Issuu

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!”

KATE PETERS QUARTET

Another fantastic Leeds export The Kate Peters Quartet play a mix of Jazz, Swing, Funk, and Latin. Kate herself is a uniquely talented and versatile vocalist who has worked extensively as a session singer and plays with some of the UK´s most talented jazz musicians. Loved by dancers and Jazzers alike these guys know how to play to a crowd and get everyone moving! 4

THURSDAY

SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY BIG BAND

The University’s exciting ensemble organised and led entirely by current SU students. They play a variety of great music to the highest standard in a fun, and inclusive environment. A serious amount of brass.

THURSDAY

MONTUNO JAZZ

THURSDAY

Sheffield’s premier jazz, funk and soul collective draw on their massive core influences to bring you the absolute best in Swing, Jump Jive, Blues and Mambo. With a pedigree that spans Tramlines, Glastonbury and the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, expect favourites: from Basie, Ellington and Tito Puente to Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles & Ella Fitzgerald. Guaranteed to get The Big Swing dancing and the whole joint rocking. F.B.I

Curated and fronted by Sheffield guitarist royalty Shez Sheridan, FBI play jumping West coast Jazz and Swing! They played some of the very first Big Swing events and we’re very lucky they’re still part of the family!

TAPAS - COCKTAILS - LIVE MUSIC - DANCE

2 COURSE

26: HOUSE RULES

From rave-era Sheff to Grammy nominations and global dancefloor anthems, Steve Edwards has spent decades as the man shaping music from behind the scenes. Now, with a new EP reclaiming some of his biggest hits, the city’s most overlooked musical icon is stepping into the spotlight – and reflecting on the wild journey that got him there.

10: AWARDS SEASON

Find out who took home the prizes at this year’s event, which venue accidentally lost its trophy within hours of winning it and how a music icon brought the night to a euphoric close. Plus: all the chaos, celebrations and unforgettable moments from our annual Steel City get-together.

46: MADE IN SHEFFIELD

Acclaimed writer Daniel Dylan Wray digs into the stories behind his new book, Groovy, Laidback & Nasty. From Cabaret Voltaire to Arctic Monkeys, Hamis Yewdall finds out how a post-industrial city became one of Britain’s most influential musical breeding grounds.

60: LIGHTS, CAMERA… ACTION!

Find out what to expect from DocFest 2026 as festival director Raul Niño Zambrano talks activism, podcasts and this year’s biggest guests. From Maxine Peake and Miriam Margolyes to local music docs, live events and 24-hour film-making challenges – here’s your guide to one of the city’s biggest cultural events.

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)

GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Lowri Rennick, Max Hayward, Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins

is published monthly by

EXPOSED AWARDS ‘26 IN NUMBERS

AWARDS SEASON

The annual Exposed Awards returned last month – and what a tozzing ol’ do it was! Completely sold out at Peddler Warehouse, Sheffield’s arts, culture, nightlife and hospitality scenes came together once more to celebrate the city’s finest, as voted for by Exposed Mag readers.

23 Award trophies up for grabs, spanning everything from restaurants and bars to independent retailers and wellbeing hubs, plus the Sarah Nulty Special Recognition Award.

Trophy lost during the afterparty shenanigans (no names mentioned –*cough* Kapital *cough*). Thankfully, it turned up a few days later.

People made it into the Exposed office the following day, with a suspicious number deciding to ‘work from home’.

Last month, a spectacular collection of 150 lion sculptures was unveiled together for the first time ahead of this summer’s Pride of Yorkshire trail, with some of the region’s favourite artists – and a few famous faces – in attendance. Next, the sculptures will take over streets and public spaces across South Yorkshire from 8 June.

Utilita Arena Sheffield hosted the one-night-only preview event where guests were given an opportunity to see the full collection side by side before the sculptures are installed across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley this month.

The ambitious public art trail has been created to celebrate 150 years of Sheffield Children’s Hospital and is expected to become one of the UK’s largest free trails of its kind.

During the launch event, organisers also announced that Pride of Yorkshire will raise £2.8m towards a £20m transformation of Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department and Major Trauma Centre.

The redevelopment comes as the department continues to operate well beyond its original capacity. Opened in 1977 and originally designed to treat 24,000 patients annually, the Emergency Department now sees more than 62,000 children and young people every year.

Ruth Brown, chief executive of Sheffield Children’s, said the investment would help create a calmer and more

child-friendly environment for patients and families.

“With support from Pride of Yorkshire, we can transform our ED and Major Trauma Centre into a calm, childfriendly space that reduces fear and anxiety, supports recovery, and matches the outstanding care our teams provide every day,” she said.

The collection itself draws heavily on South Yorkshire’s cultural identity, with sculptures inspired by artists and bands including Arctic Monkeys, Self Esteem, Def Leppard, Richard Hawley and Bring Me The Horizon, alongside designs celebrating the region’s sporting, film and creative heritage.

John Armstrong, chief executive of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, described the unveiling as “something really special”.

“Each lion marks a year in the life of Sheffield Children’s, and a year of caring for children and families across this region and beyond,” he said.

The Pride of Yorkshire trail follows the success of Bears of Sheffield and Herd of Sheffield but is twice the scale of

both previous projects.

The lions will be on display from 8 June until 8 September before being auctioned off in October to raise funds for the Children's Hospital Charity. Once the trail launches, a digital map will be available at prideoyorkshire.org, alongside physical maps available from merchandise stands across the region. Full details of where to find them can also be found on the website.

PEDDLER TURNS UP THE VOLUME

TWELVE YEARS AFTER HELPING KICKSTART SHEFFIELD’S STREET FOOD REVOLUTION, PEDDLER MARKET IS HEADING IN A BOLD NEW DIRECTION

What began as a food-first gathering with a couple of music stages attached is evolving into something bigger: a freeentry, five-stage monthly music festival spread across its familiar Kelham Island home, with live bands, DJs, record shops and local promoters taking centre stage.

Food isn’t going anywhere – far from it – but 12 years on, Peddler is already synonymous with the best UK street food, and founder Jordan Roberts says it’s time to shine more of a spotlight on the musical talent on-site.

“We’ve always been a street food event with two music stages,” he explains. “Now we’re expanding to five stages, working with some of the best emerging and established promoters from Sheffield and beyond.

“After more than 100 Peddler Markets – all featuring free-entry gigs – street food will still play a huge part in the experience, but the evolving music programme will make each month feel unique and unmissable.”

The first edition of the reformatted Peddler lands on the usual first Friday and Saturday of the month, 5–6 June, and promises a sprawling, multi-space experience inspired as much by classic city festivals as warehouse parties and independent culture.

“It’s like a little mini festival,” Jordan says. “Tramlines has always been a huge inspiration of mine – back when it was city centre-based and free roaming. You’d pop in, pop out, find your vibe. Festivals should feel like an adventure of discovery, and I want to bring that labyrinth-like element to the event.”

That sense of exploration will be baked into the layout itself. Across the site, visitors can expect three live music stages, two dedicated DJ spaces and a series of takeovers tucked into the venue’s various corners and hidden spaces.

“There’s a car park stage, the inside main stage, a courtyard stage, the Factory Floor and activities happening in the basement underneath too,” Jordan explains. “Bands, DJs, the whole thing.”

The event will also place a huge emphasis on collaboration with Sheffield’s independent music community. Among those involved in the first edition are

Funky Drummer, Pink Wafer, Midnight Creatures and Kitchen Radio, alongside local record shops including Hub Records.

Each area will carry its own identity; the car park is set to become a laid-back vinyl lounge filled with Chesterfield sofas and curated selections from Hub Records, while Midnight Creatures

take charge indoors with an upbeat live programme “leaning into a little bit of punk”. Elsewhere, Funky Drummer brings carnival energy to the courtyard, while the Factory Floor space will become 'Factory Reset' – an all-out club environment.

“Twelve years ago, we filled a gap that Sheffield really needed,” he says. “Since then, it’s nourished this huge gastronomic change within the city. Now there’s food halls and street food everywhere, which is great because people have choice –amazing street food is a given, so expect more music, more seating, just more of everything else.”

Peddler Reformatted will debut on 5–6 June. More details and lineup announcements can be found via @ peddlermkt.

Not our words, dear readers, but the verdict from a member of the Warp Films team. Cynics will claim they were simply asking where the bathrooms were and we misheard over the noise inside the venue, but frankly, we’re taking it.

That’s because Sheffield once again showed up in style for the packed-to-therafters Exposed Awards 2026, our annual celebration of the city’s finest in nightlife, hospitality, retail, culture and more.

23 awards were handed out in total and big winner on the night was… checks notes Creative Colour! Who were announced as Best New Bar despite, in fact, being the company who made the envelopes. An awkward moment. Turns out that honour, in fact, went to Kapital, who may or may not have have broken the record for Quickest Loss of an Exposed Award mere hours after accepting.

Kicking things off was our brand-new award for Best New Café, with one of the loudest cheers of the night erupting as Groke Café scooped the hotly contested title.

Sheffield’s craft drinks scene also proved it’s still very much in rude health, with The Old Shoe retaining the Best Bar crown for a second consecutive year. Already firmly established as one of the city’s best-loved spots, the win capped off another huge year for the Orchard Square hotspot.

One of the evening’s most heartfelt

moments saw the Sarah Nulty Special Recognition Award go to Warp Films, who shrugged off any awards fatigue after a year spent hoovering up acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic for their latest release, Adolescence. A massively popular and richly deserved winner for consistently putting South Yorkshire on the map.

Our ever-thriving music scene had its moment too, with Best Unsigned Band or Musician going to Femur, whose ferocious live shows have made them one of the most exciting acts on the local circuit right now.

And just when you thought the night couldn’t get any more top-notch, house music legend Steve Edwards closed things out with a trip through his back catalogue, including a special rendition of global dancefloor anthem ‘World, Hold On’.

Of course, no Exposed Awards is complete without a proper knees-up afterwards, and guests duly carried on the carnage at the official afterparty hosted by Factory Floor.

Now, we’ll stop carping on about it and hand over to the winners. Here’s what they had to say…

THE SARAH NULTY SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

WARP FILMS

A true Sheffield icon, Warp Films! How are you feeling about winning?

Very excited. It’s a special one, because most of us are local and from Sheffield. That means a lot to us.

What was the production experience like for Adolescence?

It was very challenging, however it was the most amazing experience in terms of seeing 200 people who, whether you’ve got the smallest job or the biggest job on the set, everyone was like a team and if one person failed, everyone failed. After 30 years, that production taught me that everybody is the most important person on the set. Treat everyone amazingly. If someone makes a mistake, the worst thing you can do is make them feel bad about that mistake, because often mistakes are made from stress. This production was about the whole, not the individuals. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

BEST LIVE VENUE

YELLOW ARCH

Congrats to mighty Yellow Arch! Is there anything on the horizon for you guys?

All the venues here work together, and we’re chatting about a lot of things. We’ve got Get Together coming at the weekend, then Franz Von at the end of the month – that should be amazing. We've always got plenty on.

BEST NEW CAFÉ

GROKE

How does it feel to win?

Amazing – we honestly feel we deserve it. It’s been incredible. We opened just too late for last year's Awards. But the main thing is we’ve got there this time!

What’s next for Groke?

The first year was a whirlwind. We never really stepped back – you never know if you’ll make it to year one. Now for the first time we’ve taken a breath and asked: what can we do with this? We’re looking over the horizon and thinking about where this can go. We don’t know yet, but it’s definitely going somewhere.

Any hot coffee takes?

I’ve been making coffee a long time and some places do phenomenal stuff. But our thing has always been: source it well, make sure the farm gets paid and serve a drink you’d actually order yourself. It’s not about judging people – we do what makes people happy and clearly that’s worked.

BEST VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

CHURCH

How does it feel to win?

Really good. There were some strong venues in the running, so to be recognised above them feels great. We’ve had people booking as far out as 2028, which is crazy for a small space – but it just shows that what we're doing is working.

What makes Church so unique?

When people go out but want it to be special – whether that’s a casual night out, a 60th birthday or any sort of milestone celebration – they want a space they can trust will deliver. That’s the direction hospitality is heading, and that’s exactly what we offer.

What’s something that might surprise people about the venue?

It’s fully vegan, including drinks, which surprises everyone. But really it’s the creative vision behind everything that brings it together. No bullshit – just action. BEST INDEPENDENT RETAILER

How does it feel to win?

Bonkers. We started as a pop-up inside Annie Jude’s four years ago, so to go from that small independent pop-up to a full creative space of our own – and then to win this – is just mad. It really shows how much people value experience when they walk into a shop.

What’s next?

It’s the National Year of Reading, and our big push is around accessible reading. We’re working with schools on free events and trying to get books

into the hands of people who might not otherwise have them. One in eight children don’t have a single book at home. Being a role model in that space is going to be a huge focus for us this year.

Favourite reading spot in Sheffield? The walled garden in Hillsborough – it’s a bit of a hidden gem, so I’m slightly hesitant to say it! There’s a little pond, it’s really quiet, there’s a lovely café. You can cement yourself into a bench, sit in the sun and just be. Absolutely lovely.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

GREETALY

How does it feel to win?

I’m still realising what just happened. After one year of really hard work – truly hard work – this is crazy. It means everything, celebrating everything we’ve built in just twelve months. I have too many words right now.

What’s next for Greetaly?

We’ve already talked about looking further afield – different cities, different towns. It’s a concept no one else is really doing: Greek and Italian together. Yes, there’s Mediterranean food out there, but it’s the concept behind it and the way it’s delivered that puts us on the map. We can see this expanding. Watch this space.

Any controversial food takes?

I’m sitting next to an Italian who obviously doesn’t do pineapple on pizza. No fruit explosions in the mouth allowed, apparently. Can’t get more controversial than that, can you?

BEST NEW BAR

KAPITAL

Prost! How does it feel to get this award? Amazing. Fantastic. We’ve worked really hard for a long time to get here – and we’ve only been open just under a year. This is recognition of all the work that happened before we even opened, probably 18 months of hard graft. It feels really, really good.

What makes Kapital stand out?

We bring something Sheffield didn’t have before. We’re right in the heart of the city with 34 taps of European beer over two floors, specialising in tank beer – we import fresh Budvar from the Czech Republic, sometimes weekly. We love European drinking culture and we’ve built a great team who share that passion.

Best country in Europe for beer?

We can’t quite agree – but between us we’re saying Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium. Probably those three, yeah.

GLASS ONION VINTAGE

How does it feel to win?

Absolutely unreal. We’re so proud. It’s a huge team effort – we’re fully independent and to be recognised like this is incredible. We’ve been up for Exposed Awards before, but this year feels extra special for independent businesses in Sheffield.

Any fashion tips from the team?

T-shirts worn as pyjama tops – huge no. Ties without a suit – tragic, honestly. No socks with shoes – a British crime. Saggy jeans – keep them up. Leather jackets that don’t fit – a special kind of no. There you have it. The full Glass Onion style manifesto.

Come along and check out the new menu at Caffè Tucci – same passion, fresh Neapolitan flavours and the kind of big-hearted hospitality that comes through in every single mouthful

Come and see us at 49 Surrey street or 655 Ecclesall road Find us on Insta: caffe_tucci_sheffield Facebook: Caffè Tucci | Sheffield

BEST CLUB

SPONSORED

NAPOLEON’S CASINO

CORPORATION

Up the Corp! How did it feel hearing your name read out?

We genuinely didn’t expect it in the slightest. This is our first time attending the Exposed Awards and just being shortlisted was incredible – but winning? Insane. We weren’t given a brief in case we won, so I have no idea what I said on stage. Someone apparently filmed it, so we’ll find out.

What’s next on the horizon?

We’ve seen incredible growth as a team in the last 12 months. We’re opening a new live room soon, which means we’ll have four rooms of live music running almost simultaneously. We’re growing not just as a club but as a full live music venue – we can’t wait to see where we are in 12 months.

Weirdest things you’ve witnessed at Corp?

There’s so much weird it all merges into one. People trying to eat the microphone during interviews. The sheer number of people doing full splits on the dancefloor – we love it. And when we went through lost property: an obscene number of single left shoes. No pairs. Just single lefties. An 80/20 left-to-right ratio. If anyone needs a large quantity of left shoes, please get in touch immediately.

THE SUSTAINABLE SHEFFIELD AWARD

BEANIE’S WHOLEFOODS

Congrats, Beanies! What does this mean to you?

This is our third year winning in a row, and we campaign pretty hard when we’re nominated. We have a really wide, loyal customer base – some people have been with us since 1986 – and it’s just lovely to see them turn out and vote.

What’s coming up for you?

It’s our 40th birthday this year! We’re celebrating in September with a market in our car park. It feels huge –five years ago we made the leap to a much bigger space and we’ve filled those boots pretty quickly.

Any sustainable eating tips?

Come in and look at what’s actually good value – you’ll learn quickly what’s in season. Buying seasonal means less travel, so you pay more for the food itself and less for logistics. It lasts longer too, and it’ll challenge you to cook differently through the year rather than defaulting to the same things.

BEST TRADITIONAL PUB

FAGAN’S

The legendary Fagan’s! How are you feeling tonight?

Very, very chuffed to be here. Just like everyone else in that room. We weren’t expecting the win, but it's very positive vibes all round.

What’s up next for you lot?

More of the same, but better. We’re carrying on what we do best: community-based events and music sessions in Sheffield. We’ve always been rooted in that and we’ll keep pushing it. Come check us out.

BEST

BAR SPONSORED BY CAFFREY’S BLACK STOUT

BEST MICRO PUB

THE CANARY

A newcomer to the awards – and a winner! How are you feeling about that?

It’s quite an experience, especially being on the Sheffield-Rotherham border. It’s nice to be here. We set out to put really great beers out there for the local community, and the team has worked incredibly hard getting the word out. When we opened, I told one of the other owners our goal was just to be nominated for an Exposed Award. We’ve done a bit better than that!

What makes you stand out?

I genuinely don’t think we are super

THE OLD SHOE

Gu on then, Old Shoe! Is that the hat-trick?

When I set out to open this bar, I sat the team down and said: our goal is to be the best bar for drinks in the whole of the UK. If you’re not going to be passionate about what you do, why are you doing it? Three years of Exposed recognition validate that mission. Every single member of the team is part of that.

What’s the secret to your success?

It’s two things. First, hire the best people, give them the best music to play and the best products to work with. Second, make sure they can actually communicate what’s in the glass to the customer. You can have

the best wine on the planet, but if someone sells it as “just a red”, you’ve failed. Our buyers – beer, wine, cider – source extraordinary things constantly. The team then carries that knowledge to every customer. It’s genuinely hard at every step, and we love it.

What’s exciting on the list right now? Everything changes hourly. That’s the point. Orange wines by the glass, wild imperial styles, crossing the boundaries between beer and wine in the products we serve. Someone might come in having loved something last month – and it’s gone. That forces them to try something new. That’s the joy of it.

unique – all the bars nominated here are fabulous with really interesting offers. I think we’ve been really lucky to land in a community that wanted exactly what we offer. We try to stay independent, do right by local brewers and just provide a really nice bar where you’ll have a good time.

Secret to a great community pub?

The way the staff and the community interact here is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever been part of. You can plan all you like, but it only works if the community responds in kind – and ours really has. It’s something special.

THE MOWBRAY

How does it feel to win?

It means so much. We’re independently owned, proud of that, and we’ve been part of the community for sixteen years across three venues now. We’ve won a Best Micro Business award and recently appeared on TV. To keep getting this kind of recognition – it’s everything.

Tell us about some of your events.

We’ve got the Clubhouse Social downstairs at Victoria, open most days, welcoming people from all over Sheffield. We run creative mornings, evening networking events, and we were even a polling station last week! Through the summer we’re doing an open-air social series on Sundays – grill on, bar open, flower festivals. Lots of reasons to come by and stay for a while.

THE HENDERSON’S RELISH MADE IN SHEFFIELD AWARD

BULLION CHOCOLATE

Can you tell us some more about what you do?

THE SHEFFIELD WELLBEING AWARD

GÜS

Your first time here, and an award in the bag! How does that feel? Incredible. We’re only six months in, and to have been welcomed and recognised for what we’re doing so quickly really validates what we’re trying to do.

What’s Güs all about?

Our vision is to bring wellness into an urban environment that’s accessible for everybody. We want people to be able to switch off from busy weeks and busy lives, whether that’s for 45 minutes or 90 minutes. It’s not just about sauna and ice

We are bean-to-bar chocolate makers, so we import cocoa beans and make chocolate entirely from scratch right here in Sheffield.

How did you get into chocolate making?

I’ve always been a foodie and I’m quite passionate about it. I went to catering college – I’ve always been involved in food – and I’ve always wanted to start my own business. I didn’t know you could actually make chocolate until I watched a TV show about it – even Cadbury doesn’t make its own chocolate in the UK any more. I’ve seen craft beer, I’ve seen craft coffee, and I thought: do you know what? This could be the next thing.. We’re the chocolate makers for Fortnum & Mason, we make the chocolate for the Roald Dahl museums and we’ve got cafés now across the UK.

You mentioned Roald Dahl – what, in your opinion, is the most accurate part of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

If you walked inside a conching machine, there is a river of melted chocolate – it’s amazing. In the Wonka film, he says that the most important part of the factory is the chocolate river, and he’s not wrong; the conch moves the chocolate around for 72 hours to develop the flavour.

baths – it’s about creating a space where people can come as they are, reset a little bit and leave feeling refreshed.

What’s been the biggest wellbeing game changer in your own life?

I think it’s recognising stress. Coming from a corporate environment into doing your own thing, you realise how much stress you just accept as normal. Taking time to recognise that, process it, and then use things like sauna and icebath contrast therapy to reset body and mind has been massive for me.

TRIPLE POINT BREWERY

How are you feeling about winning?

This is our third in a row – we’re slightly embarrassed, to be honest. But seriously, the quality of all of the breweries in Sheffield is so high, it’s always an absolute privilege to even be on the shortlist, let alone to win.

Do you have a favourite beer?

We have 300-plus beers, but I’ll say Briganti. Also I’m so happy we rebrewed the Mexicana, it’s delicious. We probably come up with a new beer every week, and we’ve been going for seven years.

BEST TAKEAWAY

URBAN PITTA

How does it feel to win tonight?

So good. We’re feeling very, very special and really proud.

And it’s not your first award, right?

This is why I’m so over the moon – it’s the second time we've won. I wasn’t expecting it at all!

What’s next on the horizon for Urban Pitta? It’s our big dream to be everywhere and to expand across the UK.

Give me a controversial food take?

Raw potato. I bet you’re going, that’s really weird, but just wait until you’ve tried it. They’re amazing. Also gravy granules, just on their own, mixed with peas. YES.

BEST CAFÉ

CAFFÈ TUCCI

Hat-trick heroes? Bellissimo!

Amazing. Amazing. This is our third time in a row – we weren’t expecting that tonight. We always doubt and feel anxious about it, but every time we win it’s just better and better. This is the best of the best in Sheffield.

What would you say makes your brand so special?

We are working very hard, and me and my brother do literally every single thing. Every person must be treated well – when they walk in, they will always be greeted in such a way. We don’t always ask, “What do you want?” We say, “How are you?” I believe that connection that you have with the customers really gives you a community feeling.

What is your favourite thing on the menu?

I love the Sophia Loren sandwich in the Surrey Street Tucci. And our coffee is fantastic.

BEST UNSIGNED BAND OR MUSICIAN FEMUR

What’s going on with Femur, then?

We’re now an award-winning band from Sheffield, and we’ve been going for 10 years. We’ve just got back off our biggest ever UK tour, and the past couple of years we’ve done Glastonbury and Tramlines last year and this year.

Can you tell us about your sound?

We call it psych-punk – it’s just kind of like super fast, kind of loud, kind of flows a bit… it’s cool, man. It’s quite dynamic. We get a good old mosh pit at every show we do. We’re just all about that live energy.

Have you got any big influences?

We’ve all got different backgrounds and different taste. Gill, he’s like a metalhead. Felix is into more arty sh*t, I’d say, and we’re kind of hip-hop oriented. When you melt it together, it makes whatever the f**k we are.

SHEFFIELD ARTS AND CULTURE AWARD

THE SHEFFIELD ARTS AND CULTURE AWARD

CRYPTID QUEERS

Tell us a bit about yourselves?

We’re Sheffield’s first monster drag show and we’re a dedicated platform for alternative drag. We are a sort of Mecca for the weird and wonderful. It started as a small community saying, we want more monsters in the North, and we worked our asses off for nearly five years, building it from a tiny little basement venue to where we are now at Forge, which is massive. We’ve spawned lots of children. We also have a not-forprofit arts initiative called Camp Cryptid and we’ve trained over 21 new artists. We’ve managed to triple the amount of alt drag performances in Sheffield through our initiatives.

TRAMLINES AWARD FOR BEST LOCAL EVENT

SHEFFIELD WINE WEEK

Tell us about Sheffield Wine Week? Sheffield Wine Week is in its second year, and is coming up in June for its third. Last year the wine festival took the front seat and we had a thousand people in Bole Hill Park, and well over a dozen wine vendors. And then there was food and live music – it was just a lovely outdoor, family-friendly day in the park, and we’re planning it again. We’ve already sold almost as many tickets as last year, so we’re trying to

make it bigger and better. We’re just trying to get the wine community together and to make the wine industry a little bit more heard in Sheffield. It’s such a big beer town, which is great, but the wine industry has really blossomed in the last few years.

Have you got a favourite wine?

I’m a sucker for a good white burgundy – but I’m rich as f**k so I can afford it.

How did it all kick off?

Initially I was struggling to find gigs as a drag monster, so I turned it into a club night. Then by the time I’d moved to Forge, my wife moved here from Switzerland, so now we have a kind of stage management team. It’s all kind of fallen into place.

What have you got coming up?

We are launching the world’s first drag monster festival in August, and it’ll be an entire day of drag monster shows, competitions, workshops, DJs and all sorts. It’s going to be absolutely crazy – 13 hours of monster drag!

BEST RESTAURANT DOMO

How does it feel to win Best Restaurant?

First, can I say thank you to everyone for voting for us? It feels great, we’ve won once before. We’ve got a restaurant in Leeds opening this month, so maybe we will have to make the trophy shelf a bit bigger. And who knows what next –Manchester? Miami?

Do you have a favourite item on the menu?

Probably the one that’s like a hot dog and chip pizza – it’s popular in Italy. When I was young, I’d always have a hot dog and chip pizza or a hot dog and chip sandwich. Of course I had to bring it to Domo. We also love the pistachio pasta, and the Italian dumplings with pecorino cheese and truffle. It’s really good.

BEST NEW CAFÉ

BEST VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

• 5tara

• Church - Temple of Fun

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BEST CAFÉ

COVER: STEVE EDWARDS

the Paris night. Or sitting outside a Montmartre café between sessions, listening to the Parisian hum and writing ‘The Sound of Violence’ – the now iconic Cassius track.

It all sounds faintly absurd when written down. But Steve was there – not as a hanger-on, but as an integral creative voice within that world.

And crucially, he was doing something different.

At a time when dance music vocals were often anonymous samples, choppedup hooks or disposable toplines, Steve approached tracks like songs.

“There weren’t many people doing that,” he explains. “I wanted to write proper lyrics. Proper songs. I wanted to sugar the pill.”

Steve became one of the first artists in that scene whose lyrics were literally printed on record sleeves – a small detail perhaps, but one that reflected how seriously his collaborators viewed the writing itself.

Then came the records that changed everything.

The Cassius connection opened doors into the beating heart of the French scene. Steve was in demand, but it was another collaboration – this time with Bob Sinclar – that launched his voice into clubs, radio stations and festivals across the planet.

Suddenly, Steve had co-written a global number one.

There was then work with artists like Axwell, before Swedish House Mafia became giants. Steve’s melodic instincts and soulful writing style fitted perfectly into a changing dance landscape.

And yet, despite operating at the very centre of one of modern music’s most influential movements, Steve’s name still somehow sits outside mainstream conversations about Sheffield music.

Part of that is genre. Part of it is visibility. Part of it, perhaps, is race.

Sheffield’s celebrated musical canon has historically leaned overwhelmingly white and guitar-driven, even though Black artists and electronic musicians have long been integral to the city’s culture.

Steve doesn’t labour the point, but it hangs there in the conversation

regardless.

“You know people are gonna try and get you,” he says, reflecting on his upbringing. “That’s what we were taught.”

There’s also the fact Steve never particularly chased celebrity. Even now, he seems faintly bemused by the idea of legacy.

“I just keep doing it because I love it,” he shrugs. “I sometimes think I weren’t built for employment.”

Thankfully, due to the anonymous success of these records, Steve has remained sought after for his writing and he hasn’t had to worry too much about regular employment, and maybe that’s why he’s wrestling with his legacy at the moment.

There’s a quiet frustration throughout our chat that people still don’t fully realise how many songs they know were actually written by Steve.

So now, rather than waiting for people to join the dots themselves, he’s working on a new project that revisits the songs which defined his career – not as faceless club tracks or fleeting dancefloor moments, but as fully realised Steve Edwards compositions.

“I’m gonna show you how good I feel these songs are.”

Recorded at Sheffield studios including Yellow Arch, with live musicians and longtime collaborators, the project reimagines some

I’M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW GOOD I FEEL THESE SONGS ARE”

of Steve’s biggest records as soulful, downtempo arrangements stripped far away from their original club form.

“It’s interesting because people don’t realise I’m covering my own songs,” he laughs.

The first release, the Sunrise EP, is expected this summer, with a full album planned for the autumn. Crucially, this time the records will simply carry one name.

“They’re all gonna say Steve Edwards,” he says proudly.

For years, Steve built a career as the featured vocalist, the songwriter, the voice behind the record rather than the face on the poster. Now, finally, he seems ready to stand in the centre of his own story.

FOOD & DRINK EXPOSED EATS

Since opening on Campo Lane in December last year, Aux Bon Vivant has quickly become one of the most talkedabout additions to Sheffield’s food scene, thanks in no small part to its exceptional cooking, top-notch service and an approach rooted in Yorkshire warmth and some serious French culinary pedigree.

WORDS:JOSEPH FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER

An all-day spot inspired by the village cafés and bistros of rural France, Aux Bon Vivant is run by chef Pierre and his wife Zara, who welcomed their son, Léon, around the time of opening. Happily resting in his pram as Exposed sits down with the couple inside the restaurant, he already seems perfectly at home in the family business. Zara is originally from Barnsley, while Pierre grew up in northern France before working as executive chef at a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Megève, the Alpine resort town known for luxury skiing holidays and high-end gastronomy. You’ll be forgiven for thinking it’s the sort of background that could easily lead to a stiff, pretentious dining experience. However, Aux Bon Vivant goes entirely the other way.

For me, the base of the industry is hospitality,” explains Pierre. “When you come here, you feel at home. I welcome you into our home and you feel comfortable, relaxed.”

That wholesome, people-first philosophy runs through the whole place. There’s no Wi-Fi, no sockets by the walls and certainly no sense anyone’s trying to rush you out the door. Pierre says the original plan was to offer internet access, but after opening they realised customers were talking to each other freely without the temptation of phones or tablets.

“The more the weeks went on, the more we said yes, great – people can connect between themselves. Let’s leave it at that.”

Pierre and Zara met during a ski season in the Alps before eventually relocating back to South Yorkshire. On the bookshelf beside our table, Pierre points out a hefty copy of Le Guide Culinaire – Auguste Escoffier’s legendary 1903 reference book that still forms the backbone of classical French cooking. “I had to learn that book by heart. In France, you cannot call yourself a chef until you’ve done so,” he proclaims.

Pierre describes the kitchens he worked in as “the Navy Seals of the kitchen”, but while the technical standards remain sky high, the focus here is on flavour and atmosphere rather than anything too showy. One of his biggest pet hates is food on the plate serving no purpose – diminutive sprigs of cress, pea shoots or solitary edible flowers have been swiftly removed from dishes placed in front of him before – and that gives you a pretty good idea of where he’s coming from.

The menu itself is rooted in classical French technique, but without the ceremony and pomp that often comes attached to it. Split loosely between small sharing plates and more substantial bistro classics, it changes constantly depending on produce and whatever he feels like

WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU FEEL AT HOME. I WELCOME YOU INTO OUR HOME AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, RELAXED.”

FOOD & DRINK EXPOSED EATS: AUX BON VIVANT

cooking that week.

The first plate to arrive is caramelised baby artichoke with pecorino cream, pickled daikon and parmesan – a dish born, somewhat surprisingly, from Pierre trying to solve his own antipathy towards artichokes. “I try to imagine what would be the best way for me to enjoy it,” he explains. The answer? Soften them slowly in oil before caramelising for texture and crispness, serve over a rich pecorino cream with homemade pickled daikon sharpening it all up. Fresh parmesan is grated over the top, basil oil and lemon zest bring freshness and black onion seeds add crunch.

Next up: roast chicken stuffed cabbage with chimichurri – a dish that neatly displays an ability to take traditional British elements and improve with a little je ne sais quoi. “Cabbage is often a bit boring, and stuffed versions a bit heavy,” he says. “The idea is taken from Lebanese vine leaves – something lighter, more Mediterranean.” Blanched cabbage leaves are wrapped one by one around a filling of roast chicken, mascarpone, preserved lemon and slow-cooked cabbage heart, before being finished with browned butter and roasted lemon in the oven until the outer leaves crisp slightly at the edges. A sharp, herb-heavy chimichurri cuts through the richness, while figs folded into the dressing bring unexpected sweetness.

The final of the sharing plates was the mi-cuit tuna with beetroot, orange and horseradish – clean, fresh and quietly technical in a way that sums up much of the l'apéro menu. “It’s like a tataki,” he explains, “but I cannot call that a tataki, so in French you call that a mi-cuit.” Seared for just 20 seconds on each side before being rapidly chilled in a high-spec blast freezer more commonly found in fine-dining kitchens, the tuna arrives silky and balanced against earthy beetroot, citrusy tangs and the slow-building heat of horseradish.

The two larger bistro mains leaned fully into comfort – rich, generous dishes elevated by the attention to detail that we’d already experienced. First came the beef osso buco with green olives, gremolata and olive oil mash. The beef is cooked for 18 hours, while the sauce is reduced down into what Pierre describes as a “miroir sauce” – a glossy reduction so rich “you should see your reflection in it”. Despite the depth and richness, it never feels heavy, helped along by sharp gremolata and sweet heritage carrots in shades of purple, red, orange and white.

Alongside it sat grilled lamb rump with chickpeas, strawberry and mint – a lighter, more summery counterpoint that shows a knack for balancing classical French technique with unexpected combinations. Served “French pink”, the lamb arrives beautifully tender against crispy spiced chickpeas, sweet strawberries and fresh herbs, with each element bringing its own effective contrast.

At one point, Pierre has to stop himself disappearing too far down a rabbit hole discussing the “science and chemistry” of flavour pairing

and cooking techniques. It’s genuinely fascinating to listen to, but unfortunately, Exposed soon needs to head back to the office for what is ostensibly intended to be a final hour or two of writing, though it will almost certainly become a sneaky late-afternoon nap.

Before we leave, though, there’s a final gift from the kitchen: Éclairs au Chocolat This version sticks firmly to French tradition, filled with rich crème pâtissière rather than Chantilly cream and finished with a glossy chocolate glaze. Earlier, he’d spoken in horror about trying an éclair from a British supermarket and discovering it contained no filling at all. As you can imagine, he doesn’t skimp when it comes to making reparations. Passion seeps through every part of the operation here, from the cooking to the friendly, knowledgeable staff. As we say our goodbyes, Pierre’s father arrives from France for the weekend to spend time with his grandson, son and daughter-inlaw. He greets the staff as warmly as he does his family, and the affection is clearly mutual.

It leaves us with one final thought as we wander back onto Campo Lane, slightly buoyed by two generous glasses of red: yes, the food is excellent, but it’s the sense of connection – and their infectious joy for enjoying the finer things in life –that will keep people coming back to Aux Bon Vivant.

As Pierre puts it: “You come here to enjoy the moment. You take your time, you relax, enjoy life. That is it – that is bon vivant.”

@auxbonvivant

SIX AND A HALF

Fire dining.

Cooking over open wood fire brings us back to basics — great ingredients, bold flavour and dishes shaped by flame.

Join us and dine where we cook, with our chefs at the heart of the restaurant.

Sunny days are better on the terrace Enjoy our terrace menu for laid-back lunches, afternoon drinks and fire-cooked favourites. The Terrace is open Wednesday to Saturday 12pm to 8pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm

FOOD & DRINK THE ALBION

IF WE CAN BRING BACK PEOPLE WHO’VE STOPPED COMING TO DRINK ON LONDON ROAD, THEN ALL OF THE PLACES ON THE ROAD CAN BENEFIT,”

POTENTIAL

The team behind iconic Sheffield venue Corporation are teaming up with local beer scene aficionado Joe Rugg to reinvigorate a longstanding London Road pub.

WORDS: ASHLEY BIRCH

Joe – founder of Abbeydale Road Beer Festival, Pintstock and the popular social media account @ pintsofsheffield – has teamed up with Corporation nightclub managing director David Savereux to take over The Albion, with ambitious plans to turn the pub into a seven-day destination for craft beer fans and football supporters alike.

The pair say the project grew naturally out of their work together on Pintstock, which is hosted at Trafalgar Warehouse and Corporation, before conversations shifted towards a dream of creating a community-focused pub.

“David dropped into the conversation a while ago that he’d been looking to buy a pub,” explains Joe. “And he was like, ‘How would you feel about coming on board?’”

From there, the project quickly became what David describes as an “Avengers Assemble collaboration”, pulling together some of Sheffield’s best-known names from the city’s food, drink and design scenes.

“The whole project has been that in terms of obviously getting Joe involved, getting the other people involved, using businesses that already exist within Sheffield to collaborate and springboard things forward,” says David.

That includes Sheffield wine specialists Barks Wine, who are curating a bespoke wine list for the venue, creating what David calls a “miniaturised wine shopquality menu within a pub” with inclusive price points.

The redesign being led by Emily Croft Design, the studio behind the interiors at secret Sheffield city centre hangout Not Open; Don’t Come.

“We’re going for a little bit of a classic nautical but with a little bit of a mid-century twist,” Emily tells Exposed. “We’re upholstering a lot of the existing bar stools as well, just to try and keep it as sustainable as possible.”

While the pub is currently operating three days a week, the full launch is planned for 5 June, when The Albion will move to opening seven days a week.

The long-term vision includes a full kitchen build, an upgraded outdoor space and a programme of live music and acoustic performances, while still retaining the pub’s identity as a popular Blades matchday spot.

For now, food will centre around pizzas served from the existing outdoor kitchen space, though the team have bigger plans further down the line.

“The dream is to turn that into a full commercial kitchen,” says Joe. “We’re going to have a few different brands for different types of food.

Beer, naturally, will remain central to the venue’s identity, with Joe keen to balance craft offerings alongside the demands of a traditional football pub.

“We want it to be a classic pub with a modern mindset,” says Joe. “Obviously, I’m involved, so the beer selection is really important to me. But we’re going to do a full mocktail list as well, loads of AF options and hopefully an AF beer on tap at launch.”

Plans also include space for acoustic performances inside the pub, with the team even hoping to install a piano for impromptu singalongs on matchdays.

Both Joe and David believe the project could help bring fresh energy back to London Road’s nightlife and hospitality scene.

“At a time when pubs are struggling and people are having a tough time, I think it’s a great bit of news for Sheffield,” says David. “Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements. Hopefully to push things forward.”

“If we can bring back people who’ve stopped coming to drink on London Road, then all of the places on the road can benefit,” adds Joe. “That’s what we want to do.”

@thealbion_sheffield

FOOD & DRINK: NEWS

YARD PARTY

Sheffield is set to welcome a brand new open-air social venue this summer, with Earls Yard officially opening in the city centre next month.

Launching on Matilda Street on Saturday 13 June, the freeentry venue promises a packed programme of street food, live entertainment, DJs, big-screen sport and community events throughout the summer and beyond.

Located behind Network and created by the team behind both Network and Arundel Emporium, Earls Yard aims to bring together food, drink and culture in an accessible outdoor setting for all ages. Organisers say the venue will operate seven days a week outside of special ticketed events.

Timed perfectly ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the opening comes just days before England’s first fixture of the tournament against Croatia on 17 June, with organisers planning to screen major matches across two large LED

screens installed on site.

A spokesperson for Earls Yard said: “We wanted to create a space that brings people together – somewhere you can come down for a drink, watch live sport, meet friends for brunch, or just enjoy a summer evening outdoors. Earls Yard is about atmosphere, community

and accessibility.”

The venue itself will feature a two-storey, 40-foot container bar, with a dedicated cocktail mezzanine overlooking the main courtyard space. Alongside communal seating areas and a live performance stage, organisers say it will host DJs, live bands and community-

led events across the season.

Independent food brand Pieminister has now been confirmed as Earls Yard’s first permanent kitchen partner, with additional food traders and pop-up vendors expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

@earlsyardsheffield

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

Fresh from being crowned ‘Best Local Event’ at last month’s Exposed Awards, Sheffield Wine Week returns this summer with a Bole Hills event that has doubled in size, expanding to feature more than 20 wine vendors alongside a packed programme of events running across the city.

Taking place from 24–28 June, the fiveday celebration sees bars, restaurants and retailers across Sheffield host wine-themed offers, tastings, talks and special events. Now in its third year, organisers say the festival continues to prove that Sheffield’s appetite for wine is growing alongside its renowned beer scene.

The headline event, Wine Week Fest @ Bole Hills, takes place on Saturday 27 June and is twice the size of last year. More than 20 wine vendors are expected to pour at the outdoor festival in Crookes, which attracted over 1,000 visitors in 2026 and is

aiming for nearly 2,000 this time around. Alongside pay-as-you-go wines, the event will feature food trucks, live music and family-friendly activities.

Participating venues already confirmed for the week include Vintners on the Brook, Tenaya, The Old Shoe, Elm, Bench Group, Hop Hideout and The Three Tuns, with more still to be announced. Wineries and merchants lined up for Bole Hills include Alliance, Carte Blanche, English Wine Project, Passione Vino and Wanderlust.

Co-founder Mike Pomranz said the event’s recent award win had boosted excitement ahead of this year’s programme. “For three years now, this event has been growing,” he said. “We really do see Sheffield as a British hub for wine outside of London.”

Tickets for Wine Week Fest @ Bole Hills are available now at sheffieldwineweek.co.uk, where the full programme of events can also be found.

FOOD & DRINK THE PEACOCK AT ROWSLEY

Following some exciting changes, The Peacock at Rowsley is heading into summer with Saturday tasting menus, live music in the gardens and a growing reputation as one of the Peaks’ standout dining spots...

Set within a striking historic building dating back to 1652, The Peacock at Rowsley has long been regarded as one of the Peak’s most elegant countryside escapes. Now, with some key new members on board and a renewed focus on relaxed fine dining, the venue has an exciting summer offering lined up.

At the centre of that evolution is Head Chef Simon Harrison, who joined the kitchen six months ago and has already shaped a menu that celebrates the changing seasons and the abundance of produce found across the UK’s first national park.

“This is one of my favourite times of year in the kitchen,” says Simon. “The change in season brings such an exciting variety of produce and it really inspires the way we create each dish. One ingredient I always look forward to is wild garlic – we’re lucky enough to have it growing in our own gardens and its freshness and vibrancy make it a real highlight across the menu.

“There’s also something very special about the desserts at the moment. They feel lighter, more expressive and full of flavour. You will have to come in and see for yourself.

“For me, this season is all about celebrating what’s growing around us and letting those ingredients really shine.”

That connection to the landscape surrounding The Peacock runs

throughout the dining experience. Guests can expect thoughtfully prepared dishes that place seasonal ingredients front and centre, whether dining from the evening menu during the week or settling in for the venue’s increasingly popular Saturday evening tasting menu.

Alongside the kitchen’s growing reputation, the wider venue has also undergone a noticeable shift over the past year. A new General Manager, Catherine Koch, joined nine months ago, helping build a close-knit and energised team reflected in the profusion of five-star reviews posted online.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the menus, especially the Saturday evening

tasting menus and updated wine pairing,” Catherine told Exposed. “The menu showcases both creativity and harmony in every pairing – a true reflection of what we strive for here. It’s the perfect time of year for a visit too. Our gardens are looking exceptionally beautiful, making them the ideal setting to enjoy the snacks and a glass of Henners in the sunshine.”

Versatility is a major part of the venue’s appeal. Alongside tasting menus, guests can also enjoy lunch and sandwich options, afternoon tea and private dining spaces for a range of gatherings. This summer, however, it is the

gardens that are expected to become the real centrepiece.

From 21 June, The Peacock will once again host live music sessions outdoors following the success of last year’s events. Running on Sunday afternoons from 2pm until 4pm, the sessions are designed to offer visitors a laidback way to enjoy the summer sun with food, drinks and live entertainment.

The events first launched last August and proved popular enough for the team to expand them into a bigger summer programme for 2026. Inspired originally by English Wine Week celebrations, the sessions are intended to make the most of The Peacock’s picturesque outdoor setting and encourage guests to linger a little longer over lunch or drinks in the garden.

For Sheffielders looking to escape the city for an afternoon, it is an easy proposition to get behind: beautiful scenery, live music drifting across the lawns and one of the region’s most ambitious kitchens serving seasonal food – all just a short drive away from the city centre.

In fact, we may have just discovered the ultimate summer Peak District hangout.

thepeacockatrowsley.com // @thepeacockatrowsley

cosy joes

COULD THIS BE THE ONLY PLACE IN SHEFFIELD WHERE YOU’LL BE HOPING FOR A NIL-NIL DURING THE WORLD CUP?

Cosy Joe’s – the West Street bar that’s quietly become one of the city centre’s go-to spots for karaoke-fuelled chaos, late-night singalongs and an unmatched party atmosphere – has announced its World Cup screening offer, and honestly, we’re not sure they’ve done maths on this one.

Here’s the damage: £10 gets you entry to the England games, plus three free pints of your choice. Not “selected drinks”. Three actual pints. And then, from one hour before kick-off until the first goal goes in, every drink in the venue is half price.

So yes, technically speaking, England could be 0-0 after 89 minutes and you’ve been spending like a Freshers student from 2004.

For a venue already known for its social atmosphere, big nights and “just one more song” karaoke sessions upstairs, it feels like a very deliberate move from Cosy Joe’s to become one of the city centre’s main football hubs during the tournament. And with the closure of Walkabout leaving a noticeable gap in the big-match pub scene, the timing feels pretty spot on.

Speaking to Exposed, managing director Jake Taylor said the idea was

simple – create a proper atmosphere and give people a reason to make Cosy Joe’s their matchday base.

“We’ve got plenty of TVs, great sound and one of the strongest offers around,” he said. “It’ll be a brilliant atmosphere, we’ve got a fantastic match-day DJ and plenty of good drinks to choose from. It’s our first World Cup tournament since opening in Sheffield, so we wanted to do something strong enough to pull people in from wherever they might usually watch the games.”

There’s also the added bonus that if football isn’t entirely your thing – or if England inevitably decide to stress everyone into oblivion – you can always disappear upstairs for karaoke while the more emotionally invested fans remain downstairs yelling at referees. Happy days.

SPOTLIGHT UNO PADEL CLUB

RACKET

Sheffield’s always been a proud sporting city. Football, snooker, climbing, running up very steep hills for fun – if there’s a way to turn exercise into an obsession, chances are we’ve already embraced it.

So perhaps it was only a matter of time before padel took off here too.

Over the last year or so, the sport – a gloriously addictive hybrid of tennis and squash played on enclosed courts – has exploded across the UK, with courts popping up everywhere from industrial warehouses to local leisure centres. And now, joining Sheffield’s growing padel movement is Uno Padel Club, a brandnew indoor venue in Darnall that’s already generating a serious buzz.

Walk through the doors and you’ll find four pristine full-size courts, a café area humming with post-match chatter and a constant backdrop of laughter, squeaking trainers and the sharp thwack of balls ricocheting around the venue.

“It’s been just over five weeks now since we first opened the doors,” coowner Kamran tells Exposed when we visit the venue. “And the reaction’s been really, really positive.”

Part of that reaction comes down to timing. Until recently, the local padel scene had a problem familiar to anyone trying to get a booking at peak times – there simply weren’t enough courts and bookings had to be made weeks in advance.

Now, with new clubs like Uno Padel Club opening across the city, that bottleneck is starting to ease and a whole new wave of players are getting involved. In fact, surveys suggest around 860,000 people across Britain played padel in 2025 alone – more than double the figure from 2024 – and participation is expected to rise sharply again by the end of this year.

“I’d say about half of the people who come to our place are completely new or beginners,” he says. “The other half are more seasoned players. We’ve even had

a few Sheffield sporting favourites like Billy Sharp and Dominic Iorfa coming down for a game recently.”

That mix feels central to what Uno is trying to build. While the facilities on offer are of a high standard, it’s somewhere designed for people to give something new a go without feeling like they need years of experience first.

“Padel is a very inclusive sport,” says Kamran. “The first time I played, I turned up on my own and ended up playing with a 67-year-old retiree, an 18-year-old university student and someone who worked from home and had come in for a game. We all came from completely different walks of life, but we had an amazing time together.”

That accessibility is a huge part of why the sport’s booming. Unlike tennis, which can take months of practice before rallies become enjoyable, padel offers instant gratification. You can rock up having never held a racket before and still have a genuinely good feel for it within 20 minutes.

“I’d never played tennis,” adds Kamran. “I’d played squash four or five times and never really played badminton, but I still found padel easy to pick up. You don’t need to be technically gifted or unbelievably fit; anyone can book a court and dive straight in.”

Uno are leaning heavily into that beginner-friendly approach too. Intro sessions offer coaching and a lowpressure introduction to the game, or you can simply opt for a quick explainer before you play with friends, while social events encourage strangers to jump into matches together.

“Last night we had a beginner social here,” explains Kamran. “We had 20

players – women and men, young and old, from different backgrounds. They come here, meet new people, play with different partners and they’re all there to have an introduction to a new sport and feel part of something socially.”

At a time when so much of life is lived online, the team behind Uno believe that social side might be just as important as the sport itself.

“One of the reasons why it was really important for us to open a padel club was because, as humans, we need that social aspect. Covid took a lot of that away from us, and I think we’ve seen a real push towards healthy pursuits that provide a sense of connection.”

Alongside the courts, there’s coffee, seating areas, workstations, free Wi-Fi, showers and a thriving community WhatsApp group – the idea being that people can stick around before or after games rather than immediately heading home.

A huge amount of thought has also gone into the playing experience itself. The courts use the same turf as professional LTA competitions and the venue’s high ceilings are a deliberate design choice.

Then there’s the AI camera system, which sounds incredibly futuristic

but has proved hugely popular with players. Simply scan a QR code before matches and you’ll receive automatically edited highlight reels and detailed stats afterwards.

“It’ll analyse your whole game,” explains Kamran. “How many shots you played, how many mistakes you made, what type of shots you played… it’s just crazy. It’s great to track your progress or just relive some great moments from the game.”

Still, for all the tech and sleek presentation, Uno’s biggest selling point comes back to one key word –community.

The club’s owners originally met through charity work, specifically a project in Gambia focused on education and healthcare. Kamran says that sense of bringing people together sits right at the heart of the business, even influencing the name itself.

“Spain are the world leaders in padel,

APPY DAYS

and our whole ethos is about inclusivity and getting people to come together. When you come together, you play together as one.”

Hence: Uno.

And if the sport’s current trajectory continues, this could just be the beginning. Kamran believes the UK is still nowhere near peak padel yet, and he’s not alone. In fact, recent industry data suggests the country could require an additional 3,000 courts by 2028 to keep up with demand.

Safe to say, the padel revolution has well and truly arrived. And for anyone still on the fence, his message is simple.

“Just come and have some fun. We’ll briefly talk you through the rules if needed and you can get going, and then hopefully you’ll quickly see what all the hype is about.”

unopadelclub.co.uk // @

At Uno Padel Club, players can book sessions through the Playtomic app, where users can find available courts, join open games and split costs with friends. The app also helps match players of a similar level, making it easier for beginners to get involved without needing a membership or regular group.

SHEFFIELD IS STILL A CITY THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANY OTHER.”

Daniel Dylan Wray’s new book charts how Sheffield’s DIY spirit has helped a post-industrial city consistently shape the contours of British music.

WORDS: HAMISH YEWDALL

Daniel Dylan Wray's introduction to the Sheffield music scene was not a pleasant one. The event was Apocalypse Now Then, curated by electro group Kings Have Long Arms. Back then, Daniel worked as a glass collector at the Leadmill. He was then asked to clean the dressing room. “It was just chaos. Debris everywhere, piles of puke, a pair of assless leather trousers. Everyone had been tripping and was in a mess. I was like, who are these people? It was my first peek into the strange little underworld going on in Sheffield.” More explorations would follow, and eventually Daniel would feel at home in the strange underworld. “When I started to find the weirdos, things opened up and got a bit more interesting

This strange underworld and the weirdos that inhabit it are the subject of Daniel’s new book story of seven decades of Sheffield independent music – a journey from the soulful tones of Joe Cocker to the bombastic pop of Self Esteem, via electronic pioneers Cabaret Voltaire, the surge of bassline DJs and indie troubadours Arctic Monkeys. “The ambition was to show Sheffield as a pioneer in music, in a way that other cities have been celebrated endless times. Sheffield should be spoken about with Berlin, New York and Manchester and I don't think it always has

Covering such a broad sweep of music history became quite the undertaking. In total, Daniel interviewed more than 150 people. But that was only part of the research. “I lost count of how many books I read and the amount of days I spent in the local studies section at Sheffield Library.”

This extensive research means Groovy, Laidback & Nasty is not just a story about the more established bands and artists from the city. The big names make appearances but never take a starring role. “I was more interested in digging into the cracks and finding out what was less well known.”

More than anything, the book provides portraits of different music scenes that grew organically, the spaces they occupied and the music they created. Crucially for Daniel, it is a body of work where bands and DJs share equal billing across its pages. “Often books about club culture are separate from books about bands. But I don't think you can tell the story of Sheffield music without telling both because they're so intrinsically linked.”

A key theme running throughout the book is Sheffield’s DIY attitude. “The independent spirit and ethos connects everything from techno to bassline to indie to metal. Look at Pulp and Def Leppard. Two completely opposite bands. But their stories are remarkably similar. Def Leppard, a bunch of working-class lads, scraped together money to make a record and stuck it in the hands of John Peel. Jarvis [Cocker] did exactly the same.”

For him, this attitude came out of necessity in a post-industrial city. The period from the 1960s to the 2010s was a difficult one in Sheffield’s economic history – deindustrialisation, the miners’ strike, pit closures and the resulting unemployment shaped the city for

decades. “There was nothing at first. It was a wasteland, culturally speaking – no recording studios, no record labels. You had to make your own entertainment. It was do it yourself or do nothing.”

For decades this post-industrial wasteland became a playground for people, with former factories, mills and warehouses turned into venues, studios and rave spaces. “It’s just friends doing things to amuse themselves. And it's taken off, which is always the most true and pure way of doing things. Those north Sheffield bands – Arctic Monkeys, Milburn and Reverend [and the Makers] – were just a close-knit bunch of pals.”

at the end of the 2010s. But when Daniel looks at Sheffield now, he still sees that same spirit, even as support and funding for creatives wanes. “I think it feels good. There are a lot of challenges, especially for young working-class artists. So much of the music associated with Sheffield came from a period when affordable space was plentiful. When you could get by on the dole or housing benefit. There was room for people to create and fail. The pressures on young people now are much greater and that results in less room to be creative.

That sense of community and support was another important factor. “When you live in a small city everyone knows one another. You naturally have the sense of community that exists across genres. People who fundamentally don't make music that's remotely similar, maybe don't even like the same music, broadly support each other.”

What is undeniable is that Sheffield, for a city of its relatively modest size, has an uncanny knack for producing cutting-edge sounds. Throughout the decades, great music has continued to be created. Sounds that originated here have gone on to have a significant influence on popular music. “It's rare to have one Arctic Monkeys. But the fact that you get all these examples from decade to decade – most cities don't have that.”

“But I think there's great resilience. There is loads of passionate, optimistic stuff taking place, particularly on the DIY grassroots side of things. I think it's really encouraging, really healthy, and it still feels unique. Sheffield is still a city that doesn't sound like any other.”

Reading Groovy, Laidback & Nasty leaves you feeling motivated. Am I going to form a band? Probably not. But there is a bigger idea at the heart of it: express yourself, create your own thing. And that is relevant to anyone, regardless of what they choose to do. You come away feeling this book should be in every Sheffield school library, inspiring the next generation to embrace that Sheffield DIY ethos in whatever form it takes.

Groovy, Laidback & Nasty concludes

To quote Daniel: “Create your own entertainment for your own community –don't copy others.”

Groovy, Laidback & Nasty is out now via White Rabbit Books

GET TOGETHER FESTIVAL

WORDS: ASH BIRCH PHOTOGRAPHY: HAMISH YEWDALL

Get Together Festival returned to venues across Kelham Island on Saturday 16 May, celebrating the sixth edition of one of the city’s favourite music, arts and culture festivals.

As ever, the multi-stage event sprawled across genres, disciplines and geography, with everything from book talks in The Victoria and new bands in bars and breweries to huge headliners on the main stage at Peddler and DJs into the night at Yellow Arch.

There was a lot to get around and, as always with Get Together, it was impossible to catch it all. Even a smattering of drizzle – which later developed into a full-on shower – couldn’t dampen spirits across Kelham Island.

We actually started the day away from the music and as a family, taking the kids to artist Tom Newall’s poster workshop at Cutlery Works. Tom also curated an exhibition in The Victoria’s Curious Thoughts space, featuring posters from ten different artists inspired by acts playing this year’s festival, as well as previous editions.

The related workshop invited everyone

to create their own gig posters, and it turned out to be a genuinely lovely way to ease into the day. Once finished, our efforts were proudly displayed around the walls of Cutlery Works. There were some suspiciously polished-looking entries among them too, including a particularly strong Lizzo-inspired effort by Josephine Dallow.

Arts-and-crafts hour complete and the kids safely handed over to my partner’s parents, it was time to properly begin. Spanish Horses were our first musical stop, bringing their scrappy, youthful indie energy to an early slot at Heist

Brewery. Despite a snapped string and the temporary disappearance of a Telecaster midway through the set, the young Sheffield outfit handled things with good humour. The sound in Heist never quite did them justice, but there’s clearly something exciting brewing with this lot.

With a long day ahead, a quick change of pace came via author and journalist Daniel Dylan Wray, who was interviewed about his excellent book Groovy, Laidback & Nasty: A History of Sheffield Music. Covering everything from the city’s DIY spirit and independent venues to the stories behind some of Sheffield’s most influential artists, the conversation was a fascinating deep dive into the culture that has shaped the city’s musical identity for decades.

Back to the music then, and one of the real joys of Get Together over the years has been stumbling across bands you’ve never heard of before. That feeling hit perfectly when, sheltering from the first signs of rain, we wandered into Neepsend Social and caught a set from Australian country/folk outfit Any Young Mechanic.

Their set was warm, loose and instantly engaging, opening with a heartfelt message of solidarity with Indigenous and First Nations Australians before launching into a whirlwind of folk harmonies and easy-going charm. Their upcoming album is out 5 June – which they might have mentioned once or 50 times.

After a brief wander into Yellow Arch to catch a glimpse of Plantoid’s hypnotic prog-funk in the main room, we headed over to the Antiques Emporium stage for City Parking. Fronted by Jade Cook, the band delivered one of the weekend’s sleeper highlights – sharp, emotional songwriting wrapped in shimmering guitars and post-punk textures. There’s a confidence to their live show now that feels ready for much bigger rooms. After a recent break, we’re glad they’re back. Timing unfortunately only allowed us one song of Lime Garden over in Peddler Warehouse, but even in that short window the Bristol group’s effortless cool was in plentiful supply. Their wiry art-pop grooves and deadpan charisma suggested we missed out by not getting there earlier.

Alongside Erol Alkan later in the

night, Fat Dog were the act we’d most been looking forward to – and they absolutely delivered. Peddler Warehouse descended into messy chaos almost immediately. Early album highlights like ‘Running’, ‘King of the Slugs’ and ‘All the Same’ went off, to the point where this review isn’t really objective, as I was in the pit for most of it. New material aired during the set also hinted that album number two could be something seriously special.

Rather than heading to see The Horrors, Silver Wing Killer or Dead Dads Club, I opted instead for the pulsing

electronic grooves of Factory Floor –and was pretty happy with the decision. Their hypnotic rhythms and industrial dance textures provided a perfect bridge between the live bands and the late-night DJ sets beginning to emerge across the festival. Meanwhile, my partner reported back that Dead Dads Club had apparently been equally excellent.

DEADLETTER provided a fitting conclusion to the live music side of the day, headlining the outdoor stage at The Victoria. The rain had eased off by the time the Yorkshire-via-London outfit delivered their angular grooves and tightly wound frustration to a packed crowd. Tracks like ‘Binge’ and ‘Fit For Work’ already feel tailor-made for festival singalongs, and by the end of the set the audience was yelling every word back at them.

Then it was back into Yellow Arch for a dance.

Manchester producer and DJ Tom Sharkett eased the room deeper into the night with a beautifully curated set full of shimmering electronics. A self-described sound designer, producer, engineer and songwriter, Sharkett demonstrated exactly why he’s become such a respected selector. Some very lovely noises!

Finally, Erol Alkan took control – and when Erol Alkan is involved, you know you’re in safe hands. The electroclash pioneer blended indie sleaze, electropop, acid house and disco into a set that somehow felt both nostalgic and completely fresh. Every transition landed perfectly, every bassline felt enormous, and by the closing stretch Yellow Arch had fully transformed into a sweat-soaked rave.

Get Together once again proved why it occupies such a unique place in Sheffield’s cultural calendar. More than just a festival, it feels like an area-wide celebration of creativity – one built equally on discovery, community and the joy of bouncing between venues with absolutely no idea what you might find next.

Far from being a damp squib, Get Together 2026 was another massive success. Same time again next year.

GRASSROOTS GLORY

Fresh from scooping Best Unsigned Band at the Exposed Awards, Sheffield chaos-merchants Femur were still basking in the glory when we collared lead singer Felix Renshaw for a quick chat about first wins, hometown love and local landmarks.

Ayup! Best Unsigned Band in Sheffield, eh? How does it feel to receive this award?

Ayup indeed! Yeah, we still can’t wrap our heads around it. Believe it or not, in our 10 years together this is the first award we’ve won, and to receive it as part of a celebration of Sheffield makes it all the more delicious.

Good night? Any other highlights to tell us about?

It was our first time attending the awards, so we had no idea what to expect, but we were blown away by the

scale of it – what an event! It was great to see some familiar faces up on stage. Huge congratulations to Triple Point Brewery, Yellow Arch and Corp.

Why do you think the city’s gig-goers can’t get enough of Femur?

I hope it’s partly because we try to make Femur gigs a party space for everyone. Music is obviously a hugely important part of our lives, but we like to have fun with it and try not to take ourselves too seriously. Oh, and alongside a killer soundtrack, of course.

Who are you dedicating the award to? This award has to be dedicated to the people who put us here in the first place. Anyone who’s ever gone to a gig, bought a T-shirt or just hung out for a pint and a chat afterwards – you’re the people who make gigs happen, and our hearts go out to you.

If Femur were a Sheffield landmark, what would you be?

Easy! Felix = the tree stump face in Meersbrook Park; Ed = Two Steps Fish and Chips; Danny = the tree in the road on Ryle Road; Gilly = Henderson’s Relish factory. We will not be expanding further on this.

BEVERLEY KNIGHT

4 JUNE // CITY HALL // £45£57.50

The Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight heads out on a major UK tour in June 2026 with a show celebrating her acclaimed career. Alongside beloved hits and musical theatre favourites, Knight will share personal stories from her life on stage, backed by her legendary live band for an evening of powerful vocals, warmth and soul-filled performances.

SHEFFIELDCITYHALL.CO.UK

JOE CARNALL JNR (20 YEARS OF WELL WELL WELL)

6-7 JUNE // YELLOW ARCH // £23.50

Twenty years after the release of Well Well Well, the Milburn frontman is revisiting the album that helped define Sheffield indie rock in the mid-2000s. In a series of intimate anniversary shows, Carnall will strip the record back to its core, bringing fans closer to the sharp storytelling and anthemic spirit that made the debut such a lasting favourite.

YELLOWARCH.COM

FUSE ODG FT AZIZA JAYE

25 JUNE // FOUNDRY // £5-£20

MOBO Award-winning artist Fuse ODG serves up a high-energy night of afrobeats and global hits. The GhanaianEnglish star will perform fan favourites including ‘Antenna’, ‘Dangerous Love’ and ‘Million Pound Girl’, alongside tracks from his recent comeback.

FOUNDRYSU.COM

JIM GHEDI

26 JUNE / SIDNEY & MATILDA // £8-£15

Jim continues to push the boundaries of modern folk with the release of his acclaimed 2025 album Wasteland. The local songwriter blends traditional influences with darker electronic textures, creating a bold and atmospheric sound shaped by storytelling.

SIDNEYANDMATILDA.COM

DEF LEPPARD

30 JUNE // UTILITA ARENA // £64-£130

Local legends Def Leppard return for a huge hometown show at the Utilita Arena. Formed in the city in 1977, the band remain one of Britain’s biggest rock exports, with iconic hits including ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’, ‘Animal’ and ‘Hysteria’. Expect a night packed with classic anthems, big riffs and plenty of suspect air guitar.

UTILITAARENASHEFFIELD.CO.UK

marmozets

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

tHURSDAY 25 june 2026

migration matters festival present fuse odg

£22.00 / £16.50 / £5.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 26 june 2026

electric six

£21.50, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 5 jul 2026

pup

£25.00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 9 july 2026

nik kershaw

£32.50, Doors 7:30pm

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

saturday 3 oct 2026

matilda shakes

£10.50, Doors 7:30pm

tuesday 16 june 2026 mc hammersmith

£17.50, Doors 7:00pm

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

Wednesday 7 oct 2026

madra salach

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 9 oct 2026

antarctic monkeys

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 15 oct 2026

the wanted 2.0

£27.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 16 oct & saturday 17 oct 2026

grace petrie

£21.00 / £18.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 23 OCT 2026

THE UNDERTONES

£32.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 30 OCT 2026

COLDPLACE

THE WORLD’S LEADING TRIBUTE TO COLDPLAY

£24.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 7 nov 2026

craig charles

funk & soul house party

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 13 NOV 2026

THE TUMBLING PADDIES

£25.00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 21 NOV 2026

the smyths

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

TUESDAY 20 OCT 2026

CHRISTOPHER HALL-PIZAZZ

£23.00, Doors 7:00pm

FRIDAY 23 OCT 2026

MORGAN REES

£21.00, Doors 7:30pm

SATURDAY 7 NOV 2026

HANNAH EAST

£24.00, Doors 2:00PM / 7:00PM

sATURDAY 7 NOV 2026

amy matthews

friday 27 nov 2026

northside

£25.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 28 nov 2026

the bracknall

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 5 dec 2026

getdown services

£22.00, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 6 dec 2026

bleech 9:3

£17.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 11 dec 2026

connor mclain

£22.50, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 12 dec 2026

indiepalooza

indie tribute festival

£32.00, Doors 5:30pm

friday 18 dec 2026 rob lamberti: perfectly george

£31.00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 20 mar 2027 erasured

£19.50, Doors 7:30pm

THE DARK ROOM

£20.00, Doors 6:30pm

friday 20 NOV 2026

ginger johnson

£28.00, Doors 7:00pm

wednesday 25 NOV 2026

mark simmons

£20.00, Doors 6:30pm

£14.00, Doors 6:30PM

£22.00, Doors 7:00pm

all shows open to the public (14+ unless stated otherwise) tickets available from foundrysu.com box office: 0114 222 8777

foundry, sheffield students’ union western bank, s10 2tg foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk @foundrysheffield

scan for tickets

Tenaya is a cosy, welcoming oasis on a winters day. Catch up with friends or chill with a book and a glass of delicious wine Well worth the trip up to the top of the hill in Crookes to pick up a delicious bottle from our wide and interesting selection in the sho. And while you’re here... treat yourself to a drink and unwind.

239-241 Crookes Sheffield, S10 1TF hello@tenayawine.co.uk

Red Light Sessions, in collaboration with Exposed Magazine and Electric Studios, are on the lookout for three emerging bands/artists to take part in one of our upcoming sessions.

Successful bands will receive:

• A professionally filmed live performance of one original song, recorded on the main stage at Electric Studios

Full audio mixing and editing

• A filmed interview and podcast with Exposed Magazine

• A professional photoshoot with official band photography

Feature coverage in Exposed Magazine

If you know a band, or are in a band that would be interested, gi’ us a nudge on: redlightexpo@gmail.com, with the subject Red Light Comp.

Three artists will be selected and invited down to Electric Studios in July, with content featured in the August issue.

THE BEAT GOES ON

A red-hot day at the start of May. A local taxi driver picks up a fare to Attercliffe. On paper, it’s an ordinary job – until he sees who’s getting in. It’s looks much like iconic bassline vocalist Siobhan Gallagher. He keeps checking to make sure. He grew up listening to her music and now his kids are fans too. As they head towards town, he has plenty of questions to ask... Words/Photo: Hamish Yewdall

A few hours later and a couple of miles down the road, four young men queue outside Electric Studio. It’s bank holiday Friday. It’s Boiler Room. And it’s their first ever “lads’ night”, so let’s just say they’re excited. As they approach the entrance, they spot someone standing in the doorway.

“Oh my god, that’s Big Ang!” one shouts, running over for a photo.

This is Sheffield – two whole decades after bassline was forged, the city still rumbling to its sound. Big Ang and Siobhan were there at the beginning, delivering the genre’s first major hit, ‘It’s Over Now’, and forming a friendship in the process.

Siobhan grew up in a musical family. “Everyone in my family could sing,” she tells me. “Except one sister.”

One of her earliest successes came when she won a singing competition at Orchard Square. From there, she began attending community music centres such as SADACCA and Darnall Music Factory, collaborating with different artists and experimenting with different styles.

Big Ang’s route into music was equally organic.

“I went from working behind bars in clubs to going to raves, to buying decks and vinyl. It was a natural thing for me. I was always into music, specifically dance music. The more underground, the better.”

The pair first met while collaborating on ‘It’s Over Now’. Siobhan explains how the track came together.

“Ang had the idea of reproducing the Deborah Cox version. A label was interested, but they wanted somebody else to sing it.”

Big Ang picks up the story: “Siobhan was a good friend of a producer called Patrick James,

who recommended her to revocal the track.”

The pair came together in the studio, and the track quickly became a flagship anthem of the emerging bassline scene.

“If there were four different stages at an event, sometimes you could hear the track being played from one room to the next,” recalls Siobhan.

Though DJs were spinning it nightly, the song took years to chart. It also took years before Big Ang and Siobhan began performing together, as they were signed to different labels. Both were gigging constantly as bassline exploded across the country.

“You wouldn’t believe the number of people lined up outside,” says Siobhan. “There were thousands waiting to get in. You’d be passing and thinking, they’re coming to see us!”

After years as a club staple, ‘It’s Over Now’ finally charted in 2005. Around the same time, Big Ang and Siobhan began performing together regularly. A year later came another huge hit, ‘Wifey’.

“I remember taking Ang up to the record label and saying, ‘I’ve got something for you.’ It

just got signed there and then.”

Like ‘It’s Over Now’, ‘Wifey’ became embedded in club culture. In 2021, Tom Zanetti released a rework of the track with Siobhan, which reached the UK top 100 – one example of how the pair continue to find new audiences through the decades.

Siobhan is still releasing music, working with producers including Patrick James on a rework of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Deeper Love’ and house legend Todd Terry. Big Ang continues to travel the world, finding a new generation of bassline fans along the way.

At Boiler Room over the bank holiday weekend, she DJed alongside rising Sheffield producer Warpfit. Asked what she enjoyed most about the set, she gives a simple but perfect answer:

“Everything!”

The pair still perform together regularly. During the same bank holiday weekend, they appeared at Leeds Arena as part of the Clubland tour. Sharing the stage remains something they both love.

“The crowd reaction is brilliant,” says Siobhan. “It’s

lovely to see how people react and that they still remember the songs.”

Their enduring popularity is proof of bassline’s continuing longevity.

“It hasn’t gone away. It won’t go away. It’s still fresh. You know it’s never going,” says Siobhan.

“Bassline makes dance music more exciting, edgy and still with an underground feel,” adds Big Ang.

Big Ang and Siobhan will headline the Open Arms stage at Tramlines on the Saturday – a slot Big Ang already knows well after drawing a huge crowd at last year’s festival, with dancers stretching as far as the eye could see.

“It was particularly challenging playing to a younger audience,” she says. “But the support from the crowd was amazing.”

This year’s set promises more of the same. Asked what festivalgoers can expect, Ang smiles before delivering a very cool response:

“Just wait and see.”

Full lineup news and stage splits can be found at www. tramlines.org.uk

Backstage Pass

Did you hear? We’re winners here at Corp. Thanks to you and our friends at Exposed, we picked up Best Club in Sheffield at this year’s Exposed Awards. The team rocked up in their fanciest frocks and delivered a speech that can only be described as a panicked couple of sentences, roughly summarised as: grab your friends, go out and have fun. And we stand by it.

So, since we won Best Club, it’s only appropriate to talk about how amazing we are as a club venue. We’re biased, of course, but we’re winners, so here we go. In May alone, we brought you a night for the Gleeks, took you to Forks with a Twilight party, hosted a showdown between My Chemical Romance and Bring Me the Horizon, and Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress brought us the Midnight Sun just in time for this glorious heatwave.

Okay, enough about club nights. You already know we’re officially the best in the city at that. But when it comes to live music, we’re also the ones bringing some of the best bands into Sheffield, and this month has been no different. Metal 2 the Masses came to a triumphant conclusion, and this year’s winners are Descendancy! Make sure you show them some love and wish them luck as they head to the New Blood stage at Bloodstock this summer. We’ve also ended May in the best possible way with a sold-out show from Dead Pony.

We took Corp TV on the road to Slam Dunk this month too. Nothing better than trying not to sweat on camera in 30-degree heat. We’ve got more festival appearances coming up soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

Love,

WHAT’S ON?

FROM UNDERGROUND METAL LEGENDS AND GENRE-BENDING CHAOS TO RISING SHEFFIELD INDIE TALENT AND CRAFT BEERFUELLED FESTIVAL VIBES – JUNE AT CORPORATION IS ABSOLUTELY STACKED.

DON’T MISS: PINTSTOCK

13 JUNE // £25

The highly anticipated Pintstock arrives this month, combining emerging indie music with top-quality craft beer across Trafalgar Warehouse and Corporation. Inspired by the spirit of 00s and early 10s indie, the new festival promises a packed day of live bands, food trucks and delicious brewery pours. Created by the team behind Abbeydale Road Beer Festival, Pintstock aims to deliver both great music and great beer without compromise – all in one compact city-centre setting.

VENOM INC

5 JUNE // £25

Reunited at Keep It True, Venom’s Prime Evil-era trio – Mantas, Demolition Man and Abaddon – sparked global demand, leading to the rise of Venom Inc. Since then, the band has released acclaimed albums Avé and There’s Only Black, toured worldwide and begun work on a studio album for 2026. Catch ‘em live while tickets are still available.

FAIRLY WELL

6 JUNE // £10

Echo Sound Events brings a stacked Sheffield-heavy lineup to Corporation this month, headlined by atmospheric shoegaze outfit Fairly Well. Joining them are fast-rising Barnsley grunge favourites Weedipus, indie upstarts Jessops, debutants The Smelters and breakout newcomers Sam’s Town – five bands showcasing the strength of South Yorkshire’s emerging alternative scene. ALL of that for a tenner – yer can’t whack it!

KING 810

23 JUNE // £20

These Flint nu metal outsiders have built a reputation on confronting, genredefying music that blends crushing riffs with hip-hop, electronica and dark jazz influences. Since breaking through with Memoirs Of A Murderer, the band have continued to evolve through ambitious releases and theatrical live shows. Fiercely independent and relentlessly experimental, they remain one of heavy music’s most uncompromising modern acts.

JUST THE USUAL, PLEASE.

Don’t worry – all Corp Club nights will be running throughout the summer. Monday, Friday and Saturday from 11pm-3am. Get stuck in,

Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ scene is overflowing with colour, creativity and connection this June, with an eclectic mix of events that cater to every mood and energy level – whether you want to dance, draw, debate or dive into queer history.

Start by getting your groove on at one of the many queer club nights and parties. Grapefruit (Thu 4 Jun) at Foundry brings you an inclusive dancefloor with fruity décor, chart hits, drag, disco and good vibes late into the night. Lilith (Sat 6 Jun) slithers into Gut Level with stretchedout, sensuous soundscapes and a fogfilled dancefloor, following an afternoon workshop on club culture. Also at Gut Level, Silicone Carbide (Sat 20 Jun) returns with a sweaty, trans-inclusive dyke rave featuring Mecha Breaks, blu. dream, Suki S.O.S and TB-316. On the same night, Trash Haus throws its Pride Afterparty (Sat 20 Jun) at The Lughole, serving up alt-drag, punk spirit and underground chaos in collaboration with Kelham Pride. If you want to party in good company with your queer community, Tavern Party (Fri 12 Jun) at Gut Level is a no-fuss, free-entry event with DJs Jaye Ward and Pumping Velvet, and Dyke Oil Wrestling (Sat

13 Jun) doubles as a sport-meets-drag spectacular with DJ sets to follow. Then wrap up the month with Everywhere At Once (Fri 26 Jun), a national grassroots music takeover featuring the iconic Jodie Harsh spinning at Gut Level.

On the theatrical and performance side, don’t miss Lesbian Space Princess (Sat 20 Jun) at Showroom – a sci-fi, inter-gay-lactic quest full of camp drama and queer joy. Black Lesbian Short Films (Sat 6 Jun) also screens at Showroom, followed by a Q&A with three of the filmmakers. And for something delightfully offbeat, Worms In Progress (Fri 26 Jun) is a comedy work-inprogress showcase with Kate Cheka and Lucy Smith-Jones at The Beaten Track. Slags and Drags Bingo (Sat 20 Jun) adds another splash of fun with outrageous rounds of queer bingo hosted at Mandala as part of Pride weekend. If art and literature are more your speed, June is packed. Juno Books hosts

talks with Jack Parlett (Tue 9 Jun) on Flamboyance and queer self-expression, James Bailey (Wed 10 Jun) on his new biography of Muriel Spark, and A.J. West (Tue 16 Jun) with Alim Kheraj on the revolutionary role of queer bookshops. Meanwhile, The Linden Archives (Wed 17 Jun) presents an eye-opening journey into 90s Northern queer club culture through photography and personal stories. And if you’re a hands-on type, check out KWR Pottery (Sat 13 Jun) at KIAC or KWR Life Drawing (Wed 17 Jun) at The Harlequin for creative queer community-building through clay or sketch.

For something grounded and communal, Rainbow Minds (every Wed) offers a friendly LGBTQ+ café space at the Wellbeing Centre, while Fruity Thursdays (every Thu) lets you belt out your karaoke favourites with drag host Emma Maezin at CosyJoes. Football fans should check out Inclusive LGBT+ Football Sessions (every Mon) at Leisure United – an open, friendly environment for players of all skill levels. Coffee Study Socials (Mon 1 and 8 Jun) provide chill revision time in the LGBTQIA+ Lounge, and Gut Level’s Pub World (most Thursdays) is an easy-going queer pub night with folk sessions (Thu 4 Jun) on the first Thursday. Key of She (Mon 8 Jun) invites women and marginalised genders to jam out in a relaxed music night at Gut Level. And Breathe Easy (Tue 9 Jun) creates a post-Covid safer space for those who still need extra caution around indoor socialising.

For QTIBPOC folk, QTIBPOC Cinema Club (Tue 16 Jun) screens radical films that centre queer people of colour’s lives and stories, with bring-and-share food and community conversation.

Finally, Pride season lights up the city this month. Kelham Pride (Sat 20 Jun) takes over the area with music, community stalls and drag, headlined by Danny Beard. Pride in the Peace Garden (Wed 24 Jun) is a more relaxed celebration hosted by Zest in Upperthorpe with food, crafts and music. Youth Pride (Sat 27 Jun) wraps up the month with crafts, live performance and support for LGBTQ+ young people at Showroom. And if you’ve got any energy left, Rainbow Gamers (Sun 28 Jun) finishes things off with chilledout board games and friendly faces at Treehouse Café.

As always, make sure to check the latest event announcements at facebook.com/sheffieldlgbtevents.

Our very own international film festival, Sheffield DocFest, returns in a couple of weeks, bringing another packed programme of documentaries, premieres, podcasts and post-screening debates to the city. With film-makers, broadcasters and famous faces all descending on the Steel City, we coaxed our resident documentary obsessive Mark Perkins out of a darkened cinema and into the daylight for a chat with festival director Raul Niño Zambrano about this year’s themes, surprise guests and why documentaries continue to resonate in increasingly chaotic times.

REFLECTING OUR CHANGING REALITY

What can audiences expect from DocFest this year? I read that the theme this year is ‘Realities in Motion’. Yes. We always try to have a tagline that reflects the world at the moment –something that acts as the umbrella for the whole project. We chose this to reflect how what we accept as reality is, in effect, a process of continuous change.

We are very organic in terms of reacting to the films we receive because every year we notice different trends emerging in the submissions. This time around, three noticeable strands surfaced repeatedly – activism, climate change and music documentaries.

The opening night film is called We, The Hated. It turns the lens on the campaigners behind the Just Stop Oil protests, which have certainly divided and polarised public opinion. It also

encompasses two of those themes –activism and climate awareness. Everyone will have preconceptions about Just Stop Oil and they did receive a lot of online hate. This film asks questions about what they are doing, but also why and how the media treats them so badly.

The film isn’t just about Just Stop Oil. It’s more about people with conviction doing what they are passionate about, and what we think of activism in general.

MAXINE PEAKE TAKES CENTRE STAGE

You always have a guest of honour. Who is it this year?

We’re thrilled that our guest of honour this year is Maxine Peake, who has a body of work which we hope we can reflect across the course of the festival.

She has been a great ambassador for documentaries and for the festival, but more widely for championing working-class voices. She is definitely representative of the soul of what we are and what we try to achieve.

We wanted to shed light on her work, but we began by asking her to programme some films for us. After that, we asked what else she wanted to do.

She has chosen two powerful archival works, The Wanted 18 and Nightcleaners, plus the highly anticipated world premiere of The Archivist. Audiences will also have a chance to see her in conversation on the Lyceum stage, providing insight into her career in performance and writing. She will also be part of a live performance of her own play, Queens of the Coal Age.

She has a strong local connection in that she performs with Eccentronic Research Council alongside Sheffield musicians Dean Honer and Adrian Flanagan. Together they will headline our Saturday night line-up with a live performance of Dreamcatcher Tapes

This has its roots in a project originally by Delia Derbyshire, combining recollections of people’s lockdown dreams with their own unique psychedelic soundtrack.

OPENING UP TO YOUNGER AUDIENCES

Are there any new features this year? One of the biggest additions to the festival this year will be Gen DocFest, a brand-new strand designed to welcome children, families and young people into the DocFest experience.

We’ll have Toddler Kino and Baby Kino screenings, which are an extension of what the Showroom Cinema has been doing recently for parents with young children. The relaxed screenings aim to create a welcoming cinema environment where families can enjoy films without

the usual pressures of visiting the cinema. In addition to that, there are other events for younger audiences. There’s a Wild Futures mini lantern parade, with lantern-making workshops leading up to the event, and FRONTLINEdance are presenting The Explorers in Training, which mixes dance, storytelling and music for children under six, their families and people with disabilities. The festival has also teamed up with CBBC for A Thoroughly Horrible Morning, which will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the worlds of Horrible Histories and Horrible Science

PODCASTS CONTINUE TO GROW

Are you continuing your podcast strand?

Absolutely. Podcasts are getting bigger and better every year and we have established a tradition of staging live recordings and launches as a regular part of the festival experience.

We have an exclusive Audible original series launch and immersive listening event with journalist Charlie Webster, which will be very exciting. Chris Packham will also be here with a live launch of his new BBC podcast.

The podcast strand has produced some memorable moments. Last year we had Michael Sheen on stage launching his BBC podcast Buried. It was about the environmental scandal surrounding ‘forever chemicals’ entering the ecosystem, finding their way into animals and then into our food.

One year on, that story has evolved into a film playing at the festival this year, illustrating the close relationship between podcasts and the documentary world.

MIRIAM MARGOLYES, KATIE PRICE AND 24-HOUR FILM

What are you most excited about this year?

Our really exciting achievement is finally getting Miriam Margolyes to DocFest.

Ever since we announced she would be here, she’s become a major ambassador for us, and every time she does an interview she mentions that she’ll be visiting for the first time.

Under the fitting title of No Filter, she will be talking with collaborator, filmmaker and friend Simon Draper. Some time ago, he set out simply to make a podcast with her, but got drawn into her orbit. As the podcast became a road trip, they became firm friends, and he felt his life transformed by getting to know her.

We’re also very excited to have Katie Price here. I’m often sceptical about celebrity documentaries because they tend to be self-promoting. When this was submitted, I thought, ‘Here we go, another celebrity doc’, but I think people will be surprised because it really does something different.

Most people have already made judgments about her and what she has done, but the filmmakers had the freedom to film and edit as they wanted. There is

a trend for celebrity documentaries to be made by the celebrities themselves, but that’s not how documentaries should be. By not positioning herself as executive producer, the film is allowed to paint a really honest picture – something more revealing and human than audiences might expect.

And the Filmmakers Challenge is always exciting, where new filmmakers are given the resources to make a documentary film, but with only 24 hours to film it.

We’ve expanded the number of participants and therefore the number of films this year, so production-wise they have to be completed before the festival.

It teaches valuable lessons about making films, making decisions under pressure and sometimes finding a story out of nothing.

A SHEFFIELD SOUNDTRACK

Music has always featured prominently in DocFest. What do you have planned this year?

We’re very excited about our music strand this year, which has a distinctly Sheffield edge to it.

Eccentronic Research Council, as I mentioned, have a strong local element, but we also have a real coup with the documentary Heaven 17: The Last Temptation

. The band are approaching their 50th anniversary and this film, which follows their final tour, really belongs at Sheffield DocFest. We were so keen to have it that we booked it before the film was even finished.

After the screening on Friday night at the Lyceum there will also be a short live performance.

Zambrano is equally excited about the return of Questlove following the success of Summer of Soul at DocFest in 2021.

He’s bringing his new documentary about Earth, Wind & Fire. He was given full access to their archives and audiences really will learn so much about them.

Elsewhere in the festival, Ultimate Thunder offers a very different take on music culture and will be a night not to be missed.

The documentary follows a Leedsbased punk collective, most of whom have some form of learning disability. It charts a three-year struggle to overcome a host of problems while trying to live their dream of performing.

It’s about music, but also community, friendship and determination, and they are all incredibly excited to be here.

Head to sheffdocfest.com for tickets and details of the full programme

PERKO’S TOP PICKS FOR THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL

My recommendations always come with a caveat, in that every year at DocFest I discover, by chance or by word of mouth, a film I had little expectation of but which blows me away. That unpredictability is part of the magic of the festival. Nevertheless, these are looking like ones to see if you possibly can.

Life Support

This is my pick for the film that will have the biggest impact at this year’s festival. Medical staff from the UK are not the only ones who have witnessed the horrors of Gaza, but they are almost unique in being able to speak publicly about what they have seen. Their firsthand testimonies are shocking, heartbreaking and need to be heard.

Brexit: How Britain Voted Out

Emmy and Bafta-winning filmmaker Norma Percy will be here with her film marking 10 years since the country voted to leave the EU.

The Archivist

This looks set to be one of the big hits. David Rowe has spent years preserving overlooked folk traditions, but he faces a race against time to protect them. It is a film that will resonate with a lot of people.

The Man Will Burn

This tells the story of how a San Francisco bonfire turned into Burning Man, one of the world’s most creative gatherings. It’s fun, it’s crazy and it shows how anything is possible.

How to Feed a Dictator

Something completely different that will really divide people. Anyone living under various dictators had one thing in common: they were starving while the leaders of those nations had people preparing lavish food for them. This film talks to the chefs who served them, discussing what they did and how they feel about it.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…

There is also a chance there will be something connected to the final instalment of 7 Up, which will be shown on television in the autumn. There will hopefully be a special event linked to this, although it is still in the planning stages and may well be added at the last minute, so keep an eye on the website for updates.

Short film programme

This strand is always fascinating. Look out for Rose’s House, about safe spaces for trans people in the 1970s. Another film that looks interesting is Wild East, from Romania, where an activist campaigns against IKEA and the devastation the company causes through its huge demand for wood.

The AI Doc: Or How I

Became an Apocaloptimist This may change the way you see artificial intelligence. Women falling in love with their digital boyfriends might sound easy to judge, but these women are finding joy. What are the alternatives? Being lonely, depressed and maybe taking drugs, or having someone who is kind to them?

Cantona

Football fans will love this film, which is told largely in Eric Cantona’s own words. Now an artist, he looks back on his career and opens up about his relationship with fans and with his coach.

Elsewhere in India

Not a film but a live performance in the Crucible Studio using archive multimedia and electronica. It promises to be a new and innovative way of using archives.

Behind the Scenes of Educating Yorkshire

Headteacher Matthew Burton became the breakout star of the Bafta-nominated series, and he’ll be in Sheffield sharing some of the show’s most iconic and heartwarming moments.

Exposed meets Chums, the signwriter and muralist keeping traditional handpainted craftsmanship alive in Sheffield.

If you’re kicking back in a city centre watering hole and spot an eye-catching mural splashed across the side of the building or perhaps wrapped around its beer garden, there’s a fair chance Alex ‘Chums’ Thompson had something to do with it. The same goes for some of the distinctive lettering and signage present at popular local haunts such as Leah's Yard and The Fat Cat.

From shopfronts to menu boards, Chums’ paint-splattered fingerprints are all over central Sheffield right now, so we thought it was about time we grabbed him for a chat about his work and why, in a world increasingly filled with drab AIgenerated design, he’s still flying the flag for doing things the traditional way.

For Alex, now the founder of Chum’s Sign & Mural Co, it all began in the skate parks. Spending many of his younger years at The House in Neepsend, he was surrounded by graffiti culture from an early age. “I was always drawing from being a kid,” he tells Exposed. “Then growing up in that sort of skating scene, graffiti’s just interlinked into the culture. It had a huge impact.”

One of his earliest inspirations was celebrated street artist Phlegm, who for a time worked at The House skate park, and whose sprawling monochrome murals have become famous across the globe. Alex’s mum would buy him the

artist’s homemade comics as a youngster (perhaps unwise given some of the more adult themes) and that additional exposure to graffiti and otherworldly illustration eventually pushed him towards studying art and graphic design, though the reality of sitting behind a screen quickly lost its appeal.

“I was still interested in it, I just didn’t like doing everything from behind a computer,” he explains. “I liked the physical activity of being out and painting.”

He later dropped out of university and began working in Sheffield bars – a move that accidentally set him on the

path towards signwriting. While working behind at The Great Gatsby, he was asked to create chalkboards and signage for the venue. He gladly took up the chance to get creative.

At the time, Alex was still painting graffiti and experimenting with lettering styles in his spare time, so transferring those skills onto pub signs came naturally. Before long, word spread across the city’s hospitality scene, and he found himself creating boards and hand-painted signs for a number of different venues.

He now specialises in traditional handpainted signwriting – a craft he’s deeply passionate about preserving. While vinyl

signage and digital printing may be quicker and cheaper, he believes they lack the character and individuality that only come from paint applied by hand.

“There’s almost a beauty in the imperfections. You can see someone’s spent time on it. It’s got that human touch to it, which gives it something that a machine can’t.”

It’s a philosophy that feels especially relevant now, with AI-generated visuals rapidly becoming part of everyday design culture. Alex admits the rise of artificial intelligence within creative industries worries him – not because it can replace human creativity entirely, but because it risks flattening originality and undervaluing skilled craftsmanship.

“I’ll have clients now who generate something on AI and then ask me to paint it,” he says. “Then I have to try and explain why it doesn’t work as an actual sign or mural.”

For him, good signwriting is about more than simply producing an attractive image. It’s about understanding buildings, heritage and atmosphere.

Look no further than the restored signage at the Grade II listed Stag Works on John Street. The building previously had a generic modern sign bolted onto its façade, but Alex replaced it with handpainted lettering more in keeping with the site’s industrial history.

“That’s probably the job I’m most proud of. It was nice to restore it back to what it should have looked like,” he says. “You can make things feel modern while still respecting the history. We’ve got so much history here in England – old buildings with real heritage, and I think

it’s important to try and preserve that.”

Recently, he’s also been pushing harder to develop his own mural style rather than purely focusing on client commissions. A big step in that direction came with a large-scale mural on The Moor, completed as part of a community project. Unlike many commissioned jobs, this one gave him rare creative freedom.

“That was the first proper commission where I had free rein to do whatever I wanted. The dream would be to just paint what I want to paint – that’s the goal. But I feel blessed to paint for a living regardless.”

The wider future of street art in Sheffield looks bright. Between independent festivals, community mural projects and growing support for local artists coming from key decision makers, Alex believes the city is beginning to embrace the role public art can play in transforming urban spaces.

“There’s definitely more happening. The amount of work going up recently has been phenomenal, and I think we’re starting to see a realisation of what street art can bring to a city. It can bring people in and improve a space hugely.”

And while trends, software and AI tools continue to reshape the creative industries, he remains adamant there’s no substitute for paint applied by hand.

“For business owners, it shows you care. Real thought has gone into it, there are humans behind it and it’ll last longer. Vinyl cracks and falls off, but paint stands the test of time.”

@chums_signco chumssignandmuralcompany.com

TALENT ON TAP

Triple Point Brewery once more opened its doors to the city’s emerging creative talent last month, hosting an exhibition showcasing 73 original artworks created by Sheffield Hallam students around the theme ‘Hidden Sheffield’.

Held at the brewery’s taproom, the annual project – now in its fourth year – invited members of Sheffield Hallam’s Illustration Society to design artwork for a future Triple Point beer release, with this year’s brief encouraging students to uncover overlooked stories, forgotten histories and lesser-known corners of the city.

The resulting exhibition transformed the venue into a vibrant celebration of civic identity, with pieces ranging from tributes to the infamous Hole in the Road fish tank to deep dives into the city’s anarchist publishing history.

Other artworks explored obscure local legends, personal memories and cultural touchstones, giving visitors the chance to learn something new while casting their votes.

Speaking at the event, Triple Point co-founder George Brook explained how the collaboration first came about.

“We like to work with local creatives and we’ve worked with

the Sheffield Hallam Illustration Society before on the chance to design a can,” he told Exposed. “This year we’ve just made it all about ‘Hidden Sheffield’ – the hidden stories that the average person might not know about the city that we all live in.”

George added that the project has become an important platform for young creatives, with many artists exhibiting publicly for the first time.

“I think this is the first exhibition for a lot of the students and you can see how busy and positive the atmosphere is tonight. That’s a really cool thing to be part of.”

Visitors to the exhibition were invited to vote for their favourite pieces via ballot boxes placed around the venue, with the public vote helping determine a final shortlist of five designs. From there, the Triple Point team will select one overall winner, whose artwork will appear on the brewery’s next can release – expected to be a hazy pale ale tailored to reflect the chosen design.

Alongside the opportunity for exposure, the initiative also gives students valuable experience working within a real commercial brief – something artist Aesther Walkey, who previously collaborated with Triple Point on a design, believes is increasingly important.

“It’s a chance to do actual vocational artwork,” said Aesther. “Being able to control your vision for someone else is really a skill you have to learn. This is such a good exercise for them to be better artists and get into the job market as well.”

George noted that Triple Point hopes to continue expanding its involvement with Sheffield’s cultural community through more events like this in future.

“It’s something we want to do more of. This year, the students have had to go and research the whole story, find something interesting, and then turn that into art. The quality of the work is really high and it’s going to be really difficult to pick a winner.”

The winning design will be announced on socials at @triplepointbrew

MARK PERRYYOUNG culture THROUGH THE LENS

Sheffield photographer Mark Perry-Young on shooting film, documenting working-class spaces and why good light will always stop him in his tracks.

What first inspired you to pick up a camera?

I just found the idea of being able to pause and capture time to be a cool thing.

At the moment, I shoot on film, which just amplifies that idea for me. I love the thought of the light physically putting down a record of time onto the film.

How has your style or choice of subjects evolved since starting out?

It’s not changed too much, to be honest, although, through the amount of hours with the camera in my hand, technically I feel I’ve got much better, which in turn has helped me find what I’m after and be more consistent.

I’ve always been drawn to strong, bold composition, as well as the contrast between light, shadow and colour.

My subject choice is just what I know and what I’ve lived, really. I’d like to step outside of that, though, and shoot more places and cultures that are unfamiliar to me.

Does live photography offer something urban photography can’t, and vice versa?

I find live photography more of a challenge and a much faster-moving process. The subject is moving about and usually the light is changing constantly. The lens and camera I currently use are also manual focus, so I find it’s a lot more work in the hands than street photography.

Out in the street, I can observe a lot more before pressing the shutter. It’s usually a calmer, slower process.

What usually compels you to stop and take a photograph?

Good light. It’s probably the most important factor for me.

What advice would you give younger photographers trying to get noticed?

Have your camera with you as much as possible and just be willing to share your work whenever and wherever you can.

I’m a big believer in the idea that if the work is good, it’ll get noticed.

Which shot or series stands out as your favourite to date, and why?

The shot I got of the Moorfoot Building with the old, abandoned Wickes that runs along the bottom of the frame.

It ended up being used as the main part of Sheffield band Cinder Path’s debut single, ‘Fall Forward’.

I feel it’s a good visual record of a recent past and shows some of the results of the changes in how we work and shop.

It came out really well straight from the photo lab too – thanks to J&A Photography. The only edit I made was to straighten it up. There’s a light leak at

the bottom of the lamppost, which ended up making the shot look better. Sometimes you get lucky with stuff like that.

When do you feel happiest behind a camera? Early morning, blue sky, a good coffee in hand, heading out to explore for a full day with plenty of rolls of film.

Is there a place you haven’t photographed yet that you’re especially drawn to?

Not really a particular place, but an environment and experience. I spent periods of time in my 20s and 30s playing music and touring in the UK, Europe and the US. Regrettably, I didn’t take a camera on any of those trips and have very little documented. I’d like to go on tour with a band again, but as a photographer this time, and make up for not documenting those earlier trips.

Do you have any projects currently in the pipeline? I’m continuing to work with Cinder Path and helping to document and give visuals to their journey, which is awesome to be a part of.I’ve also recently started working towards getting some kind of exhibition and new photo zine put together. I’ve got a body of work revolving around the importance of remembering our authentic working-class past as this new world emerges around us. Hopefully, I can make that happen.

@markperryyoung

INTO THE FRAME

A new independent art space opened its doors on Abbeydale Road last month, bringing together 19 South Yorkshire artists for its debut exhibition and giving visitors the chance to buy work directly from local creatives. Exposed popped in for a natter with the owner.

WORDS: JOE FOOD

The Shop – a studio and exhibition venue run by Sheffield artist Nick Grindrod – opened on 14 May, launching the preview of its debut show Bee Sting Cake that evening. Alongside exhibitions, the space aims to give people the chance to buy original artwork from local artists in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

For Nick, the opening marks another chapter in a career that has taken him from Sheffield art student to exhibiting in galleries across London, Singapore and California.

As with many artists, the pandemic unexpectedly changed everything. Unable to continue his decorating work during lockdown, he turned fully towards painting and began sharing work online through the Artist Support Pledge initiative.

I started making work, put it on Instagram, and it just went a bit crazy,” he tells Exposed. “I was constantly making work, day in, day out, and people seemed to want it.”

That momentum led to solo shows in London and representation from galleries in Bristol, Singapore and California. Nick joined Bloc Studios, which he described as “a bastion of community for local artists in Sheffield”, before eventually moving to his own studio space in Hunters Bar.

When a more affordable spot on Abbeydale Road became available, he went to view it and the layout quickly got the cogs whirring. “I saw it had two rooms. It’s

got a shop window looking out onto the street. I thought, why the hell not? Let’s open something up here.”

The Shop occupies a former retail space on Abbeydale Road, an area he sees as an increasingly vibrant artery for the city’s independent culture

“Everyone knows there’s a good vibe to the neighbourhood. There are a lot of new local businesses opening and it still feels accessible. It’s got that social community aspect to it.”

Just as importantly, he hopes The Shop can fill an important niche by providing a small, accessible gallery space that promotes local creative talent and strengthens the link between artists and the public.

“There aren’t many spaces like this for artists in Sheffield,” he explains. “There are loads of studios, but in terms of accessible exhibition spaces, you’ve got Cupola Gallery, you’ve got Fronteer Gallery and very little else apart from pop-up scenarios.”

The opening exhibition, curated alongside artists Sean Williams and Kate Jacob, brought together painters, sculptors and mixed-media artists from across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

“There’s some incredible work in here,” says Nick, walking around the space a few hours ahead of opening night. “A lot of these are artists I’ve known and shown with over the years, so it’s great to bring the work and people together tonight.”

Creating a community feel around

the space is central to his belief that galleries should feel approachable rather than intimidating. “People have this thing about art galleries being scary or judgemental places. This isn’t a bit like that. People are welcome to just pop in and have a look around or a chat.”

That accessibility extends to the work itself. As well as browsing exhibitions, visitors will be able to purchase original pieces directly from artists.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than putting an original piece of artwork on your wall. If you love it, it’s worth its weight in gold.”

Nick will continue using part of The Shop as his own studio, where he creates textured abstract works inspired by years spent renovating old buildings around Sheffield.

“A lot of it comes from stripping away layers of wallpaper and paint,” he explains. “All these unusual stains, colours and patinas that bounce off each other. I like to embrace the chaos of it.”

For now, though, the focus is on opening the doors and seeing how the space naturally evolves.

Alongside future group exhibitions, he hopes to host solo shows later in the year, helping build a stronger platform for local artists in the process.

Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm. Follow @ theshopsheffield for further updates.