Exposed Magazine January 2023

FEATURES

16: REVVIN’ UP!

Ahead of a UK tour next month, which stops off for two nights at Sheffield’s O2 Academy, Exposed booked in a brew and catch-up with the big man to discuss changing perspectives, a smoother approach to making music and an eventful journey across the African continent.

22: THE YEAR AHEAD

As 2022 fades into the rear-view mirror, we’ve got a big old round-up of everything in the pipeline for the Steel City this year. A good opportunity to whip out the diary and start pencilling in those keys dates for 2023.

38: NEW PASTA-BILITIES

Puglian pasta specialists Grazie have moved into a stunning, new premises and we caught up with owner Vito to see what’s new for him and his team.

55: IN BLOOM

Bloom Sheffield is a not-forprofit charity that seeks to positively influence women’s mental health by forging connections with nature, horticulture and other people. We spoke to Bloom’s founder, Kendall Turner, to hear more about their work and how anyone can get involved.

58: THROUGH THE LENS

Sheffield-based photographer Owen Richards chats to Exposed about non-spaces, the power of process and the importance of making personal connections.

Right then folks, that’s all the festivities out of the way for another year! Here’s hoping that, as you pick up the January issue, the NYE hangover has subsided, the Quality Street tins are empty, and you’ve already made a somewhat half-hearted attempt at whatever your New Year’s resolution happens to be. In short, Happy New Year!

As is quickly becoming tradition, it’s web editor Ashley Birch here with your intro to the January issue. I’ll be standing in on ed’s letter duties for your friendly neighbourhood editor Joe, who has once again conveniently bobbed off on his Christmas holidays early and is probably right now enjoying a well-deserved Guinness and some epic craic over in Ireland. Alright for some, eh?

Anyway, bitterness and jealousy doesn’t become me, and before Joe scuttled off on his jollies he organised a whole host of cracking content for you to get stuck into, so hard to be too mad at him. Not least of those features is a chat with the main man and this month’s cover star Jon McClure, of Reverend and the Makers frontman fame.

Jon and I go way back, and long before the Rev’s seminal sermons, and way before he and the Makers ‘made it’, I fondly remember nights out at the Boardwalk catching his early bands Judan Suki and 1984. Jon was always a mesmeric figure on the Sheff scene, his exuberance demands attention, but it’s fair to say he and I haven’t always seen eye to eye.

If I’m being polite, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me saying, he’s a hardly a shrinking violet, and perhaps because of this there have been some pretty tense encounters over the years. One of which (that I don’t think was my fault), is infamously immortalised in a Monkeys song, another heated exchange at The Harley is recorded with far less reverence (and was definitely my fault!).

Thankfully, we buried any hatchet years ago and all that machononsense is long behind us. Now, we chat rubbish about family life and the various merits of Darren Moore’s management on the concourse at Hillsborough, and I’d like to think we’ve both grown up a bit. Given that Jon has effortlessly slipped into the role of ‘elder statesmen’ of the Sheffield music scene (sorry, Jon), the new mature sound we’re hearing on record definitely extends to the man himself. Have a read of his reflections on a career worth having and his latest adventures over on page???...

Elsewhere we’ve got a big old roundup of things to look forward to in 2023; from music, gigs and theatre, to new openings, exhibitions and festivals, there’s plenty to get excited about in the Steel City in the upcoming months. We’ve also got a plethora of independent businesses and retailers covered throughout – all ready to shower you with food, drink and January shopping in the new year.

I’m off to do a spot of panic driven last-minute Christmas shopping (eek!). Wish me luck and catch you all in the new year.

Ash

northern soul

GAFFERS

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

FINANCE

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

GRAFTERS

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

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

GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Iago Castro Charlon, Lucy Jeffs, Adele Parr, Heather Pattersom, Cal Reid

THE BUSINESS STUFF

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

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

MOTORSPORT ATHLETE

REACTIONS NEEDS TO BE LIGHTNING QUICK

In motorsport you need super-fast reactions in order to make the right decisions at the right time and execute manoeuvres on track to better your position and ultimately win races. Speed and reaction tests come in many forms and before races I often practice simple ball dropping and catching techniques to train the brain to be focused. This develops hand eye co-ordination and, more importantly, increases your agility and reaction time for racing. There are also speed reaction lights that you can tap and assess reactions on fitness apps, which are also great to use.

FITNESS IS VITAL

Being focused on all aspects of fitness training ahead of racing enables you to be well prepared. Fitness plays a large part in your performance, particularly when your body can be subjected to significant G forces when racing at high speed. I often reach speeds of over 100 mph, so it’s important to have good core stability, a strong upper body and grip strength but, most of all, being physically fit positively impacts your mindset, enabling you to keep a low heart rate and be calm under pressure. Training up to four times per week on cardio, strength and conditioning in the gym and outdoors keeps me in best shape to be number one out on track.

BALANCE IS KEY

Having good balance is a key factor in many forms of motorsport. You are constantly using your inner senses to measure physical balance in a racing car in terms of where the grip levels are and how fast you can go. Riding a bike on freerunning rollers or riding a unicycle develops the skill of balance, which can help even more so when racing in wet conditions.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT NUTRITION

This is your fuel for success; eating the right foods and hydrating when racing is imperative. Each week I ensure I have protein and carbs in balance along with vegetables and fruit to keep my body’s nutrition levels in peak condition for training and racing.

YOU NEED THE MOTOSPORT MINDSET

Having the desire to succeed, to constantly push boundaries and ultimately be extremely focused and determined to be the best you can be is the starting point for all racing drivers. A ‘never give up’ attitude will also help you develop the mindset of a winner. I like to push myself to higher limits and constantly endeavour to learn new techniques both on and off track. Being prepared both mentally and physically gives you the very best chance of winning.

Rowan Campbell-Pilling is a 15-year-old Motorsport athlete and Sheffield schoolboy leading the way in Formula. So far in his career Rowan has achieved Junior National Title in the Daniel Ricciardo UK Series in 2021 and has clocked up miles at world-famous racing circuits around the UK such as Silverstone.

A little town nobody had heard of in that corner of the country. A place where everything you could watch on TV seemed far away, fictional, almost exotic. A place my uncle, smartly, defined as “a forest with phone line”. I obviously didn’t know this. I hadn’t seen anything different yet. I grew up the same as any other kid: cartoons, Coca-Cola and Playstation 2. It was, actually, in one of my lazy git FIFA marathons when I heard (or, more accurately, read) a certain name for the very first time. The noisy, toxic screen of that old-school tube TV had a name and badge blinking in front of me: Sheffield United.

BY IAGO CASTRO

so trivial, just a frame between hours and hours of wasted time, can become so meaningful years and years later.

I would lie if I say that moment was a turnaround in my life. Sheffield was just a funny word I’d never heard before and I probably slaughtered the pronunciation. I don’t remember what happened after, but I probably won that match playing on the easiest level (I wasn’t a big videogame talent, you see). But it’s amazing how something

Time passes. As life does too. My tale wasn’t really exciting or impressive. I wasn’t a little genius or a young athlete with a brilliant future. It was more a case of classic high school stories, some basketball matches, good friends, odd (and questionable) fashion styles, and a couple of drinks sometimes. Then it was college and, again, nothing remarkable here – the good old days, a conjunction of lifechanging experiences… But there’s a particular episode that deserves to be mentioned. On a certain day, one of my close mates decided to wear a Sheffield United t-shirt. “Student exchange, lovely city,” he said. That sort of second coming was eventually forgotten, apart from being a friendly reminder about Sheffield being a thing, and I was reminded looking at him wearing that jersey every once in a while.

And then, I met a girl. All bad stories have

a love plot in them. But I don’t care how bad my story is, because it is mine and it defines me. This girl lived in Sheffield the summer before we met. She was in love with the place. “I know one football team there,” I said, looking for some common ground (not really helpful, admittedly, but definitely better than “I’ve no idea about it”). At least my FIFA-powered geography knowledge was good enough to identify the city she was talking about.

She told me about her friends. About how nice the people were. About the Peak District. About Cafe #9. About her plans of moving there. Enough! I’ve since heard and read about three hundred times that sentence, “There are only two reasons people move to Sheffield: University and love”. And here we are.

We moved here on the 25th of September, 2018. I remember that date perfectly. One hour after we arrived, someone stole our backpacks from a friend’s car in Abbeydale Tesco’s car park. “A blind spot,” the security guard said; “Welcome to Sheffield,” one of my first workmates said. It’s probably what my uncle meant by experiencing “real life”.

AND THEN, I MET A GIRL. ALL BAD STORIES HAVE A LOVE PLOT IN THEM. BUT I DON’T CARE HOW BAD MY STORY IS, BECAUSE IT IS MINE AND IT DEFINES ME...

I was born and raised in a little town. A little town in Galicia, northwest Spain.

The start wasn’t easy. But we didn’t stop. We were and we are stronger than a couple of car park rats. One week later, we rented our first flat, using nothing but our phones and stolen Wi-Fi. There was no money, but we discovered Sheffield together. Everything you can see, touch and smell, but also the intangible: all the people who made this path easier, all the friends I’m gonna keep in my guts forever. When you’re seeking a future abroad, the concept of “family” reaches a new dimension; it’s magical how you can feel at home with people you knew from one day to another, in a foreign country, in a different culture. But this is Sheffield.

There was some fun, not gonna lie. Stroking every dog at every pub; downing Clwb Tropicana pints like water in the Washy; turning myself into a real ale connoisseur; 4am calls to Kebabish Express; Cubana like a fresh breeze reminding me of a night out back home; fascinatedly observing British people singing “Sweet Caroline” when they can’t even walk, never mind pronounce words. Hours and hours walking alone around the Peak District, with only my headphones, a mental peace haven. I nearly cried after that penalty shootout against Italy, hugging my friend. Your pain was also mine that night.

We are not together anymore, my partner and I. This means, from one day to another, everything I knew and discovered about this city turned into a blank page. Again, a full restart in an unexpected way is needed. Something I didn’t mention is that I didn’t even speak English when I moved here, which means I’ve learnt how to do it as a Sheffielder. If you bump into a dude speaking with a mixed SpanishYorkshire accent, using Sheffield-born and bred expressions, it will probably be me.

Yes, I’m that one who says “Nah then” or “Ey up” arriving at work; the one who says “be reyt” whilst having a deep, soul-opening conversation in front of three or four empty Moonshine glasses; the one shouting “ge’ore!” when the drunken banter crosses the line; the one filling up his senses with a gallon of Magnet, who is familiar with the sharp belly pain after a greasy chip butty. I also learnt I was wrong all the time. There are actually not one, but two football teams in Sheffield: Sheffield United… and the other one.

My name is Iago. I’ve moved here four and a half years ago without a single clue.

My name is Iago, and, nowadays, I’m Sheffield through and through.

PS: I also can be a little bit of a mardy bum. But not all the time.

KNAB FARM SHOP

You’ll find Knab Farm Shop situated on Montrose Road, part of a longestablished small parade of shops between Millhouses and Carter Knowle. Co-owners Ian Proctor and Mary Tyas took over the reins in August 2021 with the aim of continuing to serve the community whilst also bringing a wider mix of local producers into the fold, thereby creating a welcoming hub for supporting independent businesses across the region.

The shop still ticks all the boxes as a neighbourhood stop-off to pick up essentials, but you can also browse wares from over 50 artisan producers, showcasing everything from wines and cakes to eco-friendly flowers and candles. A popular offering is the restaurant-quality ready meals sourced

directly from the kitchens of Sheffield culinary gems, meaning customers can pick up an expertly prepared Bhaji Shop curry or an Italian dish from Marco at Milano to enjoy in the comfort of their homes.

“We want to be the home for Sheffield-produced food,” says Ian. “But food and drink aren’t the only focus here; we stock artisan products from the likes of Sheffield Candle Company, lip balms from Smallwood Bees and organic soaps from Chaar Soap Co. We’re here to provide a strong local alternative to packaged goods from big supermarkets, a place where people can explore a wide range of independent producers who are part of the fabric of this city.”

A key part of the Knab ethos is a commitment to promoting small start-ups, which means

hidden gem

they became the first retail outlet stocking the likes of Nevertheless Cakes and The Heart of Sicily – two businesses run by young Sheffield-based entrepreneurs, who continue to supply their goods to the farm shop. Another important aspect is sustainability, clearly spelt out in a commitment to reducing food miles but also evidenced by the refill stations and various zero-waste products you’ll find inside.

In a world where shopping local has never been more important, Knab Farm Shop provides a small haven for Sheffield producers to connect with consumers in their city. It’s perhaps best summed up by Ian’s go-to motto: “Let’s get vocal about local.”

knabfarmshop.co.uk // @knab_ farm_shop

PHOTOGRAPHY:

TIMM CLEASBY

2022 was a busy one for Jon McClure. The larger-thanlife Reverend and the Makers frontman visited 11 countries to explore the history of various musical cultures for a film documentary, a trip which took him from the Steel City to Zambia (including a brief visit to a police cell in Kitwe) before returning home to focus on promo for the band’s seventh studio album, Heatwave in the Cold North, which had built up plenty of traction after the title track became one of the summer’s biggest earworms on the airwaves.

Ahead of a UK tour next month, which stops off for two nights at Sheffield’s O2 Academy, Exposed booked in a brew and catchup with the big man to discuss changing perspectives, a smoother approach to making music and an eventful journey across the African continent.

the soul man

So, Jon, the difficult seventh album is out next month. How are you feeling?

Good, happy. Your goals change. When I was first starting out it was like, “I wanna be on the cover of Sandman or Exposed.’ Then it’s ‘I wanna be on Radio Sheffield’. And after that you look at selling out Leadmill’s little room, and it goes from there. Then when you get your first record deal it’s like you’ve won the FA Cup, you think you’re done then. So, to be seven albums in, it’s a bit like you’re making it up as you go along by now.

How would you define success today? Being able to make a living from it. Simple as. There’s that saying up north, “It’s not like you’re going down the pit” –and that’s exactly how I feel. You do have to put yourself out there, of course, and there’ll always be the crippling self-doubt to deal with.

Still?

Yeah, of course! When people say nasty things about you and your work, it hurts. People are having themselves on if they say it doesn’t. My problem is I’m addicted to what I do for a living, so owt else –apart from my family, of course – it just disappoints me. I mean, what could be better than writing songs?

One of my questions was going to be about how your motivations change as an artist. You can tick off headlining festivals, Glastonbury, topping the charts, etc., so what’s left on the musical bucket list now?

I call it ‘the itch’. I still want to write the best song ever. You see, a lot of people of my generation, the itch – if they ever had it at all – eventually goes. But with me, it’s stronger than ever. I wake up obsessed about writing a new tune.

The positive reception for ‘Heatwave in the Cold North’, as the first single from the album, must’ve lit that fire brighter than ever.

That were mad, yeah. You realise, when you’ve been doing it as long as I have, that you’re going to be in and out, that your popularity ebbs and flows, but you’ve just got to keep doing interesting things. That tune was picked up by radio, and Radio 2 in particular hammered it all summer – which is funny because if you would’ve told me when I started that I’d be buzzed about Radio 2 playlisting us, I wouldn’t have had it. But I’m 41 now! And pretty much all the artists I like make better music as they get older.

‘High’ came out today, sticking with the soulful, sunkissed RnB we heard in the first single. Are we going from bouncing with the Rev to kicking back with him now?

The thing is, making mad, fast tunes as you’re getting older isn’t really a good idea. You’ve got to slow it down a bit. The

bangers are bangers and will still be played live, of course, but there is an element of changing tempo…

Oh aye? Are the Hawley crooning boots coming on?

I wouldn’t go as croony as Hawley. I mean, he’s Croonmaster General. Nobody can outcroon him. But there’s a new lane that I’ve found, a new style on this album that’s a bit of a vibe and I want to do more with it. There’s a great tune on there called ‘Problems’ and it’s a bit of a melodic one. To be honest, it’s just been nice to write some pop music. You can disappear up your arse a bit when you’re in a band, focusing on like soundscapes and stuff, so it’s nice to write songs with proper choruses again.

Where did the nudge to explore this style come from?

I started listening to new music, that’s part of it. I got out of my Sleaford Mods, angrier music stage and changed to a lot of music that my parents would’ve listened to, stuff like Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Barry White. But then I’d also listen to a lot of the Odd Future crew, so Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Tyler, The Creator and all of them. They use certain chords that I’d really like. The first tune, ‘Heatwave in the Cold North’, was written last summer and it’s meant to have a bit of a smooth feel, a ‘cuddling inside when it’s cold’ track. I’ve never really written sexy songs. Especially in the early

I’ve been known as the following: Alex [Turner]’s best mate, one-hit wonder, gobshsite off Twitter, Jeremy Corbyn’s mate… there’s always something.

days, it was more about social realism. I think if I would’ve a written a song about shagging back then, people would’ve been like, “Who do you think you are? Justin Timberlake?”.

Or you a do a ‘Jarvis’ and combine the social realism and the shagging. Yeah, he was great at that, Jarvis, and pretty funny with it, too. Apparently, it’s true, you know, that Sheffielders have more sex than other cities – it was in one of those weird surveys. So, you know that song ‘Sheffield: Sex City’? It’s actually a thing. So why can’t I have a go, eh?

The last time we caught up was in the summer of 2019, just a few months before the world was plunged into Covid chaos. How were the lockdowns for you from an artistic perspective?

To be honest, I did loads. Made my own album, wrote an album for another band, helped write music for a brilliant South African artist called Noah, producing and writing for people in Paris, Berlin and on a farm in Ireland where, believe it or not, Michael Jackson used to live. So, realistically, I had quite a prosperous lockdown, which I felt bad about because some people obviously had a shocking time. I sometimes feel I’m a bit like a cockroach: there could be a nuclear war and there’d still be Reverend and the Makers making tunes.

Speaking of, seven albums and two decades in, what are the key lessons you’ve learned along the way?

So, for me, over those twenty years I’ve been known as the following: Alex [Turner]’s best mate, one-hit wonder, gobshsite off Twitter, Jeremy Corbyn’s mate… there’s always something. But it’s important to keep moving and have something going on. Basically, always have ‘a thing’ and make sure it’s important to you. Now I’ve got this music travel thing, where I’ve been journeying across countries and exploring the different cultures and heritage through music.

Tell us a bit more about that. You basically travelled from Sheffield to Zambia, meeting musicians in various countries along the way?

You know like you watch these cookery programmes, with Bourdain or one of those guys, where they basically teach you about a country through its food? Well, we’re wanting to do that – but with music. You can understand a lot of about a country’s history through the styles of music that have been passed down. It was some experience.

It looked like it. You were almost nicked in Zambia, weren’t you?

Yeah, in Kitwe. We were filming in front of a large slap heap called ‘Black Mountain’, which is being mined illegally by gangs for

copper, often using children to do the work, and when they saw us filming in front of it, they assumed we were filming a human rights documentary or something. The gangs showed up asking what we were doing, and then the police came with guns and took us back to the police station, asking to see any footage we’d taken of the mountain. They were actually quite friendly in the end, so it all got sorted out.

How many countries did you visit overall?

Let me see. France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Morocco, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia – an unbelievable trip.

Which place stuck with you the most?

Tanzania. It’s just an incredible place with this really vibrant culture. Because we were doing a documentary, we had the access to communities that we just wouldn’t have been able to get normally. We learned about Singeli music, this incredible high-tempo electronic

music that’s popular, and it was just amazing to experience it. The plan is to do some collaborative music with some of the artists I’ve met during those travels.

Finally, with this being the first magazine of 2023, do you have a start-of-year message you could send to the Exposed readers?

Yeah, just dig in. It’s a tough time. We deserve better than we’re getting on a political level and, hopefully, better times are just around the corner. On a wider level, I do think that when things are tough, Sheffield’s at its most creative. Just look at the 80s and what came out of that era. It’s a city full of warm people, who are very good at uniting through hardship, and it won’t be long until we’re all having a party in the sun together.

‘High’, the latest single from Reverend and the Makers upcoming album Heatwave in the Cold North, is out now. The album is due in April and available to pre-order.

IN THE PIPELINE:

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND VENUES HEADING YOUR WAY!

CAMBRIDGE STREET COLLECTIVE

Billed as a cultural gathering of Sheffield’s best flavours, sights and sounds, the highly anticipated Cambridge Street Collective is beginning to take shape. The circa 20,000 sq ft industrial space will be run by the Milestone Group, who also own successful Neepsend food hall Cutlery Works, and is tipped to host a number of eateries, bars and retail units.

THE GAUMONT BUILDING

The former home of Embrace nightclub is set to become a new leisure venue opening next year, operating under an as of yet unannounced company. The historic building, which originally opened in 1927 as the Regent Theatre before becoming the in 1946, is also subject to a planning application proposing a significant facelift to see the current red steel frame completely removed and replaced with a contemporary design defined by attractive living walls on the outside.

EVENTS CENTRAL FARGATE

A key part of vital plans to reinvigorate Fargate, the 6-storey Events Central building – which hosted its first cultural events this year – has stepped up its search for an operator to continue developing the building. The plans certainly looks exciting: co-working/exhibition spaces, a café/ juice bar and a 200-cap music venue – all in one vibrant hub!

PINSTONE STREET

You might have seen a large amount of work taking place over on Pinstone Street, where Isaacs Building, Athol House and Burgess House are two major developments set to open in February – offering high-quality homes, over 18,000 sq ft of retail opportunities and workspace.

RADISSON BLU

Construction of the flagship hotel on Pinstone Street is well underway, and the venue is expected towards the end of 2023. Replacing Barkers Pool House on Burgess Street will be a second complementary building, containing the majority of the hotel’s 154 bedrooms. Serving to enhance Sheffield’s social scene, a rooftop bar, restaurant and terrace is also planned for the hotel, which will look out over the Peace Gardens. Upmarket ground-level retail and food and beverage units are another promising feature of the new development,

2023: MOVING ON UP

FOUNDERS & CO.

Hospitality business Revolution Group ARE planning to create a new food hall in the vacant Gothic church building at 605 Ecclesall Road. If approved, the new food hall, set to be named Founders & Co., will offer a restaurant, bar and local business hub with space for retail and work meetings as well as outdoor seating.

HARMONY WORKS

Planning consent has been granted to create a new music hub and live music space in the former gas company offices on Commercial Street. Sheffield Music Academy submitted full planning and listed building applica tions to Sheffield City Council earlier this year for the conversion of the grade II*-listed Canada House on Commercial Street into ‘Harmony Works’, a new new development which includes a performance space for an audience of 300, two rehearsal rooms accommodating 80 musicians, 15 smaller ensemble rehearsal rooms, 20 individual practice rooms and a substantial instrument store.

WHAT YOU MIGHT’VE MISSED

A few places opened their doors amidst the dying embers of 2022. Start the year off right by showing this lot some love!

HAPPY’S BAR

Lively cocktail joint with American diner vibes now open next door to the Parrot Club.

PELIZCO

Innovative Mexican street food jointing, throwing out mighty tacos and tequila at Dyson Place

WHALETOWN COFFEE CO.

The popular Crookes-based coffee shop has opened a second venue inside Sheffield Plate at Orchard Square.

Garden Kitchen

A new all-vegetarian café now open on Devonshire Street

BREWSKI

North American comfort food specialists opened their new Sheffield site, based in the former home of OHM at West One Plaza.

2023: MOVING ON UP

FOR THE RECORD

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

Your Future Is Your Past - 2nd February

Strong candidates for the best band name in history, The Brian Jonestown Massacre will release their 21st studio album in the early part of next year. Melding psychedelia, blues, garage rock and everything else under the sun, the band shifts from sound to sound as quickly as I’ll be ditching my New Year’s resolutions. I’ve given up trying to predict what their next record will sound like - just give it a spin instead.

YOUNG FATHERS

Heavy Heavy - 3rd February

The Mercury Prize-winning, genrebendiers are back in 2023 with their fourth studio album Heavy Heavy. Endlessly innovative, their music is a heady mix of hip-hop, soul and indie that’s (evidently) really bloody difficult to describe in words. They’ve already dropped three new songs from the album, so go check ‘em out and decide for yourself what they sound like.

CAROLINE POLACHEK

Desire, I Want To Turn Into You - 14th Feb

If Caroline Polachek isn’t already a star, 2023 is the year she’ll become one. She’s already had two viral hits (‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’ and ‘Bunny is a Rider’), worked with Beyoncé, Charli XCX and Travis Scott, and now her career is set to go up another level with this Valentine’s Day release. It’ll be her second record under her own name, and (I reckon) her first one as a bonafide popstar. And you can quote me on that.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS

Land of Sleeper - 17th February

In another triumph for outrageous band names, PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS are back again with their new album Land of Sleeper. At least seven times louder than a single pig, the Newcastle band are full of farmyard-filthy riffs and ‘pass me the earplugs’ levels of noise. I’d love to write more about them, but I used up half my word limit on that stinkin’ name. The swines

GORILLAZ

Cracker Island - 24th February

The world just wouldn’t feel right if Gorillaz weren’t still out there somewhere, releasing new music. The animated, Damon Albarn-fronted band will release their eighth album early in 2023, with confirmed collaborators so far including fellow mammals Thundercat and Bad Bunny. Expect dirty electronic beats, banging guest features and catchy pop hooks from one of Britain’s great songwriters.

LANA DEL REY

Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard - 10th March

With such a tight word limit to meet, I was overjoyed to see that Lana Del Rey will continue her run of lengthy song and album titles with…her new album. The California singer is pretty much everything you would expect a California singer to sound like - so expect dreamy soundscapes and wistful lyrics that make you think of deep blue oceans and golden beaches. At least that’s the idea.

NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS

TBA - Spring 2023

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Noel Gallagher has dubbed one of the tracks on his upcoming album ‘one of the best I’ve ever written.’

It’s par for the course for the Liam-bating High Flying Bird, who has had the tunes to back up his boasts over the years, to be fair. The first taster from the album (‘Pretty Boy’) was written with Johnny Marr, and is out now.

ASAP ROCKY

‘Don’t Be Dumb’ - TBA

After a quiet few years by his standards, where he just released a handful of singles and collabs, ASAP Rocky has officially announced his next album will be on the way in 2023. Details are still scarce, but the New York rapper did drop three new tracks during a recent performance on Amazon Music Live. It’ll be his first full-length since 2018, and it can’t come soon enough.

Exposed music writer Nick Harland rounds up 8 albums he’ll certainly be giving a spin this year…

MOVING ON UP

best of the fest:

Gigs, glorious gigs and some of the biggest bashes coming your way over the next 12 months…

THE HOLY TRINITY

Three of the Steel City’s leading musical exports will make highly-anticipated homecoming journeys this summer. Kicking things off in riff-laden fashion are platinum-selling rockers Def Leppard who will be playing Bramall Lane on 22 May, joined on the bill by equally iconic rock royalty in Mötley Crüe. On 9-10 June, High Green heroes Arctic Monkeys stop off at Hillsborough Park as part of the UK tour for their latest album, The Car, before the legendary Jarvis Cocker returns to Sheffield Arena for PULP’s first set of live shows together since 2012 (supported by a chap who’s pretty popular around these ends, a certain Richard Hawley).

GET TOGETHER FESTIVAL // 20 MAY

GET TOGETHER is a celebration of the very best in independent music, food and drink, and culture. Since its launch in 2020, the festival has hosted a diverse, wide-ranging line-up of artists from various genres, bringing the likes of Self Esteem, Confidence Man, Squid, Tim Burgess and Ibibio Sound Machine to the Steel City. In exciting news ahead of its third edition, the popular festival will swap its previous venue at the University of Sheffield Students’ Union campus for the warehouses, breweries, studios and bars of Kelham Island and Neepsend. futuresoundgroup.com

DOC/FEST // JUNE 23–28

Following its return to largely in-person event last year, which welcomed over 30,00 attendees, world-leading documentary festival Doc/Fest will celebrate its 30-year anniversary this summer by doing what it does best: celebrating and sharing the stories of our time. Over the weekend there will be a jam-packed schedule of short films, feature lengths and international documentaries at your fingertips. As well as the many, many docs on offer, you can also attend talks from some big names in the industry and try out cutting-edge VR exhibits in the popular Alternate Realities programme. sheffdocfest.com

TRAMLINES // 22–24 JULY

The biggest party Sheffield has ever seen will be returning to Hillsborough Park, bringing with it the usual collection of stellar music and comedy acts. You can expect more than 80 artists over four stages including five stages, special bar areas, a pop-up cinema and much more. Alongside the big names, the festival is also proud to support local talent and creativity in providing a space for artists to make a name for themselves. We’d argue there is no better value three-day music festival in the country, so grab some tickets and get stuck in! tramlines.org.uk/

OFF THE SHELF FESTIVAL OF WORDS // OCTOBER

Off the Shelf is one of the largest literary festivals in the UK and celebrates its 31st edition this year. Since its launch back in 1991, the festival has become well established within the Sheffield cultural calendar. Every year the event brings the biggest names in literature to the city – their aim is to bring the arts to all parts of the local community making them one of the most accessible literary festivals in the country. offtheshelf.org.uk

NO BOUNDS FESTIVAL // OCTOBER

Following another slew of rave reviews in 2022, you can count on No Bounds to build on their success for its sixth instalment exploring club culture, art and technology, often in immersive spaces and venues that represent the beating heart of Sheffield. Their goal is to create the most forward-thinking festival up north – think ground-breaking DJs, innovative installations, thoughtprovoking art pieces and many other one-off events. It’s a place where ideas can breathe and creativity is embraced. noboundsfestival.co.uk

SENSORIA // 4–7 OCTOBER

Proudly made in Sheffield, this celebration of film, music and digital offers a mix of live performances, film screenings, art installations, exhibition, DJ sets and more. The Steel City is renowned for its creative innovation and Sensoria celebrate this by showcasing new artistic talent and celebrating a strong musical heritage across an eclectic programme. sensoria.org.uk

SHEFFIELD FOOD FESTIVAL // JUNE

Over 50,000 people flock to the Sheffield Food Festival each year to celebrate the city’s vibrant food scene. The festival showcases local produce, talented chefs, unbelievable street food and world-class brewers and distillers. The weekendlong event is free to attend and usually spreads across the Peace Gardens, Winter Gardens, Millennium Square, Town Hall Square and Fargate – it’s hard to miss! The Artisan Market features food producers and businesses from around Sheffield and further afield. These are also joined by the Theatre Kitchen, Street Food Market and the Eats, Beats and Treats Festival Village. Indulge yourself with the overwhelming array of delicious food, drink and quality live sets throughout the weekend. sheffieldfoodfestival.co.uk

2023: MOVING ON UP

Reelin’ in the year

Exposed film writer Cal Reid rounds up his pick of the flicks heading to a screen near you this year

65

From Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the writing team behind A Quiet Place. Adam Driver crash lands on a mysterious planet, only to discover he has travelled back to prehistoric Earth, ruled by hungry dinosaurs.

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

Zachary Levi and Asher Angel return as the boyturned-superhero Shazam in this sequel to the surprisingly delightful 2019 film. This time Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu (the daughters of Atlas) arrive to menace the world and challenge the eponymous hero and his new family.

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4

Another long-awaited franchise instalment scuppered by COVID, Keanu Reeves’ supremely violent action-thriller character is back. Little is known at this stage about the plot other than Wick is at odds with the High Table, but let’s be real, who watches any of these films for the plot?

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

James Gunn’s most anticipated film since, well, the last Guardians film really (although I would have preferred a big-screen sequel to The Suicide Squad). This will be the Gunn’s final instalment for the much-loved intergalactic misfits as solo characters, taking on Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE

The beginning of the end for one of the most successful and iconic action-espionage franchises of all time. The IMF team are back, led by Tom Cruise, along with familiar faces from earlier instalments (if you’re a big enough dork like me that you noticed). There’s still a while until its release, however, given Cruise’s recent success with Top Gun: Maverick and the growing strength of the M:I films over the years, it will likely be worth the wait.

THE STAGE IS SET

The largest theatre complex outside of London – Crucible, Lyceum and Playhouse (AKA the mighty Sheffield Theatres) – has plenty in store to keep you culture vultures satiated throughout 2023. Here’s our pick of the bunch thus far…

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY

Lyceum Theatre // 17–21 Jan // Tickets from £15

The double Oliver and Tony award winning show tours the UK for the first time. Set in 1934, a group of wayward souls cross paths in a time -beaten guesthouse and realise that nothing is as it seems. Watch them search for the future, hide from the past and importantly face the unspoken truths about the present.

WILDFIRE ROAD

Playhouse // 4–18 March // Tickets from £5

In Eve Leigh’s new production, a variety of people, including honeymooners and spontaneous singletons, are getting settled for a peaceful journey to Tokyo. Yet, after the plane is hijacked and the hijacker’s motive is unknown, all is not what it seems…

THE WAY OLD FRIENDS DO

Lyceum Theatre // 7–11 March // Tickets from £15

Written by Ian Hallard and directed by Mark Gatiss. Set in 1988, two Birmingham school boys reveal to each other some shocking truths: one is gay and the other is an ABBA fan. Thirty years on, they decide to form the world’s first Drag ABBA tribute band, but will their friendship survive the glitz, glamour and platforms?

THE GREAT GATSBY

Lyceum Theatre // 21–25 March // Tickets from £11

Northern Ballet’s rendition of Fitzgerald’s classic. Mysterious Millionaire Jay Gatsby is known for his lavish parties, yet as the glittering façade begins to fade his loneliness and obsessive personality is revealed. See the novel brought to life through Chanel – inspired costumes and a cinematic score by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

Lyceum Theatre // 2–6 May // Tickets from £15

Stephen Daldry’s multi award- winning National Theatre production is coming to the Lyceum theatre next may. In this classic thriller when inspector Goole arrives uninvited at the wealthy Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman.

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE

Lyceum Theatre // 9–20 May // Tickets from £15

From the imagination of Neil Gaiman, bestselling author of Coraline, this is a story of adventure, fantasy, myth and friendship. After returning to a pond near his childhood home a man finds himself transported to his 12th birthday, where his friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean where everything is possible.

DEAD CATS

Playhouse // 10–11 May // Tickets from £11

In this room people lie. The kind of lies that kill people, or worse… Dead Cats is part of Prototype’s Truth to Power Project: an exploration of power, protest, democracy, privacy and control.

TITANIC THE MUSICAL Lyceum Theatre Tues // 18–22 July 2023 // Tickets from £15

In the final hours of the 14th April 1912 ‘the unsinkable ship’ collided with an iceberg and slowly sank. Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical focuses on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of its passengers. With music and lyrics by Oliver and Tony Award winner, Maury Yeston.

2023: MOVING ON UP

EXHIBIT THIS

From insightful social documentaries to intriguing showcases of local art, we’d highly recommend get stuck into these upcoming Sheffieldbased screenings and exhibitions.

TV TIME MACHINE: ON THE MANOR

GEORGE FULLARD: LIVING IN A SCULPTURE

Graves Gallery // 14 Jan – 1 July // Free George Fullard (1923–73) is one of Sheffield’s most celebrated artists. This new exhibition marking 100 years since his birth brings together a wide range of his drawings and sculpture to explore his work and the influences and experiences that shaped it. Beyond the exhibition, Fullard’s works are familiar Sheffield landmarks – you’ll find his sculptures outside the Winter Garden and in the Upper Chapel courtyard.

PLATFORM 22

Site Gallery // 26 Jan – 26 Feb // Free Exhibited across three venues (Site Gallery, Yorkshire Artspace and Bloc Projects), Platform 22 features the work of five Sheffield based artists: Adebola Oyekanmi, Kedisha Coakley, Rian Treanor, Theresa Bruno and Tyler Mellins. Platform is an established artistic development programme at Site Gallery which allows artists to explore new ideas in a public space, testing new thinking and research with engaged audiences.

FROM SKY TO SEA: ARTISTS AND WATER

Millennium Gallery // Until 12 Mar // Free Sheffield is a city that owes its existence to water. Its rivers and streams provided the power that forged the ‘City of Steel’, but they also wrought devastation through the 1832 Cholera Epidemic and the Great Flood of 1864. This exhibition brings together painting, photography and works on paper to explore artists’enduring fascination with water and our relationship to it.

Showroom

Cinema // 6 Jan // 6pm Showroom Cinema and Yorkshire Film Archive celebrate the 35th anniversary of iconic series On the Manor, a four-part documentary series focusing on life on Sheffield’s largest council estate. Filmed over six months in 1987 against a backdrop of industrial closures, high unemployment, and a looming general election, it’s an insightful snapshot of a community in flux.

STORIES FROM THE PANDEMIC: A LASTING TESTIMONY

FROM SHEFFIELD

Millennium Gallery // 25 February – 5 March // Free

Stories from the Pandemic is a city wide project led by Opus, in partnership with Compassionate Sheffield and Sheffield City Council. This 10 day mixed media exhibition, set in rooms of homes during lockdown, draws from the extensive range of stories that have been gathered during the project. These will form a lasting testimony and historical record of the pandemic’s impact on the individuals and the communities they live in and will feed into the city’s wider memorial activity.

The Stylists is a lifestyle store based in Ranmoor.

Founded and run by Francesca, ‘The Stylists’ was born out of love for fashion and interiors. As a personal stylist, Francesca has always had a passion for design and put her skills into practise to curate a collection of beautiful, unique and sought after homeware, clothing, jewellery, accessories, books and gifts.

Ever evolving our collection continues to grow and we add new pieces regularly.

Delivery options including click and collect also available

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4:30pm Find them at 362 Fulwood Road S10 3GD thestylistslifestylestore.com

The opening of Grazie on Leopold Street was the realisation of a lifelong dream for its owner Vito Vernia, and in the threeyears or so since, the Italian dining spot has set about putting authentic Puglian cuisine on the map in the Steel City.

A noble endeavour, then, and one which has been richly rewarded with an ever-increasing fanbase. So much so, in fact, that they made the big decision to relocate to bigger premises, eventually finding a new space just down the road in the former home of burger joint Smoking Bull.

“Our first spot was a great beginning to our project,” says Vito.

“During the three years we were there, even with Covid and everything, we still built a good reputation. We let people know who we are, what we do and how we do it, and the demand for our food became greater and greater.

“Because of the size of that place, and the layout, we started looking for new premises as there weren’t enough tables to cope with the demand and, kitchen-wise, we couldn’t expand our ideas.

“We still had two years left on the lease, but when we heard Smoking Bull was moving out, we decided the time was right to move, because I’ve always thought this spot was the perfect place for us to relocate to.”

Once the lease was signed in July, Vito set about putting together a crack team to create his perfect

pictures: Ellie Grace

restaurant. First up, he sought out the help of a designer who shared his vision and who could bring a touch of Southern Italy over to Sheffield.

Angelica Picoco’s work can be found around the world and she just so happens to hail from Vito’s hometown of Polignano a Mare. After Vito had seen her work in the idyllic coastal town of his birth, he says he knew she would be the person to recreate his vision in his adopted home. Once the design was in place, the work to build the vision utilised talent a little closer to home, and Rocket Design, who is responsible for some of the city’s most eye-catching bars and restaurants, including Public and Domo, set about bringing the Puglian coast to Sheffield.

“Angelica is from my town and she has created a few restaurants there that look really nice, so she knew what I was after. Pretty much on the second drawing we settled on what we have now. She came over once just to see the place and then she gave me all the drawings for the builders to

follow in Italian, so I translated as much as I could.”

Vito wanted to bring the sweeping arches and mosaic tiles of his hometown to Sheffield, and once you venture inside, it has to be said that these touches really set the place off. With these touches, alongside the open plan kitchen and purpose built ‘pasta lab’, which adds a bit of theatre

to proceedings, Vito has created a sleek, yet welcoming space to enjoy a hearty bowl of homecooked pasta.

“As before, the main thing we do is fresh pasta,” says Vito, “We do three shapes of pasta, plus one filled pasta and one gnocchi. All the pasta is made fresh onsite. Sometimes it's made in the morning, sometimes it's made during the service, and if you’re sitting at your table you can now see it being made. Customers are like, ‘wow, they really do the pasta themselves.’

The restaurant trade is very much in the family for Vito. He has himself been involved working in hospitality environments since he was 13-yearsold, whether that’s working in restaurants or hotels, but he has also been around restaurants since the the age of two, and he remembers sitting at a bar watching his father make coffees for customers as a young boy. When he moved to the UK, he eventually started working at Piccolino, Sheffield, and later became general manager; but it

was always his dream to run his own restaurant, just as his family do in Puglia. When the original spot became available Vito tells us is it just felt right, as it was small, manageable and in a great location.

Given the sharp rise in popularity of that first venue, and the subsequent successful move to their beautiful new premises, Vito is rightly feeling very happy about the future.

“People know who we are and what we do.” Says Vito, “We’ve kept our ethos the same, it’s just a different look. Pretty much everything we were doing there, we do here, but with a few more interesting dishes, because we’ve got more space to play in.

“You know when you’ve got a dream and it comes true? That’s how I feel. The hard work has paid off.”

Grazie can now be found in 9 Leopold Street and is open from Monday – Saturday. For more details and bookings go give them a nudge on Insta: @graziesheffield/

“YOU

HOW I FEEL. THE HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF.”

THE NEW WAY TO SUSHI

IT LOOKS FANTASTIC

Located on West Street, the spacious restaurant brilliantly combines glitzy décor inspired by the bright lights of Tokyo with classical elements of Japanese culture: lotus plants, cherry blossom trees and traditional tatami dining rooms upstairs are just a small part of this. A good example of their ethos of blending traditional cuisine with modern touches can be seen through the ordering system. Each table is provided with a sleek touchscreen tablet which they can use to browse and order from the impressive menu throughout their stay.

YOU CAN EXPLORE A HUGE RANGE OF JAPANESE CUISINE

Tsuki’s menu boasts over 150 different dishes, all made using the freshest of ingredients and traditional recipes. As well as an enviable sushi selection, the menu also covers teppanyaki, donburi bowls, ramen, noodles and bao – so the all-you-can-eat menu option (£34.95£38.95) offers a perfect excuse to try out new dishes and really explore a wide variety of Japanese food.

THE BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH IS SUPERB

Their mouth-watering bottomless brunch (£39.95) is hugely popular, and for good reason. It’s the same concept as the all-you-can-eat ‘baikingu’ option, in which you can order unlimited food across a two-hour slot, but with free-flowing prosecco, beer, wine and soft drinks included! If really want to treat yourselves, there’s the option of upgrading to include premium select cocktails designed by their on-site mixologists.

YOU CAN KICK BACK IN LUXURY

Upstairs you’ll find the private tatami rooms, open on weekends only, where you can book in as a group to enjoy the excellent à la carte menu. It’s a much more traditional style of dining with a pay per dish menu, but the vibe is nothing short of luxurious and much more laidback than the bustle below. The rooms are also available on a first come, first serve basis but require a minimum spend of £150 overall.

THEY HOST A VARIETY OF SPECIAL EVENTS

From Japanese whiskey tasting nights to upcoming one-off specials to celebrate Chinese New Year, there’s plenty of unique opportunities to get involved with. Keep an eye on their socials and tsukirestaurant.co.uk/events to see what’s coming up next!

58-60 West Street @tsuki_restaurant 0114 461 0826 contact@tsukirestaurant.co.uk

Why your next Japanese meal in Sheffield needs to be at Tsuki restaurant

wednesday 1 feb 2023

£15, Doors 7pm tuesday 7 feb 2023 the tuesday club: shy fx £14, Doors 11pm, 18+ thursday 9 feb 2023

saturday 25 March 2023 daft funk

£15, Doors 7:30pm friday 31 March 2023

The orielles

£15, Doors 7:30pm fruday 31 March 2023 disco wonderland: the abba disco

£11, Doors 10pm sunday 2 april 2023 black honey

£13, Doors 6:30pm saturday 15 april 2023 peter hook & the light joy division: a celebration

£32.50, Doors 7pm friday 28 april 2023 big country

£30, Doors 7pm tuesday 16 May 2023 lostboy

£11, Doors 7pm friday19 May 2023 lucy spraggan

£21, Doors 6:30pm friday 3 november 2023 flash &

£20, Doors 7pm

THE AGE OF TREASON

What do you get when you combine nostalgic Yorkshire folk tales, heavy Celtic punk-inspired riffs and a whole load of high-tempo banjo action?

We spoke to Shanghai Treason lead singer Sam Christie to gain an insight into an impressive couple of years for the proudly local punks.

So, ‘Yorkshire Flatcap Banjo Punk’ sounds intriguing. Tell us about it… Funnily enough, it’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I grew up listening to Flogging Molly, Pogues, Dropkick Murphy’s, and I thought it’d be great to a Yorkshire-based twist with a strong regional identity, tales of local folklore and infamous characters.

Tell us a bit about dipping into Yorkshire folklore. Could you give us any examples?

I think because we’re good friends with the Everly Pregnant Brothers, maybe I borrowed a bit of this from Big Shaun. Tying songs to a region through using local dialect and lyrics referring to local landmarks that mean a lot to people; it’s actually quite emotive, life-affirming stuff for audiences to hear songs about their region. If you can bottle up a bit of nostalgia in your songs, it can go a long way. I grew up in West Yorkshire, near Huddersfield, so there are songs that talk about the textile industry, the

history of that and pubs I used to drink it at *cough*… 16… *cough*. There are tracks about Sheffield as well; the rest of the lads are born and bred here, apart from one who’s from Barnsley, and I’ve been here for ten years now, so is that enough to say I’m a Sheffielder? I don’t know.

Judging by some of the clips online, it certainly goes down well live. Absolutely. It’s drinking music to have a dance to. The banjo comes out and its fast-paced, high-tempo music that needs to be seen live. It’s quite a niche genre, Celtic punk-inspired music, and we’re one of few bands up north doing it, which means we get plenty of shows!

How did you meet the other members of the band?

It came together through the local scene. I met Tom Jackson at a show and we spoke about our desire to start a band like this, then we met Tom Hardy (not that one) who is an incredible banjo player. We already knew the other guy, Alex, an incredible drummer; and finally,

there was Joel, who worked behind the bar at Yellow Arch and basically asked if he could come and play. It’s been the five of us since.

You can see just how much you all enjoy being onstage. What is it about the genre that you personally love?

It’s fast, accessible to anyone and unpretentious. It’s down to earth and there’s something for everyone in our music. I’ve been in plenty of bands, banging my head against the wall for years, and this is just a very welcoming genre where everything has fallen together nicely.

You’ve got a big St Patrick’s Day gig coming up at Yellow Arch in March. How would you sum up your live shows?

Raucous, hectic, energetic – but a lot of fun. We very nearly sold out the last time we played Yellow

Arch, so I’m hoping this time we’ll do it. We’ve got some incredible special guests in Headsticks and Crazy Arm, so it’s a real triple-threat of a bill. It will be a big, sweaty, beer-soaked, poppypunky, Celtic celebration of an evening.

Anything else you’d like to add about Shanghai Treason before you get off?

Stick with us because I think we’re the bogey band of the Sheffield scene. You would never have guessed that a banjo punk band would be breaking out across the country, but we’ve just announced a UK tour supporting Hayseed Dixie and we’ve got some exciting stuff in the pipeline for the New Year – music, billings, gigs, festivals. It’s going to be a huge year. Sheffield’s not just indie rock – there’s a lot going on and loads of variety in terms of music people can listen to. So, if you fancy trying something different, you know where to find us!

Shanghai Treason play Yellow Arch on 17th March with Headstick and Crazy Arm. Scan the QR Code above for tickets.

@streason2022 // facebook.com/ ShanghaiTreason // shanghaitreason. bandcamp.com

SCAN FOR TICKETS TO YELLOW ARCH GIG

Pictures: Joseph Clark

KARMODE'S

KARMODE’S FILM OF THE YEAR

South Yorkshire’s foremost cinemagoer and West Street Live Annual Short Film Competition runner-up (2008), Matt Karmode selects his pick of last year’s cinematic bunch.

Happy New Year, fellow cinephiles. For the first issue of 2023, Exposed have asked me to look ahead to the year in film. However, if you’re like me, looking ahead will evoke unwanted reminders of life’s inequitable transience: taking the kids back to university, renewing the TV licence, visiting Dad, PAT testing the old microwave, anxiously arranging doctor’s appointments; your failing body a heightened risk of disease; a fleshy windowless prison increasingly unrecognisable to even yourself; a withered exterior gradually becoming less and less of a reliable corporeal structure and more of a sexless negatory puddle; comprised not of skin and bone but old soup and bandages; a corrosive mess creeping insidiously towards the still and fishless waters of Man’s immutable mortal abyss like a steady stream of piss down old shorts. Yes,

I would much rather look back. So, forgetting 2023, and in spite of the editor’s strongly worded insistence, here’s my favourite film of 2022.

Firestarter is another science fiction horror from the cocaine-weathered synapses of Stephen King. Keith Thomas’ latest adaptation of King’s 1980 novel is my favourite film of 2022 and rivals even the most accomplished King adaptations like The Lawnmower Man (1992) and The Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996).

Like a lot of cokeheads, King ponders what it would be like to be able to control things with his mind; not just boring things like his personal hygiene and behaviour at parties, but world-alteringly significant things like what if people got well hot when angry.

Firestarter seamlessly blends this level of profound conceptualisation with a kitchen sink family drama, played to perfection by an ensemble cast including High School Musical’s Zac Efron, high school attendee Ryan Kiera Armstrong and “Hi, my name is Sydney Lemmon” utterer Sydney Lemmon. Like all good films, Firestarter begins with a dream sequence, instantly shattering our grasp on reality so we are unable to trust anything presented to us. From there we learn about the young and troubled Charlie McGee (Armstrong) and her inherited pyrokinetic

powers. The history of Charlie’s powers is kept a secret by her telepathic father Andy (Efron) and her telekinetic mother (Lemmon). But it’s not long before the truth is forcibly revealed, all while the family is pursued by agents of a mysterious organisation.

Firestarter is my film of the year for one primary reason: it is uniquely unaffecting. Some films make you think, still hopelessly bouncing around your head as you try to sleep at night. Others elicit more instant emotional reactions: laughter, screaming, crying. Firestarter tells 12 million dollars’ worth of story for over an hour and a half, and does so without evoking an iota of feeling. Better still, upon its completion, Firestarter is immediately and entirely forgettable, leaving your mind free to go about its solipsistic meandering unimpeded by the effects of a memorable or even remotely interesting story.

5 Auld Lang Synes out of 5

A LOVE LETTER TO SHEFFIELD

Standing at the Sky’s Edge is a celebration of strength and solidarity across six decades, set to the irresistible sounds of Richard Hawley. Written by Chris Bush and directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Robert Hastie, the production is a love letter to Sheffield and ode to the iconic Park Hill Estate.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a little more about who you are playing.

RW: Hi, I’m Rachael Wooding and I play Rose Stanhope. Rose is a wonderful character, she’s witty and fun and the rock of her family. She supports everyone with a quiet strength and shows incredible resilience through extremely tough times.

FO: Hi, my name is Faith and I’m playing Joy. I love this character with my whole heart. She is a force to be reckoned with, she’s passionate and very complicated. She’s running from a country that is about to be ravaged by civil war when she lands in beautiful Sheffield.

AY: Hi my name’s Alex Young and I’m playing Poppy. Poppy is in the contemporary story line. She’s a Londoner who runs from recent heartbreak to Sheffield where she buys one of the newly developed Urban Splash apartments in Park Hill. She’s someone who never quite says what’s she is feeling, keeping all of her heartache

and rage pent up, so she’s like a pressure cooker. And the result of that tension comes out in both comedic and dramatic stuff that is really exciting to play.

MM: I’m Maimuna and I’m playing Nikki. Nikki is a big ball of energy, unable to filter herself, and that makes her so fun to play. She’s also completely full to the brim with love, and her and Poppy’s relationship is a really special one I think.

You appeared in the show’s premiere back in 2019, how does it feel to be back in Sheffield? Is this your first time back since SATSE last time?

MM: It feels incredible to be back. The city of Sheffield and Sheffield Theatres are so special. I feel so at home here. I’m so glad after such a short run of the show last time, we can bring the show back to the Sheffield people for a longer run. It touched so many people. I feel so very lucky to be back doing this show. It’s a piece that

IT FEELS INCREDIBLE TO BE BACK. THE CITY OF SHEFFIELD AND SHEFFIELD THEATRES ARE SO SPECIAL.

Actors Rachael Wooding, Faith Omole, Alex Young and Maimuna Memon spoke to us about how they will take on this Steel City epic.

serves its community, that is beautifully multicultural, and that is full of heart and promise. We need that now more than ever. It is also a damn good new British musical, which we don’t get that often.

AY: I love Sheffield and the Crucible, it’s my favourite theatre in the country and I’m so pleased to be back again. Since Sky’s Edge, I’ve been the luckiest, getting to play Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Brutus in Coriolanus and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me all at the Crucible. It really feels like my second home. The people are a second family, and I couldn’t be happier about that.

Chris Bush wrote the plays for performance in 2019. A lot has happened since then – has the show changed at all?

FO: There have been little changes but because she’s telling what spans over generations, fortunately (and unfortunately at times) everything feels really relevant. We seem to echo ourselves as a world and hopefully people notice that when they watch Chris’ INCREDIBLE show.

MM: The show has changed a little bit, but not much. The timeframe is basically the same, but we now finish the play just before the pandemic begins, which I think is a really clever touch by Chris, because the audience finish the show knowing more about what’s to come than the characters do.

What excites you most about working on Standing at the Sky’s Edge?

FO: The music: Richard Hawley is a storytelling genius. The cast: OH they are amazing. I’m in awe constantly. Joy and Jimmy: I love them. Seriously, everyone included is so great.

Why should people come to watch the show?

RW: It is honestly the best thing I’ve done. It will break your heart and put it back together again. It’s very rare to be part of something that in equal parts is so incredible. Chris Bush’s writing, combined with Richard Hawley’s music, so beautifully arranged by Tom Deering, performed by these glorious actors, guided by Robert Hastie, just shouldn’t be missed.

FO: There’s nothing else like it, in the best way. This is ground-breaking and epic storytelling.

AY: Because I honestly think it’s a really important piece. It speaks to our times without preaching. It’s hilarious and quietly heart-breaking. Full of incredible songs and a wonderful, universal story. It’s the best thing I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m so proud of it.

MM: This show is a beautiful, heart-breaking and heart-warming piece of art, celebrating community through many generations, many backgrounds, and many life experiences. There is something in this show for everyone. And the music takes your breath away. It truly represents the very best of new British Musical Theatre.

Standing at the Sky’s Edge runs in the Crucible until Saturday 21 Jan 2023. Tickets can be booked at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

IN FULL BLOOM

Bloom Sheffield is a not-for-profit charity that seeks to positively influence women’s mental health by forging connections with nature, horticulture and other people. We spoke to Bloom’s founder, Kendall Turner, to hear more about their work...

First of all, what is Bloom Sheffield?

Bloom Sheffield is a community flower garden, which promotes positive mental health through the use of horticulture.

Why did you establish it?

It all started back in 2019 with a very overgrown allotment. I was a teacher working in a particularly challenging role, and it was the first time I felt that my mental health had taken a bit of a dip. I had my own allotment and that was the only place where I felt I was getting a bit of respite and feeling better. I thought that everybody should have this opportunity, especially because allotments are quite expensive and big, so it’s a huge commitment for one person to take on. I thought it would be wonderful to have a space for women to come together, work on a shared project and reap the benefits of being outside and gardening together.

Why did you decide to focus on women?

We work predominantly with women and non-binary people and the reason is that we realise women in particular have lots of factors that can contribute to negative mental health. For example, women are more

likely to become carers, which can lead to feelings of isolation and increased anxiety. Also, they’re more likely to have experienced sexual and domestic violence. Another thing is I think horticulture can be a little bit of a boy’s club, so we wanted to provide a space where women can come and have a go without any pressure.

What kind of sessions do you offer?

We currently run two different strands of activities. First of all, we have open days which run twice a week throughout the spring, summer and autumn – those are for any woman to come for free and literally just give it a go. It’s all about meeting new people, trying something new, feeling good and generally having a really lovely time. We have a wide range of tasks, so if you struggle a little bit with your mobility, there are things to sit down and do. Or even if you just want to come and have a cup of tea, that’s great! Then we also have our ‘gardening to feel good’ group. That’s specifically aimed at people who feel they need a little bit of support managing their mental health. We have women who are referred to us through healthcare services, GPs, nurse practitioners and other organisations as well. We also have a self-referral pathway.

Do you have a target age range?

Absolutely anyone. We have people who are 16 to 17 coming along and we have people who are 70-plus. It’s a really lovely environment, very intergenerational.

Do you have any upcoming plans?

We’ve recently taken on a brand-new garden, on the same site as our current one. It’s massive and overgrown so our volunteers are working hard to prepare it, trying to make sure it’s ready for new and exciting things next year. We’re hoping to be able to offer groups to not just women but loads of different groups in that certain space. We are a non-profit organisation so we rely on the kindness of our sponsor and the community to kind of keep us going. Alongside other products, we also sell the flowers we grow as a community to fund our therapeutic horticulture group. People can find the shop online at www.bloomsheffield.com, and we're also launching a Patreon page, so people can support the work we do in the community and get exclusive treats as thanks.

Find out more by following Bloom online: @bloomsheffield // bloomsheffield.com

MEAT & STEAKHOUSE IN

THE HEART OF KELHAM ISLAND

Chop Shop Bar & Grill celebrates all things meat, and does so in a simple way to let the true taste of the amazing produce speak for itself. We use our Argentinian asado BBQ chargrill to enhance the flavours of the meat over natural flames. We pride ourselves on using the very best local meat from Sheffield and the surrounding areas. Our relaxing bar & grill is the perfect place to enjoy a wonderfully chargrilled piece of meat and glass of wine in the heart of Kelham Island, Sheffield.

OWEN RICHARDS THROUGH THE LENS

PROMPTED THE MOVE UP NORTH?

I met Jo Peel when we both lived in London. We became friends, worked on a few things together, went on a trip to Japan, and not long after Jo moved back to Sheffield. I’d come and visit Jo and that’s how I got to see an insider’s view of the place. My mum also studied here in the 70s and always said she’d have stayed if she’d found a job, so that was in my head too. I was ready for something new and when a bunch of other friends moved up to Sheffield, it just made sense that I’d come here too.

IT TENDS TO BE FERTILE GROUND FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. YOU’VE GOT THE JUXTA POSITION OF NATURE AND INDUSTRY, THE RURAL AND THE INNER-CITY.

I’m not sure I really thought about it at the time, but it does suit my work. When I worked in London, I was always trying to find the quiet ‘non spaces’: places that are in-between, like a quiet stream or an empty courtyard found in a bustling city centre. Sheffield is full of those sort of transient spaces. When I was studying for my BA in photography, during the day we’d be covering interesting landscape work and contextual studies, then at night I’d be shooting bands. So there’s always been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde aspect to my work, which fits well with Sheffield and its relationship to the Peak District, Kelham Island and places in and around the city centre.

HOW WERE YOU INITIALLY DRAWN TO PHOTOGRAPHY?

My dad was a keen photographer. I remember getting an SLR when I was younger and enjoyed taking pictures with that. Initially, I wanted to be a graphic designer, so I did an Art Foundation course and there was a photography module. I remember the teacher telling me I had a good eye for it, and that was the first time I’d been told I was good at something specific, so I suppose I ran with it. I then studied photography at uni, ended up working in picture libraries when I moved to London, and I’d shoot a lot of bands in my spare time.

YOU STILL DO A LOT OF WORK WITH ARTISTS TODAY. IS SHOWCASING CREATIVES A KEY MOTIVATION OF YOURS?

I think I’m particularly interested in process: how things are made creatively by makers and artisans. I like to show the graft behind things, and perhaps the not so glamorous sides. When I was working with touring bands, the shots I’d most like to take

YOU’VE BEEN IN SHEFFIELD FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AFTER MOVING FROM LONDON. WHAT

The Sheffield-based photographer discusses non-spaces, the power of process and the importance of making personal connections.

were the ones during the downtime, after the gigs when the adrenaline has worn off and everyone’s exhausted.

WHICH BANDS WERE YOU SHOOTING WHEN COVERING THE LONDON MUSIC SCENE?

This would’ve been around 2006-2010, so there was a lot of the nu rave and DIY punk/indie stuff going on. I remember shooting the XX and bands like Foals coming through – there was quite a lot of math rock coming through. It was quite a vibrant community and it was great to be part of it; to me, it was just as much about the people as it was the music.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO GOOD PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY?

Tricky one. I think that instinct plays a big part in it. I will normally meet people, see how they react to the camera – sometimes they’re great with it, sometimes they’re awkward – and you can either work with the awkwardness or try something else. I want it to be a true representation of them, so it’s important they stand out in the picture and the backdrop isn’t too overwhelming. There’s an element of stripping it back to basics that I think is important.

WHEN ARE YOU HAPPIEST BEHIND A CAMERA?

In terms of style, l like a mix of things. I enjoy working with natural light and making that work in

environments, not formulating things too much and being spontaneous, particularly with portraits. Then my other side is more landscape and texturebased stuff, which feels a bit more like my own thing, and I feel like I’m quietly getting on with my series exploring the woods of Sheffield and following the River Sheaf linking to different areas. I suppose that’s when I’m in my element: just me and a camera walking around and exploring somewhere.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS?

Be good to people from the get-go and it will hopefully come back around. There’ve been people that I’ve met at gigs, got on with, and ten years later they’re still commissioning me for work. Being polite, friendly and open to ideas always helps

and that personal connection can help get you over the line. The focus on promoting yourself on social media has tipped an edge, I think, and I’ve tried to go back to the basics of meeting people face to face, or at least emailing people directly, and focusing more on personal connections.

owenrichards.co.uk // @ owenrichards

WHEN I WORKED IN LONDON, I WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND THE QUIET ‘NON SPACES’: PLACES THAT ARE IN-BETWEEN...

DRAGGIN' YOU THROUGH JANUARY

It’s January and a New Year already, which in the world of LGBTQ+ events means we’ve hit that quiet window where many of us are nursing a New Year hangover and counting down to pay day so events are limited. Fear not though as we still have plenty of drag throughout the month with Emma Maezin hosting her weekly karaoke sessions at Maggie Mays [Every Thursday] and appearances at Ball Inn [Fri 13/Sat 21 Jan] and Bagshawe Arms [Sat 14 Jan]. Bipolar Abdul is also back for Drag Bingo [Wed 18 Jan] at Hagglers Corner with performances throughout the evening and a big cash prize.

For comedy fans amoungst you, lesbian icon, Jen Brister [Sun 29 Jan] will be taking to the stage at Leadmill. Your LGBTQ+ venues (Dempseys, Spirit of Sheffield and Queer Junction) at Moorfoot remain open through the week and Gut Level are currently are currently fundraising for a future club space so hopefully we will have news of a new venue to bring you soon.

If the nightlife is not your scene, you’ve overdone it over the festive season or you just want to get involved in more community groups then Sheffield has lots of different groups you can get involved in

for people across the rainbow spectrum. +me is for people living with or affected by HIV and aswell as a range of testing, counselling and therapeutic services, runs a range of social trips and events. Disability Sheffield run a LGBT+ café for those who are both LGBT+ and disabled, with meetings alternating between online and in person socials at Spirit of Sheffield. Sheffield Mind also run their fortnightly Kaleidoscope group for LGBTQ+ neurodiverse people.

LASS (Lesbian Asylum Support Sheffield) and One Rainbow Bridge run regular social groups and events for LGBTQ+ refuges and asylum seekers. Zest run the Over 50’s LGBTQ+ group which meets regularly at Weston Park Museum and LGBT+ Sheffield run the SAIL LGBT 50+ helpline and annual Pinknic event.

Out Aloud are Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ choir and Sheffield Vulcans are an inclusive rugby club. There are more

opportunities to get active with Trans Active who run sports and physical activity sessions for Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Diverse people, currently running swimming sessions at Heeley Baths [every Saturday].

Sheffield Bisexual & Pansexual social group organise meetups for all multigender attracted folk, SAYiT run groups for LGBTQ+ young people aged from 11-25 and both universities have LGBT+ student committees.

There’s a lot more queer activity in Sheffield than may first meet the eye. If you have a group or event I have missed, drop me a line on Twitter @ heatherpaterson and I’ll give you a shout out in a future column.

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

Until next time, love and mistletoe...