees, and Tom Hare, who weaved the figure’s hair from willow branches.

The team also includes Lydia and Cuthbert Noble, fifth-generation stonewallers from West Yorkshire, alongside steel workers, structural engineers, and so many others that have each brought their own unique ideas to

the project.

“I love working with them. I said right from the start that this is a major collaboration, and I’m more like a conductor of an orchestra than anything,” she says. “We all feed off each other’s energy; we fire each other up and create something that’s braver and bolder than what you’d be able to do on your own.”

For Park Hill, the team have transformed the garden into a more streamlined space that will organically evolve over time amongst the shapes and curves of the site’s green spaces. Sarah explains how the plant varieties seen at the original Chelsea garden have been adapted, with the new ground supporting naturally growing flora and hedgerows tailored to Park Hill’s unique landscape.

“There is now wildflower turf, which marries to the banks around it. The simplified form for me is enough; it shows off her glory, and actually what the plants were doing at Chelsea, the surroundings are doing here.”

It is her hope that locals and visitors will find joy and strength in the garden, connecting through shared experiences in the space to slowly heal our relationship with the natural world.

“Connecting to nature is critical, and I think our population has become very divorced from nature and what it means. It’s our natural habitat, and I think every single person has an inbuilt genetic response to nature. You might have to dig it out of some people, but I’m hoping that she will do that to a degree; that sense of what the benefit is to people’s peace of mind and their sense of self, and the sense of community pride of something shared, will grow, hopefully.”

She adds: “For the residents, I want them to have ownership, it’s theirs and it’s for them. It’s there to interact with, and if it gives anybody half the pleasure it gave us making her and seeing her come to life, then that’s job done.”

@saraheberlelandscape

CONNECTING TO NATURE IS CRITICAL, AND I THINK OUR POPULATION HAS BECOME VERY DIVORCED FROM NATURE AND WHAT IT MEANS.

ART IN THE GARDENS

5-6 SEPTEMBER / BOTANICAL GARDENS

One of Sheffield’s best-loved summer events is back, and this year Art in the Gardens is bringing more artistic talent than ever to the city.

Taking over Sheffield Botanical Gardens on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, Art in the Gardens will once again transform one of the city’s most iconic green spaces into a huge outdoor gallery.

As arguably the largest outdoor art market in the North of England, it will be positively packed with art, crafts, design, and independent food and drink.

Whether you’re a serious art collector, looking for something unique for your home, or just after a great day out with friends, this event has become a fixture in Sheffield’s cultural calendar for good reason. More than 300 artists and makers are expected to attend, showcasing everything from paintings and photography to ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, printmaking, and textiles.

What makes this year especially exciting is the number of new exhibiting artists joining the event. Alongside many familiar favourites, visitors will have the chance to discover a wide range of emerging creatives exhibiting at Art in the Gardens for the very first time. It means there will be even more fresh styles, ideas, and original work to explore, with plenty of opportunities to meet the artists behind the pieces and hear the stories that inspired them.

Art in the Gardens offers something that feels increasingly rare – the chance to buy directly from independent artists. Whether it’s a bold print for a new flat, a handmade gift, or a statement piece that catches your eye, there’s something

satisfying about finding artwork with a genuine personal connection behind it.

The event has become just as well known for its street food and refreshments as it has for its artwork. Expect a wide selection of independent traders serving everything from sweet treats and artisan coffee to international flavours and festival favourites.

At a time when people are looking for meaningful experiences and ways to support local and independent businesses, Art in the Gardens feels more relevant than ever. It celebrates Sheffield’s creativity, gives artists a platform to reach new audiences and offers visitors the chance to discover something unexpected.

So, whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for a laid-back weekend activity, Art in the Gardens is the perfect excuse to gather your friends, soak up some late summer sunshine, and discover the incredible creative talent on display. Tickets are £8.50 per adult and must be bought in advance. Under 16s go free. Find out more at ArtInTheGardens. com

KING LEAR

29 AUG – 19 SEPT // CRUCIBLE // £15-£45

Shakespeare’s King Lear returns to Sheffield, reimagining the infamous tragic story for the Crucible stage. Set in preRoman Britain, it depicts the once-great King’s descent into madness and the fatal consequences of his family love-test. Directed by Titas Halder and starring Olivier and Tony award-winning Ian McDiarmid in the title role, alongside a huge ensemble cast. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

SHEFFIELD FLOWER FESTIVAL

23 AUG // THE MOWBRAY & VICTORIA // £2

Taking place for the first time in 2026, Sheffield Flower Festival is a joyful celebration of flowers, creativity and community, hosted across two Neepsend venues and brought together by Bloom Sheffield. The event features a vibrant flower market where visitors can meet local growers and take home a fresh bunch, a showcase of selected creative makers, floristry demonstrations, talks and workshops, as well as a selection of seasonal food, drink, fun games and activities.

PLAY FESTIVAL

29 JULY – 9 AUG // SHOWROOM // INDIVIDUALLY PRICED

PLAY is Sheffield’s new creative and interactive festival, featuring films, gaming and workshops for children and families across 12 days. The festival includes model making with Aardman, VR Sessions with Yorkshire-based Dreaming Methods, felt workshop with Moomin, an all-day Muppet tribute show, special film screenings and more. showroomcinema.org.uk

LIVES IN FOCUS: PHOTOGRAPHY IN SHEFFIELD’S COLLECTION

UNITL 23 DEC // GRAVES GALLERY // FREE

Combining newly acquired photographic works and recent picks from the city’s collection, this new exhibition will celebrate the power of photography to unearth shared threads and histories, exploring identity, belonging and visibility. sheffieldmuseums.org.uk

Art in the Gardens returns to Sheffield with fresh talent, great food and plenty of creative inspiration.