Exposed Magazine May 2024

RICHARD HAWLEY

SHARES SOME STEEL CITY LOVE

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

ED COSENS // CROSSED WIRES FESTIVAL // WET MAN // NUBIYAN TWIST // SKINT KNEES // AUGUST CHARLES // ELLA TAYLOR

available until 6.00pm, SUNDay TO FRIDAY

Treat yourself to a delicious cocktail or two!

CHOOSE FROM OVER 20 COCKTAILS TAGGED WITH THE 'CUBANA STAR' IN OUR DRINKS MENU FOR ONLY £7.00! PLUS...

>> House Spirit Double £7.00

>> Selected bottled beers £3.50 - Corona and Super Bock

>> Selected house wines £4.25 per glass or £18.50 per bottle. Choose from Pinot Grigio White, Pinot Grigio Rosé or Montepulciano Red

>> Prosecco - £22.50 per bottle

>> Sangria or Sangria Blanca £22.50 per jug

**DOWNSTAIRS BAR EXTENDED HAPPY OFFER**

We have extended all of the above Happy Drinks offers for a further two hours, until 8pm, Monday to Friday in the downstairs bar

**only available in the downstairs bar

available until 6.00pm, SUNDay TO FRIDAY

Call in and chill out at the end of a hard day, unwind and soak up our relaxed Latino vibe whilst enjoying our ‘Happy Tapas’ deals. ANY 2 tapas dishes for £12.95 £5.00 off ANY Of our tapas set menus –– OR ––

Fantastic value when you dine early. APPLIES TO ALL TABLES SEATED AND ORDERING BEFORE OR AT 6PM.

Please note our Happy Drinks and Happy Tapas Offers are not available on Bank Holiday Sundays

salsainthesquare!

LATIN MUSIC & DANCE FIESTA!

BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY

MAY 5

First Bank Holiday Sunday in May

FREE OUTDOOR SALSA SPECTACULAR IN LEOPOLD SQUARE

FROM 5pm UNTIL 10pm. Live 6-piece all Cuban Salsa band – the amazing ‘Raices Cubana’

> Omar Puente: violin/vocals

> Flavio Correa: percussion

> Fernando Depestre: keyboard

> Oscar Martinez: congas/vocals

> Dorance Lorza: bass

> Roland Dominguez: trumpet

Plus DJ ANNA DE ORTE (Direct from Barcelona) and DJ ROLY CABALLERO (Havana, Cuba). Samba Dance Show, Latin Dance Animations, and so much more.

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

BARRIO LATINO

BANK HOLIDAY FIESTA!

FOUR TOP DJS PLAYING OVER TWO FLOORS

> DOWNSTAIRS: > DJ ANNA DE ORTE (BARCELONA)

> DJ EBO (BAILA REGGAETON UK)

- Reggaeton, Salsa, Samba, & Latin House

> UPSTAIRS: > DJ ANTONIO ( SABROSO)

> DJ SEAN WILSON (BRITANICO)

- Kizomba, Semba, Kudoro

Playing in the square from 6pm

OMAR PUENTE AND RAICES CUBANA

Raíces Cubanas, led by virtuoso violinist and musical director Omar Puente, Winner of the 2017 Lukas Award, have their roots in Cuban Son and Charanga (violins, trumpet, piano, bass, timbale, congas with a strong vocal front line) infused with Afro- Cuban jazz.

PA S RES TA URANT

Omar has toured worldwide with Cuban greats such as the late Ruben Gonzalez, Orlando “Cachaíto” López, Guillermo Rubalcaba, supported Tito Puente, Omara Portuondo and jammed with the Afro-Cuban All Stars. Over recent years he has performed, recorded and toured with British jazz stars Courtney Pine, Denis Baptiste, Gary Crosby among others.

DJ Anna De Orte

CASINO . RESTAURANT . BAR non members welcome

SCAN HERE TO view the menu

22: NORTHERN SOUL

Sheffield’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll troubadour delves into his latest album, In This City They Call You Love, revealing the inspirations behind its tracks and his deep-rooted connection with Sheffield’s “indomitable spirit”.

10: AWARDS SEASON

The shortlists are out ahead of the Exposed Awards returning to 92 Burton Road this month. Did your favourite gaffs get nominated? What happens next? Can you bag a last-minute ticket to the do? We’ve got the answers for all of these questions and more.

18: MAKING WAVES

Award-winning audio producer and Sheffield native Dino Sofos discusses some hugely exciting plans to put his hometown on the map for podcasts, beginning with the launch of Crossed Wires Festival this month.

28: FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

We preview the return of Sheffield Food Festival, the city’s long-running celebration of diverse cuisine from traders across South Yorkshire. As well as a mouthwatering selection of snap, there’ll be sups from local breweries and an array of live music talent on offer.

42: (WET) MAN OF STEEL

Following the release of his new single, ‘DISCONTENT CREATOR’, the Electroclash musician talks about formative creative influences ranging from the good to the frankly disconcerting, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Frank Sidebottom and Babylon Zoo.

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

Olivia Warburton, Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins, Rosie Knapp, Amy Britton, Ellie Ashton

THE BUSINESS STUFF

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

THE VOTES ARE IN

You came, you saw, you voted in your thousands, and now the Exposed Awards 2024 shortlist can finally be revealed! For the last couple of months, you lot have blown us away with yet another record year of voting. Give yourselves a pat on the back, will yer? With that bit now done and the vote closed, it’s over to the judges…

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Each category below features the top five (in alphabetical order) with the most votes. We’ll now send the shortlist over to our crack team of Sheffield judges for their consideration. Their votes will then be added to the

public vote (à la Strictly!) and the winners will be revealed at the bash on 9th May.

WHERE’S IT GOING DOWN?

You can expect the usual big night craic taking place at 92 Burton Road on Thursday 9 May promoting the best of the local scene spanning food, drink, culture, fashion, music and beyond.

MORE ABOUT THE NIGHT

Following a superb debut, Chris Arnold will return on hosting duties and we’ll have some of Sheffield’s finest handing out awards throughout the night. Seated tickets include free drinks on arrival and food from some of the

city’s finest street food traders – as well as plenty of live entertainment to get you in the party mood. Standing tickets are £20+VAT and cover entry only.

A VERY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

Last year, we had some of the superb cast from the award-winning Standing at the Sky’s Edge closing out the event in style. It’s a tough one to top, but we’ve pulled out all the stops once again and have another big end-ofnight performance in the works…

ON A LATE’UN?

The fabled awards afterparties will take place at top-notch neighbouring venues Neepsend Social

and Factory Floor. Might be worth booking the next day off work – and don’t say we didn’t warn you…

DON’T MISS OUT

We’ve got a limited amount of tickets still available (£40+VAT seated, £20+VAT standing) which can be bought at exposedmagazine. co.uk/shop, or you can simply email nick@ exposedmagazine.co.uk to reserve your spot0.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE EXPOSED AWARDS

THE SHORTLIST

BEST BAR SPONSORED BY CRUZCAMPO

Alder

Firepit Rocks

Neepsend Social Club

Public

Two Thirds Beer Co.

BEST NEW BAR SPONSORED BY MADRI

Hallamshire Hotel

Panenka Bar & Grill

The Old Shoe

The Pearl at Park Hill

Vocation & co. Sheffield

BEST TRADITIONAL PUB

SPONSORED BY GUINNESS

Dog and Partridge

Fagan’s

Hallamshire House

The Broadfield

The Rutland Arms

BEST MICRO PUB

Pangolin Craft Beer

The Bear

The Boston Arms

The Itchy Pig

The Wonky Labrador

BEST RESTAURANT SPONSORED BY BIRRA MORETTI SALE DI MARE

5Tara

Antler Grill & Wine

DOMO Pellizco

The Orange Bird

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY FENTI Assembly at The Schoolrooms

Grappa

La Bottega

Proove (City Centre) Unit (Valley Centertainment)

BEST VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

5Tara

Church – Temple of Fun

Dumpling City @

The Tramshed

Pom Kitchen

South Street Kitchen

BEST SUSTAINABLE BRAND SPONSORED BY TRAVELMASTER

Beanies Wholefoods

Moss Valley Fine Meats

The Bare Alternative

The Sheffield Honey Company

Unwrapped

BEST CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

SPONSORED BY NAPOLEON’S CASINO

Kelham Island Museum

Millenium Gallery

Sheffield Botanical Gardens

Sheffield Theatres

Weston Park Museum

BEST TAKEAWAY  SPONSORED BY PAGO PREMIUM FRUIT JUICES

Best Boy Bagels

Molly’s Café & Deli Paesani

Ue’ Paisa’ Urban Pitta

THE TRAMLINES  AWARD FOR BEST LOCAL EVENT

Abbeydale Road Beer Festival

Peddler Market

Pollen Market

Sheffield Beer Week

Sheffield DocFest

OUTDOOR CITY AWARD  SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE FILM

Festival (SHAFF)

Graves Park

Heeley City Farm

Pollen Market

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust

BEST CAFÉ

SPONSORED BY PAGO

PREMIUM FRUIT JUICES

Caffè Tucci

Frazer’s Coffee Roasters

Mandala Café

Molly’s Café & Deli

The Hidden Gem Cafe

BEST VINTAGE RETAILER

Glass Onion

Good Good Vintage

Rag Parade: Jo Jo’s

General Store

St Luke’s The Moor Vulgar

BEST INDEPENDENT SHOP

Annie Jude’s

Bear Tree Records

Frazer’s Coffee Roasters

Hillsborough Bookshop

Polka Dott

THE HENDERSON’S RELISH MADE IN SHEFFIELD AWARD

Birdhouse Tea Company

Bullion Chocolate

Frazer’s Coffee Roasters

Our Cow Molly Dairy Farm

The Mowbray

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Abbeydale Brewery

Bradfield Brewery

Brewery of Saint Mars of the Desert Heist Brew Co.

Triple Point Brewery

BEST LIVE VENUE

SPONSORED BY BEAVERTOWN NECK

OIL

FoundrySU Sheffield

Sidney & Matilda

The Leadmill

The Washington Yellow Arch Studios

BEST CLUB SPONSORED BY GATECRASHER APARTMENTS

Corporation

FORGE Warehouse

FoundrySU Sheffield

Hope Works

The Leadmill

BEST FOODHALL/ COURTYARD SPACE

Cutlery Works

Haggler’s Corner

Herd

Kommune

Sheffield Plate

BEST UNSIGNED ACT

Abs

Beachcomber

Emma Saville

Hard As Nails

Howarth

GET TOGETHER 2024

Last month, Kelham Island-based festival Get Together shared the full 2024 lineup and announced additional information about its wide-ranging live arts programme and food & drink offering.

With that in mind, and to make sure you don’t miss a beat, it’s time to get the all-important stage times pencilled in the diary. Handily, Get Together have provided the stage splits as well as a map of the venues and pop-ups to help you easily navigate this year’s big Kelham party!

All of the stage times, along with the festival map, can be found on their socials, @gettogetherfest.

Alongside new artists including Kid Acne, August Charles, Pet Snake, Neighbourhood Voices, City Parking and Nervous Pills, Get Together have shared details of its own street food village, the Kelham Beer mile, live art sessions, pop-up community choirs and much more.

Now well-established in its home of Kelham Island, the fourth instalment features over fifty artists in various venues including headliner CMAT who returns after a triumphant set at Get Together 2023.

Joining the fast-rising Irish pop star in Sheffield that weekend is Welsh indie-icon and Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys as well as a cutting-edge line-up of the best new music, including The Bug Club, Liz Lawrence, Miso Extra, Picture Parlour, Maruja, Sailor Honeymoon and

many more.

Teaming up with Sheffield City Council and BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield, Get Together have announced a specially curated stage of exciting local artists for this year’s festival with Humour, Gia Ford, August Charles, Ellur, Spielmann and Neighbourhood Voice Choir all performing live as part of the new music showcase.

Alongside the music, Purity Brewing and Kelham Island Brewery have collaborated with Get Together to present the Kelham Beer Mile, while the wildly popular Peddler Market will create The Peddler Food Village with a specially curated selection of the tastiest street food around including Bina’s Kitchen, Bun DMC, El Chapos, New Yorkshire Pizza and more.

As a true celebration of culture in Sheffield, Get Together has announced they will be hosting a live art street party with Lick of Paint Festival and mural artist Elles Paint as well as a late-night DJs and sets courtesy of Somewhere Soundsystem, a pop-up record shop with Spinning Discs and lots more across the day with a number of partners from across the city, including some special surprise guests, to be announced on the day itself.

Tickets (£42.50) are still available from gettogether.seetickets.com

PHOTO: JACOB FLANNERY

SOPRANO UPFRONT

WE’RE NOT ALL DIVAS

There is a longstanding rumour about the behaviour of ‘diva sopranos’ in opera. Certainly, in the older age of opera singers that might have been true, but today I find we’re mostly a bunch of normal people just trying to get on with our work. Our work just happens to be singing very loudly on a big stage!

lot of older versions of languages are very florid and the translations make little sense).

5

A COLD CAN JEOPARDISE YOUR INCOME

Ever heard a rumour of singers being hyper-sensitive to illness?

WE DON’T LISTEN TO CLASSICAL MUSIC ALL THE TIME

Classical music is my job, and it takes up the majority of my brain when I’m at work. So, when I’m relaxing, I try not to listen to it at all.

Personally speaking, listen to podcasts about TV shows and films, Dungeons & Dragons and video games. Others may vary…

IT CAN BE A LONELY LIFE

As a singer, some of us can spend anywhere from three to nine months on the road travelling between different productions of operas and concerts. It might sound glamorous, and it is fun to see so many places, but mostly, it’s just being alone in your digs and waiting for your rehearsal schedule to come through.

WE’RE NOT FLUENT IN ALL OF THE LANGUAGES WE’RE SINGING IN I can definitely confirm this! There are a lot of resources that have word-for-word translations of a lot of opera and songs, as well as using a trusty dictionary. We often hire language coaches to assist with pronunciation and interpretation (a 1

2 3 4

Unfortunately, there’s a reason for it: one short cold can completely ruin your prospect of earning any money for the month if it falls at the wrong time. If we can’t do a concert, we don’t earn money. There’s no sick pay as a freelancer.

Soprano Ella Taylor joined Sheffield Cathedral Choir aged ten and studied at The University of Sheffield. They are now an emerging star, part of the one percent of opera singers who are trans and dedicated to performing work by people underrepresented in classical music.

Ella is back in town for Music in the Round’s 40th Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, talomg place 17-25 May.

They will perform at St Mark’s Church, Broomhill, in an afternoon of choral music with Abbeydale Singers, Ensemble 360 and Anny Huntley on Sunday 19 May, and in the Crucible Playhouse with Ensemble 360 and Robin Ireland on Monday 20 May.

Tickets cost from £5 for under-35s and can be purchased from musicintheround.co.uk.

@ellataylorsoprano

HIDDEN GEM: SCHOOLROOMS CAFE AND ASSEMBLY BAR UPFRONT

LOW BRADFIELD FAVOURITE THE SCHOOLROOMS CAFÉ AND ASSEMBLY BAR & BISTRO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF A GAMECHANGING RENOVATION AND TAKE THE REINS OF ANOTHER LOCAL VENUE IN THE PROCESS…

It’s been a year since much-loved venue The Schoolrooms Café & Kitchen in Low Bradfield underwent a transformative renovation, introducing the elegant Assembly Bar & Bistro space. This addition brought a modern dining experience to the charming village nestled in the Loxley Valley.

“It’s been a brilliant 12 months,” Charlotte at The Schoolrooms tells Exposed. “The refurb’s gone down really well, the food and drinks at Assembly have been a hit, and we’ve hosted loads of memorable events, from our harvest auction and themed parties throughout the year to our regular supper clubs and hugely popular bottomless brunches.”

The thriving venue has become a social hub in the area, not just for the local community but for visitors from all over the city making the journey (a mere 20-minute drive from the city centre) to experience their warm atmosphere and carefully curated menus.

While The Schoolrooms focuses on serving hearty breakfasts and lunches during the day, Assembly takes the spotlight in the evenings, offering a more refined experience with mouthwatering seasonal dishes sourced from local suppliers, including an irresistible Sunday roast.

Building on their success, the family-run company behind the venues has acquired another iconic building just down the road - the Plough pub on New Road, now rebranded as The Bradfield Plough.

“We’re really excited to be taking on that venue, bringing in our team and renovating the pub room by room,” explains Charlotte. “We’ll be keeping it open for customers as we know how popular it is during the upcoming months, but we have some exciting plans for improving it through a respectful refurb while keeping true to its role as a traditional community pub.”

Back at The Schoolrooms and Assembly, operations continue as usual. With Father’s Day approaching, their online gift cards make for a perfect gift. Simply select the desired value online, and it will be promptly delivered to the recipient’s email address for redemption at their convenience.

Stay updated on the latest happenings at The Schoolrooms and Assembly by following their social media channels (@theschoolrooms2011 // @assemblysheffield). Additionally, you keep an eye on the exciting developments at The Bradfield Plough through their new Facebook and Instagram page (Facebook: The Bradfield Plough // @thebradfieldplough.

UPFRONT

Could Sheffield become the capital of British podcasting? There’s absolutely no reason why not, claims Dino Sofos, founder of award-winning podcast production company Persephonica and co-founder of Crossed Wires, the city’s inaugural podcast festival.

WORDS: JOE FOOD // PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB NICHOLSON @PEDALO

“I’ve always felt passionately about the lack of diversity in our media,” says Dino Sofos. “Particularly when it comes to socio-economic factors, the newsrooms are too full of people who went to public schools, whose parents could pay for them to stay in London while they did work experience or people who already live in London or nearby. There’s a distinct lack of representation of people from places like Sheffield, so it was always in my mind that when we set up a physical base for Persephonica, it should be here.”

Having grown up and completed his undergraduate studies in Sheffield, Sofos ventured to London to pursue a post-graduate degree in journalism. He returned to his hometown for a work placement at BBC Radio Sheffield, which eventually led to a job offer and a grounding experience in the multi-faceted demands of local radio. With that all-important foot in the door, Dino advanced within the BBC, transitioning to 5 Live and eventually assuming the role of political producer. His tenure there involved navigating the turbulent landscapes of coalition politics and Brexit, honing his reporting skills amidst the chaos of the times. After leaving radio to work in a social media role for BBC Politics, he began missing the

audio side of news reporting. This inspired the first official venture into political podcasting, creating a show, Electioncast, covering the 2017 election with Chris Mason, Adam Fleming and Laura Kuenssberg. “That was pretty successful, and we then moved on to Brexitcast, which ended up getting commissioned as a TV show on BBC One. Around that point, podcasting really started to take off in the UK and I felt as though I’d found my niche.”

After 14 years with the BBC, Sofos decided to leave and set up his own production company, Persephonica. Since then, he has spearheaded a range of immensely popular podcasts, encompassing everything from political debate through The News Agents with Emily Maitlis, Lewis Goodman and Jon Sopel, and Political Currency with Ed Balls and George Osborne, to celebrity-fronted shows such as Dua Lipa’s At Your Service and Lily Allen’s recently launched Miss Me?

With Persephonica now firmly established as a leading name in the industry, the next step is to complete the vision and move headquarters to Sheffield. “Just from speaking to people in the industry, you get the sense that everyone’s tired of everything being based in London,” he explains. “In a post-pandemic world, people ➢

UPFRONT

➢ are working from all over and some of our productions are produced remotely, so why are we sitting in our co-working spaces and offices in London when we could be creating important jobs in other places working with A-list talent on globally recognised content? There are amazing journalism and media courses on offer at Sheffield’s universities and colleges, so you shouldn’t have to commute to Manchester or live in London to get those jobs. Even it’s just a small amount of jobs we offer at first, hopefully we can grow and create more.”

Some Persephonica roles have already been filled by Sheffield-based candidates and the search for premises is very much underway. Sofos has been in dialogue with the owners of Park Hill-based Warp Films, crediting them as a key inspiration by setting up an internationally acclaimed production company that is “unashamedly Sheffield”.

In fact, he claims that South Yorkshire might be more suited to becoming a national hub for podcasting than people might assume. “This industry is all about storytelling, creativity and sound design – these are all things that this city is historically very good at.”

If the appetite for podcast culture outside of London was ever in doubt, the reaction since Sofos, along with co-founders James O’Hara and Alice Levine, unveiled plans for Crossed Wires, the city’s first ever live podcast festival, has cemented the thesis that Sheffield can serve as a vibrant hub for creators and enthusiasts alkie.

Crucible and The Lyceum over the weekend.

From Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June, the city’s most iconic venues will be bustling with blockbuster live shows, exclusive performances, free events and special guests – all hosted by top names in podcasting spanning comedy, current affairs, culture, sports, family and wellbeing.

The idea was concocted between Dino, good friend Alice (of My Dad Wrote a Porno fame) and Tramlines founder James over a walk and a curry in the Peak District. “The conversation was basically, ‘Why isn’t there a Tramlines for podcasts – or what would an Edinburgh Fringe for podcasts look like?’”

Before the bill arrived, the concept of Crossed Wires was born. Names on the lineup currently include the likes of Adam Buxton, Self Esteem, Katherine Ryan, Jon Ronson, Russell Tovey, Romesh Ranganathan and many others

THIS INDUSTRY IS ALL ABOUT STORYTELLING, CREATIVITY AND SOUND DESIGN – THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THIS CITY IS HISTORICALLY VERY GOOD AT.

Further exciting developments are underway in the run-up to the main event, as the Crossed Wires team are working to secure a venue that will serve as a focal point for the festival's soon to be announced fringe offering. Keep an eye on their socials (@crossedwiresfest) for the latest developments on that front.

“We’ll be hosting a number of interesting fringe events and live shows, putting on a really eclectic mix of podcast content that people can come and experience for free,” says Sofos. “Sheffield is basically just going to be flooded with top podcasting talent for the weekend, meaning town will be become the epicentre of podcasts for a few days.”

As our interview comes to a close, Sofos reflects on the diverse range of projects on his increasingly busy plate – from launching new shows and festivals to expanding into the US market with Persephonica. Yet, despite the hectic nature of his day-to-day, one thing remains clear: for him, the journey to make Sheffield the capital of British podcasting is just getting started.

Crossed Wires Festival takes place 31 May – 2 June in Sheffield. Tickets can be purchased at crossedwires.live and you can stay up to the dates with the latest event announcements by following @ crossedwiresfest.

thursday 2 may 2024

cody pennington

£23.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 4 may 2024 frank turner

mvt world record attempt

£10.50, Doors 5:30pm

saturday 4 may 2024 moving pictures

(a tribute to the music of rush)

£18, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 11 may 2024 a certain ratio

£25, Doors 7:00pm

monday 13 may 2024 the feeling

£27.50, Doors 7:00pm

wednesday 15 may 2024 english teacher

£14, Doors 7:30pm

friday 17 may 2024 grapefruit presents big gay disco

£7, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

saturday 25 may 2024

marina summers

£14, Doors 7:30pm

tuesday 4 june 2024

The Tuesday Club: girls don’t sync

£14.00-16.00, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

wednesday 5 jun 2024

jake lambert: the sunshine kid

£11.00, Doors 8:00pm

sunday 9 jun 2024 goat girl

£12.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 21 jun 2024 groovebox x temple pres. alan fitzpatrick

£11.00, Doors 10pm, 18+

thursday 27 jun 2024 belgrave house band pres. amy winehouse’s back to black

£16.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 13 sept 2024 big country

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 14 sept 2024 brogeal

£11.00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 21 sept 2024 antarctic monkeys

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 5 oct 2024 crime viral: murder staged

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 6 oct 2024

michael aldag

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 11 oct 2024 from the jam

£35.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 18 oct 2024 red richardson

£16.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 18 oct 2024

george lewis: the best thing you’ll ever do

£11.00, Doors 8:00pm saturday 26 oct 2024

kai humphries

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm saturday 26 oct 2024

cast

£30.00, Doors 7:00pm thursday 14 nov 2024

kneecap

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm friday 15 nov 2024

craig charles

funk & soul house party

£20/22/24, Doors 7:00pm, 18+

thursday 14 nov 2024

kingfishr

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm saturday 23 nov 2024

john bramwell

£25.00, Doors 6:30pm friday 13 dec 2024

turin brakes

£27.50, Doors 7:00pm

scan for tickets

“You read the news now and it’s so depressing, so grim,” says Richard Hawley. “My mum was saying it feels like it did during the Cuban Missile Crisis, driven to the edge of an abyss by idiotic world leaders, you know?”

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD

He takes a second to stir some sugar into his coffee before looking up and continuing: “But if you live in this city and wander its streets, you’ll hear this word over and over again – love. It’s not used in a sickly, sort of chocolate box sense. It’s often quite sincere, and sometimes it can be disarming and charming at the same time. It could be two blokes my age referring to each other as ‘love’, and I just think there’s something beautiful about that.”

On a drizzly Monday afternoon, we’re seated in the upstairs room of Marmadukes Café on Norfolk Row and the 57-year-old Pitsmoor-born songwriter is discussing the naming of his latest album, In This City They Call You Love, the ninth record in a solo career spanning 25 years.

Its title also provides part of the chorus for the album’s fifth track, ‘People’, an ode to the hardy individuals who have shaped and continue to embody the city’s resilient character. It is vintage Richard Hawley: poignant, nostalgic and almost custom-made to stir a South Yorkshire soul, taking the listener on a melancholic tour of meandering rivers, shivering hills and roaring furnaces. I venture that its first live outing in front of a local audience, circa 10,000 at Don Valley Bowl in August, will be a special one. “Every single one of them will understand what it means, I know that much,” is the reply. “It didn’t take me long to write – the best ones never do –and on the day I wrote it, it was my Uncle Eric’s

birthday; he was a steelworker who worked with my dad. He’s still with us, the last of a generation that I knew, and that was just flitting through my mind. It’s an almost immediate process for me at times – a bit like capturing lightning or trying to hold on to water in your hands, and you’ve just got to get it written down while it’s still there.”

The album opener, ‘Two For His Heels’, sees a continuation of the brooding, stomping bluesrock that dominated previous album Further, but seasoned Hawley listeners will notice a conscious stripping back of the weightier production, moving away from the distortion pedals and placing the artist’s sonorous vocals front and centre. It’s a change of tack that becomes more pronounced as you move through the album’s 12 tracks: a sense of space is omnipresent allowing for a more thorough exploration of voice and melody.

“It was just to see if I could do it,” he explains simply. “I suppose as an older guy writing these vignettes, you cram in as much information as possible in a short space of time, which is the art of writing a rock or a pop song, really. You only have so much time to capture people’s attention, especially nowadays. I don’t worry about that too much, though.” There’s a pause and an amused chuckle. “The record label made me laugh the other day. They said to me, ‘Could we talk to you about your TikTok account?’, and I just replied, ‘No.’”

I have to stifle a laugh myself, momentarily caught up in a vision of Richard Hawley performing some sort of contrived dance on TikTok to promote a release. It would never happen, obviously, not least because he’s wary about the impact of social media on society. “If social media was a place, you’d never visit. You’d never go, ‘Come on, kids, get in the car, we’re going to Social Media. It’d just be this barren land filled with unpleasant people.” With four decades of a successful music career behind him and shows that seem to only get bigger each year, Hawley has certainly earned the right to set his own terms with labels and focus on the craft. As he succinctly puts it: “I know what I’m doing. I’m 57 years old now, so who’s going to tell me otherwise? That’s not me being difficult or grouchy, but I think there’s an understanding that there’s no need to meddle with the recipe. I do that enough myself.”

But was there a slight trepidation in laying the instrumentation so bare compared to previous records? “When making a record, if you feel like you’re walking out to sea and can’t quite feel the bottom, you’re probably in the right sort of space. It wasn’t a commercial decision. I always go with questions like, does it sound good? Does it feel right? I don’t know about you, but when I try on new clothes, I don’t look in the mirror first. I

see how it feels. It’s the same with music.”

In This City They Call You Love is Hawley’s eighth solo album to make a direct reference to his hometown. Embodying the Yorkshireman paradox of a straight-talking personality matched with a friendly, convivial nature, he’s a natural orator and gives thoughtful responses on most topics (although it’s often clear when it’s time to move on). However, it’s when discussing the Steel City that you’ll find the artist at his most eloquent. When I ask why he thinks Sheffield has proven such fertile ground for his songwriting, the answer is instantaneous. “It’s people. I’m a big history reader, especially local stuff, and whatever has been thrown at us, the indomitable spirit of Sheffield people is something I’ve always been in awe of. We survived the horrors of Thatcher and what came after that, and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to get involved with Standing at the Sky’s Edge, because I can see it happening again. There’s a spirit of independence and resilience here that’s always inspired me. When I leave, I miss the spirit of the people here. Sometimes it takes travelling the world to realise how special a place is, or it did for me anyway.”

With inspiration on tap from his surroundings, it’s perhaps no surprise that Hawley’s such a voracious songwriter, telling me that the next

IT’S AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE PROCESS FOR ME AT TIMES – A BIT LIKE CAPTURING LIGHTNING OR TRYING TO HOLD ON TO WATER IN YOUR HANDS, AND YOU’VE JUST GOT TO GET IT WRITTEN DOWN WHILE IT’S STILL THERE.”

album has already been named and the songs written. Many of the ideas, he says, come to him while walking his dogs through one of the city’s local parks. “As long as I can move, I’ll always have a dog. We’ve got 420-plus municipal parks and public spaces and woodlands, so there are many places to escape to if you live here. Not bad for a post-industrial shithole, eh? But there’s always somewhere to disappear to, to take refuge, and I’ll take the dogs and go down into the woods. There I’m surrounded by the curves and ellipses and arches of nature; it has a subtle but immediate effect on the mind. Humans aren’t meant to live in square boxes, surrounded by straight lines.”

Not one for self-congratulatory pats on the back, it comes as no surprise that Hawley took some persuading to bring out Now Then: The Best of Richard Hawley last year (“I couldn’t do a greatest hits because I haven’t fucking got any!”). While waxing lyrical about former glories isn’t his style, I am able to coax out a bit of reflection through asking about formative experiences en-route to becoming one of Sheffield’s foremost songsmiths. He speaks of Sunday afternoons in St Cuthberts Social Club with his dad and a much older crowd of friends, listening intently to tales steeped in wisdom and dry wit.

WHATEVER HAS BEEN THROWN AT US, THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF SHEFFIELD PEOPLE IS SOMETHING I’VE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF.”

Barry Hines would come into another local watering hole, Firth Park Working Men’s Club, to swap stories with the little mesters and craftsmen unwinding after a long day’s work. It instilled a deep love for storytelling which, when combined with a strong family music pedigree, remains as the driving force behind his prodigious output.

“I’d play with our Frankie at the Pheasant on Lane Top for years,” he adds, referencing his uncle, the musician Frank White, a hugely influential singer and blues guitarist in his own right.

“Looking back, that was nuts. I’d finish school on a Friday and walk up the hill to the Pheasant and play rock 'n' roll with him before carrying on with the weekend and going back to school. They sold Magnet Ale at that pub, so the place could quickly turn into a fucking zoo. It was a good learning curve at that age, do you know what I mean?”

While there are some big arena shows and festival slots on the upcoming album tour, you get the impression that those types of shows in busy backstreet boozers will reserve a special place in his heart. As if to confirm this, Hawley recently played an intimate live show in the backroom of a small Irish pub, The Grapes on Trippet Lane, to promote his compilation album, and he readily admits that he feels more at home in those spaces than a 10,000-plus arena.

“It might seem a perverse thing, but you want to see the white of people’s eyes. That intimacy goes hand in hand with the music, I think. I’ve always felt very much like an outsider in modern music, like a salmon swimming upstream. But people are still turning up to see us in these big venues, which I think is amazing, so I’ve never stopped. It’s been hard work but a lot of fun.”

I wonder aloud if that in itself is a

key reason behind his longevity as an artist – a sense of personal authenticity in a modern music scene increasingly dominated by commercialism and fleeting trends? There’s a brief moment of consideration before the response arrives. “Well, if you’ve been around a long time, you’ve got to stick to the plan. I’m much more relaxed in my own skin than I ever was. I don’t want to make too much out of the age thing because, as my grandma used to say, ‘health is wealth’. If you’re well and healthy, you can continue doing what the fuck you want. But fundamentally, I think people just want to hear you sing your blues. So, that’s what I’m going to carry on doing.”

I reckon that’s a fitting note to leave it on. We make our way down the stairs and after thanking him for his time, I remind him of the obligation he mentioned when we first met at the door – to bring his wife back a fresh loaf from the in-house bakery.

“Oh aye, good point! Thanks for that, Joe. Ta-ra, love.”

In This City They Call You Love is out on 31 May via BMG Records. Richard Hawley's UK tour finishes with a headline slot at Don Valley's Rock N Roll Circus on 29 August.

Sheffield Food Festival make a triumphant return, boasting a mouthwatering line-up of vendors and unmissable musical performances.

For over 10 years, the Sheffield Food Festival has been serving up some of the city’s finest food, drinks and music for thousands of people, both locals and visitors, to experience the best of Sheffield’s diverse cuisine and quality produce.

The festival will be taking over the city centre from 25-27 May for attendees to soak up the bank holiday sunshine all while enjoying local street food. As Sheffield has been named the UK’s best foodie hotspot, the event is sure to be an unmissable one.

This year’s festival is even bigger than ever with 60 traders getting involved. Thanks to funding from the Arts Council

England, the festival will not only have food on offer but two live music stages. Head over to the Peace Gardens Main Stage for some must-see musical performances. Artists from Sheffield and even further afield will be taking to the stage to entertain visitors for the weekend. Acts include musicians from a variety of genres such as 60s-inspired indie rock band, Lunarca, rapper and spoken word poet, Matic Mouth and soul DJ, Kayla C.

Alongside the main stage, there will be a busking tent in Town Hall Square where the Creative DJ School will be offering drop-in sessions for visitors to learn about the fundamentals of DJing in the morning

and special busking sets by the Sheffield Music School in the afternoon.

Some of Sheffield’s most popular vendors will be returning this year including Frazers Coffee, the awardwinning East Asian-inspired ice cream parlour, Yee Kwan and the iconic V or V Grill House.

If you want to try something a bit different, the festival is also welcoming some new vendors. This will include the mobile retro pancake bar Flippin ‘eck!, Somtam for Thai street food lovers and halal restaurant Tamarind Kitchen. The event even has your pets covered with the Yorkshire success story, Pure Pet Food, getting involved.

Food producers and businesses will be sharing tasters of their products throughout the weekend at the artisan’s market. From gins, olives, and pies to homemade preserves and toffee vodka, the artisan’s market will have something for everyone.

Try out some Yorkshire Pudding Beer or travel to Italy for a moment with tiramisu from Paradiso Authentic Italian. The Hoppin’ Made CakeAway will also be providing gluten-free and vegan baked goods.

Aside from food and music, the festival will also be offering free craft and music workshops and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the 10-piece walkabout brass band.

Sheffield community arts charity Ignite Imaginations will be putting on free craft workshops for families to get involved in celebrating food and music traditions from across the globe. Based at the Millenium Square community area, the workshops are a great way of keeping the kids occupied over the bank holiday.

Entry to the festival will be free. Head to www. sheffieldfoodfestival.co.uk and follow @shefffoodfest for more information.

PREPARE YOUR PALATES

Cambridge Street Collective is set to become the biggest purpose-built food hall in Europe when it opens as part of Sheffield City Council’s £470M ‘Heart Of The City’ regeneration scheme this month.

This latest venture from the Blend Family (an awardwinning local food hall operator) will host 20 handpicked independent food partners, in a 29,000 squarefoot space, where guests can expect to see authentic cuisines from around the world all under one roof.

With a capacity of 1,200 covers, the venue will offer four bars, outdoor seating and rooftop terraces.

On the ground floor, guests can expect to explore some of the best independent Asian food providers the city has to offer. The first floor will house a cookery school, kids play area, and yet more kitchens offering exciting street food.

All this will be topped off with a games room, Japanese focused bar and a separate dining experience offering sushi and Korean BBQ.

Matt Bigland, founder and CEO at Blend Family said: “We

take great pride in curating exciting culinary experiences for people and this is one of the most exciting line-ups of world food we’ve ever put together. We can’t wait to open the doors and see the smiles on faces as everyone enjoys the incredible plates these

MEX-ING IT UP

Owners of the ever-popular mezcal and tequila bar, piña, have revealed plans to open a new sister venue in Stag Works on John Street.

The new venture, called poco, will be situated across the courtyard from Zephyr’s bar and Lovely Rita’s Bakehouse and is set to open mid-May.

The venue will serve up a range of Mexican, South American and prohibition style classic cocktails, including everything from pisco sours to sazeracs, and negronis to their famous piña margaritas, to name but a few of the delicious concoctions on their carefully curated menu.

The cocktail menu will also be a rotating feast, with the menu

evolving throughout the year, so that you’ll get to try a new tipple whatever time of year you pop down.

Explaining how the new bar will compliment Pina, owner Joe Cribley said: “We will of course have a really strong tequila and mezcal selection behind the bar but we’re excited that the new space also gives us the chance to spread our wings a little, explore different genres of cocktails and perhaps offer a more varied range than we currently do at piña.”

As well as the cocktails, the new bar will also offer a range of draught beers, complementary bar snacks and table service.

With the bar being a cosier sized space than the team is

kitchens are going to serve.”

To highlight and celebrate each food partner’s unique story, the launch will contain a series of traditional performances and events showcasing their cultures and traditions.

Their cookery school will

provide opportunities for expert chefs to share recipes and top tips to create delicious, authentic meals from scratch. It will also create an incubation space to bring on new street food talent within the city.

But most importantly, Blend Family is developing partnerships with Sheffield Children’s Hospital and local food charities to see how it can address issues around food poverty within the city.

Cambridge Street Collective will also offer ‘kids eat free’ in every school holiday, and throughout the year guests can take advantage of regular fixed price week-day lunch deals, bottomless batch brew coffee and tea, happy hour deals, bottomless brunch and free workspace.

For more information and updates head to cambridgestreetcollective. com // @cambridge_street_ collective

perhaps used to, Joe tells us that the plan will be to offer an elevated version of piña, with a focus on giving customers a high-end experience and somewhere to enjoy an intimate drink.

“I’m feeling really excited about it,” says Joe. “The space is even more beautiful than I expected, and a lot of effort has

gone into getting the vibe right.

“There’s a real sense of community down at Stag Works and everyone seems really excited about working together to improve the whole building and courtyard.”

For more deets and opening dates, follow @poco. sheffield.

A new café, Joe & Dough, has taken over the former home of Smorgas, and before that, Lynne’s Pantry, on Glossop Road, serving up a selection of doughnuts and cookies, a select sandwich menu (using homemade breads) and speciality coffee from local roasters Frazer’s.

Everything on the menu is made fresh onsite each day by Joe, using all natural ingredients which are sourced exclusively from local suppliers. Joe explained: “It’s important to me that everything is made, wherever possible, without additives. Literally everything, from the dough for the doughnuts, to the jam and custard inside them, and even the coffee syrups, I make myself.

“All my suppliers are from Sheffield. I could probably get everything cheaper from a national supplier, but I wouldn’t be getting the ingredients I want that aren’t loaded with E numbers. This way, I know exactly where my flour is coming from and can keep the food miles down. I try to support local businesses because I’m also running a local business.”

Joe’s ethos when setting up Joe & Dough has always been ‘delicious, never pretentious.’

“I just want to keep it simple, but at the same time, be creative and do my own thing,” says Joe. “I’ve been thinking about doughnuts for years. I’d been working as a baker for a local bakery, and I was kind of in charge of doughnuts. That was my thing. I liked coming up with new ideas.”

When Joe moved bakeries and that bakery expanded, he hoped he’d have the chance to start creating doughnuts again, but when that didn’t pan out, he took the bold step to go it alone. When he saw that the unit across from the Hallamshire Hospital was available, he took the plunge.

“When I spoke to the manager at the bakery about making more doughnuts,

they thought about it, but decided that the doughnut thing was going to blow over!” says Joe.

“That gave me the motivation I needed to do it for myself. This place came up and because it was so well set up for what I needed, it just seemed like too much of a good opportunity to miss and I went for it.

“It definitely felt like a big risk, but at the same time, I take risks in other things I do like rock climbing, which is very much about managing risk. I’d taken the safe option for 20 years. It was time to give it a go.”

Once he had the keys, Joe gave himself a couple of weeks to set up and opened the doors to the café on 15 March.

The café itself features a counter where you can peruse the doughnuts and other menu items that are all available for either dining in or taking out. As well as the indoor seating, the café also boasts a lush green outside space, perfect for when this weather eventually picks up.

On the counter, you’ll find a selection of seven doughnuts, ranging from two to four pounds, including glazed ring doughnuts, all doughnuts and two vegan options. The premium doughnuts include the delicious sounding ‘millionaire’s doughnut’, which is Joe’s take on a millionaire shortbread in doughnut form, as well as the ‘lemony one’, a citrusy doughnut filled with lemon curd and topped with lemon icing and candied lemon peel.

To create these mouthwatering sweet treats, Joe is using all his experiences working both as an artisanal baker in recent years, and before that as a chef.

Joe said: “I worked up from the bottom as a chef and worked in all manner of places from gastro pubs to cafes and restaurants. One of the best times chefing, was for a tour operator, where I got to travel around Europe to

DOUGH YOURSELF A FAVOUR

After thinking hard about doughnuts for years (and let’s face it, who hasn’t?), a little over a month ago, former chef and baker Joe Tomlinson realised an ambition of opening his very own café specialising in the doughy little rings of fun!

PEOPLE LOVE THE DOUGHNUTS, WHICH IS WHY I DO THIS. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE QUIT COOKING A LONG TIME AGO IF IT WASN’T FOR THAT.

the ski resorts, and then Sardinia in the summer.

“There’s definitely an Italian influence on my cookery, which will probably start coming through in the café when I start experimenting a bit more.”

For now though, Joe has been keeping it simple and tells us the response so far has been better than he could have imagined. He said: “The last two weeks have gone really well in terms of the growth of the business. All the feedback I get is really good.

“People love the doughnuts, which is why I do this. I probably would have quit cooking a long time ago if it wasn’t for that.

“Running my own business doesn’t feel like work as much as it used to when I was working 11 hours as a chef. It’s definitely been the right choice for me, and it’s been great to see some familiar faces coming in as regulars already.”

Joe and Dough are open Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 4pm, and can be found in 401 Glossop Road. For more info head to their Insta @ joeanddoughuk

Visit our newly renovated space & brand new coffee bar.

Serving freshly baked goods from Forge Bakehouse and Dark Woods artisan coffee, pop in for brunch, lunch or tea. Open from 9am.

photos

RISE AND SHINE

Longstanding Division Street social hub Forum has recently undergone a significant refurb, resulting in the introduction of a brand-new coffee bar space.

The venue has worked with designers to create a bright and airy space ideal for coffee meets, remote working and all of your breakfasting, brunch and lunch needs.

Forum has also partnered with popular local bakery Forge Bakehouse, who will be providing them with daily deliveries of freshly made bread, pastries and bakes. On the coffee front, their in-house barista team are serving up brews made with beans sourced from awardwinning Yorkshire-based roasters Dark Woods coffee, and you’re covered for a wide range of loose leaf teas from popular Sheffield independent Birdhouse Tea Company.

Utilising the open space and large glass windows overlooking their terrace leading onto Devonshire Green, newly added spacious raised desks with charging points provide the perfect setting for remote working. Elsewhere, comfortable lounge chairs and an abundance of fresh plants bring the laidback vibes.

If you’re looking for a quick grab-and-go option, customers can quickly access the counter through the side entrance by the terrace. In addition to hot drinks, pastries, sandwiches and bakes, a wide range of fresh juices and health shots are also on offer for anyone looking for a refreshing health kick.

Naturally, over on the bar side it will be business as usual: a wide range of craft beers, wines and cocktails (plus plenty of nonalchoholic options) alongside late-night dancing and DJs to take you through the evening.

True North Brew Co’s head of marketing Jane Smith explained that it’s all about ensuring that the much-loved venue, now in its 32nd year of trading, continues to move with the times and cover a wide range of social options.

“The main reason for this big refurbishment is to make sure Forum offers something for everyone,” Jane told Exposed. “The new space looks great and we can now cater for a wide range of tastes, from the morning through to the night-time.”

Forum opens every day from 9am until late. Follow @theforumsheffield for the latest updates and students can grab a True North pledge card from truenorthbrewco.uk, giving them 20% off and various other offers at their five venues every day of the week.

•

•

•

Welcome to La Bottega

MUSIC

TUNING THE SOUL

Following the release of three well-received teaser singles, Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Ed Cosens unveils his sophomore solo album this month, Somewhere Between Dark and Light. Ed spoke to Exposed’s Amy Britton about why this record is his most introspective piece of music to date.

Good to catch up, Ed. How are you getting on?

Busy as ever! I decided it would be a good idea to try and renovate a house while trying to release an album and go on tour. Found some rotten joists and some dodgy floorboards that I had to replace but nothing I can’t handle!

It’s not all Rock and Roll, eh? Your sophomore record, Somewhere Between Dark and Light, is coming out later this month on 24 May. Could you tell us a bit about the themes explored on this album?

I’m really excited about the new record. I probably started writing it coming out of the pandemic. I think that was a time when I kind of fully started to understand my mental health. It made me realise how much I have struggled at times without realising it. A lot of the songs started to come together like it was a whole record about living somewhere between dark and light, which is how I feel a lot of the time. Some days are dark days, some days are light days. It explores things around life, relationships, work and mental health. That’s what the record has turned out to be, which is not what I set out for, but through any process like writing an album, you start out on one thing and it suddenly becomes clear that it has turned into another. It’s an exploration of how I deal with living between dark and light, making sense of

it all, finding a way through and getting out on the other side.

How long has the album been in the works and what has the process been like to bring it to life?

Like I said, it started coming out of the pandemic. About a year ago, I started to find that I had a collection of songs that went together and that I was happy with.

I spoke to Dave Sanderson, who produced the first record, and got chatting to him about how we could do it. We started trying to do it bit by bit to see if we could just get something happening, but we struggled a little bit with that. We found that if you are trying to make a record, you need to get into a space and sort of think about nothing else. That’s the only way you can kind of make it happen. We decided to go away again for a couple of weeks to this little studio called Giant Wafer in Wales. It’s a great place where you can stay in the middle of nowhere. You basically just eat, sleep and record the album. This time we came back to Sheffield to record all of the vocals and we did all of the strings here. We did a couple of extra tracks in Sheffield as well. Me and Dave produced and mixed it all. So in that sense, it was a similar process to the first album.

time, I’ve probably experienced and been through most things that you could experience by working in the music industry. Of course, I’ve learnt a lot over the years and it has shaped how I now go about my business as a solo artist.

Probably the most important thing I’ve learnt is that you just have to do it yourself. Nobody’s going to hand anything to you on a plate in the music business. If you don’t go out and work hard for it, chances are it’s not going to happen. I think that’s a big piece of advice I’d give to anybody trying to start out.

During a long career in music, what lessons have you learned

It’s all about grafting, resilience and learning to not get too down and lose focus on what you’re trying to do if there are setbacks. As long as you stay true to what you want to do, you just keep going and things will eventually happen and turn out the way you want them to.

IT’S AN EXPLORATION OF HOW I DEAL WITH LIVING BETWEEN DARK AND LIGHT, MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL, FINDING A WAY THROUGH AND GETTING OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

Love the strings and heart-swelling emotion on the latest single, ‘Little Boy’. Could you talk us through how that track came together?

‘Little Boy’ is definitely the most reflective song on the record. It’s one of those where I literally sat in my kitchen, playing around with different tunings on the guitar and I suddenly hit on this particular tuning. My fingers just started playing the opening riff and everything happened in about 20 minutes.

The song is about me just trying to figure out my place in the world, where I’m going, where I’ve been and what it all means. The strings on it were fairly simple. On the whole of the album, the strings were something I’d really thought about. Rather than just writing a few bits that sit in the background and make something sound a bit prettier, I really wanted to get into the mindset of Motown, where they really affect the emotion of the track.

Have you found that your musical inspirations have shifted since focusing on making solo records?

I’ve started listening to more things. I’ve tried to broaden my horizons. I’m trying to find a natural state musically, as a songwriter.

I’ve started listening to a lot more Americana tracks that suit my kind of melancholic style. I’ve been delving deeper into Paul Simon and a wonderful artist called John Smith, who I went to see live recently. Inspiration-wise, it’s changing, as I think it’s important to find myself more musically as a solo artist.

You’ve got a big UK tour coming up this month. Any venues that you’re

particularly looking forward to playing?

I’ve always loved touring and playing live has always been one of the things I’ve enjoyed the most. There’s a certain buzz in the studio when you’re putting down a good track. But there’s nothing like getting in front of an audience and playing them something and getting that immediate reaction. Hopefully, it’s clapping and cheering and not booing!

I’m so excited to get out again and play all of the new songs, as well as some old ones. There are places I’ve never played before on this tour. There’s this place called Slaughtered Lamb in London and that’s a really cool venue. I’ve never done a headline show in Liverpool before, so I’m excited to play there.

Of course, the main one has to be the Sheffield show at The Leadmill. I’ve never headlined there myself so that’s going to be amazing. That will be the only full band show of the tour so that will be special.

Finally, what are you hoping people will take away from listening to this album?

I think the takeaway from this record has to be about my journey and me trying to express and understand how I feel. But as I said before, I’m not alone in what I’m thinking and feeling. Nowadays, thankfully, people are more open. The album is just trying to recognise mental health and the fact that you are not alone. I want people to take a little bit of comfort or talk about the songs with their friends. Just telling somebody how you feel can make things a little bit better. Also – enjoy the record and enjoy the songs!

BEHIND THE TRACKS

ED GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON THREE SINGLES FROM SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DARK AND LIGHT

‘Dog House’, which was the first single from the album, was a song that I had written at a time when I’d done something to upset my wife or I could’ve handled a situation a bit better. It’s that classic saying of being in the dog house. It talks about that male pride that stops you from admitting you’ve done something wrong. I’m sure I’m not the only person to have experienced that.

It was actually Dave who got a feel for the track and pushed me out of my comfort zone on the piano. it took me a minute to get my head around it but once we found this groove, the track just came together.

The second single on the album, ‘Suckerpunch’, is about when you find yourself in a situation which is out of your control and often the effects of those situations you just don’t see coming. The response is to just bury your head in the sand. I guess it’s that feeling that even though you might be able to see the issue coming, you can’t always do anything about it. For me, the song is not overtly political but it’s about as political as I’ll get, talking about everything that has happened over the pandemic and with the Tory government.

I like that the music and the vibe are quite cheery, but the actual subject matter is quite serious. I like that juxtaposition in songs sometimes.

‘Stay With Me’ is the fourth single. It’s the single that’s going to lead into the album release. Musically, it has changed over time and the feel of it is definitely different to what I originally wrote in terms of the lyrics. It’s another song about trying to hold onto love and that sense of when you’ve found something that just knocks you off your feet, there’s a fear that you’ll lose it. It’s something that a lot of people will be able to relate to. It’s one of my favourites on the record.

Somewhere between Dark and Light is out on 24 May. Follow @edcosens for the latest updates and gig news.

SCAN TO PREORDER THE NEW ALBUM AND LISTEN TO THE LATEST SINGLE ‘LITTLE BOY’

The perfect cafe to kick start your day in the Peaks or just take a break and enjoy a hearty meal

Open Monday - Sunday 9am - 5pm Reservations available via our website!

Sunday Roast now being served in Assembly 12pm – 7pm

Assembly is our late night, neighbourhood Bar & Bistro Providing a superb dining experience for all occasions, putting a modern twist on traditional British dining.

Open Wednesday to Friday 4pm til late Saturday & Sunday 12pm til late.

MY LIFE IN MUSIC WET MAN

The Electroclash musician talks us through some of his formative music experiences, exploring the good, the bad and the downright batty...

THE FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT…

When I was three years old and remember nothing much but flashes of Sheffield concrete, perms and obscure VFX played out on a walnut finish television set, me and my brother were gifted the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 7” single off the back of the original motion picture movie. The track was titled ‘Spin that Wheel (Turtles Get Real)’ by Hi Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K, which, listening back, is a banger. Many years later, it turns out this was the first record I bought, since my brother lost a bet with me on whether any actual Turtles sang on said track (he thought Leonardo was the rapping).

MY FIRST GIG…

This is not very representative of me now, and I apologise to any fan readers in advance. But when I was 16, I was violently insecure, the ‘mosher’ scene of the 2000s had been dying out in replacement of American hardcore punk. My friends, who I thought were hypocritical for still eating at McDonald’s, had said they were gonna go see a band titled Leftöver Crack at Under the Boardwalk, which was a gig where stomping and forcefully shoving each other around in the pit was a big selling point. Anyways, I stood awkwardly at the back for fear of my sparrow-like bones being crushed by a hammer of leather, dreadlocks and aluminium spikes. Turns out that after the the third song the set had to be cut short since my mate had broken both his arms in the pit... true story!

THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED…

The first song I ever performed was ‘Frosty the Snowman’ (The Ronettes' version) at my primary school Christmas show. My father still asks for a Wet Man rendition, and I tell him I don’t have the range anymore. It breaks his heart every year.

A SONG I WISH I’D WROTE…

‘I’m Bored’ by Iggy Pop. And it’s not even a good song but I was considering saying Lou Reed - ‘Perfect Day’ or Four Tops -

‘Bernadette’. I guess sometimes it’s better to be a naive little animal: ferocious, daft yet straight to the point and somewhat genius are the lyrics of Iggy in this era. The live studio version on YouTube is incredible, and you can really see how bored he is with general consensus. ‘Perfect Day’ can park it.

Only messin’! It’s ‘Spin that Wheel (Turtles Get Real) by Hi Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K.

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN…

When my parents took me and my older brother on UK holidays in a car full of quilts (car quilts are illegal now). My parents used to play compilations they’d made on tape cassette and it was a weird mix of B52s, Prefab Sprout, Kraftwerk, Devo, The Doors and Trojan Records. It amazes me how much my love of music has grown since then, expanding into soul, disco, OG punk, post-punk and Captain Beefheart’s weird Trout Mask Replica album.

A SONG I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY HEAD AT THE MINUTE… Frank Sidebottom’s rendition of the Fall Classic ‘Hit the North’ featuring Little Frank and Paul Ryder on bass. R.I.P. to Timperley’s finest.

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

‘Spaceman’ by Babylon Zoo reminds me of sitting by the TV watching Top of the Pops on a Friday night, with scalded thighs from the steaming bags of fish and chips previously resting on me from sitting in a Ford Vauxhall. We had some really batshit artists in the pop music industry at that time, many so diverse in style and being ‘out there’. ‘Spaceman’ makes my teeth go weird, it’s the musical equivalent of eating a handful of Sour Chewits before your tea. The song literally changes tempo and becomes an advert for jeans (who’da thought it?) and the singer’s name was Jazz Man. It’s an intergalactic crime.

MUSIC ALLOWS ME TO… Lose several hours of sleep most nights trying to create a work I can be truly proud of. By slaving away at nonsense clickable buttons on the grey backdrop of Ableton Live. On stage, it has allowed me to finally be myself, in a world where I feel I am not quite understood or appreciated, although it does best not to pander to the room. Music allows me to express the thoughts, emotions and sometimes jokes that are otherwise bottled inside me as I see another David Icke viral conspiracy video (When Turtles Get Real).

Wet Man will headline a release show party for his new single ‘Discontent Creator’ at Hallamshire Hotel on Friday 3 May, with additional performances from Jellyskin and Crystal Blaze. Tickets (£7) available from fatsoma and you can stream the new single by scanning the QR code above.

SCAN TO LISTEN TO DISCONTENT CREATOR

MUSIC

A NEW TWIST

The genre-hopping group Nubiyan Twist are in the middle of their tour for their new album, Find Your Flame. The band, brought together by Sheffield-based artist Tom Excell, have enlisted a variety of musicians to take part in their new project including the iconic Nile Rodgers.

Exposed’s Amy Britton sat down with Tom to discuss their dynamic live shows, a multitude of musical influences and how the band tackles writing music with so many members.

How did Nubiyan Twist come together?

The band was set up by myself in Leeds College of Music when I was studying production there and it started out as more of a soundsystem-type project, inspired by the subdub nights, but with vocals and instruments.

Then, Finn Booth, our drummer, who’s one of my oldest friends, was moving up to Leeds as well. So, I was holding out for him to turn it into a fully blown

live project, as opposed to just a DJ and instruments. Once he was about, it just quickly turned into a 12-piece band, which was never the plan. We weren’t thinking of turning it into an actual career and now, 15 years down the line, here we are, still going.

What music do you guys take inspiration from?

Quite a range of stuff really! I grew up listening to my dad’s record collection, which had everything from dub reggae to jazz, trip-hop, jungle, techno and folk music from around the world. Also, my mum plays instruments and sings, so she was keen to get me playing an instrument. I think as somebody who was brought

up to love music from across the world, you start hearing everything as music.

I think the same answer is probably true for the eight other musicians in the project. When you start to add up all of those different influences, it becomes massive, which is why it’s sometimes quite a confusing project to listen to! People used to be a bit scared of it and not know how to define it, which seems to be what people often want to do.

The tour bus is quite a big part of us sharing tunes. We rotate who has the Bluetooth on the stereo. So, we are always sharing each other’s music of the moment and I think that influences a bit of the collective sound.

You guys have recently released a live performance for your single, ‘Lights Out’, which was filmed at the iconic Sheffield venue The Leadmill. Why did you decide to film it there?

The short answer is that I live in Sheffield and so does our singer, Aziza Jaye. We’re both parents so our lives have an extra layer of joy and complication that requires other people to come up here sometimes.

The longer answer is that we were formed in Yorkshire. Half the band are up north and half are down south. The Leadmill is a great space to join the dots and tell the story of the band.. Sheffield’s tour date is going to be at The Leadmill. It all just kind of fell into place.

The track features none other than Nile Rodgers. What was it like working with such a huge name in the industry? It’s still quite hard to believe it actually happened even when people say it. We had the honour of supporting his show in Leeds Millennium Square and that was the catalyst for starting up the collaboration. He heard that tune whilst we were playing it and expressed interest in it. We just did some back and forth online, such as things are these days. In an ideal world, one day, we will get to jam in a studio together.

It’s still just amazing for such a legendary musician to be so open-minded and happy to work with young up-andcoming artists, which I think shows that he’s really in it for the music rather than just trying to make some money. I mean, he’s done extremely well at both!

Being such a big group, is the songwriting process a bit chaotic at times?

We did try to compose all together in the room a few times and it was quite fun to jam, but it’s difficult to make decisions with loads of people. I think what people are imagining is that it must be chaos. How does it turn into something so detailed and put together?

My background as a producer is my approach to composing: demoing something in the studio, half playing the instruments, half fixing it in the computer and getting something that resembles a piece of music to then take to the band and say let’s develop this.

Nick Richards, who also writes a lot of the music, his approach is sometimes scoring using the traditional way to write arrangements for horns, and he’s an amazing songwriter as well. Jonathan Enser is a big part of the writing team and our trumpet player. He also enjoys the studio as

WE TRY NOT TO GO IN WITH A PRESCRIBED PLAN OF WE NEED TO WRITE THIS STYLE OF SONG ABOUT THIS. IT’S WHATEVER’S IN OUR SUBCONSCIOUS AT THAT TIME THAT WANTS TO COME OUT.

subconscious at that time that wants to come out.

How does the new album, Find Your Flame, differ from your previous release?

It’s our first album featuring Aziza Jaye on vocals, and she’s brought an exciting dimension to the project. As I said, the roots of the band were inspired by soundsystem culture originally and it’s nice to come back to that and approach it from some different angles.

It’s similar in a lot of ways in covering certain pillars of musical traditions like the African tradition is definitely something that’s been on every record. There’s a feature with K.O.G. We almost always have them on at least a tune since he’s an old friend of the band. Seun Kuti as well as Mamani Keïta feature. So, there are three tracks that have that very strong African identity.

There’s always jazz as another pillar of our sound in terms of the harmonies and the improvisation. The other is the modern electronic sounds. It still has those three pillars that we have on every album.

What can we expect from Nubiyan Twist in the near future?

a composing tool being a multi-instrumentalist and just layering up the ideas.

Our vocalist, Aziza Jaye, lives five minutes down the road from me and is also a producer. We’ve been in close proximity for this album and those latenight studio sessions where we’re not thinking too much, just having fun, adding bits here and there and then all of a sudden, subconsciously I know all the components it needs to have to work as a Nubiyan Twist track. I think that’s always bubbling away. We try not to go in with a prescribed plan of we need to write this style of song about this. It’s whatever’s in our

We’re bringing out a Find Your Flame hot sauce on this tour! It’s a collaboration with Dutch Pot International, a Sheffieldbased caterer. Post-album, we are working on a deluxe edition with a few extra tracks with some very special guests that I can’t disclose at the moment!

For the foreseeable future, it’s going to be getting the music out on the road and sharing it with audiences across Europe and the UK. There’s always some kind of composing and writing going on in the tour bus, whilst we’re away. So we’re always kind of half in the lab, brewing up the next record and half out there playing it to people.

Nubiyan Twist’s new album, Find Your Flame, is out on 3 May. The band will perform live at The Leadmill on 7 June.

MUSIC

Born in Zambia but raised in Doncaster, alt-soul singer August Charles explores different kinds of love in his new EP, Blessed. Influenced by a variety of artists that span a multitude of genres, Charles’ music mixes retro-soul with R&B. Exposed got in touch with August to talk abou this new EP and to see what plans he has for the coming year.

When did your journey to becoming a musician start?

I’ve always been passionate about music for a long time. It’s been a form of expression for me, especially writing. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was 12 years old.

I do recollect a moment when I was younger. I remember being in primary school and I won this poetry competition and I got put into a book. That was one of the first times my mum was really proud of something that I’d made. That made me want to continue writing and see if I can get better. Making music in itself was something that I was always excited about.

Your new EP, Blessed, centres around different kinds of love, is there a reason behind this choice?

It has to do with what is current in my life. Whenever I’m writing, I try and make it relevant to whatever I’m going through. All the songs that have been released were written at the same time. The only song that wasn’t is ‘Blessed’, which was written two years ago. Love has an impact on most of us but it was impacting me in many different ways at the time when I wrote it.

Tell us more about your writing process. How do you come up with new music? I mean most of my music tends to start from a voicenote. I just hum or sing some random melody in my everyday life. I’ll just be walking home or driving. I just need to have it recorded on my phone and my strategy is if I’m still humming that same melody within a week or a few days or a few months or so forth, I need to then put that into writing and progress it further because it’s something that’s going to stick. I don’t write lyrics until the very end. I like to make sure I know what direction the music is going in before I make a distinction as to what the feel of it is.

If you had to pick one, what would be your favourite track from the EP?

I would have to say ‘Stand on Trial’. It features someone that I’m a big fan of, who is a rapper called Jev, who is based in Canada, and he’s turned out to be someone who’s almost like a brother to me.

The song in itself is one of my favourite songs to perform live just because I love to get the crowd involved and sing the chorus.

Out of the shows you have played so far, is there one that stands out?

That is a tough one. One that comes to mind the most a lot of the time is the Piece Hall gig when I supported Nile Rogers. Piece Hall is just a wonderful venue itself. Also, I’ve never been treated better by the staff and everyone there. It was just a lovely environment and it was a lovely sunny day for the two days I did.

And what was it like meeting Nile Rodgers, as he is such an icon in the music industry?

When I met him, he was just so welcoming. He was very much in his zen mode before he performed. It seems as though to keep himself just ready and alone. I didn’t want to feel like I was interrupting it in any way, so I kind of kept it quick. I just said hello and said how grateful I was for him having me and how much of a fan I am. I got myself a picture and then I just wanted to leave him be.

You’ve mentioned that Amy Winehouse and Frank Ocean are some of your biggest inspirations in music, but is there one album in particular that changed your life?

Channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean is one of my all-time favourite albums. There›s no other artist or album that I think is similar because he›s a melting pot of different music like soul, R&B, and hiphop to an extent. Soul, in itself, it’s just an amalgamation of great creativity. I’m just a big fan of him and his process. Blessed is out now on all platforms

MUSIC

BALANCING ACT @ HALLAMSHIRE HOTEL

WORDS: NICK HARLAND // PHOTO: INDY BREWER

In the newly-revamped Hallamshire Hotel on Saturday eve came the latest newly-emerging band out of Manchester (via London): Balancing Act. Having put out a steady stream of singles since 2022, the alternative indie-ers have started to catch the attention of the likes of DIY, Dork, 6 Music and Radio 1 in recent months. That river of releases recently culminated in ‘She Plays The Theremin’: a radio-friendly slice of indie pop fizzing with the energy that seemingly only a band fresh out of the blocks can produce.

They’re at the Hallamshire tonight for a free gig ahead of a slew of summer shows – including a July slot at some local festival called Tramlines (never heard of it). And you get the sense that their sleek indie three-minuters will go down well at Hillsborough Park. ‘She Plays The Theremin’ is undoubtedly their strongest release to date, but their previous work showcases an interesting progression to this point. ‘A Little More Time’ takes its title literally, more swagger than banger, but doesn’t suffer for it. ‘Cold’ makes up for some slightly clumsy lyrics as it warms towards a thrilling crescendo. And ‘Cheshire Smile’ shows some more glimpses of the grinning indie that you can imagine filling more guitar-friendly airwaves in the future.

In the futuristic surroundings of the new Hallamshire Hotel it seems fitting –

to nab a phrase from a certain member of Sheffield royalty – that the future is being forged within these walls. They may not be the finished act just yet, but Balancing Act are certainly starting to find their feet.

WET MAN

Hallamshire Hotel // 3 May // £7

Get ready for the Release Show Bank Holiday Party Deluxe of the year, featuring an eclectic mix of electronic, alternative, garage punk, techno and party tunes. WET MAN, an Electroclash artist with a chip on his shoulder and penchant for bangers and poetry, will be celebrating the release of brand new single ‘DISCONTENT CREATOR’. Joining on the night will be plastic techno, pickled electronica and chewed up art rock act JELLYFISH and psychedelic analogue electronica purveyor Crystal Blaze. fatsoma.com

SOUNDS FROM THE GROUND: NKISI, KMRU AND ASHLEY HOLMES

GMill at SADACCA // 16 May // £10-£15

Join Arts Catalyst for a hypnotic evening of live experimental electronic music by Nkisi, KMRU and Ashley Holmes, with sound provided by Sinai Sound System. Expect ambient, dream-like noise, dark synthesiser melodies, hyper-modern club sounds and intricate Afrocentric percussion. The event is part of Skylarking, an exhibition and public programme that explores the relationship between landscapes, music and belonging. ra.co

THE BUFFALO SKINNERS

Yellow Arch // 17 May // £14

Roots-rock & roll group The Buffalo Skinners, are on tour with their fourth album: Picking Up What You’re Putting Down. The band mixes earthy accordion and fiddle tones with bluesy Fender Rhodes keys and guitar. yellowarch.com

FOLK IN THE CHAPEL PRESENTS:

THE

GREATEST ENDANGERED THING

Samuel Worth Chapel // 30 May // £10

The Greatest Endangered Thing is a new project from Samuel James Taylor and Rebecca Van Cleave in 2016. Formerly known as Ophelia, they renamed the project following a hiatus, finding fresh inspiration in nature and a line from a Nikita Gill poem. Support from comes for two excellent solo artists, Rhiannon Scutt and Robbie Thompson. gencem.org

MUSIC

TIME FOR A KNEES-UP

Inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement popular in the 90s, Sheffield four-piece Skint Knees are hoping to create a more open community within the music industry. Fed up with not being taken seriously in the industry, they are pouring this rage into their work.

stumped the forthcoming group was the album that changed their life. “It’s been the hardest question,” says Rachel. In preparation, Skint Knees took to their group chat to try and guess each others’ answers.

“If I had to choose and I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily my favourite album, but it means a lot, it’s Revolution Radio by Green Day,” says Jinx. “When that album came out, I was like, ‘Woah, I want to do that. I want to make music’ and I practised for hours in my room learning those songs.”

WORDS: AMY BRITTON PHOTOGRAPHY: JADE POGSON

Skint Knees, made up of guitarists Jinx and Bella, bassist Skunk and drummer Rachel, place inclusivity at the forefront of their music.

Skunk explains how the group was formed: “We found Jinx on Join My Band. So it was me and my friend Maddie and Jinx in the band for about eight months. Then we went into lockdown and found Bella halfway through lockdown.”

Their drummer, Rachel, was the last addition to the group. “My drum tutor, who used to be a member of Reverend and the Makers, sent me the advert and I saw these pictures of these three people who just looked so cool and I was like, ‘There is no way that they let me join their band, but I might as well try,” says Rachel. But it was love at first sight for the group, as the band spent all of about five minutes deciding that Rachel was the one. While the band may not have been formed organically, the group’s chemistry is undeniable with each member dropping jokes throughout the interview.

Skint Knees’ music so far is loud and unapologetic. The group clearly want to take up space. Bella talked about how

the Riot Grrrl movement has been a huge inspiration for the band. Without the space created by artists like Kathleen Hanna, many bands, including Skint Knees, would not have existed.

Aside from the Riot Grrrl movement, the band is also influenced by each others’ music tastes, protests and the devastatingly morbid outlook of modern politics.

But these three are swapping instruments, they’re jumping off stage, and their engagement with the audience is amazing.

In celebration of their second EP, Bite Back, Skint Knees is holding a launch party at Hallamshire Hotel on 31st May. The evening will be a Riot

Grrrl queer-focused event with local bands acting as support for the main act, Skint Knees themselves.

“I feel like the EP has got more bite to it than anything that the band has done previously and I say this as someone who was a listener before I was a member of the band,” says Rachel. “We recorded at Bigdog Studios with a guy called James Fosberry and he’s given our guitars this kind of dirty grungy 90s tone.

“It makes you want to speed down the road and scream out the window. It hit so much harder than anything the band has ever done.”

The only question that really

Skunk gives a shoutout to My Chemical Romance’s emo classic I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, while Bella chose In Utero by Nirvana. “That was the album that I started looking up the tabs for and just being an angry pissed-off teenager listening to ‘Serve The Servants’ made me want to be like Nirvana,” says Bella.

In line with what the band calls Rachel’s “divorced dad rock taste in music”, her pick was Black Stone Cherry’s Folklore and Superstition.

In the future, Skint Knees hopes to encourage more women and non-binary artists to get involved in the music scene. The group are also looking to foster live shows that allow their audience to participate in the chaos.

Rachel explains: “I just sit back on the drums. But these three are swapping instruments, they’re jumping off stage, and their engagement with the audience is amazing.”

“We just want it to be inclusive. If someone wants to get up on the stage. Why not? Come join us,” adds Jinx. “There’s nothing worse than doing a gig and no one necessarily seems to have their heart and soul in it, whether it’s those performing or the crowd.”

Bite Back is out now. Skint Knees will be playing at Hallamshire Hotel on 31 May. Follow for more updates @skint. knees.

MUSIC

WESTON PARK WELCOMES JAZZ ON THE PARK THIS SUMMER

Organisers of Jazz on the Park have announced plans to bring internationally-renowned musicians to the last surviving bandstand in Sheffield.

The first ever ticketed music festival set within the stunning grounds of Weston Park will be held on 15 June and also features a pop-up roller rink on a tennis court, poetry and spoken word from black artist's down by the duck pond, DJs spinning, shops trading, food sizzling and drinks flowing.

The organisers of the event include the people behind successful local projects such as Peddler Market, Mondo Radio, Footprints Jazz Club, Apricot Ballroom and Calabash.

The festival will have three stages across the park. The Bandstand, which was designed all the way back in 1874 and built around 1900, will be the main stage for the day. It will host live acts such as the dreamy sounds of Tony Kofi & Alina Bzhezhinska, who combine saxophone and harp with transcendent results; the slick

R&B of Rumbi Tauro; the dnb-jazz of duo j2oh, and the electronic soul of multi-instrumentalist of Mansur Brown. Alongside K.O.G, Balo Afro. desia and Fuji Speedway.

The Mondo Radio Stage will be a DJ-led stage with some leading selectors in the Jazz scene –such as Donna Leake, Anisa, Millie Mckee, Ash & Sirrey, Boss Daddy & Ashley Holmes, Angela Kendall, Holon, MYNA, Levi Bussue – playing a range of sounds such as soul, jazz, disco, house, broken beat and more.

While Calabash Corner will take place by the pond and will feature spoken word and poetry from Afro-Caribbean artists in the city.

Pink Lemonade Roller Disco will take place on the tennis courts and will also be soundtracked by the Mondo Radio Stage. Alongside this, there will be pop-up shops selling everything from records to vintage clothes, along with bars, AV installations and a variety of food vendors.

The aim of the festival is “to bring together multiple community arts and music collectives in the city and platform local talent next to national and internationally acclaimed artists,” say the organisers. “To put on a new kind of event in Sheffield and to add something to the cultural offer of the city we all love so much.”

The festival is also a charity fundraiser for a cause that is very dear to the hearts of those involved.

“One of the festival organisers was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Low Grade

Serous Ovarian Cancer at the age of 26,” the team explain. “This is a severely under-researched and under-funded area of Cancer Research and so we wanted to use this opportunity to raise awareness and funds combined with providing Sheffield with a brand new music and arts festival, celebrating the city’s cultural offering to the UK’s music scene.

“If we can even make one person aware of this disease then it’s a positive outcome.”

Up to a thousand people will be able to experience this special and unique event in the heart of summer, which is the first of its kind ever to take place within the park’s lush green and immaculately kept grounds.

“To be given permission to put on the first ticketed event at the site feels like a huge privilege,” the team behind it say. “We’ve all wanted to see something happen in Weston Park for a while, as it’s one of the most beautiful spaces in the city.

“It’s framed by amazing architecture from the Museum on one side, the University on the other, and the amazing Victorian features dotted around it, including the iconic bandstand.”

Jazz on the Park is not just a stellar new music and arts festival raising money for a good cause that combines local and international talent in a hugely unique setting but it’s also an embodiment of the community spirit that underpins the other events the organisers have been putting on in the city.

This event is the culmination of years of hard work that has been taking place in Sheffield by people who not only know how to throw killer parties and curate amazing music, but also offer meaningful community engagement and a sense of connection through culture.

“The aim for how the festival feels is definitely informed by the ethos of all of our respective projects,” they say. “Which is for it to feel comfortable and welcoming while also being engaging and ambitious. We’re so proud of the long list of people we’re working with on this. We’re confident it’s going to make the city proud.”

Jazz on the Park takes place on 15 June. For tickets and more info, head to Jazz on the Park’s socials @jazzontheparkfest.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

AS MUSIC SCHOOL

Exposed pays a visit to AS Music School in S8, a leader in Steel City music tuition for over 35 years. Words: Joseph Food

I think sometimes when people think of music schools, they might imagine a strict atmosphere with tutors like J.K. Simmons in Whiplash!” laughs Karl Sheehan, Partner at AS Music School. “But this is a very happy, fun place to be.”

We’re sitting in the office space at the school’s premises in Woodseats, formerly a GP surgery and now a bustling music hub where 400 students regularly attend to learn a wide range of instruments and skills. It’s early afternoon on a weekday, so all is quiet and calm as it stands. However, I’m assured that if I was to return around 5pm, I’d be treated to a symphony of booms, twangs and vibrations emanating from the 13 teaching rooms scattered throughout the building.

“We’ve got an extremely talented, diverse group of tutors here,” says Karl. “That’s also reflected in our students, and we teach an age range spanning from 3 to 5 years through to people in their 80s and 90s. We’ve been going a long time, so we are well established in the area and have seen generations of families come to the school.”

AS Music School was originally set up by Karl’s mum, Anne, 35 years ago, and has since seen an estimated 2,000 students pass through its doors. Initially starting out in the back room of their family home, the school grew significantly over the years and moved to its current premises five years ago.

A legacy which has seen thousands of Sheffielders taking their first steps in music at AS is something they are keen to celebrate after reaching their 35th anniversary – and rightly so. “It’s a really positive thing to be part of, whether they’re going on to make careers in music in various ways or learning lifelong creative skills. It’s something to shout about.”

Away from the practice rooms, students have plenty of extracurricular opportunities to get stuck into. Regular shows are booked for bands from the school at venues across Sheffield – there’s one coming up soon at Toolmakers Live – providing an opportunity for students to gain experience playing in front of a gig-going audience.

It’s all about making sure the experience is a well-rounded one, where students can explore a variety of routes while staying true to the school’s tagline: Enjoy Making Music. “Nurturing creativity is a big part of what we do, and we try to be as consultative as possible,” says Karl. “We don’t have a set syllabus and try to cater for individuals as well as we can.”

“For example, if you’re doing piano lessons, you might be doing something entirely different to what the person in the room next to you is doing. We have people working towards exams and sitting them here, but we also have students who never plan on taking exams. In one room,

we’ll have someone learning opera, and in another, we might have someone learning an Ed Sheeran song.”

We briefly explore the various practice rooms and spaces, each decorated with tributes to the musical influences of the resident tutor and students. In one room, a communal ukulele class is in full swing, while just across the hallway, a private session in musical theatre is taking place. Karl nods towards a small production studio, which has provided its services for a student looking to release music on Spotify.

Tour complete, I take my leave as another cohort of students arrive for their afternoon slots. It was only fleeting visit, but that’s all you really need to realise the significance of these types of institutions – not only as a pillar of creativity and education but as a vibrant hub where the community comes together to explore their musical passions, irrespective of age or background.

Here’s to another 35 years of Sheffielders celebrating the joy of music at AS Music School.

Find out more at www. musiclessonssheffield.co.uk @asmusicschool

2-4 Cobnar Rd, Woodseats 0114 2748939

AS MUSIC SCHOOL

SHOW YOUR PRIDE

We’ve reached the month of May, which means that Pride season is very nearly upon us. To get you in the mood, check out Queer Fest Month (every Thursday) on Sheffield Live radio featuring special guests, interviews, exclusive tracks, silly games and other rubbish on the radio to celebrate the Queer Fest Fringe throughout the month.

Kicking off proceedings is local queer musician and owner of the fabulous Mandala café Adam Heyes (Thu 2 May). You’ll be able to see Adam perform live later this year at both Pinknic and Diversity Fest. Talking of which, plans are underway for September’s festival. If you would like to get involved, then head to the Diversity Fest planning meeting (Sun 12 May) at Showroom Café bar.

If you’re wondering why we still need events like Pride, then head to IDAHOBIT (Fri

17 May), the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. The event, hosted by SAYiT, takes place at the Winter Gardens and will feature a number of talks and performances from representatives of our diverse communities about the challenges we still face. If this inspires you to want to do more to support LGBTQ+ communities, then head to SAYiT’s online LGBTQ+ Allyship Training (Wed 22 May) where you can learn more about how you can best support LGBTQ+ and other marginalised communities.

One area which can be particulary challenging for queer people, particularly in the current climate, is sports and physical fitness. Trans Active aims to help the trans community in and around Sheffield socialise and improve their fitness and mental

wellbeing through sport in a safe, relaxed environment. You can head to Trans-Active Swimming (every Saturday) – which is open to any trans, non-binary and gender-questioning people of all fitness levels. We have private use of the pool area and there are individual changing cubicles available. Keep an eye on their website and socials for other activities throughout the year.

We of course have plenty of drag this month as well. Malin Bridge Inn will be hosting the Sheffield Drag Idol Final (Fri 10 May) with Electric Blue in charge of proceedings as we see who wins the crown to become Sheffield’s next drag icon. They also have Tanya Minge’s Drag Queen Bingo (Fri 17 May) back with a hilarious evening of entertainment and naughty shenanigans with £500 worth of prizes to be won.

Over at Forum, join the queens for Taylor Swift Drag

Bingo (Fri 31 May) for a night of music bingo and cabaret performances. Elsewhere, Crookes Club have their Ultimate Ladies Night (Sat 18 May) – an incredible show open to all with a large group of male entertainers featuring PJay Finch from Married at First Sight plus death-defying circus acts and drag queen host.

And if you love drag, but the events are all past your bedtime when you’ve got work in the morning, then fear not, as Emma Maezin has you covered with Hunday Service (Sun 5 &19 May) joining DJ Jason at the Three Huns for a Sunday afternoon of karaoke, comedy, entertainment and games.

That’s your lot for this month, make sure to check out the latest event announcements at www.facebook.com/ sheffieldlgbtevents.

MORGAN REES

Who or what do you take inspiration from for your comedy?

The person that inspires me always changes; it’s always been the last person that’s made me belly laugh or think “I wish I thought of that”.

The LGBTQIA+ community is at the centre of a lot of your comedy. In what way are you hoping the show will open up conversations about sexuality within your predominantly straight audiences?

That sexuality is about love and attraction, not just sex. Granted I speak about it a fair bit, write what you know. But I am trying to make queer comedy for everybody. Like Nick Offerman said about his playing a queer character with an emotional storyline in the Last Of Us, “It’s not a gay story, it’s a love story”. Everything has a human element; I am trying to find a way to make it more palatable and understandable for straight audiences.

What other topics do you explore in your comedy and why? Me. That’s all really. I don’t talk about hot button topics for two reasons. Firstly, I acknowledge that I have a platform, both physically and virtually, and my voice is amplified. Do I want to be adding to the discussion when I am not an expert or confident that I have all the facts? No. And secondly, I am so passionately and viscerally angry about a lot of injustices all around us that I won’t be funny. That’s why I have gone with Me, Me, Me.

What are you hoping to achieve with this tour?

Okay, this is me practicing manifesting. I want audiences to sell out every date, my Skoda Fabia needs some incentive to be running the lengths of all these motorways. I’m hoping for someone to buy the special when we tape it. I’m tired of spending 8 hours on a Friday and Saturday driving to Bournemouth and back. And I’m hoping to get in shape ready for my holiday in Barcelona throughout the tour.

You’re using BSL interpreters at a few of your shows, including Sheffield. How important is that live comedy is made more accessible? Yes, I’m a massive advocate for that. Going to comedy is my favourite event. Moreover, I had a colleague who had a family member with hearing challenges, and I witnessed how beneficial it was when their additional need was accommodated for. I wanted to do that for them.

What excites you most about performing at The Leadmill?

I’m excited for the space especially because I have only heard good things. Bringing my support act, Jack McClean, who is a local lad, so I am sure we can weave some magic that way. And Sheffield was the city that I had my first paid 20 min club set, so it feels very full circle.

Catch Morgan Rees on his ’Turning Thirsty’ UK tour, including a date at The Leadmill in Sheffield on 8th May. For more info and tickets please visit www.berksnest.com/morgan.

JON, LUCY & FRIENDS ANNUAL COMEDY NIGHT

City Hall // 15 May // £33.95-£58.50

Join The Children’s Hospital Charity Patrons Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont (stars of Meet the Richardsons) for their second annual night of stand-up comedy on the 15th May 2024, raising vital funds for the amazing Sheffield Children’s. Joining them on the evening will be Alan Carr (stand-up and TV legend), Russell Kane (Live at the Apollo, Stupid Man, Smart Phone) Fatiha ElGhorri (Jonathan Ross Show, Russell Howard Hour) and Maisie Adam (8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, QI).

sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

THE OLIVE BOY

Theatre Deli // 7 May // £14

Based on Ollie Maddigan’s real life story, The Olive Boy is a crude but compelling coming-of-age comedy written and performed by Maddigan himself. Initially introduced at the Hope Theatre in 2021, the show quickly gained attention during its three-night run as part of the Camden Fringe and then in 2022 as part of its month-long sell out run at The Edinburgh Fringe.

theatredeli.co.uk

LAURA BELBIN (KNEE DEEP IN LIFE)

Leadmill // 7 May //£20

She’s loud, she swears, she’s inappropriate, and she’s the comedian behind the social media antics of Knee Deep In Life – it’s Laura Belbin! Touted as the perfect tonic in a world of perceived perfection and filtered happiness, for this show, Laura’s taking to the stage with one question: is there such a thing as too much?

leadmill.co.uk

FIN TAYLOR

Leadmill // 22 May // £14

Fresh from the viral success of his hit web series Fin vs The Internet, Fin Taylor, that comedian your mother doesn’t like you seeing shares a new hour of brutally funny stand-up for 2024. When he’s not in a roll neck making influencers squirm, he’s appeared on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Have I got News for You and The Mash Report, and Comedy Central’s Roast Battle.

leadmill.co.uk

Who am I?

My name is Becky Walker. I am a travel agent with Club Voyages and can book your next holiday for you!

Why use me instead of going online and booking yourself?

Looking yourself can take up hours, I have travelled extensively, so allow me to use my first hand knowledge to help in securing your next trip.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic honeymoon, a family vacation or a solo adventure, I can create any itinerary to meet your needs and budget.

Get in contact with me...

Call or WhatsApp 07895 168 589

Email: becky@clubvoyages.uk

Facebook: Becky Club Voyages

Instagram: @beckyclubvoyages

START YOUR JOURNEY

Book with Becky Walker at Club Voyages and experience the perfect escape tailored to you…

After travelling to 46 countries and experiencing pretty much all there is to experience when it comes to globetrotting, setting up as a personal travel consultant made perfect sense for Becky Walker.

“I would always have people asking me about where they should travel to and how they should organise their trip,” Becky tells Exposed, “so it seemed like the natural step!”

Whether you’re seeking a romantic retreat, a family adventure or a solo sojourn, Becky can work within your parameters to create an itinerary that promises unbeatable value, an unforgettable experience and –crucially – takes all the booking stress away from you.

“It’s a very varied job,” says Becky. “This month alone I’ve organised a three-week trip around South America for a couple in their 60s, but I’ve also arranged a more straightforward girls’ trip to Iceland. I can cater for pretty much any type of holiday or journey people are looking for, no matter how complex or simple.”

She explains that every traveller is unique, with individual preferences and desires. As such, communication and collaboration are key. “People tell me their budget and their plans, then I get work on putting the itinerary together while keeping them informed of updates and new suggestions every step of the way.”

PACK YOUR BAGS: SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE THE LATEST OFFERS, INCLUDING EUROPEAN BREAKS FROM £349PP!

With access to exclusive industry deals and insider tips, booking with an independent travel agent removes the need for hours spent on price comparison sites. Instead, Club Voyages’ partnerships with leading airlines, hotels and tour operators guarantee the best value for your money.

When it comes to planning your next getaway, reliability is key. Boasting decades of experience in the travel industry, the Club Voyages brand has earned a reputation for excellence and trustworthiness.

Becky notes that this reliability is especially crucial in today’s travel landscape, where peace of mind is increasingly valued. “A lot of holiday deals booked online aren’t protected, particularly when your flights, hotel and transfers are booked through different companies,” she says. “If a flight is cancelled last minute, you’re still expected to pay for the hotel. When you book a package with me, the protection is there and you won’t be left out of pocket.”

Find some travel inspiration by exploring Becky’s curated deals on her social platforms @beckyclubvoyages // facebook.com/ beckyclubvoyages. For enquiries, reach out via Call/WhatsApp at 07895168589 or email becky@ clubvoyages.co.uk.

LAST MINUTE ROOMS TO RENT!

IF YOU’RE A SHEFF-BASED STUDENT NEEDING A PLACE TO RENT FOR NEXT YEAR, OR MAYBE YOU’RE JUST LOOKING FOR A SWANKY NEW PAD FOR YOUR AND YOUR MATES, HERE ARE A FEW TOP SHOUTS STILL ON THE MARKET…

COOL CENTRAL LIVING SELLERS WHEEL APARTMENTS

108 ARUNDEL LANE, S1 4RF

Located adjacent to the Cantor Building and within close proximity to HUBS and the main SHU City Campus, this accommodation can be accessed via the famous Tamper Café through the Sellers Wheel courtyard off Arundel Street or via Arundel Lane.

Available to both professionals and students, the rental includes all utilities such as electricity, heating and water bills, along with Ask4 high-speed broadband and TV License. On-site laundry facilities are available for an additional charge, and tenants also enjoy complimentary access to a nearby gym at Gatecrasher Apartments. While studios and three-bedroom units are currently sold out, there are limited late deals available on the very last few four or fivebedroom en-suite apartments. For more information, visit westone-sellerswheel.com or contact 0114 2133371.

RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THINGS GATECRASHER APARTMENTS

104 ARUNDLE ST, S1 4RE

This superb student accommodation is perfectly tailored for Sheffield Hallam University students! Situated on Arundel Street, it boasts a prime location with the city centre campus and train station just a 5-minute walk away.

Included in the rental package are all utilities – electricity, heating and water bills – as well as Ask4 high-speed broadband and contents insurance, which even covers laptop protection. On top of that, tenants enjoy access to a spacious on-site gym, a social/games room, a cinema room, and an inner open courtyard.

Each bedroom is en-suite, and night security ensures safety and peace of mind. With flexible tenancy options, both studios and rooms in shared clusters are available for leases ranging from 10 to 12 months.

Don’t miss out on the incredible late deals offered for complete bookings of 4 or 5-bedroom apartments! westone-gatecrasherapartments.com or phone 0114 2133371

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS BROOMGROVE APARTMENTS

9 BROOMGROVE RD, S10 2LW

Conveniently situated just off Clarkehouse Road, this accommodation is perfect for students attending both universities.

It’s in close proximity to the Collegiate Campus, the city centre, Sheffield Students Union and the Firth Building.

Included in the rent are all essential utilities – electricity, heating and water bills – along with Ask4 highspeed broadband and comprehensive contents insurance, which includes laptop cover. Tenants also have access to an on-site gym and a large southerly outdoor garden area equipped with picnic tables.

Open to both professionals and students, this accommodation offers the last few large studios available or amazing late deals on complete bookings of 3 or 4-bedroom apartments.

www.broomgrove.com or phone

0114 2133371

CULTURE

CELEBRATING SANCTUARY

Tickets for Sheffield’s ninth Migration

Matters

Festival – the UK’s biggest Refugee Week event –went on sale last month.

Headliners for the nine-day arts festival in June include Grammynominated husband-and-wife musical duo, Amadou & Mariam, who performed their Afrobeat hits at Glastonbury last year.

Genre-hopping Swiss band Sirens of Lesbos and prize-winning poet Roger Robinson (right) are also among the prominent performers confirmed so far.

Director Sam Holland said: “This year’s festival will include our best lineup yet.

“There is an increased focus on global music due to demand and after last year, where we achieved a new audience record with Kenyan band Sauti Sol.

“We’re also increasing our strand of exciting family events which introduce young people into the migration conversation with our second year of Mini MigMat.

“This is a programme curated by young people in the Youth Theatre of Sanctuary in partnership with SBC Theatre and The Montgomery Theatre.

“And the crucial theme of climate will also be expanded upon this year.

“We’re bringing back our Rapid Response event in collaboration with Ark Sheffield, Sheffield Theatres and Sheffield Hallam University, with an open call for new performances and creative work.”

More than 50 individual events will take place during the festival, which runs from June 14-22 at multiple Sheffield venues.

Their collective aim is to celebrate the positive impact migration, refugees and asylum seekers have in Sheffield, the country’s first City of Sanctuary.

Events include a comedy night, thought-provoking theatre shows, interactive art exhibitions or installations, dance, drag and Latin American film screenings.

Elsewhere, Food Walk Hong Kong will take visitors on a journey of Asian flavours around Sheffield.

A live-streamed mass singalong with

Sheffield choirs in Meersbrook Park will also send a message of hope to war-ravaged Palestine.

Excitingly, two new guest curators have also joined the festival alongside returning guest curator Howl Yuan, whose programme of work this year is called Land(scapes)

They are hip hop and spoken word artist Otis Mensah, Sheffield’s first poet laureate in 2018.

Their programme, Longerr Inheritances, will look at jazz experimentation and what it means to cross genres and artistic expectations as Black artists and artists of colour.

Tasnim Siddiqa Amin will also explore the fascinating role of henna, aiming to elevate it as an art form in its own right, through her programme If Henna Could Speak.

All events at the festival are priced on a sliding scale - with many free - to increase accessibility and allow as many people as possible to attend.

The event is part of Refugee Week, which this year has the theme of home. Tickets for the opening and closing parties, as well as some headline events, are available to book now at migrationmattersfestival.co.uk.

six

CULTURE

FEEL GOOD, LIVE WELL!

Make Good Social wants to connect the people of Sheffield through art, hosting a number of upcoming ‘playshops’ to bring people together through creativity and foster a welcoming environment for anyone who needs some extra support.

The social club was created by disabled artist and activist Sam Cleasby, neurodivergent designer and maker Caroline Hayes and artist Charlotte Warren, who live with chronic illness. The trio believe that being creative, alongside talking to like-minded people, will allow Sheffield locals to feel good and live well.

Make Good Social is a safe space for adults to tap into their childhood and play through different artistic means. The group wants to stress that you don’t need to be an artist to get involved, as the club wants to create a no-pressure environment that’s just for fun.

After being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2003, Sam has been campaigning to raise awareness about the condition ever since. For those living with the condition, Sam wants to promote body confidence and break down the taboos by encouraging people to share their own experiences.

“I’ve lived with a chronic illness for the past 20 years, and the thing that I used as therapy was art,” Sam told Exposed. “I got my degree in Fine Art at the age of 42 and I’m currently doing my Masters in Disability Studies and the combination of these two things have been my passion for a long time.

My last surgeries ended with me in a coma fighting for my life. The things that got me through were friends who allowed me a safe space to talk and share and a love of creating.”

Alongside this new project, Sam also successfully runs the So Bad Ass blog to share her story and open up conversations about disability, invisible impairments, IBD and ostomies.

Coming together with two friends who face their own challenges, we knew we wanted to make something special; we wanted to make something good,” said Sam. “Bringing people together in accessible safe spaces to talk and get back to the basics of play and art is important to us all. And so Make Good Social was born.”

Make Good Social’s first event is collage-making with all the materials needed being included in your ticket! The club has accessible space for people of all abilities and there is also the promise of homemade cake. It will be held at Smithfield Studios on Thursday 2 May and runs from 7-10pm. Follow @make. good.social for future events.

SHEFFIELD JAZZ 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Crucible // 18 May // £5-£20

Two all-star bands led by award-winning jazz musicians take to the stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sheffield Jazz. See the up-andcoming saxophonist and composer, Emma Rawicz, who has been described as “an astonishing new talent”, perform her mashup of modern jazz and funk numbers. Tony Kofi will also be performing with his quartet.

Sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

LIBERATION SQUARES

Playhouse // 28-29 May // £12-£14

Friendships are pushed to the limit when three teenage girls become the target of the state surveillance programme, ‘Prevent’. While trying to build a social media presence through TikTok challenges, the girls realise that what you say may be viewed very differently depending on who you are. Pertinent topics are told through humour and pop culture references.  Sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

MILES JUPP: ON I BANG

Lyceum // 7 May // £22.50-£25

There isn’t much Mile has accomplished. From his award-winning radio series to publishing a novel, Miles has tackled every medium. However, this all came to an abrupt end when he suffered a brain seizure and had to undergo neurosurgery. But this has left him with a story to tell, which he has brought to life on stage. His show discusses surprise, fear, luck, love and medical practitioners.  Sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

CLUEDO 2: THE NEXT CHAPTER

Lyceum // 14-18 May // £15-£47

If you are a fan of the game Cluedo, this is an unmissable live show! Written by BAFTA winners, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the show is a spoof that will have you laughing all night. The many twists and turns of this classic whodunnit should have you on the edge of your seat.

Sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

WEST SIDE STORY

Oval Hall // 8 May // £14-£24

Watch one the UK’s largest amateur theatre groups, Sheffield’s-own Manor Operatic Society, bring this iconic musical to life. Travel back to the 1950s and visit New York City’s West Side from the comfort of Sheffield’s Oval Hall. Follow the story of forbidden lovers, Maria and Tony, as gang rivalry forces them apart.

sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

L O V E B E E R S , F O O D

, L I V E

S P O R T

A N D A

P U B Q U I Z ?

THROUGH THE LENS BROMHEADS ARE BACK

Rob Nicholson (@p_e_d_a_l_o) was there to capture the madness as Steel City noughties favourites Bromheads Jacket played an intimate return gig at Yellow Arch. The beloved band stormed through tracks from their 2006 album Dits from the Comutter Belt across two sold-out shows.

BRINGING THE MOST AUTHENTIC ASIAN FLAVOUR TO YOU IN A FUN WOKIE BOX WAY!

FROM THE TASTE OF JAPANESE TERIYAKI, TO THAI TOM YUM, KOREAN SPICY SHIN, SINGAPORE SATAY, MALAYSIA SAMBAL, HONG KONG XO SAUCE, SAIGON BLACK PEPPER AND MANY MORE.

YOU PICK THE INGREDIENTS & WE WOK IT UP FOR YOU, SUPER FRESH & FLAVOURFUL!

LIVE BROADCAST OF EURO 2024 AT ONE OF THE UK’S BIGGEST FAN ZONES! ENGLAND V SERBIA

SUN - JUNE 16TH

8PM KICKOFF

£15

THU - JUNE 20TH

5PM KICKOFF

GENERAL ADMISSION

£10 CHILD GENERAL ADMISSION

ALL EURO 2024 GAMES WILL BE SCREENED, ALL NON ENGLAND GAMES ARE FREE!

SEATED AND CENTRE CIRCLE VIP OPTIONS AVAILABLE!

TUE - JUNE 25TH

8PM KICKOFF

£40 FC GROUP PASS ENTRY FOR ALL ENGLAND GROUP MATCHES

PLUS LIVE MUSIC, Q&A’S, BARS AND FOOD VILLAGE, GUEST APPEARANCE FROM CHRIS WADDLE AND MORE!

SIGN UP FOR ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE OFFERS