Exposed Magazine February 2023

FEBRUARY 2023 - WEEKEND DJ NIGHTS

FEBRUARY

@CUBANA FRIDAY DJ NIGHTS

DOWNSTAIRS COCKTAIL BAR

FEBRUARY

@CUBANA SATURDAY DJ NIGHTS

DOWNSTAIRS COCKTAIL BAR

FROM 9pm FREE

Latin music, Reggaeton, Salsa, Samba, Mambo and Bachata with the latest tunes from the finest DJ’s

DJ Roly Caballero (Havana, Cuba)

3 4

10 11

DJ Chris Welch (Sounds like this)

DJ CKastley (El Rey del Zongue)

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17 18 25

DJ ANNA DE ORTE (DIRECT FROM BARCELONA)

JOIN US EVERY SATURDAY FOR THE PERFECT PARTY MIX UP OF NU LATIN SOUNDS. FROM BRAZIL TO CUBA VIA THE

DJ EBO (Baila Reggaeton UK)

TA PA S

WITH ARMANDO MURILLLO (CONGAS)

DJ Roly Caballero (Havana, Cuba)

WITH ARMANDO MURILLLO (CONGAS)

DJ EBO (Baila Reggaeton UK)

WITH ARMANDO MURILLLO (CONGAS)

DJ ANNA DE ORTE (Direct from Barcelona)

WITH ARMANDO MURILLLO (CONGAS)

NEW... FRIDAY EARLY EVENING UNWIND

Friday HappyNightLive

THE BEST IN LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY EVENING DOWNSTAIRS COCKTAIL LOUNGE - 6pm-8.30pm

FRIDAY

SHANE DURRANT

Call in at the end of a hard week and join us EVERY FRIDAY in our downstairs cocktail lounge and enjoy the best in live music from some of Sheffield’s finest musicians. Enjoy an extension to our Happy cocktail offers - ALL Classic & Signature cocktails for only £5 (Downstairs Bar only until 8.30pm). 3

FEBRUARY 10

Shane provides an evening of feel-good piano favourites performing a wide range of piano classics spanning all eras and decades in his own soulful and unique fashion. Sit back and be entertained by the one-of-a-kind Leeds-based singer/pianist. Not to be missed.

FRIDAY

RYAN TAYLOR

Award winning composer and keyboard vocalist, Ryan Taylor, returns to Cubana with his unique blend of jazz, neo-soul and nu-funk. Featuring original material and contemporary classics by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jamiroquai and D’Angelo, expect silky smooth vocals, groovin basslines and burnin solos.

TA URANT & CUBAN BAR

FRIDAY

FEBRUARY 17

NICOLA FARNON

Nicola, on vocals and cello, gives you a classy and eclectic mix of classical, jazz, swing and pop - anything goes really!

FEBRUARY 24

FRIDAY

SAMANTHA JADE

Sassy vocals and smooth saxophone performing pop and contemporary classics with a jazzy facelift

FEBRUARY

CONTENTS

FEATURES

20: THE GREAT OUTDOORS

This March sees the return of The Festival of the Outdoors, ready to kick off Sheffield’s outdoor season with a full month of events and activities, celebrating the strength of the city’s vibrant outdoor communities. We round up the best of the bunch and speak to the people making the Outdoor City go round in this month’s cover feature.

46: FOR THE RECORD

Longstanding Steel City music merchant and owner of Record Junkee, Music Junkee and Network, Martin Leverton talks to Exposed about the importance of DIY venues, alternative record stores and community events in nurturing a thriving music scene.

48: FEMUR

After being blown away by their live show, Ashley Birch mooched down to The Washy and met up with psych-grunge rockers Femur for a natter about their debut album, tragedy on tour and a well-known Sheffield familial link.

52: SLIIME

After signing a lucrative deal with Columbia Records before dropping new single ‘Lehenga’ – which hit almost 200k views online in its first week – Iago Castro spoke to local artist and producer Sliime about flying the flag for Sheffield’s grime scene.

70: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Sheffield-based portrait artist with an eye for the unseen, Jim McElvaney steps forward for this month’s interview with a local creative.

Now then.

It’s the first hearty “ayup” of the year from me (shoutout to Ash for stepping in on ed duties last month), and I tell you what, dear reader, it’s nice to see the back of January. No matter how much you prepare for the post-festive slump, assuring yourself that you’re ready to deal with the “I’ll sort it after Christmas” chickens coming home to roost, it always seems to descend into what can only be described as a reyt old slog. Not that 2023’s inaugural month was without its talking points. Hot topics in the office were the closing Crucible run of the wonderful Standing’s at the Sky’s Edge (now off to teach Londoners about Sheff’s most intriguing building at the National Theatre), the dismantlement of a certain container park (the less said about that, the better) and the news that Sheffield has been listed second in TimeOut Magazine’s best European city breaks list (cue mass ‘face with tears of laughter’ emoji use across various social media networks).

On the latter point, it’s understandable that more than a few eyebrows were raised at this unexpected accolade, and you’d be forgiven for emitting a wry chuckle at the thought of impressionable jetsetters cancelling hotels in Milan and booking AirBnBs in Millhouses instead. But the article wasn’t really suggesting that Devvy Green beats the Duomo di Milano hands down, or that the Trevi Fountains pale into insignificance when you see the water features we’re packing in the Peace Gardens. “The Eiffel Tower is a steady day out, sure, but Sheffield’s iconic tower has a paternoster lift which you can ride – for free!”    What it does suggest, however, is important to note: Sheffield has got plenty to offer, and people are increasingly starting to sit up and take notice. Clouded by a naturally self-effacing mentality and a penchant for gallows humour, we Sheffielders can often overlook some of the treasures on our doorstep. For the naysayers, I could point to our increasingly impressive culinary scene; our many innovative DIY venues and events; some of the best traditional pubs in the country (serving some of the best local beer, of course); a smorgasbord of top-notch museums, galleries, cinemas and theatres; or the huge ongoing developments redefining the look and feel of our city centre. And that’s before I pull out our trump card – the ability to switch from urban city centre settings to jawdroppingly beautiful Peak District vistas in less than 30 minutes. There are bits of all of the above in this issue, and we’ll continue to fly the flag for the Steel City throughout 2023, but this month we’ll be focusing on our relationship with the great outdoors by showcasing everything taking place in next month’s Festival of the Outdoors. Now that we’ve seen off the drudgery of January, hopefully you’ll find something that inspires you to get out and explore the Outdoor City. I know that I need a nudge!

Catch you next month.

Joe x @josephfood

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 Paterson, 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.

PLUS COMING SOON... COMEDY NIGHTS, ABBA FEVER, AMERICAN DIVAS TRIBUTE, QUEENS OF MOTOWN, JERSEY BOYS AND MORE!

Search OEC Sheffield

61%

OF SHEFFIELD IS CLASSED AS ‘GREENSPACE’ –AREAS SUCH AS PARKS, WOODLANDS AND OPEN GRASS SUITABLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

OUT & ABOUT

UPFRONT

4.5

MILLION TREES CAN BE FOUND IN SHEFFIELD, – THAT’S MORE PER PERSON THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN EUROPE.

1/3rd

OF SHEFFIELD LIES WITHIN THE PEAK DISTRICT, MAKING IT THE ONLY MAJOR UK CITY BOASTING A NATIONAL PARK WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES.

An annual celebration of Sheffield’s vibrant outdoor communities, the Festival of The Outdoors returns to the city next month. Throughout the whole of March, you can join in with a wide range of events covering everything from guided walking tours to adventure film festivals. Read the full story over on page 20.

1

THINGS YOU ONLY KNOW IF YOU’RE A...

SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON PACE SETTER

YOU NEED TO BE MORE THAN JUST COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR GIVEN TIME

Obviously, you need to be able to hit the pace that you’re setting. But you also need to be able to do it a few minutes quicker, just to give you that leeway to chat or motivate people who need it. You want to look happy while doing it! You also don’t want to be sprinting to the finish line with a big flag banging behind you – not a good idea!

2

THERE ARE SPREADSHEETS INVOLVED

Yep, we’ve got a spreadsheet for the Sheffield Half with the different paces for every single mile or kilometre, taking into account all the bumps and inclines on the route. During the race, most of us will be wearing a band on our wrist which lists the pace for each mile – though I do know someone who just writes it on their arms using a Sharpie!

THE FLAG CAN BE AN ISSUE

Having a long flag sticking out of your back can be problematic. You have to be careful when bending down to tie your shoelaces, for example, as you could easily take someone’s eye out. Chafing is another issue, as the uneven weight from the flag can cause the backpack to bounce around a fair bit, so it’s important to make sure the chest strap is nice and tight!

PEOPLE CONSTANTLY FOLLOW YOU ABOUT ... EVEN BEFORE THE RACE

This is something most pacers will have experienced. I’ve nipped to the toilet before the race has started and found 10 or 20 people following me to the loo, or the same thing has happened if I pop into a café pre-race to grab a drink. That takes a bit of getting used to!

3 4 5

GET READY FOR SOME SWEATY HANDSHAKES AND HUGS AFTERWARDS

You go on a real journey with people, chatting throughout the race and picking the right times to motivate them. People are always keen to thank us afterwards, and, although we don’t do it for the thanks, we really appreciate it and it’s very enjoyable seeing people hit PBs and achieve their goals.

Matt Rimmer is a running coach and general manager at myRaceKit North, an independent specialist running shop on Sharrow Vale Road. He will be pacesetting at the Run For All Sheffield Half Marathon on 26th March 2023, which you can still sign up for at runforall.com.

UPFRONT

DOUGH BOY

A sister (or perhaps brother?) company to Official Bullion, Doughboy takes pride in keeping a stream of gourmet treats coming for sweet-toothed Sheffielders.

Doughboy was born out of a plan to create a wholesale bakery so Bullion could stock their café and other local businesses with a selection of bakes. But as plans progressed, it didn’t take long for the brand to uncover a separate life as a unique cookie takeout joint. It’s certainly a tasty concept: six oven-fresh cookies on the counter at any time, five of which rotate on a weekly basis, with a promise that you’ll never see a certain flavour repeated in the same month.

The only mainstay of the selection is the classic milk chocolate chip (no need to mess with perfection, right?) and you can also grab succulent brownies, chocolate bars, chilled milkshakes and delicious ice cream from local legends Our Cow Molly. Flavour-wise, there really is something for everyone.

Owner Max tells us that if it tastes sweet, then you can make it into a cookie – and they’ve certainly proven that hypothesis by knocking up carrot cake, Bakewell Tart and even pina colada-inspired creations! Another key inspiration was recreating the bright, familyfriendly atmosphere of 1930s LA sweet shops, which you can see reflected in the vintagestyle branding and bustling neighbourhood feel of the shop. “We’ve had a great response since Doughboy opened its doors to walk-in customers,” says Max. “We wanted a space where kids, adults and families could come and enjoy some lovingly made bakes.”

The premises are based at Aberdeen Court, just off Division Street, and Doughboy began life by supplying their good friends Steam Yard (situated next door) and Corner Store on Sharrow Vale Road with

freshly baked goods. That client list has since grown to supply some of the region’s most recognisable institutions: Chatsworth House, Sheffield Wednesday FC and Sheffield Hallam University all regularly stock an indulgent selection of goodies.

All cookies are baked, topped and finished on-site, and whether you’re taking goodies home or perching on a seat outside to relax in their picturesque yard space, the goal remains the same: bringing the warmth and excitement back into enjoying sweet treats. Next time you’re in town and the sugar cravings kick in, be sure to stop by and enjoy some truly top-tier bakes.

@doughboy

Find more local food and drink picks in ‘The Sheffield Cookbook: Back For Thirds’, available from mezepublishing.co.uk. £20.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLIE GRACE

CELEBRATING EVERYTHING SOCIAL

Established in 2018, Kommune nicely represents the future of social spaces: a place where a community of people choose to meet, eat and drink; a place for friend meet-ups, for cosy date nights, work afternoons or family get-togethers – somewhere everyone is welcome.

EATING

Food is at the heart of Kommune and they are working hard to curate an evolving blend of traders from well-known street food kitchens, bringing together a mix of enticing flavours to please everyone’s taste buds.

The foundations of the refurbished iconic, listed Co-op building they call home are complemented by eight kitchens, two bar areas, specialist coffee and brunch cafe The Grind, a donut shop by Project D and a renowned independent beer shop in Hop Hideout. Together they create a mouthwatering world of food and drink; new additions such as Edo Sushi and Urban Pizza Co bring the household Sheffield brand names, Hanoi 75 hits with classic regional Vietnamese noodles and bao buns, Mexican favourites are served up by Fat Mex alongside ‘Raita good’ Indian cuisine from The Monkey Jar, mouth-watering Korean fried chicken from Yoki and good old fashioned ‘get it all over your face’ burgers from Fat Hippo.

DRINKING

Kommune bar brings a great selection of beer, covering everything from top worldwide sellers to

local independent breweries like Freedom and Salt. Their talented bar team is serve up classics such as the Pornstar Martini, Bramble or Whiskey Sour daily whilst offering great deals such as 2-4-1 on cocktails during weekdays with NUS and 10% off with Defence Service and Blue Light Card.

SOCIALISING

But that’s not all. Inside you’ll find a range of hireable spaces including Aria Bar and the 100-capacity Kommunity room, which hosts the annual Barclays Eagle Lab conferences, plus monthly yoga and brunch sessions, local film screenings, private parties and more.

In a nutshell, Kommune is one of most vibrant meeting places in town, forming a key part of a wider goal to transform not only this significant building, but also serving as a catalyst to the regeneration of the historic Castlegate area.

GET THEM ON SOCIALS

www.kommune.co.uk // info@kommune.co.uk // Insta: @kommune_ch //

FB: @kommune.ch // Twitter: @kommune_ch

// TikTok: @kommunech

EXPOSED AWARDS

SHOUT ABOUT SHEFF!

After last year’s triumphant return to form, our annual awards ceremony celebrating everything great about the Steel City is mere a few months away. How does it work, you say?

Votes will be split 50/50 between the great Sheffield public and an independent panel of local people (TBA) with experience in the city’s hospitality and cultural industries.

You’ll be able to head to our dedicated voting page from March 10th–April 21st and have your say. We’ll then tot it up announce the shortlist the following week. Simples.

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

It’ll be the usual big night out craic, taking place at Peddler Warehouse on Thursday 18th May and bigging up the best of the local scene spanning food, drink, culture, fashion, music and beyond.

WHEN DOES VOTING OPEN?

You’ll be able to cast your votes from March 10th at exposedmagazine.co.uk. Keep an eye out for new categories ‘Best Takeaway’ and ‘Best Vintage Retailer’.

‘OW MUCH?

Tickets are £40 a pop (£20 standing), which includes entry to the awards, drinks on arrival and food from a range of street food traders – as well as plenty of live entertainment to get you in the party mood.

FANCY A BIGGUN?

We’ll announce the venue hosting the after-party on our socials next month. Might be worth booking the next day off work, like.

IN A NUTSHELL…

Exposed Awards 2023

May 18th

Peddler Warehouse

£40 seated

£20 standing

Contact:

nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk // 0114 2757709

THE CATEGORIES

soon be able to vote for your favourite independent businesses in the Exposed Awards 2023!

Find out more tchc.org.uk/helipad-heroes

We need your help to build Helipad a . on our roof. saving vital ti ever ysecond::: n�:n for our pat·•ents.

GREAT The Outdoors

Sheffield is a place where nature and culture intertwines, where people and peaks unite to revel in the joys of ‘The Outdoor City’. Taking place throughout March, The Festival of the Outdoors brings together a whole host of events and activities celebrating nature and adventure on our doorstep.

Image: Sam McQueen

Mark Mobbs, marketing manager at Sheffield City Council, explained the inspiration behind the event: “Sheffield has the highest percentage green space of any city in the world, but as England’s fourth largest city with over 600,000 people and a rich cultural heritage, we are also a thriving and dynamic place with loads going on. The Outdoor City tries to embody the fact we have nature and culture hand in hand, and the Festival of the Outdoors is our way of showcasing that uniqueness as spring opens the outdoors up to us all. It’s amazing that we have all these incredible events, from the international to the local community level, and all we are doing is trying to promote them to a wider audience to help those independent businesses and showcase why Sheffield is such a great place to live, work or visit.”

On top of the eight headliners, the festival will feature various family, specialist and cultural events to get involved in across the whole of the month: skateboard jams down at Castlegate, forest bathing in Graves Park, introductory mountain bike sessions across the Western Moors of Sheffield and guided city centre tours exploring Sheffield’s political past – that’s just a small taste of what you can get stuck into.

To celebrate the return of FOTO, we’ve dedicated a fair chunk of this magazine to shouting about Sheffield: The Outdoor City, showcasing not only what’s going on next month, but the people, places and organisations encouraging us to make the most of the great outdoors all year long.

Why The Outdoor City?

Here are just a few reasons:

Participation rates in outdoor recreation are well above the national average –particularly for walking, running and cycling.

A third of the city lies within the Peak District, which was the first designated national park in England (est. 1951).

A whopping 61% of Sheffield’s entire area is green space.

There are 80 ancient woodlands in Sheffield – the largest being Ecclesall Woods, which is the largest ancient semi-natural woodland in South Yorkshire.

There are more than 250 parks, woodlands and public gardens across the inside the city’s boundary, which is estimated to contain around 4.5 million trees.

Sheffield is the most geographically diverse city in England and has more types of differing habitats than any city in the UK.

We’re home to the country’s only city centre mountain biking facility at Parkwood Springs.

Sheffield is the UK’s ‘Climbing Capital’ with circa 10,000 climbers living in the city.

The Headliners

SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL

3-5 March

A wide selection of the best new adventure, travel and extreme sports films from around the world shown on the big screen. Now in its 18th year, the family-friendly event is as jaw-dropping as it is inspirational, with films covering everything from adrenaline-fuelled challenges, adventures in far-flung corners of the globe and films showcasing Sheffield athletes. www.shaff.co.uk

INDIE BEER FEAST 2023

3-4 March

The flagship event of Sheffield Beer Week – a two-day festival bringing together the best in craft beer, cider and natural wines. Taking place amongst the industrial settings of Trafalgar Warehouse in the city centre, it’s the perfect excuse to let your hair down and sample wares from a mouth-watering list of independent producers.

SHEFFIELD BEER WEEK

6-12 March

A celebration of all things hoppy, Sheffield Beer Week is organised by the wonderful team behind Hop Hideout and sees local bars, pubs and restaurants joining forces with local, national and international breweries to host a range of beery events. From brewery open days to guided pub walks, there’s plenty to explore! sheffieldbeerweek.co.uk

THE RAB CLIMBING WORKS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2023 (CWIF)

18-19 March

Every year one of the world’s most prestigious route setters (Percy Bishton, who coowns The Climbing Works) gives the elite boulderers of the world something to get their teeth into right here in The Outdoor City. With climbers coming from Japan, the USA and right across Europe those lucky enough to grab a ticket will get to see toplevel athletes in a brilliantly intimate setting. climbingworks.com

POLLEN MARKET

19 March

Popping up on the third Sunday of every month, Pollen is an inner-city flower market that delivers an abundance of greenery, live music, art, local produce and more. Brought to you by the team behind Peddler Market, Pollen has gone some way into turning the Castlegate grey-to-green scheme into a bustling destination area. With its close proximity to the canal basin, you can expect some special events to accompany it, such as paddle boarding and kayaking. pollenmarket.co.uk

Here are the main events heading up this year’s celebration of outdoors culture in Sheffield.

YOUR FOTO 23 GUIDE

Image: Film: The Nine Wheels

PARK HILL UPRISE – URBAN CYCLO HILL CLIMB

25 March

A true spectacle to behold - Sheffield cyclists, commuters, club riders, junior Shredders, cargo bike captains and Bromptoneers, all come and take part in this urban hill climb set to the iconic backdrop of Park Hill. The course and challenging climbs offer a dynamic way to highlight some urban commuter heroes, club riders, have-a-go heroes, and all riders in between, as well as some of the less conventional bikes seen on the streets. @sheffieldurbancx

SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON

26 March

A major event in the UK’s running calendar, the Sheffield Half Marathon attracts runners of all ages and abilities to the city’s streets, taking in gorgeous views of the Peak District. Starting and finishing in the city centre, it’s a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy even if you’re not running. runforall.com

Top Shouts

Here are a few Exposed picks from next month’s schedule…

SHEFFIELD’S RADICAL HISTORY

1 March // £8

A guided walk exploring the city’s longstanding history of activism – from the Chartists and Suffragettes to Socialists, Anarchists and even Ramblers.

GUIDED MOUNTAIN BIKING – WESTERN MOORS

9 March // £20

The perfect introduction to mountain biking for novices with a great opportunity to sample some easy Peak District trails right on the doorstep of Sheffield.

FOREST BATHING – GRAVES PARK

18 March // £10 (Concessions available)

Connect with nature in the beautiful ancient woodland of Graves Park, practising mindful walking, connecting with our senses and ending with a tea ceremony with foraged spring tonics.

SKATEBOARD JAM – CASTLEGATE

19 March // Free

THE OUTDOOR CITY SUP EXPERIENCE

Every Saturday and Sunday in March

Join DC Outdoors for a SUP experience (stand-up paddle boarding) at historic Victoria Quays. Once you’ve had a quick introduction to the equipment and after a short safety briefing, you’ll get to grips with how to control the board whilst kneeling, before eventually getting stood up. When comfortable, you’ll then put your new found skills to use and go on a small journey along the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal. dcoutdoors.co.uk

In partnership with Skateboard GB and The House Skatepark, Exchange Street will have plenty of extra features for skaters to enjoy, plus appearances by British pro skateboarders, cash prizes for tricks, and FREE skateboard lessons including board hire.

Look up: augmented reality art trail FREE

Look Up gives visitors and residents a totally new way of seeing The Outdoor City thanks to an augmented reality art trail featuring prominent buildings in the city centre. All you’ll need to do is download the free app to your smartphone and then go exploring.

QR CODE: SCAN below FOR THE FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

That’s not all, folks!

ACTION Ready, Set,

For the past 18 years, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) has been bringing inspirational tales of adventure, travel and overcoming the odds to big screens in the heart of the Outdoor City. Ahead of its return next month, Anna Paxton, previously a volunteer and now co-director of the festival, spoke to ShAFF founder Matt Heason about the past, present and future of the event.

How did Sheffield Adventure Film Festival begin?

I’d been up to the Kendal Mountain Festival and enjoyed the films up there. I got in touch with the directors of the festival and asked how we could watch films like that in Sheffield, so started renting films to show down here. We did some film night at the Showroom Cinema, the largest independent cinema outside of London, which was really popular. Within the space of about a year the chief exec of the Showroom got in touch. He saw the opportunity for there to be a festival here in Sheffield, and asked if I wanted to work together to start it. Within two or three years we went from renting films from other festivals to getting submissions, so that we were able to plow our own furrow. We now receive hundreds of submissions each year from filmmakers around the world.

Over 18 years you must have watched close to 10,000 adventure films. How has adventure storytelling changed in that time?

The biggest change is in the production values rather than the storytelling, but production values can carry a story. You can shoot a film on an iPhone now and it’s pretty much high definition, with pretty good sound. In terms of storytelling, there are more short films these days; I guess because sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, TikTok are clamoring for that market. Two or three years ago that was short films at 2 to 3 minutes, but now YouTube’s model in particular seems to encourage people to put 16 to 20 minute films out. We’ve gone from long to short to medium.

Some of the big production houses and big distributors have cottoned onto the fact that the

“MADE IN SHEFFIELD HAS BEEN A REALLY STRONG CATEGORY; IN FACT, WE’VE DOUBLED UP TO TWO SESSIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.”

right story is big business. There are incredible adventure stories out there for rescues, expeditions and feats. Streaming platforms like National Geographic, Amazon prime, Netflix and Disney have realised that these stories in the right hands can be told really well and have a wider appeal. If you’d said years ago that they were going to make film about a cave rescue in Thailand [The Rescue] and it’s going to make millions of pounds in box office revenue, you’d have been laughed out of the room. That’s the message I really try to get across: the majority of people in Sheffield aren’t going to be climbers, runners, bikers or extreme outdoors people, but these stories are actually of interest to everybody.

Cinema is competing with a lot of online content these days. What do you think that festival curation and watching films in person with an audience brings that watching online can’t?

It’s really hard to compete with a feature film because it’s an hour and a half long and there’s no curation involved in that. That’s just down to marketing clout. The curation in a festival comes more through the short films; we watch films all year round and then regroup them into sessions which we think work together. At ShAFF, we pull together themed sessions normally about an hour and a half long, so it’s just an experiential thing that you learn along the way. It’s knowing what sort of films to start a session with and what sort of films to end it with.

What are you looking forward to most at the festival this year?

I’m looking forward to seeing a good crowd of people. The festival was going in the right direction – in 2020, ticket sales were amazing – the program was all lined up, everything was sorted and then the dreaded covid hit and we were scuppered. I thought we dealt with it well – the community was really good, they supported us through it. I’m hoping that we get a decent crowd, a decent vibe and something like back to where we were in 2020.

What do you see in the future for the festival?

It’s a hard question. If you’d asked me a year ago I would have said I’m sure we’re going to go hybrid and half-online but I’ve changed my mind about that. The numbers suggest otherwise and that people are still enjoying the actual cinema.

Made In Sheffield has been a really strong category; in fact, we’ve doubled up to two sessions for the first time this year. We’ve got the whole Made In Sheffield Climb Films screening so it would be nice to think that ShAFF is instrumental in helping push forward that agenda and take it even further. We’ve got a relationship with Sheffield Hallam University and their film course. If the film course could start attracting adventure filmmakers from around the country to come to Sheffield to study and submit their films to ShAFF, that would be a nice story. Find tickets and the full programme online at shaff. co.uk

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MATT & ANNA’S FESTIVAL PICKS.

DIPPER Chilly

Multi-award-winning adventure filmmaker Hannah Maia discusses her new film exploring lockdown anxiety, postpartum rage, ice baths and a special friendship from overseas.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into filmmaking?

I run my own business, Maia Media, which I’ve been doing since about 2008. I have an MA in Visual Anthropology and Ethnographic Filmmaking, which I got about the same time GoPro released its first camera. I was into mountain biking and other outdoor activities, so I just started filming all my adventures. This led to one of the first films I made for ShAFF, around 2007, using a DIY cable cam to shoot a mountain biker going down ‘The Beast’ in the Peak District. So, I continued making my own films, always keeping that passion for storytelling going.

When did the first swimming film come around? That was My Big White Thighs and Me, which actually won The Best Film Gold Award at ShAFF in 2018, and it was about turning down the volume on the demands of the world, self-body image and celebrating the quiet heroism of the female life; it was about miscarriage and healing and just learning to love myself again. Through that, I set myself a goal of swimming once a month for a year and it started off my love of cold water. I think there’s something about taking yourself out of your comfort zone so much; when you come out, you’re incredibly chuffed with yourself and a bit high on life.

HELPED ME BEFORE, SO I TREATED MYSELF TO A WOODEN TUB...”

“I KNEW I NEEDED SOME SORT OF NEW FIX IN MY LIFE, AND I KNOW IT [COLD WATER IMMERSION] HAS

This moves us onto Chilly Dipper, your film showing at ShAFF next month. It covers that strange period during lockdown and how coldwater bathing helped you during a particularly difficult time.

Yeah, at first it wasn’t necessarily going to be a film. But I am a filmmaker, so I thought I should capture these snippets, and maybe it’d be fun for me and my son to look back at in years to come. So, to begin with, it was just about that – a bit of a home movie, mostly on my iPhone. I started to think about getting myself a cold-water tub and then this special friendship was made. It became evident to me that this could be a film.

Tell us a bit about this relationship with Kath, who plays a big role in the film.

I began seeing posts Instagram posts from a lady called Kath living in Vermont (@redhotchillydippers). There were incredible videos of her in these icy lakes over there and I began living vicariously through her. We interacted a little bit and that lead to exchanging emails. By the following February, I was feeling down with what I came to realise was some postpartum depression and rage. I knew I needed some sort of new fix in my life, and I know it [cold water immersion] has helped me before, so I treated myself to a wooden tub and started a routine.

How did that routine help you during these difficult moments?

It’s tricky to really understand, but I think it gives your nervous system almost a bit of a reset. You can sort of feel the anxiety being sucked out of your chest and it gives you a moment where you can’t feel anything else because you’re psyching yourself up, then you’re in and all your senses - skin, fingertips, everything - are feeling it. You can’t think about anything else, so it’s a bit like meditation. As the film develops, it explores a few different themes: postpartum rage, the difficulties of having a little one during the pandemic, how social media can actually be inspiring and helpful at times, and, more generally, I think it reflects on that weird time we all went through, the small ways we tried to keep mentally and physically healthy.

Chilly Dipper can be viewed at ShAFF as part of the Wild Swim and Water Films session on 5th March. Follow @maiamedia for more of Hannah's work.

Meet the OUTDOOR City People

PAULINE TRYNER, ORGANISER AT SOUTH YORKSHIRE ORIENTEERS

I started orienteering about 40 years ago. My dad dragged the family along to an orienteering event – he ran off enthusiastically with the map while the rest of us trailed behind him, complaining like mad. He got really into it and carried on taking us along until eventually I started to get a bit better, made some friends in the sport and started enjoying it too. It fell a bit by the wayside when I went to university, but I rediscovered orienteering again in my late-20s and became fully reinvested.

With over 300 members, South Yorkshire Orienteers is probably one of the most successful clubs in the country. We’ve won the UK Orienteering League and the Compass Sport Cup Final, which is orienteering’s equivalent of the FA Cup Final. We have a huge junior membership and at the top level it’s very competitive and physical, but unlike other sports, orienteering suits a wide range of ages: we get some families who bring toddlers along, while we also have people in their 90s coming out to do orienteering. You can choose the course that’s right for you.

I like that it’s a mental challenge as well as a physical one. You’ve got to try and get to the control point in the fastest possible time, but you’ve also got to work out how to do that and read maps effectively. I quite like running, but I spend a lot of my time thinking about how painful it is; whereas when I’m orienteering, I can focus more on navigation and not how much it hurts to get up a hill!

All of our events have courses suitable for newcomers and there are always people about to help. The best ones to start out are the newcomer’s league, which runs one Saturday a month in the main parks and green spaces across Sheffield: Norfolk Park, Endlcliffe Park, Millhouses Park, Graves Park, and Parkwood Springs. This city is perfect for orienteering and the higher-level events make use of more remote locations like the Peak District moors, woodlands like Wharncliffe and branching out to places around Rotherham and Barnsley. There’s also urban orienteering, going around areas like Kelham Island and the city centre, which is another interesting variation where you can discover new places around Sheffield. There’s information about how to get involved on the website (southyorkshireorienteers.org.uk) and there will also be details on the events we’ve got going on in March, including night orienteering and our Saturday series to ease people in. We’re also hoping to have a stall at ShAFF in the Workspace, where people can find out more about orienteering and have a go for free. southyorkshireorienteers // @southyorkshireorienteers

“With over 300 members, South Yorkshire Orienteers is probably one of the most successful clubs in the country.”

ANNA PAXTON, FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND ULTRA RUNNER

I didn’t plan to have a career based around ‘adventure’; in fact, I didn’t even know it could be possible. I’m a trail runner. I run off-road on footpaths, fells and mountains – everything else came from that.

Living in Sheffield, my first runs were around Graves Park, and I remember 12 minutes up that steep hill felt like a long run. Later I ran from Endcliffe Park around the Porter Valley; it was a big achievement for me to make it up Porter Clough without stopping. I’ve taken part in iconic races around the city: the Percy Pud, Sheffield Half, Round Sheffield Run and fell races like the Trunce, Blacka Moor Chase and Burbage Skyline. I’ve finished last, and I’ve finished in the top 10. Running in Sheffield and the Peaks gave me a strong foundation to go to higher, hillier places. Running might be the only thing I do purely for myself. When I run, I feel strong, I feel capable and I carry that confidence into my work – whether that’s writing, planning an event or producing a film. I’m co-director of Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF), producer at adventure filmmakers Salt Street Productions and I also write about the outdoors.

Sheffield has given me opportunities I wouldn’t have had in any other city. I’m proud of us, and it means a lot to me that I’m able to capture a bit of that character in Salt Street’s films, and bring communities together at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival. I find people here to be resilient, honest and humorous: qualities that set us up well for a life of adventure, whatever that means to you. outdoorista.co.uk // @sheffieldadventure // @saltstreetpro

“Sheffield has given me opportunities

I wouldn’t have had in any other city.”

ADAM SIMMONITE, EVENTS MANAGER AT URBAN CX

I’ve been riding around Sheffield all of my life. I love the history of the place, and as such, the urban cyclo concept links in with areas of regeneration around the city. Rather than just putting a racing event on, we like to bring people into areas that have played a vital role in the story of Sheffield. The first Urban CX event we did was at Kelham Island in 2017, working with Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust, who were brave enough to let us use Kelham Island Museum for the first race. That was really well received and it ended going through the museum and all sorts of crazy stuff! The second race was at Park Hill, which obviously has its own regeneration story, so it was all about linking those riders in with that process, and the race becoming a part of the story of the site as well.

If you look at the locations of the races, they are predominantly in the city centre. However, part of my planning is that – as cycle racing can be seen as quite elite – we can change that perception. We want people to say, “Oh, I’m going to have a go at that”. We’re not just inspirational, but I think the big part of our outlook is aspirational. We’ve got quite a lot of commuters in the city, and I see them as being the core racing audience for our events. I know there’s a lot of Strava cycling battles that go on, too. The races are a really good arena for the rivalries that go on on Strava!

We’re reimagining spaces. You’ve got Park Hill and some people see it as a real sort of concrete blight on the city, but it’s the largest listed building in Europe, and reimagining it as a venue for a cycle race where there’s a lot of dynamism and movement around the site seems like a great repurposing of the space. Kelham Museum is also seen as a heritage site, so it was really brave for Sheffield Industrial Museums to let us cause chaos in there. It’s something unique for the city, and it is interesting to bring in a new audience down into these areas, especially people that wouldn’t necessarily come down to these places before the regeneration.

We’ve scaled it right down for this year with just an urban hill climb at Park Hill on March 25th, but we’re anticipating everything from your local club riders to commuter heroes; we’ve got our kids race and then we’ve got a Brompton race as well. We’re also really excited about is a cargo bike race – basically, we’ll have one person loading the bike, one person riding the bike, and then another person at the top of loading the bike. So if you’re good at Jenga or Tetris, come and join in! @sheffieldurbancx

GRAEME ALDERSON – MANAGING DIRECTOR AT CLIMBING WORKS

Three of us founded the Climbing Works which opened in 2006 as the biggest bouldering wall in Europe – and possibly the biggest outside of Japan, too. Before that, I’d worked as a route setter at the Foundry on Mowbray Street and at various Climbing World Cups.

I say I came here for university, but really, I came here to go climbing! For decades now Sheffield has had a great climbing scene and attending university was a great way of exploring it. As a student, we’d get on buses out to the Burbage Valley, Froggatt Edge or sometimes more inner-city spots like Bell Hagg.

My brother climbed, and so did my dad, so I suppose it was a case of ‘when’ for me. I think I was eight when I had my first climbing experience; there was a climbing wall at a leisure centre in Sunderland, where I’m originally from, and I started going there during the school holidays. I was hooked. I don’t actually climb anymore due to a condition I have following a spinal injury, so I’m now more involved in the organisational side of climbing, such as working on the CWIF [Climbing Works International Festival] and as a technical delegate for the IFSC [International Federation of Sport Climbing].

When we first opened Climbing Works, we were always interested in hosting events and deliberately built a competition wall at one end, which is now the RAB Competition Wall and hosts the semi-final and final of the CWIF. The idea behind the competition was that punter climbers could take part in the qualifier and potentially climb next to world-class climbers. It is now established on the international circuit, and we get climbers from all over the world – often ones who’ve performed at the Olympic level!

There are a large number of high-standard climbers who’ve moved here for climbing, as the three directors of Climbing Works did. However, we cater for all ages and abilities. The physical attributes that can be improved by climbing are obvious, but there are also the mental attributes to consider – it’s very much a problem-solving exercise. There’s the old saying that Sheffield is the biggest village in the country, but it does hold true. The climbing community is a particularly friendly one. I’m lucky enough to live near Graves Park, so from my back window I can see the biggest park in the city, and from my front window I can see the Peak District. It doesn’t get much better, does it? climbingworks.com // @climbingworks

“We want people to say, ‘Oh, I’m going to have a go at that’.”

Healthy & Tasty

On a cold day, there’s no beating an authentic hot pot. This dish consists of a shimmering pot of broth filled with various tasty ingredients like egg noodles, eggs, meats, veggies, tofu and even dumplings.

Always Fresh! Always Home Cooked

We get our produce fresh daily so our specials change often! From seafood to some incredible meats we work with the best suppliers from Sheffield to ensure we keep amazing standards of food.

Address: 3 Rockingham Gate, Sheffield, S1 4JD 73 – 101 Neepsend Ln, Neepsend, Sheffield S3 8AT

Phone: 0114 272 1332

Email: chinaredbookings@gmail.com

Website: www.chinaredsheffield.com

The Moor or Kelham Island?

We have 2 places for you to try our Szechuan food, join us at our Restaurant on the Moor or at our new street food stand at Cutlery Works.

Beer Week Events

SATURDAY 4th of MARCH

Woodseats live Music Festival

WEDNESDAY 8TH OF MARCH THORNBRIDGE RARE BOTTLE TASTING

Thursday 9th of March EXALE MEET THE BREWER

FRIDAY 10TH TO SUNDAY 12TH OF MARCH

EXALE BREWING TAP TAKEOVER

FOR MORE INFORMATION FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE

@bostonarms.sheffield / boozehound.shop

Raising a GLASS to Sheff!

Jules Gray, founder of Sheffield Beer Week and head honcho at Hop Hideout, talks us through the upcoming city-wide celebration of all things beer, which this year will have a specific focus on local breweries and venues.

As Sheffield Beer Week approaches a decade of celebrations, it certainly offers a reflective moment to look back over the last eight years, just as we begin our ninth in 2023! With over 350 events including craft beer festival Indie Beer Feast, numerous special collaboration beers and thousands of visitors each March making their way around the wonderful breweries, pubs, bars and beer shops of Sheffield, it’s certainly a joyous week to look forward to. Even in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic was continuing to throttle the hospitality industry and the whole beer ecosystem, we pulled together by having a virtual knees-up and supporting each other as best we could. The unifying nature of beer, eh?

LET’S COME TOGETHER

With tough times continuing as the ramifications of the pandemic and cost of living crisis swirl around us all, we wholeheartedly believe that this annual event is needed now more than ever. Small businesses are on a tight rope of rising costs, changes in footfall patterns, decreased margins, and emotionally drained staff following three years of facing challenges thrown at every turn. We also personally benefit as visitors to independent beery establishments through the sense of community and social interaction they offer.    Sheffield Beer Week provides that steadfast boost to the city and beats a unifying drum for our beer industry. With that in mind, we’re going back to our roots and championing, even more so, the local beer landscape. Numerous impact reports show that where you spend your money matters and doing that locally fosters a deeper sense of community, keeps areas vibrant, invests in neighbourhood improvements and provides local jobs. As well as this, more of your money stays in the locality, providing a positive boost across the whole supply chain and city. We firmly believe that supporting local business will be a big driver in rebuilding communities after the damaging effects of the pandemic.

IT’S A JOINT EFFORT

Look out for the release of Sheffield Beer Week, Indie Beer Feast and Abbeydale Brewery’s collaboration beer, ‘Cloud Peak’, which is a Citra, Cascade and Mosaic-hopped session IPA – meeting West and East Coast US-style IPAs in the middle for a delectable drink. There’ll be plenty more new beers and collabs happening from Sheffield breweries Tapped Brew Co, Loxley, Heist, Little Critters, Saint Mars of the Desert, True North and more. With all these exclusive options on offer, it’ll certainly be a special week to visit the city’s beery establishments.

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BEER

Additional strands include our continued celebration of International Women’s Day, which falls during Sheffield Beer Week. It’s an opportunity to highlight women in the beer trade whose stories are often untold: bar servers, pub managers, beer business owners, brewers, marketeers, hop merchants and more! We’d like to mention the fantastic work of Sheffield Feminist Archive who amplify women’s voices in the city, highlighting their achievements and stories through an archive housed at Sheffield Archive Library and online via their website. We worked with them to add a beer element to their archive, and we’d love to add more moving forward; we’re particularly interested to hear from women who worked in Sheffield’s historical brewing industry (quick fact: Sheffield’s first brewery was founded in 1758 – Rawson & Co), so please do get in touch if you can assist.

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT

We will also be hosting events under Visit Sheffield’s Festival of the Outdoors banner, so keep an eye out for our running socials helping to showcase the beautiful green spaces we have access to in Sheffield, plus there’ll be local historian Dave Pickersgill, editor of CAMRA’s Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs, will be hosting his popular heritage pub and brewery walks. Getting outside has such immense benefits for both your physical and mental wellbeing, so we’re looking forward to seeing people exploring the city once more at this year’s Beer Week!

Sheffield Beer Week takes places 6th-12th March at venues across the city. Head to sheffieldbeerweek. co.uk and follow @sheffbeerweek for the latest news and a regularly updated list of events.

INSPIRED BY TRADITIONAL FLAVOURS,

WE OFFER A FRESH, CREATIVE AND ORIGINAL INTERPRETATION OF PUGLIAN CUISINE, IN THE HEART OF SHEFFIELD.

LOCAL, FRESH & AUTHENTIC

We use local independent suppliers as well as typical Southern Italian ingredients to create homemade sauces, authentic desserts and unique Apulian dishes that you won’t find in Italian chains.

9 LEOPOLD STREET, SHEFFIELD, S1 2GY

INFO@GRAZIESHEFFIELD.CO.UK

OPENING HOURS

MON - THURS: 12PM - 9.30PM

FRI - SAT: 12PM - 10PM

SUN - CLOSED

SOUTHERN ITALIAN PASTA LAB

GOING GREEN

Hugely popular Kelham Island veggie and vegan specialists

V|OR|V have revealed plans to open a second site in the Orchard Square food hall, Sheffield Plate.

V|OR|V Presents the Grill House is set to open this month and will focus on veggie and vegan kebabs, small plates and sides, opting to use humble, locally sourced vegetables to recreate those much-loved MiddleEastern flavours, rather than ‘fake meats’.

Owners are confident the new site will retain the high-quality diners have come to expect from their Cornish Street restaurant, but in a fast-casual dining setting that, for the first time, also allows them to provide a dedicated takeaway service through Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

Co-owner Matt Burgess said: “When we were approached by Sheffield Plate, we jumped at the chance to get involved – it was kind of a no-brainer. It’s something that we’ve wanted to do for a while and we’re looking forward to adding to the vegan and vegetarian options at Sheffield Plate.”

“It’ll be the same high quality as this place, just a more accessible version, and it’s food anyone can eat and enjoy.”

Alongside the main event, the menu will also offer a selection of seasonal meat-free meze dishes and sides at reasonable prices.

@vorvgrillhouse

HOLT... WHO GOES THERE?

In recent times, the stretch of Ecclesall Road around the Banner Cross pub has seen a spate of new openings reinvigorate the area, and the addition of new independent restaurant Holt has only served to add to the excitement for residents.

Holt’s owners are hoping to capitalise on the success of their new neighbours, The Dark Horse and The Itchy Pig, and, after opening earlier this month, have already received an overwhelmingly positive response.

The restaurant is co-owned by Dariusz Jarowski, who is also the head chef responsible for the venues’ menu, which has you covered whether you’re looking for something a little different for lunch, a refined evening meal or even just a good coffee and croissant during the day.

Dariusz has long-dreamed of owning his own restaurant after working as a chef in Sheffield, most recently for as sous-chef at Thyme Cafe in Broomhill. He told Exposed: “I always wanted my own place. I’m passionate about cooking and I wanted to share my passion and my skills with everybody.

“I spoke to my friend and business partner, who owns the hair salon just down the road, and when this place became available, we decided it was the perfect location. I always knew what I wanted to do, what I wanted it to look like, the vibe, and so far the feedback has been great. People are really loving the food, which is obviously the main thing!”

Holt’s menu is focused on contemporary

British dishes that, thanks to Dariusz’ love of Mediterranean cuisine, often come with an interesting twist. That theme runs throughout the menu, including their delicious-sounding cocktail and wine menus.

Dariusz said: “The pricing is reasonable; it’s good quality food and you get a good portion. I’m aiming for somewhere between fine dining and comfort food. We want to welcome everyone.”

To complement the high-quality food, the venue has undergone a makeover, leaving it unrecognisable from its former incarnation as an estate agent. Dariusz tells us the design for interior was a collaboration between him and his business partner Craig Holt, from whom the restaurant takes its name. Between them they have created a classy, but calming vibe across the venues two floors, with a striking centrepiece bar on the ground floor.

The restaurant opened on Friday 6 January, and manager Charlotte Reeve told Exposed: “It’s been a challenge, but we are absolutely loving every minute of it. For the first couple of weeks of January, and in this climate, it’s been way better than we expected." To make your booking, give them a call on 07801111727 and give them a nudge on socials Holt is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am – 10pm, starting with morning coffees through to full dinner service in the evenings.

@holtsheffield

FOOD & DRINK

BEST OF THE BRUNCH

Since opening in 2019, West Street’s Tsuki restaurant has established itself amongst Sheffield foodies as a stylish hangout for authentic Japanese sushi, teppanyaki and cocktails.

However, in recent months their mouthwatering bottomless brunch (£39.95) has become hugely popular amongst punters –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 freeflowing 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.

Marketing manager Marcella Jesslyn said of the offer: “There’s only one way to do bottomless brunch right, and it’s in Tsuki. It’s unlimited food and drinks – all freshly made, high quality food and masterly crafted cocktails.

“Customers have given us feedback saying that bottomless brunches elsewhere usually mean unlimited drinks and one or two dishes, but here you get the best of both worlds.

“As we are a tablet service restaurant, you order everything through the tablet – every 15 mins for two hours. You don’t need to wait for your drinks and food to finish before ordering again, so you can just order your next drink straight away after 15 minutes. However, we do have a food waste charge fee as well in case a lot of food has been wasted!”

Sounds like a fair deal to us! Get booked in at tsukirestaurant.co.uk

A NEW VOCATION

For 29 years, The Old House on Division Street has been run by the team at True North Brew Co., but they have today announced that Vocation Brewery will take over the pub, following an eightweek refurbishment which will see it closed until the spring.

Beginning life as The Halcyon in 1994, the pub quickly became a staple in Sheffield’s nightlife scene. From live music to Sunday roasts, parties, and after work drinks, The Old House has seen it all over the years, but True North feel the time has come for to ring the last bell on Sunday 29th January.

True North’s Founder Kane Yeardley said of the move: “The Old House is the second venue we opened at True North, way back in 1994.

“Being a staple venue on Devonshire Street for 29 years has been an incredible experience, but the time has come for us to hand over the keys, and Vocation Brewery are the perfect team to breathe a new lease

of life into this much loved venue.” Vocation Brewery, based in Hebden Bridge, are taking on The Old House, and have grand plans for the future of the venue.

As part of their final hurrah, The Old House will be offering 20% off all drinks from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th January. Head down to The Old House, share your memories, and say goodbye to one of Sheffield’s most famous venues. True North would love to see your photos and hear your memories of the venue over the years, please share these with the True North team on your social channels using #OldHouseSheff. There’s even an original Old House t-shirt and a £50 True North gift card for the best post!

The Old House closed its doors on Sunday 29th January for 8 weeks to undergo a refurbishment by Vocation Brewery and is due to reopen in May.

FOR THE RECORD

HOW RECORD JUNKEE AND NETWORK ARE FLYING THE FLAG FOR SHEFFIELD’S DIY LIVE MUSIC AND EVENTS SCENE.

When it comes to fostering a buoyant music scene, there are three key ingredients that often spell success: good small venues, medium-tolarge-sized venues and record shops.

In Sheffield, we’re blessed to have all three of the above dotted around the city centre, and in the case of recordstore-cum-gig-spot Record Junkee and its considerably larger sibling Network, this holy trinity is united under one proudly independent banner spread across the space of a few hundred yards.

Record Junkee’s Martin Leverton has been selling records in Sheffield since 1994 through various guises, previously owning iconic stores such as Reflex Records and running prolific dance music white label Reflective Records. He founded Record Junkee in 2009, originally based on Cambridge Street, before moving to its

current home on Earl Street just over seven years ago. A record store by day and thriving 150cap live venue by night, it has grown to become one of the city’s most integral grassroots venues, playing host to the likes of Idles, Blinders and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes in the process.

“You need smaller venues like Record Junkee as it gives bands, promoters and DJs a space to hone their craft,” says Martin. “In every city, you need a few venues of that size to help alternative music scenes to grow. There are bands who’ve passed through here who are now doing stadiums; they cut their teeth at these types of venues before moving onto the next stage.”

It was partly through seeing the development of bands passing through Record Junkee’s doors that inspired Martin to open a second venue in Sheffield, somewhere they could keep fostering their relationships with rising artists, so that when bands returned to Sheffield, rather than losing them to big

perform in. Boasting a significantly larger capacity, Network (formerly Plug) has already hosted some of the hottest indie and punk talent on the live circuit, with the likes of Inhaler and Pigsx7 taking to the stage last year. But, as well as bringing the big names to their 1,000-cap main room, their small, dedicated team has been working hard to provide a genuinely diverse events programme across their three rooms: LGBTQ+ nights, drag shows, reggae festivals, doom music events, wrestling smackdowns, late-night bassline raves, live sporting fixtures – all just a small flavour of what’s been brought to the table in little over a year since reopening. The large outdoor space –previously a car park – has also been revitalised, hosting all-day BBQs, street food vendors, acoustic gigs and DJ sets. They’ll all be returning from April onwards through

the summer, along with some upcoming new additions such as standup comedy nights and the usual plethora of live events. While over at Record Junkee it’s business as usual: gigs, in-store signings and selling a wide range of alternative music on vinyl. Reflecting on the impact both venues are making, Martin admits he’s proud, even though it’s a typically Sheffield trait to not shout too loud about what you’re up to.

“We don’t really bang the drum about ourselves much, but I think that needs to change. There can be lot of negativity and doom and gloom, especially when you take a look at some online forums, but shops and venues like ours – and there are plenty of others doing equally interesting things – are a reason to come and visit the city centre. “These places are run by local people, for local people. We’re passionate about promoting and selling local music. The independent factor is at the heart of everything we do; you need independent shops to support independent labels, and you need DIY venues to showcase DIY music. So, if you’re a DJ, promoter or a band, we can accommodate you from your first gig in front of 50 people, to over 1,000 once you’re established. You can go through the rooms – 100-cap, 500-cap and 1,000 cap as you progress – and hopefully we can help sell your record in the store as well. That’s what we’re all about.”

@network_sheffield @record_junkee

“YOU NEED SMALLER VENUES LIKE RECORD JUNKEE AS IT GIVES BANDS, PROMOTERS AND DJS A SPACE TO HONE THEIR CRAFT.”

IN THEIR BONES

Christmas feels like a very distant memory, but slap in the middle of the festive season we headed to The Washy to hang out with psych-grunge rockers Femur for a natter about their debut album, tragedy on tour and a wellknown Sheffield familial link…

Fresh out of a spritely soundcheck, the band and I relocate to The Washy’s wellused beer garden and, given that it’s December in Sheff, it’s really bloody cold. The button for the heater is nestled behind lead singer and guitarist Felix Renshaw’s head, and because I’m nesh I have to keep awkwardly reaching behind their head to fire it up. Seemingly, the cold is not seeping into Felix’s lank frame, as they sit caning roll-ups. Alongside Felix and I are the other members of the band: guitarist Eddie Burks, bassist Ryan Gillvray and drummer Danny Cox. Later, the four dwindles to two as the rhythm section are forced to dip out mid-interview for a pre-gig curry (that sadly for them didn’t actually arrive before they had to return for the show). The perils of being an in-demand Sheffield musician, eh?

Anyway, while our number is still five, we get into how the band’s sound and line-up has morphed over the course of its 11-year history. The current line-up has been solid for the last seven of those years and it was with the arrival of the final piece of the puzzle,

drummer Danny, that the Femur sound we’ve come to know and love developed.

Felix is the only original member and tells us Femur was a very poppy affair in the early days. Danny humbly adds that when he joined he couldn’t play what the old drummer was playing, so he “flashed the shit” out of his kit and the sound immediately changed.

Ryan tells us: “There was a point, for about a year after we all met, that we could easily have passed as a Wytches tribute band”, which should give you an idea of the direction the band were heading. Femur were beginning to live up to their namesake and rock harder than the strongest bone in the human body! They were doing the legwork, so to speak.

The period of enforced downtime in 2020 afforded them plenty of time to think about little else other than music, and the sound crystallised into the bewildering, hook-filled, psych grunge onslaught we’ve come to expect from live shows.

Last year, they decided it was important to capture the essence of their live energy on record, and their self-recorded debut album, People Parts, was the much-anticipated outcome of those sessions, bringing together the disparate influences of all four members.

Recorded in their rehearsal space on the top floor of the historic hotbed of Sheffield music, Stag Works, the process was admittedly a long one. Coming in

Photography: Benji Wilson (@jamburrito1) and Jamie Heawood

six months over deadline (much to the chagrin of management)

the band utilised this time to perfect the recording process, while continuing to write songs, with Felix often making the lyrics up on the spot. Doing it ‘DIY’ felt right and they wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“Going into a studio, that’s not yours, for a day, is the shittest experience,” says Eddie. “When we’ve recorded in the past, the recordings have been good, but they’ve never sounded like us.

“We cut our teeth as a live band and we try to put on a show, so recording always came almost secondary. There was a long time where we were just having fun, getting pissed and playing music.

We’re a bit more grown up now.”

Danny holds the most technical recording experience, so took the lead when it came to engineering and producing the record.

“I was trying to find a way to make it sound cohesive,” says Danny, “because I thought, we’re doing it ourselves, it might be a bit shit, but

I really made an effort to get the sound of the room in. All of the album was written and recorded in that room, and I really wanted it to sound like we were playing from our hearts, in that room.” With some of the songs being written as long as five years ago, and others less than five months ago, the album has an eclectic feel, something that the band are happy to embrace.

Eddie explains: “We’ve always had people say I like this track, or this one, but I don’t like this one. Or they’ll say I can’t put a finger on what you guys are. Jack of all trades, master of none and all that. So, in a way, for the album to come across that way, I’m quite happy, because that’s what we’re like.”

Ryan continues: “I came up with the name of the album, because I thought it perfectly reflected our different inspirations and people bringing different shit to the table. It’s people parts.”

Felix adds: “Lyrically, a lot of the album is about struggling with

in their bones

gender identity, so it fits with that theme.”

Felix identifies as non-binary, often wears dresses both on stage and in their day to day life uses they/them pronouns, and has long grappled with the subject of gender.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve gotten to know myself,” says Felix. “At first, I was like, I am what I am – Whatever. But you get to a point where you see all the fucking awful things going on on the planet and it feels like you do have to say something. Even just to start a conversation. Kids are being fucking killed. It’s dog shit!”

Once the album was released, they headed out on a nationwide tour that saw them swimming on Brighton Beach, drinking in parks up and down the country, and playing banging shows, in cities they’d never even been to before, to sold out crowds.

Devastatingly, though, the tour was marked with tragedy halfway through.

in their bones

“My dad was really ill,” says Danny. “On the way to Manchester I got a call saying I needed to come home. We got back to Sheffield in time, and I got to say my goodbyes, but it was really rough.

“Two days after, we had more dates, and the guys were really great about it and almost tried to persuade me out of doing them, but in a weird way it was good for me to get some space away from it, and some of those dates ended

up being the best of the tour.”

It’s clear that Femur feel most at live in a live setting and their impressive stage presence is to be admired. In a world of preening shoegazers, it’s a rarity to see a band demolish the wall between themselves and the audience with such chaotic abandon.

Felix, in particular, has a mesmeric stage presence, and it would be remiss of us not to mention that certain mannerisms they evoke are

eerily reminiscent of a very famous, bespectacled Sheffield son.

Felix has, in the past, been uncomfortable talking about their Uncle Jarvis, feeling, perhaps rightly, that they would prefer to ‘make it’ under their own steam with the absence of nepotism. In fact, Eddie had been in the band for two years before he was aware of the Cocker family link. However, these days Felix is more candid

about the subject.

“I don’t go around going on about it because that would be bizarre,” says Felix, “and for a long time if anyone asked, I’d say it wasn’t true. I don’t Like is actually about it. There was a lasse in here [The Washington] who wanted to fuck me just because of it. When I found out I was livid, because that’s such a weird put down emotionally.

“Nowadays, I just think, it is what it is, and I probably should use the contacts a bit more. It’s probably why the band sounds so completely different to any of that stuff. It’s a strange vibe, because I don’t give a shit, it’s just my uncle to me. It’s other people who care.” Whether they know it or not, people seem to care about Femur right now, so with the album out, the tour finished, Christmas and the new year out of the way, what does 2023 hold for them?

“I don’t know if we’ll record this way again,” says Danny, “because it took so much investment of time and love. We’ll obviously do something new and exciting; it might just be a bit more easygoing.”

As Danny and Ryan depart for their ill-fated curry, Eddie leans in, “Don’t tell Danny, but we’re doing another one!”

So, there you (and Danny) are, you heard it here first, folks. Just maybe pencil it in very lightly. It could be a while!

For the full interview, head over to exposed.co.uk

@femurband_

“...THERE WAS A LONG TIME WHERE WE WERE JUST HAVING FUN, GETTING PISSED AND PLAYING MUSIC. WE’RE A BIT MORE GROWN UP NOW.”

SLIIME TIME

After signing a deal with Columbia Records before dropping new single ‘Lehenga’ – which hit almost 200k views online in its first week – local artist and producer Sliime is looking a safe bet for the next Sheff representative to make waves in the UK music industry. Last month, Exposed’s Iago Castro went to find out more about the rapper flying the flag for Bengali culture and the Steel City grime scene.

You were born and bred in Sheffield. How did you find growing up here? Did your surroundings have any early influences on your music?

Growing up in Sheffield is quite a big thing at the time, you know. There’s a lot you can do around here. As an influence? I guess just looking at all those famous musicians over the years, I’ve realised a lot of the music has been made and influenced by people from Sheffield. Seeing how all these people have influenced the music scene in their way, influences me to do it in my own way, you get me?

What about wider musical influences?

I listen to musicians coming from different genres: American rap, UK rap, bassline are big ones. When it comes to bassline, people like Jamie Duggan and DJ EJ are influential. When it comes to rap, I listen to Dave, Nines, Rick Ross, Meek Mill… a lot of big names.

How did your journey into music begin?

It all started freestyling in the back of the bus – you know, just messing around with the lads. Over time, asides from it being a hobby, I figured out I can actually do it well. And then, later on, when everybody started to like it, I thought, “You know what? I can probably give this a go”. And yeah, here we are…

The influence of your south-Asian background is clear to see; from the notes on your instrumentals, the content of your lyrics and the aesthetics in your latest video. How important is this background in your creative process?

Very important. I mean, it’s the core of the whole project, because I aim to represent South Asia, particularly the energy, and that’s the main goal of my last video.

If you mention Sheffield music to someone who’s not from the city, they probably think guitar bands and the likes of Arctic Monkeys. But there is a burgeoning grime scene here. Do you feel like it’s growing?

I do feel that within the next couple of years we’ll definitely have more opportunities than we had during the last decade. You’re right about the grime scene, and we need to make shout about them way louder because I know some really talented grime rappers from Sheffield who unfortunately just haven’t reached where I feel like they should be. We all need so much more attention in that way; it’ll be good if we all come together as a city and bring it out.

Last time I checked, TikTok users made over seven thousand videos in TikTok using your ‘Lehenga’ track. Did you see that coming at all? Was it part of the promo plan, or was it spontaneous?

I did anticipate some sort of traffic, you know, because I’m representing South Asia. But I didn’t expect over seven thousand! That was unexpected, and it’s a crazy number of creations. Seeing that level of support was amazing.

What else does 2023 have in store for you?

There’s plenty more, way more, to come. ‘Lehenga’ got released in the first month of the year; now I have another eleven in front of me to drop some serious bangers, so there will be plenty more stuff coming. We’ll make sure everyone is pleased. I’m gonna keep it secret right now, but just keep an eye on my socials – Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok – where you’ll see something coming up soon, and you might like it, so stay tuned!

Any last words you would like to add?

‘Lehenga’ is out now on all the streaming platforms and GRM Daily. Cop it now! Thank you for your time, bro.

tuesday 7 feb 2023

the tuesday club:

shy fx

£14, Doors 11pm, 18+

thursday 9 feb 2023

somebody’s child

£11, Doors 7:30pm

thursday 9 feb 2023

soul jam

£6, Doors 11pm, 18+

saturday 11 feb 2023

jockstrap

£12.50, Doors 7pm

friday 17 feb 2023

grapefruit (lgbt+ clubnight)

£4, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

tuesday 21 feb 2023

the tuesday club:

skream

£10-14, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

Wednesday 22 feb 2023

dry cleaning

£18, Doors 7pm

thursday 23 feb 2023

bilk

£8.50, Doors 7:30pm

Wednesday 15 March 2023

lapsley

£14.50, Doors 7pm

friday 24 March 2023

the waeve

£20, Doors 7:30pm

friday 24 March 2023

mungo’s hi-fi & friends

ft. eva lazarus, solo banton, charlie P & aziza

£10-15, Doors 11:00pm, 18+

saturday 25 March 2023

daft funk

£15, Doors 7:30pm

tuesday 28 march 2023

the tuesday club: bou & haribo

£10/12, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

friday 31 March 2023

The orielles

£15, Doors 7:30pm

friday 31 March 2023

disco wonderland: the abba disco

£11, Doors 10pm

sunday 2 april 2023

black honey

£13, Doors 6:30pm

friday 19 May 2023

snoop dogg’s house party

friday 24 feb 2023

£6/8, Doors 11pm, 18+

tuesday 7 march 2023

the tuesday club:

wilkinson ft. mc ad-apt

£12/14, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

friday 10 march 2023

grapefruit

£4, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

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

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

lucy spraggan

£21, Doors 6:30pm

pigs pigs pigs pigs

thursday 5 oct 2023

pigs pigs pigs

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 3 november 2023

flash & the darkniss

£20, Doors 7pm

foundry, sheffield students’ union western bank, s10 2tg

foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk @foundrysheffield

music to move to

It’s been a while since our last chat, and you’ve recently been teasing us with a few new tunes. What can we expect from your next release?

HT: The last album had a very strange, unusual theme: us being in a police chase against Paul McCartney. The next album is gonna have a much simpler one, and it’s gonna be ‘summer’.

BA: Me and my partner were living in Japan for a couple of years, and then we came back this summer, around August, and we all went to stay in Devon. The band lived together for a week; we wrote and recorded ten songs in two days while there. They were an intense few days, and we were working on probably longer than twelve-hour sessions, but it was a really good experience as a band, and I think we managed to capture that kind of positive feeling we were looking for. It’s definitely a summer album, so we’re not gonna put it out there until summer, but we’re preparing some teasers and singles beforehand.

What is the secret to making super danceable tunes?

BA: The secret? Well, the drum beat has to be the most important part of the song. Obviously, you need a catchy melody and a catchy bassline, but you can’t make it danceable without a killer drumline, so I think it’s always something we bear in mind when we’re writing in any style. We want to make music that makes people move, so rhythm is the real anchor of our music.

HT: We’re incredibly lucky to have an incredible rhythm section, with Will Shaw and Ben Evans, who play drums and bass for us. They also play for a Jazz trio, Assembly Trio, that’s just incredible – they’re so tight and they have such creative ideas.

BA: We’re getting into Latin music at the moment, which is something totally new for us, something we never explored before. It’s been a bit of a breakthrough for us, because it meant we can do songs that are a little bit slower and chilled out, but, because Latin is also dancy, we can still have dancy music but done a bit slower. Before this, when I tried to write a dancy song, I was always getting very fast-paced, cranking up the BPM, when you don’t necessarily need to have it fast. As long as you make sure it grooves, it still makes people dance.

HT: A few songs are in Spanish on this upcoming album. We’ve always been into Afro-Cuban rhythms, and I spent some time in Cuba over

the summer and came back full of percussion, which I wanted to spread over the album.

BA: Also Jaz, our female singer, grew up in Spain, so we’re very lucky to have a fluent Spanish speaker in the band.

What other influences combine to help define the Life Aquatic Band sound?

BT: I can’t deny how much of an influence King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard had on us. It’s not necessarily to do with the music, but just having a go at creating constantly, changing styles all the time. Seeing a band as successful as they are, who are constantly changing it up, doing loads of different styles and just having fun – that’s a big, big positive shift for the music industry.

HA: Yeah, they’re a big influence. We wanted the energy we have live on this album, and I think the way King Gizzard does things inspires us a lot. I’d say Paul Simon is an influence as well.

BT: When we first formed LAB, we were a bit more focused on dancy bands, like Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem – and they are still my major influences – but I’m trying to go back to earlier influences: single songwriters like Paul Simon, Jenny Mitchel, Lorna Marden who have great melodies.

Why, in a nutshell, should someone come and see a Life Aquatic Band gig?

BT: Well, I know every band will say this, but I think we really put on a good show, we don’t take ourselves seriously, we just try to have fun and we want everybody to have fun; and, I think because we mix a lot of styles, we have a song for everybody. We want to do it this way because everybody in the band likes different types of music, and I think that’s great. So, even if you’re unsure, please come and have a look, I’m pretty sure you’ll find something for you

HA: We have a great time at our gigs! It’s reyt fun, so if you come along you’ll feel it!

You can check out the latest tracks on the band's socials.

@lifeaquaticband

Photography: Kate Griffin

Following the release of some fresh tracks and a sunkissed second LP in the works, Henry Tufton and Ben Allen of genre-fusing partystarters Life Aquatic Band caught up with Exposed’s Iago Castro.

THE PALE BLUE EYE

Based on a 2003 novel of the same name by Louis Baynard, The Pale Blue Eye is an immersive and chilly slow-burn of a gothic mystery, carried by an impressive cast.

A grizzled Christian Bale plays veteran detective Augustus Landor, summoned to West Point in 1830 to investigate the gruesome hanging of a young cadet. Aiding him in his investigation is an unusual, albeit darkly charming cadet named Edgar Allan Poe. As the pair delve deeper into the case, they discover a link to black magic and an even more unsettling connection with Landor’s troubled past.

Director Scott Cooper, whose previous collaborations with Bale resulted in Hostiles and the magnificent and underseen drama Out of the Furnace, demonstrates once again his considerable aptitude as an actor’s director. Bale and co-lead Harry Melling are backed by a strong, firing-on-all-cylinders cast including Timothy Spall, Toby Jones, Gillian Anderson and Robert Duvall.

It’s rare that anyone in a Bale film manages to equal his presence. Harry Melling, however, stands solidly alongside Bale with jaw-dropping magnetism, capturing the complexities of Poe’s contradictory personality: overwhelming charm and creativity undercut by a mild sense of repulsiveness.

Cooper captures the oppressive quality of winter, complementing the setting which makes for a unique detective story, flavoured by elements of unsavoury horror. At times it put me in mind of 1979’s Murder by Decree. The pacing can be a touch too slow in places, especially at the halfway point, and the film leans heavily on its leads to carry it through. Fortunate during these moments they are more than up to the task.

Overall, it is a solid, if slightly unremarkable mystery-thriller, held together by the talents of Bale and Melling. 3/5

coming soon...

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA

Paul Rudd is back as the size-shifting Marvel hero, battling against the MCU’s next Thanos-level threat, Kang the Conqueror.

MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE

Channing Tatum’s male stripper is back for one last dance (quite literally), starring alongside Salma Hayek, once again helmed by Steven Soderbergh.

CREED III

Michael B. Jordan brings us the third instalment in Adonis Creed’s story as star and director, facing off in the ring against his former friend.

THE MENU

Most of us, I’m sure, have had the insufferable misfortune of encountering fatuous, self-absorbed individuals like the dinner guests at Hawthorn, the exclusive island restaurant of icy celebrity chef Julian Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes, with his natural chilliness whacked up to eleven. A welcome swipe at elitist ignorance and artistic overindulgence that seems a constant presence in the news and on our phones, The Menu combines sly wit with startling moments of unpredictable horror.

On the surface at least, this could be taken for a gorgeously shot black comedy, where the pleasure comes in witnessing ironic punishment dished out to a bunch of pompous one-percenters. The film is also a scathing attack on vacuous consumers of creativity, who despite professing understanding and appreciation, merely leach and self-inflate off that which they claim to revere. This is most apparent in Nicholas Hoult’s Tyler, who becomes so toe-curlingly vexing you can’t help but want to flip a table. The instrument of their demise comes in the form of the artist themselves.

The ever-stellar Anya Taylor-Joy provides the single figure of alignment for the audience, unafraid to say things as they are. Her character Margot demonstrates the value of being an authentic individual in personality and taste.

Praise, too, must be given to Peter Deming’s fabulous cinematography, famed for his collaborations with David Lynch, Wes Craven and Sam Raimi. The Menu is a strikingly sharp and entertaining serving of cinema. 4/5

South Yorkshire’s foremost cinemagoer and West Street Live Annual Short Film Competition runner-up (2008), Matt Karmode turns up the thermostat, pours a glass of vintage Liebfraumilch and humbly suggests his top pick for a memorable Valentines evening.

I don’t know about you other hopeless romantics, but for me there’s nothing better than ditching needlessly expensive on-trend Valentine’s Day traditions for cheap home-based alternatives. From all four of my failed marriages I’ve learned that forking out the big bucks does not guarantee an enjoyable evening, with financial investment rarely seeing much in the way of venereal return and the effort of going out barely worth the perennial faff. Instead, sticking a well-selected movie on the TV sees fairly consistent positive results, with even the least violent confrontations avoided almost all of the time. Queue my pick for Valentine’s Day 2023: Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles.

JD23qdC1080B (NB: the editor insists on some form of abbreviation and this is the shortest I’ll go while respecting the filmmaker’s vision) follows the antics of Jeanne Dielman, a Belgian widow, mother and sex worker who struggles to get by in day-to-day life. Whether it’s cooking

potatoes or putting on a coat, there’s always something going wrong for Jeanne in this three-and-a-half-hour laugh riot that pokes fun at the futility of all grieving women. Picking the right film for Valentine’s Day, or any date for that matter, is extremely challenging. It can feel like a life or death decision (quite literally in the case of my second marriage), but I have some rules to simplify the process…

1) Strong female characters

Picking a film with a strong female lead doesn’t just make you look cultured and empathetic, it also gives you a sharp weapon with which to swing in the unlikely event of movie-related criticism. If your partner says anything along the lines of “this is boring” or “what the hell is this?”, you can accuse them of hating women, which will inevitably win them round.

2) Not-too-strong female characters, though When I chose to put on the carjacking thriller Gone In 60 Seconds for me and my late second wife, I could never have foreseen her being so inspired by Angelina Jolie’s Sara Wayland that she would lie about needing the bathroom, silently steal my keys from the kitchen table and speed off for a late night drive. It was only later when going to identify the body that I realised my mistake: inspiration leads to action.

3) Long runtime

It has been my experience that all women like to end movie dates the moment the end credits appear. To get the most out of your evening, choose the longest film you can find, and then pray your date is too polite to leave halfway through.

JD23qdC1080B is my pick for this Valentine’s Day as it applies these rules perfectly: female protagonist Jeanne is somewhat strong in her dogged willingness to persist through a dreary 1970s Belgian existence, but is still essentially weak in her inability to navigate the basics of everyday life. It’s also three and a half hours long, which will give me an additional two hours sitting in silence than most Hollywood rom-coms would.

Now all I need is someone to watch it with.

KNOW YOUR HISTORY!

Is it really February already? Well, we all know that means… the return of LGBT+ History Month! Sheffield Students union is looking queerer than ever with two LGBT+ History month editions of their LGBTQ+ club night Grapefruit [Fri 3 & 17 Feb] –open to all! Iconic singalong, hands-in-the-air student party ROAR presents Rainbow ROAR [Wed 22 Feb] in association with Pride in Sport and rounding the month off we have Pop Tarts: Queer Anthems [Sat 25 Feb]. Sheffield LGBTQ+ youth charity SAYiT will be hosting an LGBT History Month open day [Fri 17 Feb] where you can see their new youth space, find out more about the work they are doing and how you can get involved. If you’re looking for culture kicks, Birds and Bees [running until 11 Feb] will be showing at the Crucible, telling the story of four young people navigating the real-world consequences of virtual life going viral.

Sheffield Central Library has several events throughout the month, starting with a screening of award-winning trans writer and performer Travis Alabanza’s None of the Above [Wed 15 Feb] – an electric memoir about what it means to live outside the gender boundaries imposed on us by society. Kirsty Loehr discusses her book A Short History of Queer Women [Mon 20 Feb], setting the record straight on women who have loved other women through the ages who have often been written out of history. Looking for the best in new queer books for kids and teens? Liz and Zoey are back with an online LGBTQ+ Books for Kids and Teens

book chat [Wed 22 Feb] showcasing their top recommendations for all ages, from picture books to Young Adult novels. No Straight Lines - The Rise of Queer Comics [Thu 23 Feb] tells the story of the queer comic from Come Out Comix, which made history as the first lesbian comic in 1973, also exploring other publications such as Fun Home, Dykes to Watch Out For and Brown Bomber & The Diva – bringing zines to life on screen through this celebration of LGBTQI+ cartoons and graphic novels. Finally, we have Sophie Labelle of Assigned Male Comics [Mon 27 Feb] – a neurodivergent trans cartoonist and novelist from Montréal speaking about her art and activism, artistic process, building community through art, cyberbullying, and growing up trans. There are plenty of drag nights to enjoy, including Bipolar Abdul [Fri 10 Feb] arriving at Hagglers Corner for her games night – so balls up and play your cards right. Malin Bridge Inn’s drag this month includes DJ Brooke’s Sassy Saturday [Sat 11 Feb] and Miss Bella End vs Tanya Minge drag show [Sat 18 Feb] – a camp explosion of comedy, hilarious banter, party tune central and fabulous costume

changes. Following the success of last year’s event, Revolucion de Cuba will be hosting a Valentines Special of the Bottomless Drag Brunch [Sun 12 Feb], while RuPaul’s Drag Race Bingo [Fri 17 Feb] returns to the Forum with music bingo, games and live performances. A Maezin Valentine’s - A Valentine’s Drag Extravaganza [Fri 17 Feb] takes place at the Yorkshireman featuring Emma Maezin, Vivian Twist and Stiletto celebrating and hating on all things love and lust with drag, live vocals, comedy, lip-sync and shenanigans. Emma will also be hosting her drag karaoke nights at Ball Inn [Fri 10/Sat 18 Feb] and Bagshawe Arms [Fri 24 Feb] and Drag Bingo [Wed 15 Feb] at Hagglers corner. Live music this month comes in the form of punk witches Dream Nails [Wed 22 Feb] and queer clown punks Gum Disease at Sidney and Matilda, and HE.SHE.THEY’s 5th birthday tour [Fri 24 Feb] at Forge featuring a line-up including Anastasia Kristensen, Mama Snake, VTSS, Love & Lust and more That’s your lot for this month! As always, keep an eye on the Sheffield LGBT+ events page at facebook.com/ sheffieldlgbtevents for the latest news.

Until next time, love and mistletoe...

Photo: Emma Boileau

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 RAGGEDTROUSERED WORDSMITH

Last month, Sheffield-based poet Charlie Parker released It’s Like This, a debut collection of work which uses searing, thought-provoking prose to explore everything from the quirks of everyday northern life to the most pressing political issues facing modern society.

When did you first begin writing poetry?

Not all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things. I began an Access to HE college course in English, Creative Writing and Media in 2016, and it was there that I came across what the course referred to as ‘urban poetry’. I was introduced to writers such as John Cooper Clarke, Tony Harrison and Toria Garbutt. Frankly, it was the moment I realised you could use accents, swear and read poems that talk about issues that we see around us every day. I started writing at this point, about things that affected me – zero-hour contracts, awful bus routes, terrible bosses, adolescent angst, etc. Some of those early poems will never again see the light of day –God, they were abysmal – but as any Sunday league football hero will testify: get your mistakes out first. I’d like to think I’ve become a better writer since then!

How long has this project been in the works?

Around a year ago I saw a submission request from Bent Key Publishing asking for chapbooks of around

15-20 poems. Since my first weeks of university a few years ago I’d had a growing collection of poems that I’d written with no particular idea of what to do with. I quite often sat in the university cafes or even dull lectures scribbling away in those little A6 notepads you can fit in your inside coat pocket. I didn’t know what to do with the poems once they were done, nor what real purpose they had; they’re just some pencilled ramblings, who cares? I started performing some at open mic nights and got decent feedback from the audience. One incident in particular sticks in my mind where at a studentran open mic, two scaffolders had come to the evening to see what it was about. They said weren’t into poetry at all “but what you did were oreyt, pal.” Fast forward to the chapbook submission request, and they responded saying they were interested in publishing a full collection. The first poem in the collection is also chronologically the first poem I wrote with purpose and meaning. This was done in 2017 so, give or take, about six years or so.

"... IT WAS THE MOMENT I REALISED YOU COULD USE ACCENTS, SWEAR AND READ POEMS THAT TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE SEE AROUND US EVERY DAY."

What sort of themes are explored throughout the collection?

Fundamentally, a lot of this collection is my document on the state of modern England, and all it entails. Austerity, national legend, broken town centres, dilapidated school systems, post-Brexit fallout, nostalgic childhood and family myth, the impact of the 2019 General Election, and the feeling of a country still reeling from the vice of a conservative government. I wanted to write something that other working class people would write if they had the time and energy themselves, or even if, like the two scaffolders at that open mic, people find a home in a literary medium that commonly alienates the working class, is regarded as elite, or that you must be educated in reading poetry to, ironically, read poetry. On top of a lot of this is a feeling that I’d be a fool to deny: anger. I don’t think anybody can ignore the surging anger that seems to be flowing through every street nowadays, culminating in all the strikes we have at time of writing. While anger can become toxic, it was important for this collection to hone that outrage and frustration into something positive and beneficial. After all, isn’t that most art, in the end? I feel this way, do you feel it too?

What advice would you give to any budding writers out there? Never lose sight of what it is you want to achieve. Find artists that are doing what you’d do if you had the time. Find your voice and write what you know. Nobody can ever take it away from you. There are too many people gatekeeping what art should and shouldn’t be, what it should look like, who should be the ones to create it. Don’t listen to them, they don’t know a thing. And if they claim to know a thing or two, there’s a good chance they should be ignored even more.

@charlieparkerpoet

MEN OF STEEL

On frosty mornings when shadows stroll, I think of spirits of men that went before, steadfast in their stride.

Threads of old stories cling to dead streets, myths of yore bound by tradition. The soles of Jarrow, fists of Orgreave; the endless rattle and hum of roadworkers and their mucky wheelbarrows;

I can only watch and play the good son, grateful for their strife.

Mates and I used to have kickabouts, jeering my dad would batter your dad! never questioning why this would make anybody sound all that good.

And who exactly do we worship now, those giants’ fables all spent and told, sat broken yet defiantly proud?

It’s only recently do I really notice the cold.

Taken from It’s Like This, out now and available to purchase from bentkeypublishing.co.uk.

ARTISTS

Ash Birch caught up with local artist Jim McElvaney to talk inspirations, people-watching and the

backbone.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU GOT INTO ART?

From an early age, I spent a lot of time drawing, perfecting my Beano characters at the kitchen table. I always thought it was amazing how it was someone’s job to draw these cartoons. I wanted it to be my job when I ‘grew up’. This never happened. But I did end up at Leeds Met doing a Fine Art degree. There I spent most my time building random sculptures out of found materials. I soon realised after graduation I couldn’t carry on with that line of work due to lack of space, so I got the sketchbook back out and started drawing again. And I haven’t stopped since.

HOW HAS YOUR STYLE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS?

In the early days my work was perhaps more graphical and slightly less relaxed. But since I’ve been focused on portraiture, my style has naturally evolved as I’ve grown in confidence. As with anything, if you keep practicing, you’re going to make some sort of progress. I like to experiment with different mediums and over recent years my love of printmaking has, in some ways, altered the way I work. But it’s also helped me realise where my strengths lie and made me feel more connected to my practice.

YOU PREDOMINATELY WORK AS A PORTRAIT ARTIST. HOW DO YOU LOOK FOR SUBJECTS TO CAPTURE?

I’m a people-watcher. I like to take a lot of photographs. I suppose you could call it street photography. But the photos are always just a starting point: the end result is never a reproduction. Instead, my work interpretates the subject in a way that preserves the moment as I see it. So, sometimes it’s just a mood that I want to capture. Someone lost in thought at the bus stop or the lean of a head on the bus window at the end of a long day. I also use a lot of found imagery as reference material. I don’t view these images any differently to my own photographs. They’re all just moments in time that resonate with me.

Steel City’s creative

YOU OFTEN USE UNCONVENTIONAL MATERIALS IN YOUR ART. WHAT SORT OF THINGS ARE YOU DRAWN TO?

I love to use found materials as the base for my work where I can. I like the depth they add to a piece. As with the subject matter, they have an unknown history or story to tell. In terms of drawing and painting materials, I like to use whatever is at hand. I’ve collected a lot of random art materials over the years and what I use for each piece just depends on my mood.

WHAT’S THE BEST BIT OF ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED AS AN ARTIST?

Just keep doing what you love and do it for yourself. If it gets boring, try something new. Life as an artist is hard. You have to push yourself. But it’s also a privilege. I never let myself forget this.

WHAT SETS THE SHEFFIELD SCENE APART FOR YOU?

Sheffield is a city of makers. Its heritage is everywhere. For those of us who live and work here, I think this binds us together and creates pride in a place that some outsiders don’t really appreciate. I love Sheffield because everyone is so welcoming and supportive. The city is brimming with creative people who want to put Sheffield on the map. Yet as a region we receive such a small share of the funding. Sadly, it’s this that sets Sheffield apart for the wrong reasons.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW? DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS OR APPEARANCES?

Amongst my general practice, I’m slowly pulling together work for a show in Glasgow this Spring at Art Pistol Gallery. I’m also organising monoprint workshops at Carousel Print Studio in Sheffield in March. So if you want to learn a bit about my mono print techniques, get yourself booked on!

To see more of Jim's work, head to jimmcelvaney. com // @jimmcelvaney.

JACOB FLANNERY

We catch up with one of Exposed’s most reliable live music snappers, Jacob Flannery, to talk top tips, memorable gigs and the thriving Sheffield photography scene.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY?

Back when I was at uni studying journalism, I was doing a lot of review writing and interviews for online music publications. I quite quickly realised that words didn’t always come naturally, but it was a great way to get involved with the scene. I’d always been interested in photography since I got my first digital camera as a kid, and when I saw some of the images photographers were creating for a magazine I was writing for at the time, I got the urge to try my hand at music photography as well.

Not long after getting my first written work published, I was introduced in a pub on South Road to one of my dad’s mates, Malcolm, who was working with some of the bands playing at Corporation. He gave me a couple of cheap SD cards and a few starter tips, and then I borrowed my dad’s Nikon D90 to shoot a gig at the Leadmill. It was the Aussie band Pond that were playing in the main room. There wasn’t a pit, it was dark, the lights were all red and the photos were awful. The whole experience, though, was a buzz and I wanted to keep plugging away at it.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO GOOD LIVE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY?

I’m not sure there’s really a secret to it. From my personal experience, it’s been a lot of trial and many errors. When you first start shooting live music, chances are the bands you’re taking photos of are going to be in small, dark and tricky venues compared to the likes of the O2 Academy or Sheff Arena. I think, in terms of building your skills, that’s exactly what you need. By the time I made it to my first arena gig, it was a nice surprise swapping out the overexcited smoke machine operator for a well-lit subject with huge production behind them. I’ve also found it incredibly beneficial engaging with others in the music photography community. Just being nice to those you’re going to be sharing the pit with and supporting their work is a great way to build connections, learn new skills and support others. I’ve been given some of my favourite jobs through networking with other photographers and it’s always a great feeling to recommend someone whose work you admire.

WHOSE WORK ARE YOU ENJOYING AT THE MOMENT?

There are some fantastic photographers working in Sheff. I particularly love the colours and vibrancy of what Lindsay Melbourne (@linday_melbourne) has been creating with Work in TV and 86TVs, and I also think Benji Wilson (@jamburrito1) is doing an amazing job of documenting local bands on film and digital –some of his film shots have me in awe. As well as this, Tom Marshall (tom_sunderland.pho) is producing some fantastic live work, grafting hard in and around South Yorkshire.

“FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT’S BEEN A LOT OF TRIAL AND MANY ERRORS.”

WHO’S BEEN THE BEST ACT TO SHOOT SO FAR?

There’s honestly so many and it’s really difficult to choose. One set that definitely sticks with me is Little Simz’ Tramlines performance back in 2021. I’d been living abroad for a while and had returned back to Sheff just in time for a year of lockdowns and little to no live music. I’d barely been shooting much, aside from the odd roll of 35mm, and when I managed to get a pass for the festival and the chance to shoot some of my favourite artists I jumped at the opportunity. Little Simz’ set was a highlight across the weekend; her presence on stage was magnetic and the crowd were fully there for it. The whole vibe of the weekend was magic, and I produced some of the work I’m most happy with.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE?

The Leadmill will always hold a special place in my heart. I shot my first gig there, interviewed a few bands upstairs, saw my favourites The Cribs play a wild sell-out show, and broke my wrist one night after tripping on the dancefloor. It’s iconic, The Leadmill; and whilst I also adore Crookes Social Club for its vintage curtains, tiled bar and working men’s club vibes, and Yellow Arch for the history and memories of rehearsing there with a rusty band as a teenager during our ‘one day we could be the next Arctic Monkeys phase, the Leadmill has to take top spot.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM GIG TO SHOOT?

That’s a real tricky one. I’ve been super grateful to photograph so many bands and artists. I guess a dream gig in the not-so-distant future though would be to shoot AM at Hillsborough Park. It would be great to take photos next to the courts I played footie on as a kid, within earshot of the house I grew up in and the Spoons where I had my first – and ashamedly not last – shot of whisky fireball. There’s almost something full circle about that. I feel lucky just to have grabbed a ticket for a date.

Jacob Flannery; more often found on the other side of the lens.