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tidy your borders Before doing anything, an idea to get you into the swing of things is to have a general tidy up and get rid of any leaves and debris from flower beds and borders leaving bare soil. Dispose of any weeds you can see instead of composting them as the seeds will germinate and cause you more problems later on. Before you start the next step, dig a 5cm layer of compost. start Planting noW it’s an easy mistake to make to think that the best time to start planting is in May, just before the summer. in actual fact, you can start much earlier than that. At this time of year you could add plants such as tulips for a nice bit of colour in your garden. if you prefer something a little different then you can chuck in some vegetables like lettuce or peas. Starting now will ensure your garden will be flourishing within two months. sort your laWn your lawn will have been neglected over the winter months, the poor old chap. Now’s the time to blow the dust of the mower and give it some much needed TLC. Begin with the blades lower for a shorter cut to make sure the grass stays sturdy and grows out healthy. if you’re starting out with a new lawn, now’s the time to sow grow seedlings or lay turf.

Prune tHe sHrubs Remove dead, damaged, and diseased branches from plants or shrubbery. you can cut back the old dead growth of deciduous grasses and herbaceous perennials now, although, if you’d like to be wildlife friendly, it’s best to leave these until early spring. Plants from last year that survived the winter will need to be trimmed, too.

Wildlife friendly Birds help control pests, balance the ecosystem and add ambience. you can build nesting boxes with to attract particular birds, and help to provide a consistent and clean water source. Plant natives that offer food sources and make sure there are trees nearby for nesting and shelter.

i’ve always been interested in photography. My uncle was a photographer at the Sheffield Star in the early 90s, so i think that probably planted a seed at an early age. i’d always taken photos on my phone and my brother [Andy Nicholson] is a great photographer, so i drew inspiration from what he was doing and only recently committed to taking it to the next level. i bought a second-hand camera from Harrison’s, the great camera shop on London Road, then my brother gave me a lens and it just progressed from there. i’ve upgraded everything in that time as i’ve developed as a photographer – i’ve gone from a small bag to a spare room full of equipment!

it was during lockdown that me and James [o’Hara] were going out on the bikes and riding around the peaks, as much for the company and our mental health as anything else. i was off work, James had had to close all his bars, so it became an essential part of us staying sane. i’d started going out and learning how to use the camera in different environments, doing some more staged work at home, shooting still life, using flash, and essentially using the time i had to channel into this positive thing that i could throw myself in to. James’ film photography is great; he’s got that natural eye for a shot in any setting, so it was just a general chat about it that lead to us thinking it could be something that we can get in to, an actual free service (to begin with) that we can offer to some of the independent businesses we love. given all these chats had happened in and around the bikes, the name ‘Pedalo’ was suggested and stuck straight away.

i like to think i have a creative mind but never really had a proper outlet for it until i started with photography. it can be a shot i’ve seen that i’ve taken inspiration from, or an idea that develops as a collaborative effort with other people, but i think my main motivation comes from wanting to create something people will enjoy. That was

the same with music. its great seeing people’s profile pictures on their social media change to a shot i’ve taken of them or work we’ve done for the businesses we shoot at – Ashoka, Public, gatsby, Picture House Social – receive such positive feedback. That definitely keeps me motivated to work harder and keep doing what we’re doing.

We’re a city that makes things and always has, whether that’s steel, music or art. i think we have a unique advantage over other places and that’s partly down to the environment we’re in: you can go from brutalist architecture and modern buildings to the Peak District in the space of 20 minutes. We did a bit of a test shoot for a project

the other day and within an hour we had three unique images that you just can’t get anywhere else in that timeframe. it feels like a city that has a unique canvas for creative photography.

it’s changed over the last year. it was originally going out and shooting landscapes in the Peaks, but recently i’ve started doing more portraits of people – whether it be outside, in a studio or even a documentary style shoot where you’re just in the background, capturing a moment. i think i’m drawn to that more because of being inspired by shots like David Bailey’s candid Lennon & McCartney photograph – these iconic, fleeting moments captured on camera.

We’re still not even a year into Pedalo and we’ve managed to do so much in that short space of time, but maybe working with more musicians and bands in a studio setting? Now everything is getting back to normal, we’ve talked about doing documentary photography of bands in a studio leading back up to a gig – a post-covid journey from the practice room to the stage. i’d like to go to other places and shoot as well. As much as we love Sheffield, it would be nice to travel and see more of the world after this period of isolation. A shoot for a band or artist out in New york or L.A. wouldn’t be bad, i guess!

We’ve got something very exciting we’ve been working on with one of our football clubs, and i probably can’t say any more than that at the minute without giving the game away! We’re also going to continue our journey with the city’s independent businesses. Seeing others make something great in this city is so inspiring and benefits all of us, so we love helping out and getting involved.

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c / c Faruolo Image: Fanat I

over the past 18 months, there have been more than a few significant events that have forced the question ‘is this actually happening?’ to enter our collective consciousness. it was certainly being uttered out loud by many of us in early March 2020, when news began filtering through that the country would soon be heading into a national lockdown to protect ourselves from a novel coronavirus strain, followed weeks later by the UK government imposing a stay-at-home order closing businesses, schools and banning any form of non-essential social gatherings. A recurring sense of disbelief and need for nationwide arm pinching sadly continued through botched lockdown liftings fraught with complications, some utterly ridiculous failings and scandals from those who were meant to be safeguarding the nation, plus an incredibly bleak winter which at one point saw the country reach an average of over 1,000 deaths per day. Things have, broadly speaking, felt much more positive since the arrival of the game-changing vaccines. The tide and mood slowly began to turn; life began to feel less like a dystopian horror as beacons of hope flickered at the end of tunnels that once seemed very long and dark prospects indeed. People returned to work, hospitality and non-essential retail became a part of life once more, we were permitted to socialise with friends and family in increasingly greater numbers, and the welcome news that a full-capacity Tramlines Festival – Sheffield’s biggest party and esteemed hometown festival of 12 years – would be returning as part of the government’s Event’s Research Programme was probably the biggest indication to date that normality was returning to the Steel City. Fast-forward to Sunday 25th July, circa 6:45pm, on Nulty’s Main Stage in Hillsborough Park: 40,000 revellers bouncing en-masse to the drop of Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Bonkers’ while the E3 MC conducted proceedings with an infectious sense of glee. Looking around you could literally feel the catharsis as families and friends, young and old, lifelong locals and thrill-seeking tourists, all jumped in joyful unison to a bassline so heavy it felt like a deep crack might at any moment rip across the park onto Penistone Road and upend any passing traffic. At this point i, and i’m sure many others present, took a brief second to again ask ourselves, ‘is this actually happening?’; but this time we weren’t asking out of worry or exasperation, but because, starved of communal joy and live music for so long, it all just felt too damn good to be true. Dizzee was utterly superb that evening, a true festival veteran expertly lurching from early grime classics to sun-kissed pop anthems that inspired some of the most incredible crowd scenes ever witnessed at a Tramlines event (seek out the clips on the festival’s social media pages for confirmation).

Faruolo Image: Fanat I c / c

I c / c Faruolo Image: Fanat

tramlInes operatIons DIrector, tImm cleasby: “After 18 months of strangeness, it was unbelievable to be back in the park again. There have been so many hurdles we’ve had to jump to get here and honestly, it’s been quite a rollercoaster. it’s been great to see so many happy smiling faces from crew getting back to the thing they love to revellers having the time of their lives watching the bands they love. Hearing the first band ring out over the festival was an emotional moment. “i'd really like to thank everyone for playing their part with the NHS CoviD Pass system. it ran very smoothly and by being part of the Events Research Programme, together we're helping to pave the way for festivals and live events to get back to normal. “i’m full of gratitude for everyone; our amazing crew and suppliers, the support from the DCMS, Public Health Sheffield, Sheffield Council, and of course our fans. Thank you all for helping us do this, we love you all and we can’t wait to see you all next year.”

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As you can imagine, it wasn’t a straightforward task to put on an event this size – the largest festival to take place in Western Europe since the pandemic – but the NHS Covid Pass system ensured a system where ticketholders would be able to show at the gates they were either double-vaccinated or had recently received a negative lateral flow test. Huge props here to the festival ambassadors and ticket office staff who, from what i saw and experienced over the weekend, were extraordinarily patient and helpful in helping people through any hiccoughs. Recent tradition has dictated that the Friday evening of Tramlines is reserved largely for guitar bands, and that held true with performances from The Blinders, The Pigeon Detectives, Circa Waves, and The Kooks leading us right up to the main act. However, the inaugural evening headline slot was given a decidedly more urban flavour with Mike Skinner of The Streets prowling the main stage, popping a bottle of champers and getting the party started with the group’s untouchable backcatalogue of iconic garage-tinged UK classics. Cult-classics not best-sellers, that is. Right across the weekend, the smaller stages consistently punched above their weight. Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the T’other Stage delighted a boogie-seeking crowd with a set of certified disco bangers, throwing in well-received covers of Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’ and ‘Sing it Back’ by Sheff’s-own Moloko, just for those extra party vibes. Whereas over at the new and hugely enjoyable open Arms stage – basically the most entertaining boozer you’ve ever visited – Shaun Williamson (remember Barry from Eastenders?) brought his popular ‘Barrioke’ singalong to town, while on Sunday evening The Mariachis (remember the Doritos advert guys?) enticed in a vast, very giddy crowd for their Mexican-inspired takes on classic pop tunes, including a particularly vociferous version of Human League’s ‘Don’t you Want Me’. For me, though, the highlight away from Nulty’s Main Stage this year had to go to Little Simz, the potential-soaked British rapper who made her Tramlines debut in trailblazing fashion. The 24-year-old, already with two award-winning albums in the bag, staked an incontestable claim for a future main stage slot during a set combining a myriad of hip-hop, jazz and RnB beats. “Someone pinch me,” she said mid-performance to a band member. “i’m just making sure this is real.” it was a mood very much reciprocated by an appreciative Sheffield audience who the artist held in the palm of her hand for an enthralling hour of live performance. Those were just a few musical highlights from a truly special weekend, but for once Tramlines Festival meant so much more than the music. For one weekend last month the Steel City was at the forefront of a new beginning for festivals of all denominations, the events where we can unite with our loved ones in celebration of the best bits of life – a privilege that has forbidden for a depressingly long time. Finally after over a year of heartbreak, Tramlines Festival was reunited with the people of Sheffield last month, and good god, it felt reyt good. Tickets for Tramlines 2022 are now available online at: tramlines.org.uk

greg pell, DIrector oF publIc health sheFFIelD: “i’ve been impressed by the efforts of Tramlines in terms of Covid testing. it was a mammoth task which was carefully planned for and has been implemented really well. The feedback from attendees has been great, the Covid checks at the gates have worked, with attendees more than happy to show proof of a negative test or double vaccination. This has led to a well-received test event. Thanks to all involved for making Covid testing a priority, whilst allowing people to enjoy one of Sheffield’s biggest and most loved events.”

As clubs re-open and gigs are back on the agenda, we’re all enjoying getting lairy and have a bit of a boogie with our pals once again, but Sheffield’s director of public health Greg fell has reiterated an important message about the need for continued caution now that the final Covid restrictions have been lifted. While greg supports the fourth and final stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, he said it doesn’t mean that people should let their guard down completely. He plans to continue wearing a mask once the legal requirement to do so is scrapped and he has now called on Sheffield to keep taking sensible precautions to keep the virus at bay. He said: “We’ve lived with this pandemic now for over 18 months, following guidelines and showing huge resilience and determination to overcome Covid. The restrictions came to an end on 19 July, and i am supportive of Stage 4 of the roadmap. “We do know, however, that this won’t mean the end of Covid. Learning to live with Covid cannot mean simply allowing infections to spread unchecked. The impact is clear – many suffering the symptoms of long CoviD, inequalities exacerbated, pupils missing school, staff shortages in the NHS and social care as well as in businesses. “Across the country, more people have been vaccinated which means more people are protected from getting seriously ill if they were to catch the virus. This is vital in overcoming Covid and seeing Sheffield get back to normal as much as is practically possible. “Long Covid is still a concern, many people are suffering, and we are still learning about the effects of long Covid and the impact it has on people’s lives. you can still be poorly if you are double vaccinated and there are still plenty of people out there who are yet to be vaccinated. “it’s why i want to stress the importance of keeping hygiene levels up. Let’s all continue to wash our hands on a regular basis, get a test if you have symptoms and self-isolate. This will stop the sprea d even more and is an added bonus to the vaccine. “vaccines are part of the answer but don’t eradicate Covid, we will learn to live with it as safely as possible. However, we know the measures we have taken have worked so far; masks have made a huge impact and there is overwhelming evidence to support this. We would have a lot less freedom if it wasn’t for the impact wearing a mask in closed spaces has had on transmission rates.” “i’m confident Sheffield will recover well, and we’ll see fewer hospital admissions. Covid rates may rise initially, but importantly a decrease in hospital admissions and as a result, fewer deaths, is a huge step in the right direction. A careful exit is necessary, not only for us as individuals, but for reassurances for businesses too, knowing they won’t be in a situation where they have to close again is vital for them. We’ll be keeping a close eye on future guidance to make sure we are as prepared as possible, protecting Sheffield residents and moving forward towards a better future.” For the latest guidance on restrictions and the fourth stage of the Governement’s roadmap out of lockdown head to gov.uk/ guidance/

although most legal restrictions have now been lifted, it’s just as important to remember that covid-19 is still a part of our lives. Cases are now as high as they were in January and continue to rise in Sheffield. We all need to do our bit to keep each other safe. At the end of the day, these vaccines are designed to prevent people from getting seriously ill or even death. it’s the small jabs that could make the difference between seeing your mates or getting seriously ill. The MHRA, the official UK regulator, has said the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are safe and highly effective. As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process, and continued monitoring once it has been authorised and is being used in the wider population. it’s been properly researched and developed by top professionals. For the sake of some minor side effects, like a sore arm or tiredness – which feels like a bad hangover – you’re doing your part in the fight against coronavirus. For some people, covid-19 can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is called long covid. Around 10,000 people in Sheffield have long covid, including plenty of young uns’. Long covid can cause fatigue, anxiety, and impotence, affecting healthy people of all ages. There are over 200 symptoms of long covid,and the best way to not get long covid is to not get covid. The best way to not get covid is to get vaccinated. We all want to return to some sort of normality after the world was turned upside down by the pandemic. Sheffield is our home, and we need to look after ourselves and the people in it. it’s never been simpler to get vaccinated with your first and second dose, only 8 weeks apart. Walk-in to one of Sheffield’s many pop-up clinics to have the jab on the same day – even if you’re not registered with a gP. Find out where the latest walk-in clinics are on the Sheffield Clinical Commissioning group website – sheffieldccg.nhs.uk. or if you’d rather, you can book an appointment via nhs. uk/covid-vaccination or by calling the national booking centre via 119. Thank you, Sheffield, for getting your covid vaccine. over 60% of us are now double vaccinated, so let’s keep it going, and get your jab today to keep the Steel City moving. sheffieldccg.nhs.uk.

Sheffield’s sporting legacy on the national stage is a long-established success story. from athletics golden greats, lord seb coe and dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, to recent footy finalist, Harry Maguire and kyle Walker, the city of steel can legitimately stake a claim as the historic and current home of a more valuable precious metal - gold. This claim has only been strengthened since the turn of the century with the opening of the English institute of Sport (EiS), in 2003, paving the way for local olympic glory in subsequent years. The county of yorkshire contributed 12 medals in 2012 and a further 14 in 2016. in fact, if yorkshire were a country in 2016, it would have finished 17th on the medals table, ahead of New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. A familiar pattern is once again emerging in Tokyo, with, at the time of writing, yorkshire residents Matty Lee, Tom Pidcock, Bryony Page and Bradly Sinden all bagging medals, with further podium places expected for climber and Sheffield resident, Shauna Coxsey, Paralympic table tennis star Aaron McKibbin, Commonwealth gold medallist boxer galal yafai, and Paralympic badminton world champion Jack Shephard, among a host of others. Speaking ahead of the games, EiS National Director Nigel Walker said: “We are extremely proud of the close relationship we have with sports and our partners and i’m delighted that so many of our EiS people are able to travel to Tokyo to provide this vital, on the ground support. “it is important to note that we also have a large number of people back in the UK, either providing remote help or taking a well-earned rest after working tirelessly in the build-up to Tokyo 2020.” Sheffield olympic Legacy Park, which includes the English institute of Sport Sheffield, iceSheffield, a 600 student University technical College specialising in Sport Science, Health Sciences and Computing, a 1,200 pupil oasis Academy and a 3g pitch, is set to continue its official license agreement with the British olympic Association for the next five years, after meeting the 10 strict criteria demonstrating a commitment to making an impact through sport and delivering an olympic legacy. This includes providing access to a wide range of olympic sports, such as athletics, figure skating, basketball and boxing, which are offered at the world-class facilities based on the Park – the English institute of Sport Sheffield and iceSheffield. Former Minister for Sport and Project Lead for Sheffield olympic Legacy Park, Richard Caborn, said: “We’re delighted the British olympic Association recognise the importance of Sheffield olympic Legacy Park in delivering an impact through sport, and it comes at such an exciting time as so many talented athletes prepare to finally put their hard work to the test at Tokyo 2020.” “Sheffield has a reputation for producing world-class athletes like olympic Heptathlon gold medallist, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill DBE, and looking at the current crop of athletes i’m certain it won’t be long before we’re seeing them making the headlines. “it’s also wonderful for the local community to have an opportunity to get involved in creating their own olympic legacy alongside these athletes through the numerous initiatives to promote health and wellbeing. From junior parkrun for youngsters, to the launch of Beat the Street across the entire city, there’s something for the whole family.” Peter Elliot MBE, Director of operations at the English institute of Sport, said: “We’re proud to be one of the many fantastic facilities based on Sheffield olympic Legacy Park. “The number of local olympic and Paralympic athletes competing at Tokyo 2020 is a clear demonstration of how this area has an integral part to play in the making of Sheffield’s sporting legacy.” Sheffield olympic Legacy Park was set up to deliver a tangible legacy from the London 2012 olympic and Paralympic games, including economic regeneration, new opportunities for the local community, increasing sports participation, and environmental improvements, all of which are focused on improving health and wellbeing. The Park now looks to cement its place at the heart of the nation’s future health through a host of healthcare, regeneration and sporting projects totalling more than £200m, which include a National Centre for Child Health Technology, ground breaking Diagnostic imaging research hub and a 3,900 capacity Community Stadium. Development partner Scarborough group international (Sgi) is producing a Masterplan which will see a further 850,000 sq ft of real estate development at the Park, with an investment of around £250 million, helping to ensure that Sheffield stays top of the medals pile in three years’ time.

In a new monthly column, Heritage Sheffield’s founder Richard Phipps picks an intriguing facet of the city’s culture and delves into the history behind it. This month, following on from the Euros fever that gripped the nation, Richard explores us the integral role the Steel City played in the formation of the beautiful game.

KiCK-Off: SHEffiELd’S fOOTBALL STOry Despite the euphoria of beating germany and reaching a major final for the first time in 55 years, the England football team stumbled at the last hurdle despite a valiant effort. We may have listened to Baddiel & Skinner for the last time in 2021, but here in the Steel City football really is coming home as Sheffield FC have announced plans to move back within the city boundary into a purpose-built stadium. one of the sites considered for this exciting development is a few hundred yards from East Bank, the location of their first ever games all those years ago. it’s well publicised that Sheffield FC are the world’s oldest club, but the football trail in the Steel City is rich pickings for the footy fan. Perhaps the best place to kick off a tour would be at Heeley Parish Church, which is the resting place of Nathaniel Creswick, a cutler and the co-founder of Sheffield FC. The club, established in 1857, had formed the Sheffield Rules a year later, detailing the laws by which the game was to be played. This predated the Football Association rules by five years but provided a base by which the modern game is played. Heeley FC were also founded here in 1862, making them the first club in the world to be formed from a church! Another footballing accolade that the city boasts is the world’s oldest football stadium. Sandygate has been hosting Hallam FC games since 1860 and on Boxing Day of that year they hosted Sheffield FC, a game known as the world’s first derby fixture. Hallam were formed by John Charles Shaw, a breakaway player from Sheffield, who would later become club and Sheffield FA president. Hallam also won the oldest ever football trophy, the youdan Cup, named after local theatre proprietor and competition sponsor Thomas youdan. in front of 3,000 fans at Bramall Lane, Hallam triumphed 2-0 over Norfolk FC of the Park District. Now we’ve discovered the grandfathers of the game we should head to Tudor Square and The Crucible. We aren’t here for the snooker, but rather for the birth of our professional clubs. on this site sat the Adelphi Hotel, a public house that hosted two meetings with lasting legacies. The

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construction of Bramall Lane Cricket ground was agreed upon here, as was the formation of Wednesday FC in 1867 – the original name of Sheffield Wednesday and a club that’s currently the world’s third oldest ‘league’ club. Just around the corner from the Adelphi was another inn of footballing fame known as The garrick Tavern, from which emerged garrick FC, the world’s oldest pub team. They competed in the maiden final of the second oldest footballing contest, the Cromwell Cup, and another trophy named after a city theatre icon, losing 1-0 to Wednesday. Just a stone’s throw from here is one of Sheffield’s best preserved georgian streets and the office where the city’s other main professional club, the Blades, was born. 10 Norfolk Row hosted a meeting in 1889 between the Sheffield FA and the Sheffield United Cricket Club, whereupon it was agreed to form a football team the following season. The Blades would become the first football club to be known as ‘United’, something that would become a popular team suffix in the UK. From their inception they played matches at Bramall Lane, making it the oldest professional footballing stadium on the planet to still be hosting games. Sheffield’s footballing institutions may not always boast the world’s best players or clubs playing at the highest level, but its spot in the sport’s history is unsurpassed. The Euro trophy may not be heading to England this time around – but hasn’t football always been at home in the Steel City?

how it once started. We have used that classic pattern in our designs, but we have added our own modern twist. it is our tribute to the present, past and future of this magnificent club.” Despite the European influence from CoPA, who are currently the licensed retro partner of European ginats like AS Roma, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, the release of the kits has been a Sheffield affair with local creatives Pedal, Peter and Paul, and oliver Brian Productions linking up on the launch. Sheffield FC’s men’s team, who were founded in 1857, begin their Northern Premier League - East Division season away at Tadcaster Albion on 14 August. The new kits are available to purchase on the Sheffield FC website. sheffieldfc.com

if the relentless slog of going to Hillsborough or The Lane gets you down at times, but you’re still craving a football fix, you could do a lot worse than heading over to the Home of football Stadium to give Sheffield fC’s men’s and women’s teams a watch, and thanks to a new partnership with coPa you can look proper smart doing it! The world’s oldest football club have linked up with the Dutch sportswear brand for their 21/22 season kit range and, unsurprisingly, they’re absloute belters. The range includes home, away and third strips, as well as new training tops and warm up shirts, all of which are a fitting tribute to the team that brings so much sporting heritage to the city. “At Sheffield FC we call ourselves a living breathing antique and a modern forward thinking football club, which is why we think CoPA will make a perfect partner,” says Richard Tims, Chairman of Sheffield FC. Cees Akkermans, founder and owner of CoPA added: “The substantive match with Sheffield FC is absolutely clear. We can’t think of a better partner than the club where football as we know it began. “For us, football is so much more than the Champions League, the latest tactics and indepth data analysis. Football is about the fans, the atmosphere, the coming together of all generations. Football is yours, mine, everyone’s. And that is exactly what Sheffield FC embodies like no other club.” “The inspiration for the first Sheffield FC x CoPA teamwear collection comes mainly from the very first kit the club wore 164 years ago. it’s all about

it’s fair to say that as far as Stocksbridge barbers go, O’Neills is a wee bit different to the other shops in the area. in fact, calling it merely a barber shop is underselling it somewhat, as, while you can simply pop in and get your ears lowered by their team of friendly barbers, in doing so you would be neglecting the opportunity to do a whole lot more with your visit. Chief amongst those extra pursuits is the chance to chill out with a coffee and a slice of cake in the ‘grounded’ café area, but soon you’ll also be able to get fresh ink when two new tattoo artists move into the in-house tattoo parlour, and sink a cheeky pint (or three) from the bar when their licence goes through. it’s not just what’s on offer that marks it out as different either. While we waited for owner Jake to finish a trim, sipping our flat white while The Doors crooned out of the speakers, we had the chance to fully take in the surroundings. it’s hard to miss features like the huge, barbered skull mural on the wall of the tattoo studio, or the traffic lights looming over the café area which make the industrial feel of the café space pop. Dare we say it, it all feels a bit ‘Kelham island’ on this stretch of Manchester Road. And, in fact, that’s sort of what owner and Stocksbridge local Jake o’Neill is going for. He explained: “As soon as we get the premises licence it’s going to have a bit of a Kelham island bar feel, and we’re planning to have live music as well. i’d describe it as a smaller, Stocksbridge version of Kelham island’s Church, which is absolutely wicked and kind of where i came up with the idea to have the tattoo shop and the bar as well.” The new additions have been made possible thanks to their recent move from their original premises just down the road in Fox valley. “it was originally just going to be o’Neills barber shop again,” explains Jake, “but we’ve kind of expanded it into three businesses now because of the size. The idea was to have an emporium, so we’ve got the barber shop, then grounded Coffee and Bar, which is being run by my uncle and my

step dad, and then we’ve finally announced that we’ve got some tattoo artists moving into the studio, so it’s finally getting there. “As soon as we came out of lockdown, that was it, we went from doing nothing, to all of a sudden, boom! “Since then, it’s been amazing. There’s been so much excitement from people. obviously, we were already established, and we’ve been in the area for about two years now so people were aware us as a barbers, but the feedback for the coffee and bar has been amazing. The coffee shop’s been doing really well.” Since opening on 12 April, they have already experimented with a few evening events in the café and bar area, taking advantage of temporary events licenses, and Jake tells us these have been ‘buzzing’. He is also looking forward to bringing his other passion and first love, music, to the forefront of the emporium.

Jake was in several bands over a five-year period after leaving school, including inherit the Stars and Archetype, with whom he travelled the continent as a gigging drummer. it wasn’t until he was working on construction sites alongside playing with the band that Jake looked to his mum’s profession for the inspiration for a career change. From there he dropped the drum sticks and picked up the scissors and began honing his craft at the likes of city centre snippers Taylor Taylor and Savills. Jake said: “At the time i started getting interested in cutting hair, it was when the whole proper barbering scene came back to life. Classic haircuts, shaving and cigars. The clothes and all that, and when Peaky Blinders came out, that obviously helped grow its popularity.” “i lived in the city centre for a bit, but i quit where i was working at the time and came home, and basically just said, ‘f**k it, i’m gonna open my own shop!’ Using his ties to the area, he took the plunge and opened o’Neill’s version i in the entrance to Stocksbridge’s popular shopping centre, Fox valley. “i’m from around here and i know a lot of people from around here, so i already had a clientele in Stocksbridge,” said Jake. “i wanted to give people a proper barbers shop, a proper gentleman’s social club, and it just took off. “Within the first week i was so busy i was desperate for staff. Two years later and we’ve had to move to bigger premises. The only thing for me is that it’s all moved so quickly, and i sometimes have to take a step back, and take a breath.” “it always shocks me every time i come in because we’re so busy and it’s just been chaos. i get phone calls from friends while i’ll be at a gym across the road, asking if i’m working today because they’ve been past the shop and there’s 10 people outside.” “i mean, i couldn’t be happier with it, but it’s not been easy, it’s been bloody hard at times. if you’re starting something for yourself, you’ve got to go through that stage.” “it’s all about customer service for us. We give out free beers and people come in and talk about all kinds of stuff, whether it’s football or how they’re feeling mentally, i just want people to feel like it’s a place to come in and be themselves and not feel judged.” With the bar and the new tattoo artists on the horizon, things look to be about to kick into another gear for o’Neills, but not content to rest on his laurels, Jake already has plans for a popup barbers at next year’s Tramlines, as well as further plans for live music events in grounded. “We’re really excited for the future, and the opening of the tattoo shop and bar.” adds Jake, “o’Neills is not just a place for haircuts, it’s a chilled out place, somewhere where you can just come down, let your hair down and have a laugh.” We can’t wait to see how o’Neills continues to stand out from the crowd in Stocksbridge.

Well, Well, Well... Milburn’s debut album turns 15 this year and to celebrate the milestone, the Sheffield lads have released 1000 special edition double LPs of their seminal debut album - a record which has never before been pressed on vinyl. To coincide with the release, the band will play three special shows in their favourite UK venues, including a now sold-out show at The Leadmill in october.

The former home of Plug nightclub, which has lain dormant since before the pandemic, is about to be reborn as an all-new live music venue and nightclub. owners of popular city-centre record shop Record Junkee have revealed they are set to revive their short-lived Network venue in the city-centre space. The Matilda Street venue, which is opposite the record shop, will become the new home of the nightclub that was formerly part of the DiNA venue, before its recent move to Fitzalan Square, after making way for the Heart of the City ii development. The new space plans to open in october, accommodating 80 – 1500 capacity gigs in the fully independent venue. Announcing the news, founders said: “Record Junkee is delighted to announce the rebirth of its Network venue at its new location, the former Plug venue and nightclub on Matilda Street, Sheffield, located directly opposite Record Junkee. “We are building a fully independent live music quarter across our two venues. “We will be operating four rooms as event spaces, live music stages and club nights with capacities ranging from 80 – 1500.” Prior to its closure, Plug suffered numerous setbacks and gained a reputation for a less than stellar sound system. Network have already taken steps to rectify this, realing: “Network will offer a fully rigged venue for touring and in house productions, with a freshly installed speaker system and lighting rig in each room.” More details are set to be revealed in the coming weeks and for updates, head over to Network’s socials. facebook.com/ networksheffield

14 -16 MATILDA ST, SHEFFIELD, S1 4QD

“An atmosphere of disbelief buzzed through Plug on December 10, as Bobby gillespie prepared to wow Sheffield in one of its biggest venues, which suddenly seemed miniscule, being packed to the rafters with fans of the Scream.The overwhelming presence of gillespie towered over the crowd, glitzy blazer silhouetted against an impressive array of strip lights. The magic of 1991 album Screamadelica comes first through the subtle ‘Higher than the Sun’. The gig closed out in spectacular fashion, the techno of ‘Swastika Eyes’ firing up the crowd, before five hits worthy of a glastonbury headline slot tore the roof clean off.”

NorthBound caught up with Sheffieldbased illustrator borg (real name daniel Waters) to talk about drawing, existential peril and the asmr of certain pens!

can you tell us about your background and HoW you got into creating art? When i was 13, realised i probably wouldn’t make it as a professional footballer so i picked up the guitar. At university i made a bit of a go at playing gigs as a singer/ songwriter. i buzzed off the performances, but i came to realise that professionally, my personality was much more suited to drawing. When i moved to Sheffield six years ago, i started making art in earnest. For me, drawing is a mindful process. i can sit and practice while at the same time the ideas and narratives emerge in my head and on the page. The length of time it takes to do a pencil drawing allows for a proper maturation on the idea. Then i’m ready to make the pen and ink drawing.

tell us about tHe significance of your alter ego borg - WHy did you cHoose to use a Pseudonym? i have a few different things that i do as well as visual art. i still make music and write creatively too. it suits me that the visual outlet should have its own name. it’s a very natural way for me to think about my practice. And the name itself is part of the creative expression.

When someone buys a screen-print, or a t-shirt, or sees my work in person i want them to feel like they’re sharing something that they have ownership of too. it feels right that that should have its own name, separate from me as a person. The meaning of the name itself? i just think it sounds cool. Mythical, nondescript but not at all sunshiny.

a lot of your Work is in black and WHite, WHat attracts you to Working in monocHrome? There’s nothing more binary than life and death and the aesthetic of black and white is so visually appealing to me. i also get a bit paralysed with too much choice so the thought of using colour is a bit of a mindfuck. When i first started, i had some black fine liners and Bristol board. Anyone who’s ever used this medium will understand just how ASMR it is to make a stroke with that pen, on that paper. As my practice developed, i fell in love with monochrome for all kinds of other reasons but that simple pleasure is still there.

your Work often dePicts quite macabre imagery, is tHis tHe kind of SuBjECT MATTEr yOu’vE ALwAyS BEEN draWn too? Absolutely. i use macabre imagery to show human nature in a way that’s hopefully striking and memorable. For example, a lot of my work has environmental overtones. Showing human skulls and skeletons underground while animals and plants thrive above is one way of showing the existential peril we face as a species. i also want to portray the even bigger problem of human-caused habitat destruction and animal extinction. For me the imagery of death doesn’t have to be a negative though. i’ve always found the cycle of life and death fascinating. Dead things nourish living things. For that reason, there is inherent meaning to corpses and skulls and stuff like that. Funnily enough, some people have been surprised when they meet me that i’m generally an upbeat and happy person. i think they think because my work can be dark and moody, i’d be that way too. That always makes me smile.

WHo insPires you and your Work? When a friend sent me the Album “Frames” by oceansize i lost my shit, threw myself around the kitchen. Sometimes it’s Fionn Regan that does it. or reading Brian Bilston. Anything with a bit of something to it, that makes you feel or learn something. These peak experiences are great, and they’re necessary but in truth, i have no idea where inspiration comes from. Sometimes you have it, most of the time you don’t. one thing that always gets me is seeing people being good people. i’m a sucker for wholesomeness. Careworkers, nurses, good neighbours. That gives me a lump in my throat. Those people are inspiring.

HoW do you find being a creative in sHeffield? Motivating. A few months back i was in the city centre and saw an image of Edward Carpenter on the front of the museum. Later on, i walked past a Phlegm mural. great people and great work. it keeps you honest.

is tHere anytHing coming uP for borg tHat We sHould be looking out for? Print and craft fairs around Sheffield and further afield throughout autumn and winter. Look out for me, come and say hi. i’m always working on new drawings, screenprints, and T-shirts. All of which are available on my website.

If you would like to see more of Borg’s work or would like a quote for commissions, head to his website artofborg.com and follow him on instagram @___borg