Exposed Magazine June 2022 by Exposed Magazine

JUNE 2022

THE LEADMILL CLEAN UP AT 2022 EXPOSED AWARDS

THAT WINNING FEELING! PROUDLY SUPPORTING

EXPOSED AWARDS 2022: THE WINNERS // FESTIVAL ROUNDUP NEW OPENINGS // NAT JOHNSON // PET DEATHS // KOG

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Celebrating their debut album launch ‘Drop Me Off In Harlem’ it is a pleasure to welcome The Easy Rollers back to The Big Swing. Taking you back to the golden age of jazz, a roaring swing band performing hits from the speakeasy bars of the Prohibition era. They have had audiences jumpin’ and jivin’ on dance floors across the country! ‘They present the music of their chosen era with verve,showmanship and great technical skill.

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

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Sheffield Songstress Emily West is joined by the Ryan Taylor Trio for a colourful combination of Jazz, Swing and Soul. Beautiful renditions of classic vocal standards injected with Ryan’s usual serving of improvised melodies, spontaneous jams and swinging grooves.

Queen of Swing! Internationally acclaimed vocalist and double bassist Nicola Farnon is joined by her very own ‘Kings of Swing’ Piero Tucci on keyboards/tenor sax and Phil Johnson on drums for a thoroughly entertaining evening of true Swing, Jazz & Funk.

Leeds Vocalist Tessa and her Applejacks are entertaining and captivating. With a strong Lindy Hop background Tessa knows how to play for dancers and does so regularly all over the UK. Their music choice has a variety of flavours and will stretch your dancing to its optimum.

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CONTENTS 20

6 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

20: THE EXPOSED AWARDS ARE BACK! Oh, what a neyt! The Exposed Awards returned for its first post-lockdown bash last month and all the attendees certainly made up for lost time! Find out how the night went down and who won what in this month’s cover feature.

27: BEST OF THE FEST

From mouth-watering food festivals to mind-nourishing documentary dos, here’s what’s heading your way this summer.

44: ALL NEW FOR ‘22

It’s been a whirlwind six months of fresh openings in Sheff, so we’ve handily rounded up everything you need to know about bars, cafes, restaurants and events that have arrived this year. Go forth and explore!

46: NAT JOHNSON Ahead of the former Monkey Swallows The Universe singer calling time on her Sheffield journey, Nat spends some time reminiscing with Mark Perkins about the good ol’ days.

68: MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Following the release of a new album, afro-fusion innovator K.O.G talks us through the musical journey that shaped his sound today.

REGULARS

10: CITY VIEWS 54: FOOD & DRINK 69: MUSIC 79: COMEDY 83: NIGHTLIFE 85: LGBTQ+ 86: CULTURE

JUNE 2022

FEATURES

Oof. Have a look at you, June. All resplendent with your multiple bank holidays and citywide festivals and teasing promises of sunkissed beer gardens. It’s a month that rarely disappoints from a social perspective, a lively pre-drinks gathering for the great British summer, and Sheffield looks ready to get the party started with some iconic events back on the agenda following two years of Covid-enforced cancellations. First up, the ever-impressive Sheffield Food Festival. Celebrating South Yorkshire’s thriving food and drink scene with 60+ artisan traders spread right across the city centre, plus plenty of family-friendly activities taking place over the four days, as well as the welcome return of the Eats, Beats and Treats Village – a personal fave – which showcases the region’s knack for producing both great beer and music. What better way to celebrate an elongated bank holiday weekend than by stuffing yourself with street food, trying out some craft bevs and taking in a live gig or two? It certainly ticks all the boxes from where I’m stood. Later in the month we’ll see the mighty DocFest back IRL, moving from its former part-online, part-physical hybrid to once more welcoming thousands of delegates from across the globe to the UK’s leading documentary festival. As a big Bowie fan, I’m hugely excited to see Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream opening the event at Sheffield City Hall, even more so after reading the unanimously impressive reviews from Cannes. The full programme should be out by the time you see this mag, so do go check it out at sheffdocfest.com and I guarantee you’ll find something that interests you. While on the subject of returning events, it would be remiss of me not to mention our humble awards ceremony. The first Exposed Awards since 2018 took place at Peddler Warehouse last month, and what a memorable night it was. After a horrendous couple of years for our local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality and retail sector, it felt hugely significant to get a good chunk of them under one roof and celebrate what they bring to the city. They’re the people and places that make Sheffield tick. Never forget that. That’s it from me. If you’re looking to kick off the summer in style, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in the form of local festivals (p27), new openings (p44) and a range of gigs (p69 onwards) to get stuck into. Have a good’un, and we’ll see you in July! = JF x

THE LEADMILL CLEAN UP AT 2022 EXPOSED AWARDS

THAT WINNING FEELING! PROUDLY SUPPORTING

EXPOSED AWARDS 2022: THE WINNERS // FESTIVAL ROUNDUP NEW OPENINGS 2022 // NAT JOHNSON // PET DEATHS // KOG

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 Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins, Hannah Foster, Emily Fletcher, Jamie LeiRoberts, James Leaney, Ellie Grace, Melissa Sadler.

COVER IMAGE

Ellie Grace Photography

THE BUSINESS STUFF

EXPOSED IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY BLIND MICE MEDIA LTD UNIT 1B RIALTO 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.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 7

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STREET FOOD AND ARTISAN TRADERS WILL BE SPREAD ACROSS THE CITY CENTRE, 90% OF WHICH HAIL FROM SOUTH YORKS

LIVE ACTS/DJS WILL BE PLAYING EACH DAY AT THE EATS, TREATS & BEATS FESTIVAL VILLAGE IN THE PEACE GARDENS

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PEOPLE ATTENDED THE LAST FESTIVAL, CHOWING DOWN ON SOME OF THE REGION’S FINEST FOOD & ENJOYING THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Following a two-year hiatus, Sheffield’s annual city centre Food Festival is set to return for its 10th instalment 2nd-5th June. Taking place across several town centre areas including Peace Gardens, Pinstone Street, Town Hall Square, Winter Gardens, Millennium Square and St Paul’s Parade, the event is the biggest on the city’s culinary calendar and promises an unforgettable feast across the Jubilee bank holiday. WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 9

A goodbye letter to Sheffield... While it wasn’t a huge culture shock home, I was used to covering up hangovers moving from Manchester’s outskirts to on my morning shifts following heavy Sheffield’s city centre, it was definitely a nights facilitated by a fake ID, but the big change. I loved the busy buzz of living weekly recovery from an event at Tank was in the heart of Sheffield: unearthly. the convenience of Sheffield quickly having the whole world became my new home right on my doorstep, - a familiar safe space. supermarkets within I rooted around the walking distance, Moor Market, windowFOR ME, NOW, my closest friends all shopped at Meadowhall under one roof, and uni (I was on a student THE PANDEMIC buildings down the road, budget, after all), and FEELS LIKE A enabling me to roll out of established my regular DISTANT MEMORY, bed ten minutes before coffee spots in the centre AND AFTER ITS 9am. of town. By the end of However, my Sheffield my first year at Uni, I was SOLID ATTEMPT experience before and completely comfortable TO TARNISH MY after the pandemic are here and thought I knew RELATIONSHIP completely contrasting. it like the back of my WITH SHEFFIELD, In my first year of hand – it felt like my city. I FIND MYSELF IN Uni, I established a I moved back home routine. On a Monday, AN ENDEAVOUR TO when the first lockdown my coursemates and I was announced – now, SALVAGE IT - AND finished a lecture at 3 that was a culture shock. EVERY DAY THIS and headed straight to Via social media, I the pub. “We’ll just go GENIAL CITY OFFERS watched other people for one,” we’d say… until doing home workouts, ME SHIMMERS OF we cancelled our evening HOPE IN EXCHANGE. partaking in fun plans and eventually challenges and baking stumbled home the next banana bread while I morning. just… sat. Jobless, hopeless and lonely. Ashamedly, every Tuesday my flatmates Through lockdowns 2 and 3, I stayed and I took advantage of 90p night at CODE, in Sheffield, which was better, but I had and on Wednesdays, we’d get dressed up changed: I had become anxious and for Hallamnation, scavenging for free awkward. When the world went back to sausage rolls and inflatable guitars. Back normal, the last thing I wanted to do was

BY JAMIE LEI-ROBERTS

JAMIE STUDIES JOURNALISM AT SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY 10 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

UPFRONT

to socialise. If I heard my flatmates, my friends, clattering pots in the kitchen I would skip meals to limit human contact; my social battery was always on five per cent, and God forbid anyone muttered the words ‘night out’. Instead of dancing to CODE’s repetitive pop playlist, it would keep me up, blasting through my window, as I tossed and turned in bed. I would negotiate drinks at Water Works (which would inevitably lead to a night on West Street) to a trip to Tamper, with a cut-off time of 3pm. For me, now, the pandemic feels like a distant memory, and after its solid attempt to tarnish my relationship with Sheffield, I find myself in an endeavour to salvage it - and every day this genial city offers me shimmers of hope in exchange. I notice that nothing feels as summery as a lukewarm day in Sheffield. Give them a dry day and a spot of sunshine and the beer gardens will buzz with friendly chatter and booming laughter; Endcliffe park will bustle with day-drinkers, barbecuers and amateur footballers; eateries will vacate outdoors, pedestrianising the roads with extravagant signage and excessive seating. While I blamed Covid for preventing me from experiencing Sheffield fully, it eventually became a sign to venture out of my city centre bubble. I have lost half of my uni experience to not only lockdowns, but to repetitive nights at shitty clubs, which left me with blurry flashbacks, excruciating hangxiety and a very limited view of a city that I call home. Only during the pandemic did I step into a Sheffield park for the first time, or wander through the contemporary, cobblestoned streets of Kelham Island (which ended in the quintessential Riverside roast). After clubs remained closed, I headed into Sheffield bars instead, where I uncovered my competitive side by finishing last in pub quizzes, and I was reminded how easy it is to make friends while complimenting outfits in the girls’ toilets. As my time in this benevolent city draws to an untimely end, after three years which seem like forever, my Sheffield experience feels incomplete. It is my mission to relish and make the most of my final few months – for now, but not forever. WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 11

WWW.GOLFFANG.CO.UK

UPFRONT

1. The work can be done tomorrow

THINGS YOU ONLY KNOW IF YOU’RE A...

FILM PRODUCER

It’s an intense industry out there and you will have deadlines that you won’t be able to budge, but if you’re exhausted and the work can wait (even five minutes) to give yourself a break, do it. Your mental and physical health is foremost, always.

2. Find your collaborators

Those people who you trust to tell you the work is not up to scratch, even when you want it so badly to be. Those who will give you a cup of tea when words won’t do. They matter more than you’ll ever know.

3. Don’t be afraid to fail

It’s a cliche but failing is invaluable and a vital learning tool in the industry. Find the safe spaces which allow you to do so and see what you can learn about yourself and your practice when you get it wrong.

4. Story matters to an audience

What happens in your Film will only matter to an audience if they care why it’s happening. You need to engage them emotionally otherwise they’ll just switch off, even more so with the wealth of content out there currently.

5. Know your industry

If you want to work in film, you need to watch as much as you can. Each film will teach you more about the story and how to make one yourself. Even if you don’t like it, working out why you didn’t engage with the film is still invaluable to your development. Formed in 2015 by Producer Rebecca Mark -Lawson, Tyke Films are a BFI Vision Award Selected Film, TV, and VR Production Company developing work with original approaches to true stories, told by those with lived experience and often exploring the intersection between documentary and fiction. Their latest documentary feature ‘Poly Styrene: I am a Cliche’ recently won Best Documentary and Raindance Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards. For more information about Rebecca or Tyke Films, check out www.tykefilms.com or follow them on social media @tykefilms WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 13

UPFRONT

Support your High Street

Many high street businesses were revitalised during the pandemic as people shopped locally, but that support needs to continue to ensure their survival. Exposed Mag spoke to Sally Pepper from Business Sheffield and three local business owners who want to shout about their high street. It’s been an unbelievably challenging two years for high street businesses, and while this spring has brought some feelings of relief, there are still many peaks and troughs to navigate. Even though our high street businesses continue to face unprecedented challenges, they’ve also gained a new significance for shoppers and their local community. Sally Pepper, business information officer at Business Sheffield said: “Before COVID-19, the retail landscape was already shifting with the loss of many retail giants. The pandemic threw a curveball into the mix, accelerating our use of online shopping but with a spin towards local high streets and independents as we were forced to shop locally.” “I’ve always believed that independent retailers would play a large part in redefining the retail landscape and I think in part that is now coming true. Many more people are shopping locally and have discovered businesses they didn’t know about.” “If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that we need connection. We need to feel part of our community, at work, at home or with friends. A high street community is no different - customers want to buy from real people, and businesses want support from like-minded neighbours.” “Why not make a point of visiting other businesses on your high street and further afield? If there isn’t a business networking group in your area, start one. There may also be local community groups that you can join - after all, local businesses are part of what drives and defines that community.”

14 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

HAPPY HARE, CHAPELTOWN

Happy Hare is a fabric shop in Chapeltown which sells handmade craft items and fabric for dressmaking and patchwork. The shop is owned by Lisa Birkett, who took it over after a stressful job working long hours all over the country left her wondering if she could change career and follow her passion for crafts. Lisa said: “It’s important to me to support other independent businesses, so our dressmaking patterns are from small indie companies. We also stock wool which is reared, sheared and spun in the UK.” “The first thing I learnt was opening a fabric shop costs a lot more than you think it’s going to! It’s been a particularly tough couple of years, as it has for everyone. We’re lucky in that a lot of people want to see and feel the fabric before they buy, which will hopefully mean that there is a future for bricks and mortar fabric businesses.” “High streets have just become so homogenous and little independent businesses are one thing which helps to make a street unique. You’ll usually find the owner working there, and there is generally a real focus on customer service because the success of that business is what pays the mortgage.” “Chapeltown has some great independent businesses, which are well worth a look. We are also in the process of writing a treasure hunt, which will be a trail that families can follow, taking them all around the area and we hope this will attract more people to the high street here.”

Lisa Burkett, Happy Hare

THE CAKE SHOP, HILLSBOROUGH

GOOD TASTE, BROOMHILL

The Cake Shop team

Good Taste is Sheffield’s only fairtrade shop, selling a variety of fairly and ethically traded food, crafts, toys, cards and more. Lucy Morley, co-founder of Good Taste said: “We love giving people the opportunity to buy things which make a real difference to the people that have created or grown them. We have lots of very loyal customers who we enjoy getting to know and whose support is invaluable.” “Broomhill is a great community to be part of. There are so many independent shops, salons and restaurants and the students give it a real buzz! Being a main thoroughfare means thousands of people travel through every day, but if you take the time to stop and explore it really is a great place to shop. Everything is located relatively close together, so you don’t have to walk very far to get everything you need.” “Rising prices are our biggest challenge at the moment. We know that people are struggling more financially and may be less likely to shop in independents like ours. Word of mouth is always a good advert and it’s great to see new customers coming into the shop off the back of recommendations from friends.”

The Cake Shop supplies bespoke handmade cakes for any occasion. Set up in 2010, the business now has a base on Holme Lane in Hillsborough and owner Gill Smith also offers sugar craft teaching courses. Gill said: “I love teaching students who walk in thinking they are not capable of producing what I present them with at the start of a class. I love it when they walk out at the end of a session clutching their creation with a big beam on their faces. I also get the same feeling when customers walk in to pick up a cake and tears of happiness start flowing.” “In Hillsborough, there is such a variety of shops with hundreds of small businesses along with cafes and bars galore. In local shops, the goods can be held, felt for quality, checked for size and we can give valuable advice to customers on how to get the best out of their purchases. We are specialists selling specialised goods and love to see our customers improving their knowledge after listening and taking in the advice we can offer.” “Our biggest challenge comes from internet companies, which people find so easy to order from whilst sitting at home. We do take time out to check prices on the internet to ensure we are competitive but sometimes we don’t get the opportunity to prove this when people order goods online.”

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 15

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UPFRONT Picture: Timm Cleasby

ABBEYDALE PICTURE HOUSE: WHAT NEXT? On arrival at the Abbeydale Picture House one morning last month, the CADS team, who have run the venue since 2017, were devastated to find that they had been unexpectedly evicted following an ongoing dispute with the building’s landlord around repairs to the roof of the main auditorium. The move came despite ongoing negotiations and has led to wide disruption of CADS projects, dealing a huge blow to the city’s cultural industries in the process. While the team are still hopeful that an amicable settlement can be reached, the immediate closure of this beloved venue is set to have a huge impact on Sheffield with countless events affected at a time of fragility for the hospitality and night-time economy. CADS has invested tens of thousands of pounds, including Crowdfunding efforts, and many hours on the careful restoration of the building and any change in tenant puts the whole project at risk. Picture House Social, the bar based in the lower section of the Abbeydale Picture House, remains open and is unaffected by the eviction of CADS. Steve Rimmer, spokesperson for CADS, said: “Our goal for the Picture House was to restore this Grade II listed building to its former glory and ensure it was an asset to the Sheffield community. The vision for CADS has always been to breathe new life into Sheffield’s disused and dilapidated spaces. Although we’re incredibly pleased with all that has been achieved at the Picture House so far, there’s still huge amounts of work needed to make this building safe and usable for the future.” “In December 2021, we commissioned a specialist report into the condition of the plaster vaulted ceiling in the auditorium. This report

THE CADS TEAM ARE STILL TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THE VENUE AND ARE LEGALLY CHALLENGING THE EVICTION. THEY ARE INVITING THE PUBLIC TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE VENUE AND HELP THEM IN THEIR QUEST TO SAVE THIS INCREDIBLE BUILDING – HEAD OVER TO @CADS_SHEFF FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.

was conducted by a heritage specialist recommended by the Theatres Trust who have an extensive track record with working on historic plaster. This report found areas of the ceiling at risk of collapse due to water damage – and with potential danger to the life of audience members – we immediately closed the auditorium to the public.” “The report found ongoing water ingress that must be fixed before any plaster work could take place. We believe that the terms of our lease with the landlord show that he is responsible for maintaining the roof and despite initially promising to fix this in a period of good weather, the landlord then conducted his own inspection and decided that he would not be making those repairs. Following conversations with Environmental Health at Sheffield City Council it was understood that if events continue in the auditorium without specialist repairs to the ceiling, it would result in criminal liability and possible prosecution for any individual or organisation responsible.” “This led to the closure of the main event space and a huge loss of income for CADS of over £80,000 and counting, and although CADS had finance in place and a campaign ready to help fund repairs, fundamental work on the roof was still needed and this has become a bone of contention with the landlord.” Since taking on the venue in 2017, CADS have invested huge amounts of time and money in readying the venue to grow as an event space and ultimately to be fully restored. They have raised just under £100k that has already been invested into the building, secured a venue license (pending renovation) and run countless events for many different Sheffield organisations and demographics. They have also provided affordable office and studio space to Sheffield start-ups and creatives who have also their spaces. WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 17

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AWARDS 2022

2022 in association with

S R E N N WI 20 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Well, that was emotional! 2019 The first Exposed Awards since (ta, Covid) took place last month, and we can’t tell you how bloody nice it was to see a room full of n, Sheffielders letting their hair dow off enjoying a well-deserved evening and paying homage to our fine city. y Over the course of a typically livel 19 evening at Peddler Warehouse, ers awards were handed out to winn es: gori cate of ty varie a ss acro , bars, cafes, restaurants, breweries es musicians, sustainable business and more – all decided by votes l from Exposed readers and our pane of judges. Afterwards, the lovely folk at piña hosted the infamous awards ty afterparty, where there was plen cal of dancing, margaritas and mez ea through until the wee hours. We’r the little hazy on the finer details of ul night, so thankfully the wonderf Ellie Grace and Melissa Sadler were it on-hand to capture the action as went down. Flick the page and we’ll introduce you to this year’s winners!

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 21

AWARDS 2022 BEST CAFÉ

Sponsored by Beavertown

TWO THIRDS

ALSO NOMINATED... THE BEAR FACTORY FLOOR HEIST PANGOLIN

How does it feel to win Best New Bar? Wow. It’s an absolutely amazing feeling! It’s our first time, so yeah, it’s very exciting indeed. What is one drink from your bar that you’d recommend? Oooh, that’s a tough one. I’ll say the Coconut Espresso Stoutini; it’s kind of like an Espresso Martini but a lot better, we reckon. If you could give any advice to those just starting up a new bar, what would it be? Work your bollocks off! It’s all about graft, graft and more graft.

AWARD WINNER

BEST SUSTAINABLE BRAND

BEANIES WHOLEFOODS How does it feel to win? We were hoping to win, and we are really pleased that we did as it’s a really good category. Do you think sustainable products are becoming more accessible? Yes, definitely because people and businesses are thinking more widely about how to act sustainably.

ALSO NOMINATED... BARE ALTERNATIVE FOOD WORKS THE NOOK UNWRAPPED

Why did you choose to go down the sustainable route? We’ve always been vegetarian, always been selling organics, so it’s always been our priority. In that respect it was a very natural thing for us to do. It’s very important for us and it’s great for that to be recognised.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 31

AWARD WINNER BEST RESTAURANT sponsored by Madri

DOMO How does it feel to win Best Restaurant? Very, very good! It’s exciting and this is one of the first awards we’ve been awarded with. What dish do you feel represents DOMO the most? Our fish stew, definitely. It’s a very popular dish. If you were to expand your menu, what would you want to include? Definitely more Sardinian dishes. We try to keep it as traditional as possible, so obviously with a few more modifications but still keeping it classic.

ALSO NOMINATED... ASHOKA JORO LA MAMA NAM SONG

AWARD WINNER BEST BEST LIVE VENUE sponsored by Heineken Silver

THE LEADMILL How does it feel to win? Fantastic! Who has been your favourite act that has performed at your venue over the years? Honestly, they all are – every night is a good night at The Leadmill. But Royal Blood at Halloween in 2014 was quite a special one. Three words to sum up your venue? Intimate, iconic and passionate.

32 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ALSO NOMINATED... DELICIOUS CLAM RECORD JUNKEE SIDNEY & MATILDA YELLOW ARCH

THANKS

brought We have lots of people to thank who ... ther. toge t even le who the you! Organiser: Danielle Gigg. We love kner Faul e Host: Stev Our venue: Peddler Warehouse Visuals: cuckoofilms.co.uk Tailor AV: Wide Eye Lighting and Grace and and phy ogra Phot e Grac Ellie phy: Photogra Melissa Sadler Photography Magician: AfroMagic er and Backstage Interviews: Hannah Fost her Fletc Emily Awards: Wentworth Pewter Pizza Food: Cowboy Burgers, New York’shire and Peng Sabor E Voting Partners: Cubana and COD You lot: Thanks for voting xx ers, a And of course, as well as all the winn e the mad who e thos to out t shou massive t. nigh the on cky unlu shortlist but were equal This year, public votes were given judges who rt expe of l pane our with weighting ks to than big So 5s. Top their also voted for insight. all them for their thought, effort and They were: he Palmer BBC Radio Sheffield presenter Xant and ival Fest lines Tram of / Alex Deadman fusion Under the Stars / Hip-hop and afroMarketing artist Franz Von / Mark Mobbs of of SAYiT CEO and t mnis colu + LGBT / eld Sheffi . rson Pate her Sheffield, Heat WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 33

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AWARDS 2022

exposed Awards 2022 headline sponsor: IPM Group The award-winning security firm celebrates 15 years of working closely with the industry. The end of 2021 marked a significant milestone within Sheffield based security firm, IPM Groups company history, IPM celebrated its 15th birthday! Starting from humble beginnings, providing door supervisors to a handful of the city’s mainstays to developing into a multi-faceted security firm and even, eventually, taking their hand to the industry themselves, with the likes of FirePit Rocks and Silversmiths restaurant. As IPM Group look to the future, with the aim to celebrate another 15 prosperous years, they had thoughts about how the firm could celebrate the momentous occasion whilst encapsulating everything that IPM stands for. With the company’s evolution and most significant milestone in mind, IPM Group wanted to sponsor the prestigious Exposed Magazine awards, celebrating the best in Sheffield and the continued relationship they have had with the city’s cultural and hospitality members. As IPM Group head into their 16th year of operating, the milestone gives the group an opportunity to reflect on the incredible growth they have achieved. What started as a humble door supervisor and security guard enterprise headed up by CEO Rick Bailey, has evolved into an all-encompassing security and facilities

36 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

management business, providing security solutions across a range of sectors and industries. Whilst the parent company grew, new ventures have been formed throughout a plethora of industries under the IPM umbrella. IPM Group has grown year on year since its inception, they put this down to two simple facts: “Our willingness to embrace new technology and our openness to take risks and accept new challenges and opportunities.” During their growth they have always adapted with the times, introducing the use of stateof-the-art CCTV technology systems early on; this early adoption of modern CCTV, including temporary systems, analytical detection systems and a purposebuilt 24/7 monitoring station, has proven successful and has now grown to be one of most successful divisions. In more recent years, namely since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, most businesses were shelling up, whilst IPM Group sought the opportunity to expand! They invented, developed, and brought to market the inteliPod. The world’s first 100% touchless, innovative, fully automated, self-contained access control unit. Designed for smarter, faster, and safer access control solutions across multiple sectors including construction, border control, events, rail, and commercial sectors. Due to its purpose-built relevance,

AWARDS 2022 the inteliPod has proven a commercial success; it is currently deployed throughout the UK and has been involved with a number of large-scale commercial projects and significant infrastructure developments. Further ventures were conceived during the height of the pandemic, which saw IPM Group delving into the world of food. Restaurants, including Silversmiths, were forced to close due to lockdown which saw the birth of now popular meal prep service Revive Nutrition. The team of highly trained chefs from Silversmiths started putting their skills to use with meal preparation instead, focusing on dishes to help people meet their fitness goals or trying to improve their overall health. Furthermore, IPM has also rapidly developed their facilities management services with local football club Rotherham United. What began as a new multi-year partnership with Rotherham United F.C to become the club’s new Stadium Facilities Management Partner and sponsor, rapidly developed into a brand-new branch of IPM Group. IPM Group training and recruitment. Since its launch, IPM Group training and recruitment has swiftly expanded, whilst bolstering the local economy, creating an enormous number of vacancies, and promptly recruiting over 500 stadium and events stewards. In just a few short months IPM has assumed responsibility to supply stadium stewards to many of the country’s largest sports and events stadiums. The team at IPM Group would like to say “Thank you to all the amazing staff, clients, and partners we have worked with over the years. We will continue to strive for innovation and evolve with the times. We look forward to celebrating all of our achievements at the awards and sharing another 15 prosperous years with you all!”

“THANK YOU TO ALL THE AMAZING STAFF, CLIENTS, AND PARTNERS WE HAVE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS.”

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 37

2022 in association with

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2022 in association with

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LOXLEY HEIGHTS

Reaching New Heights

If you’re looking for stylish city-centre living in Sheffield, you won’t get much better than the recently opened Loxley Heights development on Rockingham Street. Exposed spoke to Danielle Nicholson, General Manager at Fresh, to get the lowdown on this exciting new living space… WORDS BY ASH BIRCH

Where are we at with the development as things stand? Loxley Heights is now open and we welcomed our first residents at the beginning of May. The interest has been phenomenal and there are just a few oneand two-bedroom apartments still available to rent. We’ve just released our studios which are all furnished and provide fantastic value for money, especially for young professionals, keyworkers and recent graduates starting their first job in the city. Tell us a little bit about the development and the community you’re building in Sheffield? Loxley Heights is home to 132 rental studios and apartments. Each studio or apartment is expertly designed to maximise space and light and the clever layout of our studios means that you have distinct living and sleeping areas. Residents at Loxley Heights also get exclusive use of our social spaces including a stunning sky lounge, roof terrace and courtyard, plus you also get complimentary access to facilities at the neighbouring Steelworks property, which includes the gym, fitness room, karaoke & media lounges. But Loxley Heights is much more than just apartments and facilities, we’re building a really friendly and inclusive community. Our dedicated 40 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

residents’ team are on-site 6 days a week and we host regular clubs, socials and experiences that are all included in your rent. So, one day you might be at a book club and the next day wine tasting on our roof terrace! We’re just planning our first exciting social which includes live music and a mixologist, all with an Ibiza vibe. We can’t wait! What makes Loxley Heights different from other developments in the city? Where to start…. Unlike lots of rentals, we welcome pets for a small monthly charge. Our tenancies are flexible from anything between 6 months and 3 years, or more. Superfast internet, access to all our facilities plus our events and clubs are included in your rent. We’ve got an app where you can view your account details and report any maintenance, which is then carried out by our on-site maintenance technician. Who do you feel is the ideal candidate for the development and what are the benefits of living here, rather than looking at other areas of the city? We’ve already got a varied mix of residents living with us. We’re really central so lots of our residents work in the city centre or at the hospitals and universities,

which are approximately a 5 to 15 minute walk away. If you’re looking for stylish urban living and a place where you can have your own space, but equally meet your neighbours and make new friends, then Loxley Heights is right for you. How does Loxley Heights meet the needs of a modern-day workforce and the shift towards a culture of working from home? We know that not everyone fits the 9 to 5 lifestyle and that working life has changed drastically recently! If you’re looking to WFH we offer a range of co-working spaces where you can chill out with your laptop. Plus we have a separate meeting room which you can book for that all important work call. Our clubs and socials are also programmed around our residents’ working patterns so no one misses out. What are the fundamental factors in building a strong mixed community around the area? We believe in giving people the space and opportunity to meet likeminded people who live in the same property. Our residents’ team are dedicated to facilitating this and they understand that our residents all want different things from their rental experience. One person might love coming along to our clubs, another might just want a quick chat with our General Manager when they pass through reception. It’s a new approach to renting centred around you. We also work with the wider community, promoting local businesses to our residents and using local suppliers whenever we can. How would you like Loxley Heights to be seen in five years’ time? Our wish is that Loxley Heights will have built a really strong reputation amongst Sheffield renters for quality homes that offer a safe and friendly environment and great value for money. To book a viewing email loxleyheights@ thisisfresh.com or call on 0114 4933750

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 41

cocktail masterclasses

BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH

ROOF TERRACE BAR

music for the people | food for the soul | good times forever

3 Holly Street Sheffield S1 2GT

walk ins and bookings available 08456118643 mojobar.co.uk/sheffield

OPEN 12PM-4AM EVERY DAY

PIZZAS & BITES SERVED UNTIL LATE

SHUFFLEBOARD & BEER PONG

21 Rotating Craft Keg Lines // Wines Spirits & Non-Alcoholic Beers Venue Available for Hire 85 Sidney Street, Sheffield, S1 4RG // 0114 303 9390 Follow us @industrytapsheffield

WHAT’S NEW ‘22? WE’VE NOW REACHED THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE YEAR, DEAR READER, AND OUR EVER-EXPANDING CITY HAS WELCOMED PLENTY OF NEW VENUES TO HAPPILY FACILITATE YOUR EATING, DRINKING AND SOCIALISING NEEDS. HERE’S A ROUNDUP OF SOME EXCITING NEWCOMERS WHO’VE ARRIVED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS…

Dark Horse by Doug Banks

5tara

Situated on Duke Street, a stone’s throw from the city’s famous Park Hill complex, Indian restaurant 5Tara has been open for dine-in meals since January and already the venue has built up a dedicated following, not just in the Steel City but across the North and Midlands too. Head down for some of the most authentic Punjabi cuisine that you’re likely to find around these parts. @5tara_sheffield

dark horse

A popular addition to the Banner Cross area, Dark Horse opened its doors in January and is regularly packed out by punters at weekends. There’s a nice, cosy vibe inside with modern interiors, a good drinks selection (including cocktails, if beer isn’t your bag) and possibly the biggest draw of all: sumptuous burgers and small bites from Slap & Pickle. @the_dark_horse_sheffield 44 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Roku

roku

The Spring Yard courtyard at Burton Road (situated behind the Peddler Warehouse) now contains a number of exciting food and drink establishments, making the spot a foodie haven all year round, not just on Peddler weekend. The latest addition is Roku, a sleek sushi restaurant from the guys behind the city’s popular Edo Sushi brand. @rokusheffield

golf fang

Bringing some adult-only crazy golf fun to Sheffield, Golf Fang opened its eclectic course to the public in April. The 38,000 sq. ft warehouse space on John Street is certainly an impressive sight, housing 18 holes of crazy golf action and decorated by local artists who have come together to cover every inch of the space in imaginative street art. Their on-site bar Birdies Bar will soon be added to the mix, serving up a wider drinks menu and hosting live music nights at the venue. @golffangsheffield

Golf Fang

NEW FOR 2022

Fat Mex

quayside market

Ship Inn

Taking place in the up-and-coming Victoria Quays area, new monthly event Quayside Market brings a plethora of street food, craft beer, cocktails, family-friendly activities and independent traders to the heart of the canal basin. Running from 12-9pm, DJs and musicians soundtrack the festivities, which will be returning this month on Saturday 11th June. @quaysidesheffield

mavi ruya

The spacious new Turkish grill and restaurant is now open on Abbeydale Road, taking over the unit which formerly housed the My Local supermarket. Totally unrecognisable from its previous incarnation, the new venue comes complete with a whole new second floor, upstairs bar, conference and meeting rooms and space for well over 100 covers throughout the site, as well as another 65 by the river outside. facebook.com/maviruyaturkish

fat mex

Steel Yard Kelham has welcomed its latest addition in Fat Mex, a vibrant Mexican street food venue. At the heart of the venture is an emphasis on providing an authentic Latin American experience, partnered with a few Steel City home comforts and all at fair prices. Expect everything from offers on tacos, churros and frozen margaritas to outdoor movie screenings and live mariachi bands. @thefatmex Mr Wilson’s

ship inn

Not a fresh opening per se, but a reopening of a hugely popular boozer by the team behind The Millowners Arms and Gaard Coffee. Retaining its distinctive character and charm, the 200-odd years old Ship Inn serves up the usual selection of beers and real ales, supplemented by bangin’ indie playlists, live sport and acoustic sessions. @shipinnkelhamisland

mr wilson’s

Owners of CODE nightclub and popular West Street Irish bar Molly Malone’s opened Mr Wilson’s last month. The two-floor bar, also situated on West Street, combines modern and classic influences: there’s a contemporary cocktail bar featuring luxury seating areas around a large island bar, while at ground level the basement transports guests back to a 1920s prohibition era, with low ceilings, dramatic dark woods and plush upholstery. @mrwilsonssheffield WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 45

BREAKFAST, BRUNCH, LUNCH & COCKTAILS

BOOK A TABLE NOW!

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK LATE OPENING ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY FOR WINE AND COCKTAILS 1 LANGSETT ROAD SOUTH, OUGHTIBRIDGE, S35 0GY @JONI_OUGHTIBRIDGE | MYJONI.CO.UK

NEW FOR 2022 Ms Mistrys

Boston Arms

boston arms

The beer experts behind Cutlery Work’s Boozehound bar, as well as the Plough Inn out in Derbyshire, have opened their new micropub and café, The Boston Arms, on Chesterfield Road in Woodseats. The vibe is artisan coffee and bakes during the day, then craft beer and an as of yet unannounced street vendor taking you through into the evening. @bostonarms.sheffield Boulevardier

chop shop bar and grill

The team behind popular Broomhill restaurant Butcher and Catch opened a sister restaurant in Kelham Island at the start of the year. Chop Shop Bar and Grill takes over the unit formerly occupied by The Tap House on Alma Street, and the venue specializes in chargrilled steaks, chops and meats, as well as rotisserie chicken, alongside a smaller number of fish dishes and sides. @chopshopgrill

zaap thai

ms mistrys

Taking up a slice of prime foodie real estate in the former bank on the corner of Rossi’s and Urban Choola, Ms Mistrys is another addition to London Road’s bustling food scene. Inside, vibrant décor matches a lively party atmosphere: local DJs spin tunes and punters sip cocktails and Jaipurs. Expect authentic Indian food served in small tapas-style dishes, made to encourage culinary exploration and interaction amongst customers. msmistryindiantapaslounge.com

boulevardier

The Glossop Road gin bar and lounge, named after the classic rye whisky-based negroni, is nestled on the main road leading into Broomhill and offers a top-class list of unique cocktails, gins and wines. The industrial feel of the bar is mixed with chic and luxurious furnishings, making for a comfortable neighbourhood hangout. @boulevardier_broomhill

A recent addition to the ever-growing restaurant offering on Eccy Road, Zaap Thai have brought a taste of Thailand to the former home of Mud Crab Diner. The interior is decked out like a bustling Bangok street food market, complete with tuk tuks, neon lighting and of course, a tempting array of tasty Thai cuisine. @zaap_thai_streetfood

itchy pig banner cross The OG Itchy Pig built a name for itself in Broomhill through an enviable beer offering and a warm, convivial atmosphere. Such was the success that there was a demand to open a second, slightly bigger unit at 946 Ecclesall Road. Expect more of the same from IP #2: a focus on quality real ales, plenty of hand-pulls, guest lines and rotating cask and keg options. @theitchypigbannercross

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 47

NEW FOR 2022

coming soon... Watch this space, Sheff…

cheap dates

The team behind Lucky Fox Diner and Terrace Goods have announced plans to convert the former Macpot unit on the top level of Orchard Square into a late-night dive bar. Expect characteristically chill vibes, craft beer, cocktails, live music, a pinball machine and a late licence until 2am. Lovely job. @cheapdatesbar

get wurst

As part of the upcoming Steel Yard shipping container development on Fargate, popular German street food specialists Get Wurst have confirmed they are making the move from their Two Thirds Beer Co. home on Abbeydale Road to the new city-centre site for their first solo venture. It will officially open on 4th June. @getwurstbrats

roxy ballroom

Competitive bar games venue Roxy Ball Room will be opening premises in Sheffield this summer. The latest addition to the Heart of the City regeneration scheme, it will be located next to the Furnace bar/restaurant and join a list of venues already established including Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Bristol. @roxyballroom

rudy’s pizza dough truck pizza

Sheffield’s sumptuous pizza scene received another boost in March, as Dough Truck Pizza arrived for a slice of the action. Growing from a wood-fired oven in the back of a vintage Land Rover, the family-run business has now settled into their Abbeydale Road home, slinging out handmade traditional Neapolitan pizzas and local tipples to hungry punters. @doughtruckpizza

kelham carnival

Kelham Island’s Saw Grinder’s Union, situated in the historic Globe Works courtyard, has been bringing some carnival vibes to the area featuring unique street food vendors and all-day DJ sets, alongside their own amazing burgers, craft beers and cocktails. @saw.grinders.union

doughboy

Doughboy, a gourmet cookie takeout company, recently opened its doors in Aberdeen Court, next door to Sheff staple Steam Yard. The new bake shop, which is a collaboration between Bullion Chocolate and Steam Yard, specialises in freshly baked cookies including its mainstay, a Bullion Milk Chocolate Chip, alongside a rotating weekly menu of five other cookie flavours. @wearedoughboy

german doner kebab

Taking up residence in the historic Telegraph House on High Street, this popular fast-food joint opened in March and knocks out a variety of donerfilled items – from traditional kebabs toasted in pitta to mouth-watering burgers, quesadillas and high protein boxes. PS: The chilli cheese bites are insanely good. @germandonerkebabuk 48 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Rudy’s has announced it is set to bring authentic Neapolitan pizza to Sheffield this month, promising a ‘relaxed neighbourhood pizzeria’ in the former Lonestar Site on Division Street. Believing Neapolitan pizza to be the best in the world, their dough is made fresh daily using Caputo ‘00’ flour alongside the best quality ingredients imported twice a week from Naples. @wearerudyspizza

/ TAK N I K

E OUT / E

XP L N OR I E DR CRAFT BEER BOTTLE SHOP & BAR LITTLE KELHAM

200+ Craft beers, small batch spirits and exclusive wines

HYMN TO NINKASI The Wedge 5 Cotton Mill Walk Little Kelham Sheffield S3 8DH

NEW FOR 2022

coming soon...

pom kitchen ii

Sharrow Vale Road favourite Pom Kitchen has been serving its local community with vegan deli treats since 2017, and its owner has now revealed plans to open a second location in Crookes this summer. Expect all the good stuff we love about Pom from the new, much bigger site on Northfield Road. @pomkitchen_

cambridge street collective Kelu

kelu

The owners of Domo have today revealed they are set to reopen the rooftop bar in the Krynkl shipping container development this spring, just in time for some much-needed summer aperitifs. Kelu, which means sky in Sardinian dialect, will become a luxurious Mediterranean ‘sunset bar’ serving an exciting array of cocktails, self-service fine wines from an Enomatic dispenser and traditional Sardinian nibbles. @k_e_l_u

neepsend social

The finishing touches are being applied at Neepsend Social Club and Canteen, a modern re-imagining of a classic social club brought to you by the owners of the former Cutlery Works faves, Slick Chicks, who are also housing their amazing fried chicken and cheesecake restaurant in the venue, under the slightly new name of Slicks. The venue will be open soon at 92 Burton Road, next door to The Parrot Club and the Peddler Warehouse. @neepsendsocial

Cambridge Street Collective will be run by The Milestone Group (Cutlery Works, Craft & Dough), who will deliver an exciting food hall and finedining venue that will also host a cookery school, live entertainment spaces and a fine-dining rooftop restaurant. It is currently scheduled to open in 2023. @cambridge_street_ collective

leah’s yard

The former 19th Century mesters works and one of Sheffield’s most important heritage buildings is set for an exciting new future. Once fully refurbished, Leah’s Yard will feature a collection of highquality local traders within ground floor studios, offering everything from furniture and clothes to artisan foods and ales, with unique spaces on upper floors to accommodate the best of Sheffield’s small businesses. @leahsyard

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Real Ale, Craft Beer, Gin & Cocktails. Seven Days a Week. Large Bookings Welcome

free table tennis Pub Quiz Happy Hour Every Weds from 7pm

Every Day 5pm-7pm

2022 in association with

NOMINEE

Kelham Island Museum, Alma St S3 7RY

@TheMillownersArms www.TheRealKelham.com

BOOK A TABLE NOW!

Fully Licenced Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch, Open seven days a week PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE. CONTACT US NOW

FREE TABLE TENNIS KELHAM ISLAND MUSEUM, ALMA ST, S3 7RY @ISLANDKELHAM WWW.THEREALKELHAM.COM EVENTS@THEREALKELHAM.COM

FOOD AND DRINK

Dine in Style Menu an Ace Deal

Exposed checks out Napoleons Dine-in-Style food offer... WORDS BY ASH BIRCH

As a Hillsborough resident and former Owlerton Stadium employee (glass collector and pot wash extraordinaire, circa 2001) I’m well acquainted with Owlerton’s Napoleons Casino, having spent a number of evenings (and early mornings) pretending to be a high roller in my youth. It’s been a while though, so last month a few pals and I took the rare opportunity to enjoy a bit of child-free time for an all too overdue catchup over the Naps Dine-in-style promotion; that’s a drink on arrival, three-course meal and £5 bet* – all covered by a mere £26pp (Sunday – Thursday. It’s just £32pp on Friday and Saturday). That means four (slightly over-the-hill) lads could get suitably wined and dined, with the opportunity for a cheeky flutter at the end, all for what we thought was a very reasonable price. Owlerton’s Napoleons sits proudly overlooking Penistone Road and is difficult to miss from the roadside, particularly given the recent arrival of next door’s OEC events centre, with its brightly lit, rainbow coloured, LED façade. Being noticed is one thing, but being recognised for quality is another, and before heading down to the casino we’d heard great things about the food and service. Arriving at the venue we weren’t disappointed and were greeted by friendly staff who directed us to the right of the casino’s main floor and towards the glamorous glass-fronted restaurant. Our 54 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

waiting on staff seated us overlooking gaming tables, explained the menu and took our drinks order (three pints, and a non-alcoholic beer for me). While the drinks were being prepared, we got to the serious business of checking out the menus and were surprised to find a satisfyingly eclectic mix of meat, fish, veggie and vegan options, ranging from steaks and sea bass to veggie hotpots and arancini. The current menu runs through May and June and is regularly changed, meaning you’ll always find something new to entice you back for another visit. As the drinks arrived, we ordered our starters. I opted for the spiced carrot and coriander soup, with the naan swapped out for toasted sourdough to make the dish vegan friendly. The indulgently rich broth, complemented beautifully by the delicate spicing, was a real treat and I slurped down the lot with glee. The lads differing choices showcased the menus variety, opting in turn for; the Napoleons classic prawn cocktail, Bloody Mary mayonnaise and wholemeal bloomer; Glazed goat’s cheese, roasted beetroot and cherry tomato salad and toasted hazelnut; and the Pressed chicken and chorizo terrine, drunken apple and sultana chutney and toasted sourdough. All the plates were cleared, a good sign, and the highlight seemed to be the prawn cocktail. A rare non-Christmas run out for the classic starter.

The mains we chose were predominantly meat heavy, save for my vegan Lancashire vegetable hotpot, braised red cabbage, pearl barley and baby onion jus (which I could have drank jugs of!). My dinner companions opted for the Roasted pork belly, Yorkshire pudding, fondant potato, cauliflower cheese puree and crackling; a 10oz Ribeye steak; and the 8oz Fillet steak. Both the steaks came complete with triple cooked chips, grilled tomato, flat cap mushroom and onion rings, and were priced at an additional £4 for the ribeye and £7 for the fillet. Treating ourselves though, weren’t we! Already feeling on the way to being pretty full-up, we moved with slight trepidation onto the desserts. The sweet treats were well-worth loosening that extra notch on the belt buckle for though! The vegan option here was Warm raspberry and frangipane tart, with vanilla ice cream. The tart benefitted from just the right amount of sharpness and the vegan ice cream is up there with the best I’ve ever had. Elsewhere, Steamed lemon sponge, lemon curd, vanilla custard and

candied walnuts; Dark chocolate and Malteser cheesecake, with salted caramel sauce; and Mango crème brulee, coconut ice cream, and stem ginger shortbread were all showstopping efforts, with a real emphasis on the presentation. Fit to burst, it was time to settle up and take our stuffed bellies to the casino floor with our tokens… After a short time on the casino floor, we decided call it a night. Richer in spirits, we left the venue perfectly satisfied, convinced that we’d just enjoyed one of the best-priced meals out in the city. Make sure you check out their latest menu (website below) when you next fancy treating yourself.

napoleons-casinos.co.uk

* ts and cs apply WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 55

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FOOD AND DRINK

dish of the month

MAKE NO BONES’ VEGAN HOT ROAST PORK SUB The vegan version of a Sheffield classic. Our hot roast pork sub has tender vegan roast pork strips, stuffing and apple sauce in a Bakewell bakery sub roll.

DID YOU KNOW?

We’ve been developing vegan roast dinners since our Chesterfield road cafe and we’re definitely at the best version now. Lemon and thyme coated vegan chicken or wafer thin sliced seitan beef, stuffing balls, homemade vegan Yorkshire puddings, seasonal broccoli, vegan cauliflower cheese, maple butter carrots, braised beetroot and hendos gravy, all with roast and mashed tates. We’ve also been working with James Ogden from Sheffield’s own Wickercamp Thai boxing gym to create a range of high protein low fat prepared meals as he prepares to fight for the WBC International Muay Thai title in June. We have just launched the first selection and anyone wanting more details can email info@ makenobones.co.uk and you can follow James’ story on Instagram @jameswickercamp 56 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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B E ST o f th e F E ST

From mouth-watering celebrations of local scran to the city’s biggest annual live music bash, Hannah Foster takes a look at some of the local festivals heading our way this summer!

Picture: Ben Harrison Media

SHEFFIELD FOOD FESTIVAL 2-5 June

A four-day bank holiday to mark the Jubilee festivities sets the perfect scene for a long weekend in the sun, and where better to revel in this beaut setting than at the annual Sheffield Food Festival? The summer staple is once again returning to the city to commemorate its 10th year, and this time round promises to be the busiest food fest so far. Proud to be the city’s largest free event, it will again play host to an extensive selection of street food vendors, local businesses and food and drink producers. Bringing a good chunk of the city centre in on the action, the festival will take over the Peace Gardens, Winter Gardens, Millennium Square and spread right across Town Hall Square and Pinstone Street. This year’s get-together boasts an artisan market, where attendees will be encouraged to sample the wide selection of vegetables, fruits, spices, cakes and preserves on offer. While for those looking for a few tipples in the sun there will also be a wide range of local craft beers and flavoured spirits on sale across the festival. Once again, the event’s famous street food market will play host to a massive array of street food vendors, 90% of whom are based in South Yorkshire, making for a true representation of the region’s food scene. For those who really want to get stuck in, the ever-popular Eats, Treats and Beats Festival Village is making a welcome return, now taking centre-stage at the Peace Gardens. Featuring live cooking demos from local chefs, celebrity appearances and shining a spotlight onto everything you need to know about Sheffield food and drink, the showcase is sure to bring a real depth to proceedings. Supporting all the food-centred excitement will be live performances by local bands and DJs, who are on-hand all weekend long to create the perfect summer atmosphere for those in attendance. sheffieldfoodfestival.co.uk 58 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

MIGRATION MATTERS FESTIVAL 17-25 June

A vibrant arts festival celebrating the ‘richness of Sheffield’ returns this summer - with 50 pay-as-you-feel events. Migration Matters Festival takes place this month to highlight the positive impact migration and refugees have in Sheffield, as well as bringing the whole city together. Theatre, music, food and performance events featuring renowned artists are just some of the activities running in well-known venues, from The Leadmill live music venue to The Montgomery theatre. Festival director Sam Holland said of this year’s event: “The festival shows you who is in the city. It shows you who your neighbours are and it is a lovely, eye-opening way of getting to know the richness of Sheffield. There isn’t anything more special than seeing community cohesion in action, to be meeting people of all the different places who have called Sheffield a sanctuary.” Held during national Refugee Week, the festival celebrates different cultures and helps marginalised people to feel represented. It has grown to attract international artists, is the biggest UK festival of its kind and some 10,000 people have attended previous instalments of Migration Matters. Guests of the event will include Taiwanese artists Howl Yuan, British author Lemn Sissay and Nigerian musician Seun Kuti, showcasing their work as the best of their industry to festival visitors. You can find at the full programme showcasing everything from insightful talks and live podcasts to gigs, theatre and parties at the festival’s website. migrationmattersfestival.co.uk

B E ST o f th e F E ST SHEFFIELD CRAFT CIDER FESTIVAL 25 June

Sheffield has long been known as one of the best places for beer. Now an upcoming festival hopes to get the city just as excited about its growing cider scene – teaming up with a brewery to lure in the cider curious as well as cider lovers in general. On Saturday 25 June, the Sheffield Craft Cider Festival will take place at the Heist Brew Co taproom in Neepsend. The event, which will feature some of the best artisan cideries from across the UK, is being curated by The Cider Hole, Sheffield’s only urban microcidery and bar, home to the city’s only permanent cider brand, Exemption Ciderhouse. “Sheffield has a great brewing history and today has many awesome breweries,” said Adam France, owner and co-founder of Heist Brew Co. “What we haven’t had previously is great cider. Now we do, courtesy of The Cider Hole, so we wanted to celebrate that and give rise to the cider revolution.” The free-to-enter festival – which runs from noon until late – will be pay-as-you-go with cideries offering small pours, allowing attendees to experiment with a large range of different drinks. Additionally, most tables will be run by the cidermakers themselves or representatives of the brand so visitors can learn more about craft cider by meeting the people behind the products. “At The Cider Hole, we offer over 60 craft ciders – but often times, guests haven’t heard of any of them, despite representing some of the best cidermakers in the world!” explained Mike Pomranz, the bar’s owner. “While craft breweries have become household names, equally mindblowing craft cideries often still languish in obscurity. By working with Heist Brew Co, I’m hoping more drinkers will discover these two craft movements aren’t as different as they may seem.” Speaking of craft beer, Heist Brew Tap will be serving its entire selection of beer, wine, and spirits, including its 30 draft lines, as usual. Additionally, Slap & Pickle will also be open as usual, selling its beloved burgers, fries, and other items. Entry is free. Children welcome ‘til 9pm.

SHEFFIELD DOCFEST 23-28 June

The UK’s leading documentary festival, DocFest, makes a welcome full return in 2022. A spectacular display of documentaries, presented in all manner of formats, brings to life stories from around the globe and opens up a space for attendees to debate and discuss. Expect an immersion into tales previously untold through the forms of film, television and art as 100s of films are shown throughout the week. Opening this year’s festival, Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream will take attendees on a stylistic journey through the life, times and sounds of one David Bowie. This will be the first public screening of the film since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, Moonage Daydream is the first film of its kind to be supported in its entirety by the David Bowie Estate, which thus allowed the filmmaker access to never before seen footage, allowing for a comprehensive investigation into the personal world of Bowie. Those in attendance will be amongst the first to experience this one of a kind immersion into the person behind the Bowie identity, through dreamy kaleidoscopic imagery of unseen performances and personal footage. Morgen himself will be attending DocFest for the unveiling of his film, having previously visited for the screening of his revered Montage of Heck documentary on legendary musician Kurt Cobain. With the programme yet to be announced (that’ll be out on 31st May), there are plenty of surprises in store before the festival begins on the 23rd June, not to mention the always intriguing Alternate Realities exhibitions and Q+A sessions with esteemed directors and filmmakers. sheffdocfest.com WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 59

B E ST o f th e F E ST MUSIC IN THE GARDENS 1-3 July

A spectacular musical event divided into genres and performed across three days, Music in the Gardens is poised as a highlight of the Sheffield summer. Starting out as a small-scale show organised by the Sheffield Rotary Club to showcase local music and raise funds for local charities, it has transformed into a spectacle, recognised nationally as a diverse and prominent live music experience. The first of three events taking place over the weekend, ‘Pop in the Gardens – ELO Experience’, will kick off the party with an award-winning tribute to the mighty Electric Light Orchestra. The second night, entitled ‘Jazz in the Gardens’ promises to be another immersive offering, with soulful singer songwriter Kat Eaton joining the ranks to entertain the crowd. The final evening, ‘Classics in the Garden’, is sure to be a soothing wind-down as the three-day fest draws to a close, played out with support from the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra. Regardless of musical preference, the opportunity to sit surrounded by the beauty of the Botanical Gardens as a live band plays and the sun sets is enough to entice anyone, not to mention the chance to sample food and drink from the selection of vendors catering to the weekend guests. To sweeten the deal, attendees of Music in the Gardens will be indirectly donating to The Botanical Gardens Trust, and to date the event has raised hundreds of thousands for local, national and international charities. musicinthegardens.co.uk

BASSFEST 16-17 July

Sheffield’s biggest electro-festival is back, bringing with it two days of huge acts who are ready to start the party with drum and bass bangers, house classics, bassline mixes and beyond. Expect more ravers than ever before at this year’s Bassfest, all out to celebrate summer in style at the Don Valley Bowl. Headlining the weekend are the incomparable Chase & Status, cemented festival legends who need no introduction. Also booked to headline is rapper Tion Wayne, bringing a different flavour and a welcome change to the typically one-genre fest – his infectious hits are seldom out of streaming charts, and no doubt the weekend’s ravers will be treated to a high energy, heavy intensity set. The powerhouse line-up doesn’t end there – expect performances from the biggest names in the dance and electronic industry, including D&B pioneer Andy C and the electric production duo Hybrid Minds. Another standout act is on-the-rise Bad Boy Chiller Crew, the trending bassline collective who are guaranteed crowd favourites. Bassfest.co.uk

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B E ST o f th e F E ST

Picture: Becky Payne

TOGETHER IN THE SQUARE 9-10 July

TRAMLINES 22-24 July

Each year Sheffield eagerly awaits the return of its beloved Tramlines Festival, and each year we are spoiled with a bash even bigger than the year before. Tramlines 2022 will, of course, be no different; a stellar roster of headliners, including Sam Fender, Kasabian and Madness, five stages of immense genre-crossing musicians, comedians and performance artists, plus mouth-watering locally sourced food and drink will culminate in a celebration of everything Sheffield once more. The weekend’s line-up is rife with talent; think singalong indie bangers from The Vaccines and non-stop dance tunes courtesy of Becky Hill, supported throughout by a host of musical legends and up-and-coming artists who are sure to keep the party going. If the live music wasn’t enough to entice you, this year the driving forces behind Tramlines have excelled themselves by securing a line-up of masterful comedians, ready to bring the laughs to Hillsborough Park. Household names Jason Manford, Seann Walsh and Russell Kane are gearing up to perform, so if you’re a comedy lover this will be one for the books. A new and welcome addition to this year’s festivities is the ‘Tramlines in the Community’ pledge, which is the title for a host of community-benefitting efforts by Tramlines to improve the festival’s sustainability credentials, and a further commitment to shine a spotlight on the local music scene. This is a welcome give-back to the Sheffield community which supports Tramlines Festival each year as the most hotly anticipated event of the summer. Last year, following its postponement at the height of 2020 lockdown madness, Tramlines Festival returned as part of the Government’s Event Research Programme, where it drew a record 40,000 people per each day of the fest. It went ahead in order to examine the risk of Covid-19 transmissions at big events, and with its return came a sense of normality to the city, a glowing light at the end of a seriously long tunnel. Hopefully the only issue attendees face this year is being torn between which of the five stages to head to - but regardless of where you end up, it’s a guaranteed good time at Sheff ’s biggest bash. tramlines.org.uk 62 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Supported by The University of Sheffield and Yellow Bus Events, Sheffield Theatres have announced the return of Together in the Square, an outdoor weekend of free events. Taking place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July, Tudor Square will be transformed into a festival space with events including street acts, music, poetry and theatre. This year’s Together in the Square will mark our participation in the city-wide series of cultural events celebrating the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, for which Sheffield and Rotherham will host matches in the tournament from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 31st July. On Saturday 9 July, performances, curated by the creative teams here at Sheffield Theatres will run from 11am – 7pm and on Sunday 10 July from 11am – 4pm. Alongside the programmed artists, we offer an open call out for artists who would like to perform during the two-day event. Applications are open now, with details of how to apply to available at the link below. John Tomlinson, Producer at Sheffield Theatres said: “We know from the success of last year’s event that people will love being Together in the Square again – and I can’t wait for the people of Sheffield to see what we’ve been working on at Sheffield Theatres, alongside the brilliant teams at The University of Sheffield and Yellow Bus Events.’ All performances at Together in the Square will be free with unallocated seating on Tudor Square.

B E ST o f th e F E ST ART IN THE GARDENS 3 September

Set amidst the stunning backdrop of the Botanical Gardens, this September sees the return of Art in the Gardens, a two-day event that allows guests to get up close and personal with a stunning array of artwork. The exhibition is the largest outdoor arts and crafts market in the north of England and has built up a dedicated following of culture vultures in the process. Find yourself immersed in thousands of works of art, with an array of all styles represented, from sculpture to realism to woodwork. This event provides a truly rare opportunity to mingle with the artists themselves, in order to uncover the meaning and stories behind the works and to put a face to creations. Furthermore, the unique exhibit aims to showcase and celebrate the up-andcoming talented artists from within Sheffield via a young artists display. The lawns of the gardens will be scattered with hand-crafted sculptures and marquees filled with working artists, offering guests a truly unfiltered look into the artist’s process. This hands-on experience also allows guests to purchase works directly from the creators on the day, and with thousands of pieces to choose from it is a certainty that there will be something suited to everyone. Tickets start at £6, and entry is free for guests under 16 years of age. Visit welcometosheffield.co.uk for more.

ROCKIN THE BOWL 9-11 September

Bringing open air rock to Sheffield’s Don Valley once again, Rockin the Bowl is back for 2022. It’s South Yorkshire’s biggest rock festival, and this time promises to be even bigger, louder better than the years before. Set to play out across three days over two huge stages and featuring a line-up of over 30 acts, it’s a must-attend for any local rockers out there. Headlining the festival are long-time rockers The Quireboys, fresh off the re-recorded release of their monumenal ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ album, now celebrating its 30th year. Joining them on the bill are Orange Goblin, the headbanging London rockers who had been releasing stellar records and touring effectively non-stop before Covid took over, now back in action and ready to stoke up the Sheffield party. The weekend’s final headliner, Terrorvision, are legitimate rock royalty with a career that spans more than 30 years and a discography long enough to fill the entire weekend, ensuring the festival goes with one hell of a bang. Tickets to the festival are on sale now, available to buy direct from rockinthebowl.co.uk.

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5तारा Sheffield KEEPING OUR ROOTS ALIVE

5TARA is the place where great cooking and fantastic vibes meet. Our food is nutritious, delicious and affordable, and we welcome diners young and old. Try it yourself—book your table or stop by today! We serve Cultural & Traditional and Punjabi Cuisine, focussed on our heritage of North India.

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MUSIC // TOP PICKS

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER

Foundry // 3 June // £16 A month on from the roaring success of ‘Get Together’ festival, The Foundry welcomes Melbourne five-piece ‘Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever’. Their latest single ‘Dive Deep’ combines surf-pop with slow-building atmospheric grooves, illustrating the band’s unique contribution to the Aussie renaissance in indie-rock. Catch them in Sheffield as part of their European and world tour. foundrysu.com

ABC

Sheffield City Hall // 21 June // £40-£74 Sheffield City Hall welcomes back some of the city’s favourite sons for a night of 80s nostalgia as ABC celebrates the 40th anniversary of their ground-breaking debut album ‘Lexicon of Love’. To mark the occasion, the local boys will play the discoinfused post-punk album in its entirety. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

MINDS IDLE

The Leadmill // June 25 // £8 One of Sheffield’s most highly anticipated local acts in recent years, Minds Idle plays their biggest show to date with a headline show at The Leadmill. Expect an exciting showcase of art-rock swagger and impressive songwriting skills from this hotly-tipped outfit. Leadmill.co.uk

NOISY

Yellow Arch Studios // 7 June // £11 Worthing three-piece Noisy, full of hooks, beats and escapism are returning to Sheffield this month. With recent release of new music, the up-and-coming trio are ready to take the stage at Yellow Arch Studios. yellowarch.com

SPEAK UP! CREEPING JEAN

Sidney & Matilda // 11 June // £8 Ahead of their new album release, psychrock trailblazers Creeping Jean will play an intimate show at Sheffield’s independent creative hub, Sidney & Matilda, in support of their new album ‘WHENS THE BLOWOUT’. Leadmill.co.uk

The Open Arms returns to Tramlines Festival this year and will play host to ‘Speakers Corner’ featuring the best of poetry and spoken word artists, with all acts curated by former Sheffield Poet Laureate Otis Mensah. He has selected some excellent, thought-provoking acts for the weekend including mellow vibes from AKA Kellz and deep lyricism from Simon A. The stage will also play host to music from Sheffield-based charities Under the Stars and Paces. The full Speakers Corner lineup is available online at tramlines.org.uk. WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 69

MUSIC

a fond

farewell Nat Johnson has been part of the Steel City musical scene ever since she came here to attend Sheffield University in 2002. We heard she was playing a farewell concert, and knew that no-one would be more upset than her biggest fan and Exposed music reviewer, Mark Perkins, so we asked him if he could hold back the tears for long enough for one last natter with Nat.

In all my time in Sheffield, there seems to have been few constants, but one thing that has stayed with me over the years is that when I attend music-related events here, I will, more often than not, come across Nat Johnson at some point. She might be watching a concert in Firth Court, or helping with Sensoria Festival, but much more visibly, she’ll be playing live music. Sometimes as a solo artist or at other times with her band The Figureheads, or before that as lead singer with the brilliant Monkey Swallows The Universe. But no more. Nat is finally saying farewell to Sheffield, and moving on to pastures new. I caught up with her last month to reminisce about old times. Good to speak to you again, Nat. It’s been far too long since we heard from you. What’s the latest news? Well, obviously the big news is that I’m leaving Sheffield. My daughter is four and a half now and, basically, we’re moving to be closer to family. My husband’s parents are up in the northeast, and I know they’d like to see more of their granddaughter, so being 40 minutes from them rather than four hours is much easier on all of us. We’ve thought about doing this for over 10 years, but we’d given up on the idea of moving, as we thought there were no jobs, but then, just as we’d given up on the idea, one came up. Moving house is bad enough, but moving cities is much harder. I can’t really imagine the local music scene without you being part of it somewhere, so I thought we’d just have a reminiscence about your musical history in Sheffield.

My memory’s not that good. I might need to rely on you to remind me about some parts! Kevin Gori and I started Monkey Swallows The Universe in 2003, and we played together as a band until 2008. We did a 10-year anniversary gig in the Queen’s Road Social a few years ago, which was initially in the Greystones, but it was really popular and sold out in about seven minutes, so we shifted to somewhere a bit bigger. And now I’m sort of doing it all again, trying again to learn a bunch of songs for one last gig at the Greystones. Just run me through the albums you’ve released, as I know there have been a few over the years with your two bands, and then as a solo artist. We made two albums with Monkey Swallows The Universe, Bright Carvings in 2006, which was on the famous independent Sheffield label Thee SPC, and then made Casket Letters in 2007. After the band finished I made a solo single, ‘Dirty Rotten Soul’, and went on to make two albums with The Figureheads: Roman Radio in 2009 and I’m Across I’m Ashore in 2012. I finally made my own solo album, Neighbour of the Year in 2014, along with a few solo EPs. I also did the Connie Converse project at around the same time, with a concert in the Cutler’s Hall as part of Sensoria, and I did an Off The Shelf event about the Bronte Sisters, too. That was pretty much it on the music front, as I went back to university to do a MA in Creative Writing, in which I got a distinction. When I first came to Sheffield I studied journalism and I really wanted to just write. I sort of just fell into music so doing an MA was a way of motivating myself to do it.

Nat Johnson plays The Greystones on Sunday 5th June

70 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Photo: Andy Brown

Will your Greystones show be solo, or have you drafted others in to share the load? Mostly just me. Mainly because I don’t have time to rehearse due to moving, packing up and everything else. I’m planning to have a few guests who will play a few bits of things, but mainly I’m on my own. One thing I’m finding hard is reducing it down to a manageable setlist. There are so many songs I want to sing that I’m finding it hard to choose. People will have to just put up with me until they all get bored and decide to go home. It’s a really nice feeling to know that I can still sell out a gig, as I haven’t played live for five years. I’m glad you’ve found a way to say a musical farewell to Sheffield. Yes, there are lots of things I’ll miss about the place. Things like gigs that we can just walk to at the Crookes Social Club, and the great food, but I’m looking forward to exploring more of the north-east. Chris is from Embeton; in fact, we got married there, and we’re moving to the coast somewhere, maybe around Whitley Bay. Leaving Sheffield will be a big deal for me, but I love being by the sea, so that will be some compensation. I’m planning on being back loads, as I’ve got 20 years of friends and memories here. One thing I’m taking with me is a big box of old Sandman magazines, which I love to look back on. It really takes me back to the early days of making music in Sheffield. In fact, Chris Wilson, from the old Boardwalk days, is putting me on at the Greystones, so it seems kind of appropriate that this will be my last gig here. If people can’t get to the gig, and it has sold out, there will be a chance to see me doing a secret warm-up gig on the Thursday before, when we have an extra bank holiday. Sensoria are putting on a gig somewhere in Loxley, as a tie-in with the Robin Hood book they published at Christmas, which claims he was born in Loxley. Although I do feel a bit torn, as I grew up in Nottingham, and we’ve always thought of Robin Hood as ours. Aaaahh, but now we know the truth, and that he was from Loxley, so you can keep your hands off him. All the best, Nat!

one thing i’m taking with me is a big box of old sandman magazines, which I love to look back on. it really takes me back to the early days of making music in sheffield. WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 71

K.O.G

Sheffield-based Afro-fusion innovator and guaranteed partystarter Kweku Sackey (AKA K.O.G) takes us through his life in music… Photo: Laura Page

THE FIRST RECORD I EVER BOUGHT... Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I got it in the early to mid-90s. My grandma took me to church back then where I’d sing in an acapella group, and the closest thing to that kind of acapella I could find was the South African group Black Mambazo. I loved their harmonies – no instruments, just voices. I’m a big melody person. MY FIRST GIG… Around 2002 at Akuma Village in Ghana. It’s a beach strip that allows young people to come and play on the bandstand. I was in uni at the time, and that was like my very first proper reggae show. It was like my first step, playing my own original music with my own band called Iration Crew. That was the beginning of trying to hone my craft. THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED... The first song I performed was at that gig as well: ‘Soraya’. It was the first original song I ever performed properly; it was really, really, nice. The song is about a girl. It was a long, long, time ago. A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN... Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon. I do Afro-fusion, so Simon and Garfunkel and the whole fusion of Western sounds, of folk and funk with African traditional music is my thing. I love people who experiment with African cadence and melodies. That album, they came to Africa to make; I like every song, but that particular song starts with acapella and a really wicked African bassline. In my head, it’s the perfect song.

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN... When grandma first took me to church. I’ve always been attracted to sound. I’ve always been musical, so the very first time I went to my grandmother’s church, they had a lot of percussion. It wasn’t a rich church with pianos, so they only had traditional percussion. And it was the women that played instruments, like my grandma. There was something beautiful about it. That was my projection into music, into a more spiritual kind of space. I fell in love with music there.

K.O.G’s latest album Zone 6, Agege is out now and available on all streaming platforms 72 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ONE SONG THAT I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY HEAD AT THE MINUTE... Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen. I was watching the film Watchmen and there was a song by Sigrid that I loved. I found the original and it’s been stuck in my head for a nearly a year. A RECORD THAT REMINDS ME OF A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE... Graceland by Paul Simon. This album reminds me of my time back in Africa and the understanding and evolution of my music. Music is a global language; it’s not a linguistic language, but more of a sonic language.

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Back In Town

Pet Deaths are a London-based celestial folk duo featuring former Hey Sholay singer Liam Karima and Graeme Martin. Ahead of their upcoming Yellow Arch show, they spoke to Exposed’s Tom Bell about sharing a stage with Guy Garvey, changing influences and arse-searing pyrotechnic shows… I see you’re lined up to play with the likes of Elbow and Midlake. How are you feeling about working with veterans of their respective genres? Liam: Veteran, that’s a nice word to choose for Elbow and Midlake. Growing up, these are bands that we listened to, so to be sharing a stage with them is a real honour. We’ve already played with Elbow before and since then we have become good friends with them. They are frequenters of Fagan’s in Sheffield. Every Sheffielder knows Fagan’s! Your debut album gave me very strong Elliott Smith, Tom Waits and Nick Cave vibes. Who are your inspirations currently? Graeme: I think you hit the nail on the head with your references. We’ve got a huge scope of music we listen to, and we send records back and forth to each other all the time. What we are creating now is totally different to what we created for this record. The record we are promoting now was recorded a while ago. There a no new bands that have influenced me personally; really, it’s mainly older music from the 70s and 80s: Leonard Cohen, Broadcast, Chet Baker, Neil Young, The Everly Brothers.

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Photo: Andrew G Hobbs

MUSIC

Can we expect the new album to follow in the same style as the new singles? Graeme: The record is very coherent, but it does flutter through different genres. Even the difference between ‘All the things you said…’ and ‘Swingtime’ is quite dramatic in terms of song style. The main thing that pins them together is that it comes from our two heads. Musically, it does come from a whole range of influences as we spoke about earlier. There are definitely some wild cards in there. Any special plans for the Yellow Arch gig? The likes of Hawley and Kylie Minogue have played there in the past so there's some big shoes to fill... Liam: Graeme has always been into pyrotechnics, so we were going to hire some sparklers, put them up his bum and make him walk across the stage. There’s our unique selling point! We can’t imagine Richard Hawley or Kylie Minogue doing that! Our album will have been released by then so there will be lots of new songs to listen to and it will be a fairly long set, hopefully without boring people. Apart from the sparklers, we’ve got some good songs lined up for you. Can we expect you to jump into the crowd or is it more a case of appreciating good music? Graeme: The live show is pretty immersive; it’s not particularly high energy but its more high energy than what you’d expect when you listen to the record. It’s an intense and emotional journey through the show, not singing songs about the government and how much we hate them in an aggressive manner and shouting at the audience. I’d say that the live set is more emotional than aggressive. Pet Deaths play Yellow Arch Studios on 11th June

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MUSIC // LIVE REVIEWS

BY ASH BIRCH & EMILY FLETCHER

Confidence Man by Jacob Flannery

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A BIG OL’ GET TOGETHER

MAHALIA @ THE FOUNDRY

The May Day Bank Holiday saw the return of Get Together festival across the student’s union grounds. With a whole new set-up, featuring six stages packed full of incredible live acts, the event’s second year looked set to be even bigger and better than its maiden incarnation, so our Web Editor popped along to check it out… Don’t get me wrong, the inaugural Get Together festival was great! The line-up was topdrawer (Ibibio Sound Machine, Billy No Mates and Self Esteem to name but a few) and there was a real desire to enjoy live music again after an all-too long, covid-imposed hiatus for venues and artists. However, exactly because of those timid steps into a restriction-free world, there was an air of caution about the whole thing. It was definitely the first time I’d been inside anywhere with that many people for a long time and there was a certain amount of apprehension at ‘letting go.’ Not so, this time around. Restrictions are a thing of the past and, while covid lingers, it has definitely taken a back to seat to people’s enjoyment of things like Get Together. The event’s new set-up also helped, with an outside stage, as well as two stages in the Octagon, an amazing opportunity to experience live acts in Firth Hall, and the Foundry stage once again taking centre stage, meaning that there was plenty of room (and time – the event was expertly run and the timings were near bang on) to catch a bit of everything. The courtyard and steps outside the Octagon were bustling with gig-goers throughout the day, invariably taking five to enjoy some of the street food on offer from local faves Nether Edge Pizzas and the all-vegan Icarus and Apollo, who were set up next to the ‘Under the Bridge’ stage. Fully fed and watered, our first stop was Firth Hall, intrigued at the opportunity to take in the space usually reserved for classical performance. The solo sounds of Etta Marcus were a welcome, if gentle, intro to proceedings and Firth Hall didn’t disappoint as a setting. The festival really got going mid-afternoon, with The Blinders pounding out a, well, blinding set. This was the best performance I’ve seen from the one-time Sheffield residents, and I now firmly count myself as a fan. From there on in, we spent the majority of the day ambling back and forth from the Foundry stage to the Octagon, taking in sets from Phoebe Green, Pip Blom, Newdad, She Drew The Gun and Goat Girl, before headliners Squid took to the stage for a raucous, freak-out laden hour of noise and screeching vocals that Devo would have been proud of. Following Squid, and back over at the Foundry, we awaited Confidence Man. I was really looking forward to this, and from the moment DJs Clarence McGuffie and Reggie Goodchild took to the stage, covered in what looked like all-black beekeeper suits, the flamboyant Australian dance outfit didn’t disappoint. Janet Planet and Sugar Bones hit the stage in oversized suits complete with shoulder pads that would have made David Byrne jealous. The dance routines, costme changes (flashing bra, anyone) and the nostalgia-fuelled dance tracks were a proper vibe. A fitting way to end an amazing day’s gig-going. We already can’t’ wait for next year. gettogetherfestival.com

Bursting with energy, Mahalia opened her Sheffield show with ‘Square 1’, a song from her latest album, LOVE AND COMPROMISE. The crowd of adoring fans joined in, hands immediately flying in the air and voices filled with excitement, especially my own. It felt like everyone was sharing a euphoric moment together. Whether it’s heartbreak, love, loss, or just pure girl power vibes, all of her songs reveal similar themes. Mahalia doesn’t hesitate to share the meanings behind the songs in between, making the gig feel more intimate and personal. She made me feel as though I’d known her forever. She often discusses topics like feminism, depression, relationships, and confidence at her gigs. As a result, she draws me in even more to her music – you can genuinely see the raw emotion in her writing as she performs. This was very evident when performing songs from her latest EP, especially the titular track ‘Letter To Ur Ex’. Prior to performing the song, Mahalia explains that it was written in light of her previous relationship, where she felt stripped of her true self. Next she performed ‘What You Did’ and then left the stage. However, it wasn’t long before the crowd started begging for an encore. She swiftly returned, jumping into one of her most popular songs ‘I Wish I Missed My Ex’, letting the crowd sing it for her. Everyone belted out the lyrics as if their worst ex was in the room; it was surreal. Though it was a short and sweet set, Mahalia delivered more than just her music; she created such a welcoming and personal atmosphere that I cannot wait to experience again in the future.

Words: Ash Birch

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Words: Emily Fletcher

Rolling blackouts coastal fever Friday 3 June ‘22, Doors 7pm

since september Saturday 15 Oct ‘22, Doors 7pm

Tuesday club summer carnival

porridge radio

Tues 7 June ‘22, Doors 11pm, 18+

bruce juice

Thursday 20 Oct ‘22 Doors 7:30pm

ft. sub focus & more

soul jam

tainted love tour Thurs 9th June, Doors 11pm, 18+

smallprint Saturday 18 June ‘22, Doors 7pm

creed bratton Sunday 10 July ‘22, Doors 7pm

the mission

Saturday 5 Nov ‘22, Doors 7pm

the bug club Monday 7 Nov ‘22, Doors 7:30pm

craig charles funk & soul club Monday 7 Nov ‘22, Doors 9pm

daft funk Saturday 25 Mar ‘23, Doors 7:30pm

Wednesday 3 Aug ‘22, Doors 7pm

mdou moctar Wednesday 17 Aug ‘22, Doors 7pm

TAYCE Wednesday 14 Sept ‘22, Doors 7pm

matt maltese Sunday 2 Oct ‘22,, Doors 7pm scan for tickets

beabadoobee Friday 14 Oct ‘22, Doors 7pm

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COMEDY // TOP PICKS

JACK DEE: OFF THE TELLY

Oval Hall, Sheffield City Hall // 12 June // £27.85 Join sitcom star Jack Dee, for an evening full of entertainment in his new stand-up tour. “In these difficult and uncertain times, people need hope – a ray of sunshine to brighten their day. And that’s very much where I come in” says Jack. So, if you’re looking for something to light up your day, book now! sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

SANDI TOKSVIG LIVE

Oval Hall, Sheffield City Hall // 17 June // £35.70 Following the sell-out 2019 tour of National Trevor, comedian Sandi Toksvig returns to over 35 UK theatres with her brand-new show, Next Slide Please…You can expect fascinatingly funny facts, silly jokes and a quick-fire Q&A. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

COMEDY BAR SHEFFIELD

Sidney and Matilda, Sheffield // 7 June // Free Are you an aspiring comedian? Or simply just love to laugh? Then Comedy Bar Sheffield is the place for you. The Comedy Bar is a new stand-up comedy club, that offers a free event for both aspiring comedians and audience members. Each night you will see between 10 – 14 acts, for free! sidneyandmatilda.com

ADAM ROWE

The Leadmill // 21 June // £12 Adam Rowe brings us his latest stand-up comedy tour, Imperious. Over the past few years, the world has become extremely polarised, and everybody thinks they’re right on every subject, including Adam. That doesn’t matter though because he’s a comedian, so as long as we come away from this show having had a good laugh, we can call it a win. leadmill.co.uk

ALAN CARR

Oval Hall, Sheffield City Hall // 1 – 3 June // £30.10 Alan’s back on the road with a brand-new stand-up show ‘Regional Trinket’. From Alan’s star-studded wedding day to spending lockdown stuck on a farm, a lot has changed since his last tour four years ago, including Alan himself. Today, it’s all about finding joy in the small things - why be a national treasure when you can be a Regional Trinket? sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

MONTHLY (FREE!) COMEDY NIGHTS

1st Monday: Kelham Comedy Club @ Millowners Arms 1st Wednesday: Stand-up Comedy @ Hagglers Corner 3rd Thursday: Yellow Arch Comedy Club @ Yellow Arch Studios Last Thursday: That’s Entertainment @ Indie-Go (Steelyard Kelham) Last Saturday: The Toolmakers Comedy Club @ Toolmakers Brewery WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 79

GIVE IT A GO: LEADMILL COMEDY NIGHTS

We have a laugh, don’t we?

Recently, the news coming out of the Leadmill has all been pretty serious, hasn’t it? The current occupants’ struggles with their landlord have already been well-documented (if you haven’t heard, quite frankly, where have you been?), so with that in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight a lighter side to the venue, focusing on an underrated positive of this great institution. WORDS BY ASH BIRCH

We all know and love the Leadmill thanks predominantly to its status as the premiere live music venue in the city, a reputation cultivated over the last four decades. However, in recent years, it hasn’t just been the music and club nights that have lured crowds towards the famous neon sign. Their comedy offering has steadily grown in stature and brings some of the biggest names on the circuit to down tread the Leadmill boards. Their monthly Leadmill Comedy Club has run on the first Wednesday of every month for the last ten years and attracts a host of stellar names, often selling out well in advance. Over the years they have welcomed the likes Armando Iannucci, Eddie Izzard, Nish Kumar, Sara Pascoe, James Acaster, Jason Manford, Joe Lycett and Shappi Khorsandi (to name but a few) offering a chance to see many of them on their rise to the top of their game. Joe Lycett, who recently pledged his support to the #WeCantLoseLeadmill petition (see below for details), played the comedy club to just 50 people the first time around, before a touring show brought him back to play to a giddy 400-people crowd. These comedy nights have often been memorable for more than just the shows, with Mark Thomas once having Leadmill staff order 250 portions of chips to be dished out to punters during the interval. The chips arrived with just ten seconds to spare, with the chippy speeding around the corner and screeching to a halt outside the venue. The Leadmill stank of chips for the following week, apparently! For University of Sheffield alumni, Rob Rouse, it was salty tears and not chips that marked a recent visit to the Leadmill, as his emotions got the better 80 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

of him when he saw a framed photo of himself backstage. James Acaster also declared the club to have ‘the stickiest floors in the world’ on his podcast Off Menu, and now proudly displays a piece of the dancefloor in his flat. The comedy influences at the Leadmill actually extend back beyond its current rise in popularity, with world famous comedian, singer and drag queen, Divine performing in the 90s and the aforementioned Mark Thomas chippy show taking place in the noughties. Another comedy great who has performed many times at the venue over the years, and recently showed her support for the campaign, is Eddie Izzard, performing two shows back in April; The first of which featured Izzard’s stand up show Wunderbar+ and the second featuring her performance of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Izzard has long been a huge fan of the venue, and once performed the same show in three different languages on the Leadmill stage. Despite the current upheaval, the comedy offering continues to impress with upcoming shows including Adam Rowe, Tom Allen, Maisie Adam, David O’Doherty, Jerry Sadowitz, Gary Delaney and Chris McCausland. Late last year, we caught Simon Amstel’s latest offering and while Amstel was on top form and had us belly laughing throughout, it was great to see the venue’s versatility firsthand. Yet another reason #WeCantLoseLeadmill. Tickets for upcoming shows can be purchased from leadmill.co.uk and you can sign the official e-petition using the QR code opposite.

Sign the official e-petition here:

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Saw Grinders Union Globeworks, Sheffield S6 3AE

24/06/22 - time 18:00 - 00:00 25/06/22 - time 10:00 - 02:00 26/06/22 - time 10:00 - 00:00 all day DJ sets live music entertainment street food pop up bars

NIGHTLIFE // TOP PICKS

TTC SUMMER CARNIVAL

Foundry // 7 June // £14 The legendary Tuesday Club Summer Carnival returns with 12 hours of cutting-edge dance music and good vibes across 4 stages. There will be a mix of DnB, house, jungle, disco, reggae & more from some of the scene’s biggest names like Sub Focus and AC13! You can also expect a BBQ, drinks and tunes outside the venue during the day, leading up to Sheffield’s biggest end-of-year party. tuesday-club.co.uk

MANILLA SUNDANCE

Hope Works // 4 June // £13.75-£22 It’s shaping up for big one as Manilla Sundance brings a 13-hour day/night party to Hope Works featuring a stacked line-up of amazing talent. Enjoy Caribbean food and carnival vibes through to the wee hours, with DJs such as Adam Pits, Roo, and Chaos in The CBD taking to the decks during the festivities. hope-works.co.uk

WUB CLUB

Southbank Warehouse // 4 June // £6-£9 For a Bank Holiday to remember, Wub Club is back at Southbank Warehouse Courtyard. Bringing you an all-star line-up including some of the best DJs and Producers from the Bassline, Drum & Bass, and UKG scenes! Tasty Grilled & BBQ Food will also be offered all day from the Wub Grub menu. southbank-warehouse.co.uk

LA RUMBA

Hope Works // 10 June // £10.15-£16.75 Popular global music night La Rumba is back for one last blowout at Hope Works before the summer. Popular lo-fi house producer Ross from Friends will be heading up the night, as well as the genre-crossing Bristol-based DJ Manami, plus some of our favourite Sheffield artists including Alex. Aubyn, DJ Malice, and MYNA. hope-works.co.uk

GREATNESS ONLY – KENDRICK LAMAR NIGHT

The Leadmill // 17 June // £6.60 The Leadmill is paying homage to hip-hop legend Kendrick Lamar. Celebrating the release of Kendrick’s latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, you can expect to hear all the hits alongside a hard-hitting mix of iconic hip-hop classics guaranteed to shake the foundations of The Leadmill into the early hours. leadmill.co.uk

MIRROR LAUNCHES

Touted as ‘an evening of sonic reflection for artists, dancers, those who look and those who love, with freedom to express the identity you desire to be’, new Sheff club night MIRROR launched at DINA last month. With an emphasis on disco, synthetic, electric and the eclectic, the event’s opening night featured DJ sets from former Clock DVA member Robert E. Baker, Manchester disco aficionado Dr Disco and lover of all things Italo, sexy disco and early deep house, Jonaxthan, alongside a host of guest artistes. The next instalment of MIRROR, a hot summer dancing special, will take place on 16th July at DINA, 8-11pm. For more info, head to tinyurl. com/2yc8anpf.

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LGBTQ+

SHOW YOUR PRIDE We’ve finally reached the balmy month of June, which means it’s the start of Pride season – woohoo! And while we don’t have a Pride festival in Sheffield this year, the month is packed with queer events spread right across the city. For those who would like to be involved in organising the long-awaited postcovid return of next year’s Pride festival, get in touch with Sheffield Pride on Facebook (@ SheffieldPrideCIC) who are in the early stages of planning the event. Also returning after a brief hiatus, Queer Film Club (Wed 1 Jun) returns to DINA on the first Wednesday of each month, showing a specially curated selection of short films as part of their programme of queer socials each Wednesday, including a comedy open mic, an art social and a book club. Sheffield’s alternative drag monster cabaret Cryptid Queers 2 (Fri 3 Jun) is back with a killer line-up of alternative drag and cabaret including Beta Max, Bipolar Abdul, The BollyWitch and Jada Love, hosted by King Confuza. There’s more drag over at Malin Bridge Inn, who in addition to their regulars DJ Brooke (Sat 4 & Fri 17 Jun) and Tanya Minge (Fri 10 Jun), will be launching their brand new 90s Neon Drag Queen Club Classic Show featuring Electric Blue and Claudia F playing non-stop bangers with the venue flooded in UV light and all things neon, including neon and glitter artists, UV bubble shows, confetti cannons and a 500 balloon drop. The Forum also has multiple drag offerings this month with their Drag Queen Jubilee Brunch (Sun 5 Jun) celebrating both Pride month and the Queen’s Jubilee, plus RuPaul’s Drag Race Bingo (Fri 24 Jun) hosted by Ivy Alexxander and Ladonna. Slags and Drags Bingo (Sat 25 Jun) heads to Spirit of Sheffield, who will also be hosting a Pride Anthems Karaoke night (Thu 16 Jun). And for the singers amongst you, there’s more karaoke on offer over at Hemingway’s with drag host Emma Maezin (every Thursday). Karma Leon’s Kabaret takes to the stage at Picture House Social for Royals (Sat 4 Jun), their loud and riotous show mixing glitz and glamour with a punk edge to (dis)honour our dear Queen’s 70 years of service with a line-up of drag, burlesque, magic, circus, singing and more weird and wacky acts for your fiendish delight! And we have more cabaret from Andro and Eve with A 84 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Reyt Queer Do 6 (Sat 12 Jun) at Sidney & Matilda with an evening of queer performance hosted by the legendary Sadie Sinner. Sheffield Rainbow Laces Charity Cup (Sat 26 Jun) is back for the first time since 2019, celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in football with a mixed gender 11-a-side football match held at Olympic Legacy Park. The event will also be raising funds for their charity partner SAYiT, so head on down and enjoy the live sport, music and food and drink on offer. For more sporting/physical activity this month, TransActive Swimming (Sat 4 & 18 Jun) returns to Heeley Pool with their sessions open to any trans, non-binary or genderquestioning people of all fitness levels. For comedy fans, City Hall are hosting two gay icons this month with Alan Carr’s Regional Trinket (1/2/3 Jun) all about finding happiness and joy in the small things – “why be a national treasure when you can be a Regional Trinket?!” –

followed by Sandi Toksvig (Fri 17 Jun) with her brand-new show, Next Slide Please. The breakout star of last year’s Eurovision, Daði Freyr (Sat 4 Jun pictured) will be at Leadmill with an irresistible new song, another TikTok-ready dance routine and even more madcap ideas. Gut Level hold their Love&Lust: Wank Holiday Queer Day Party (Fri 3 Jun), a queer-led inclusive night that explores the limits of club music, promotes the bizarre and encourages all forms of self-expression. And last but by no means least, CYB3R (Fri 10 Jun) move to their new larger home at Network, with an LGBTQ safe space club night featuring live DJs and drag performers, focusing on hyper-pop and pc music. That’s your lot for this month! As always, do keep an eye on the facebook.com/ sheffieldlgbtevents for updates and fresh announcements.

Until next time, love and rainbows...

OPENING EARLY SUMMER… From humble beginnings to the skies of Sheffield, we are immensely proud to have curated a truly unique experience where it all started for us, in Kelham Island. From the family that brought you Domo, we are proud to present our latest addition, Kelu - The Sardinian Sky Lounge. Born from the love of our home town in Sardinia, we hope to recreate the feelings, tastes, atmospheres & everything else that comes with our island nation. Join us and immerse yourself in the settings of good company, great drinks and outstanding food. Our traditional antipasti & stuzzichini, masterfully curated cocktails & exemplary selection of Italian wines promise an unrivalled experience. Whether you join us for Aperitivo as a prelude to dinner, spend the evening sipping through our cocktail list or finish your night with us over a nightcap, we can’t wait to see you. Alla salute!

KELU 294, Shalesmoor, Sheffield S3 8UL @ k_e_l_u

CULTURE // CRAFT

GET CRAFTING The award-winning Crafting Live events are finally back for 2022 – and they’re coming to the Doncaster Racecourse!

Bringing together top-quality exhibitors and exclusive make and takes, this fantastic event – which is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary at the venue – is held from Saturday 9th to Sunday 10th July and perfect for crafters of all ages and abilities. This year’s Crafting Live will run from 10AM – 5PM Saturday and 10AM – 4PM on Sunday. Both days will host an array of exhibitors stocking stamps, dies, decoupage, fabric, ribbon, beads and much more. You can stock up on all of your craft essentials, as well as find inspiration from brand new products and watch on-stand demonstrations. There are also refreshment options and areas to have a much-needed sit down after some serious shopping! Also available to book for the weekend is the fabulous workshop on Friday 8th July – with limited spaces available! If you have attended before, you will know what a great day out this workshop with Stephanie Weightman and her crafty friends will be. The workshop gives you the chance to meet like-

minded people and make new friends, ask questions, create beautiful projects to take home, dine with your new friends and much more! All the project materials you need will be provided, as well as a delicious lunch and refreshments for those well-deserved breaks after all that hard work. There’s free parking at the venue, including plenty of Blue Badge spaces, crafty stalls covering a range of disciplines, plus more than 1,500 FREE make and take workshops. These mini workshop sessions are there for you to develop lots of education and inspiration, and you get to take your finished project home with you too. The make and take booking point is open from 10AM each day and booking is essential.

CRAFTING LIVE 2022: WHAT’S ON?

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A full-day workshop with Stephanie Weightman and her craft friends including Mel Heaton, David Wait, Amanda Carpenter and more! A free make & take area – with over 1,500 spaces available – allowing you to join a mini-workshop…. Watch crafty celebrities on the dedicated Create & Craft stage as they share tips and tricks as well as new product launches – all broadcast live throughout the weekend.

More information, including a full list of exhibitors, can be found on the website at craftinglive.co.uk – book your tickets today. 86 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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CULTURE // TOP PICKS

THESE HILLS ARE OURS

Studio Theatre // 4 June // £11-£13 An evening filled with stories, songs and a love letter to adventure. These Hills Are Ours is the most personal piece of work Dan and Boff have ever made, this is the story of what they found out about the relationship between city and country and what we are really running from. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

FEEL GOOD ART CLUB: DRAWING CLASS

Millennium Gallery, Sheffield // 1 June // £8 This workshop embraces a mindful drawing session that will help you find stillness while enjoying an evening of developing artistic skills. This class includes a range of abilities from the experienced to the absolute beginners. Focusing on a different still-life object each week with materials provided. museums-sheffield.org.uk

EVENING TALK: KEITH PIPER IN CONVERSATION WITH YUEN FONG LING

Millennium Gallery // 30 June // Free, donations welcome Join artist Keith Piper with Yuen Fong Ling to hear about his work and inspiration for the current display at the Graves Gallery, Outside Narration. Former Sheffield Hallam student, Yuen Fong Ling is an artist based at Bloc Studios who has a socially engaged and performance-based practice that explores his biographical connections with people, places, and objects. museums-sheffield.org.uk

ALIVE IN WONDERLAND

The Montgomery, Sheffield // 6 June-11 June // £10 Alive in Wonderland is a new musical following Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, however, as soon as she arrives the basic structures of Wonderland slowly fall apart. A powerful illness has spread across Wonderland, progressively affecting the citizens. Yet, The Queen of Hearts, Knave and White Rabbit assure everyone that things are under control. themontgomery.org.uk

FANTASTICALLY GREAT WOMEN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD THE NATIONAL VIDEOGAME MUSEUM

ShNVM // Ongoing // £9-£35 From Gremlin Graphics to Sumo Digital, Sheffield has created an abundance of games and continues to provide many opportunities for aspiring developers and artists. From Tanglewood to Snakepass and Zool, The National Videogame Museum showcases local developers and gives the opportunity for anyone to come along to play and explore historic videogames. thenvm.org 88 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Lyceum Theatre // 1-4 June // £15-£30 Be one of the first to see the follow-up show by the producer of the international hit musical SIX. Join inquisitive heroine Jade as she breaks away from her class to take a peek behind the scenes at the not yet open Gallery of Greatness in the local museum. Along her journey, she is surprised to meet the original and incredible wonder women: Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Emmeline Pankhurst to name just a few. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

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RULE OF THREE As the The Crucible celebrates 50 years of entertaining Sheffield audiences, the venue is staging a bold production where one cast simultaneously performs three interlinked plays on the stages of The Crucible, The Lyceum and The Studio. Written by award-winning Steel City playwright Chris Bush, Rock/Paper/Scissors hits all three stages of Sheffield Theatres in June, and Exposed caught up with co-director Elin Schofield,to talk about local theatre, Sheffield stories and how to fathom out a tricky curtain call. Words: Paul Szabo Can you tell me what Rock/Paper/Scissors is all about and what makes it unique? Rock/Paper/Scissors is about a scissor factory in Sheffield, which has suffered since the decline of the city’s manufacturing industry. When the last member of the owner’s family dies, three groups of people are vying for the ownership of the site. There are three standalone plays, but with intertwined characters, themes and stories, which are played out simultaneously across the three stages here in Sheffield. To the 14 members of the cast, they are in one play, but that play is set across three venues at once, so come rain or shine, they will be travelling across Tudor Square between theatres, whilst the audience stay put and see one show at a time. They might just see one show, and it will be engaging and satisfying, but if audiences come back and see one or both others, they will get a much richer experience and learn more about the lives of the characters. The play is co-directed by three directors. How have you found that as a collaborative process? Was it a challenge to dovetail the different directional styles? That is something that we talk about and think about a lot. We don’t want it to feel like it is three distinct processes for the actors, and for them to be pulled from pillar to post in terms of directional style and performance. We want to make sure that there is a feeling of consistency in the three plays whilst maintaining our distinct voices as artists, so we have been talking a lot to make sure that we are all on the same page. We are each taking responsibility for one play and have full creative teams for each show, but thankfully we all get on, so we can have those frank and necessary conversations to ensure a cohesive experience for the actors and audiences. What has been useful is from the initial stages of designing the piece, we have all been involved each step of the way and know how each piece will feel. At the very heart of the production is the writer, Chris Bush, who has tied the piece together. She is the absolute lynchpin, and as directors, our job has been made much easier by her excellent writing. This really is a homegrown production by Sheffield Theatres. How important do you feel regional theatre is, and how does the Crucible stand out from other regional theatres? I think that regional theatre is amazing. I grew up in Manchester seeing shows at The Royal Exchange. Some people can’t imagine

that there is anything more magical and special than theatre in London, but I have always loved watching and engaging with regional theatre, especially those that programme with their local audiences in mind and that support their local artists. Now more than ever, I think that regional theatre is so important. Travelling is riskier than before and we all need something to entertain us. The pandemic made it very difficult for regional theatres to survive, and I am pleased so many came through. With the success of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and with the original cast back for a TV series of The Full Monty, what is it about a Sheffield story that resonates with a wider audience? I feel like Sheffield is home even though I am not from here. In the 8 or so years I have lived here, I would say that a Sheffield story reflects the city’s heart, passion and humour; all of those things resonate on a national and international stage. Sheffield is a city that has always triumphed, even in difficult times, and there is a certain warmth about the place which really appeals to audiences. How does it feel to be at the centre of the celebrations for The Crucible’s 50th birthday? It feels amazing. I watched shows here as a child, this before studying in Sheffield and falling in love with the place. I have worked at Sheffield Theatres for a while in various roles and I have learned so much from watching the work of [former artistic director] Daniel Evans and now Robert Hastie. I have always wanted to direct a Sheffield Theatres production, so to be asked really was a dream come true. I am an artist who was formerly supported by The Bank (the Crucible’s artist development programme) so to be given this opportunity following that, and to be back with the Sheffield Theatres’ family, is phenomenal. What do you think audiences will take away from Rock/Paper/ Scissors? If you see one of the shows, we hope you will take away a beautiful Sheffield story full of interesting characters. If you see more than one, you will gain a new perspective on the world and the complexity of the characters within it. You’ll get a real sense of Sheffield today and what happens when the industry and the lifeblood of the city are precariously balanced. The only thing to do now is to work out how to get the entire cast together for their curtain call!

rock/paper/scissors plays across the crucible, lyceum and studio theatres from the 16th june-2nd july 2022. 90 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Sheffield is a city that has always triumphed, even in difficult times, and there is a certain warmth about the place which really appeals to audiences.

CULTURE // LIVE REVIEWS

THE CHER SHOW @ LYCEUM THEATRE Words: Paul Szabo Pictures: Pamela Raith

For a celebrity who has been around for more than half a century, there is certainly a lot to cover in the musical biopic, The Cher Show, which arrived at the Lyceum this week. From the early days with Sonny Bono to her mega-hit, Believe, the highs and lows of her life and career are charted in this new production from Arlene Philips and Oti Mabuse. Told in flashbacks, and with three actresses “Cher-ing” the lead role, The Cher Show takes a whistle-stop tour of the star’s personal life and musical career. For someone who has been in the spotlight for so long and had such a lengthy career as Cher, it is difficult to pick and choose which aspects of their life to portray and which songs to highlight from such an extensive back catalogue, and this is something that the show tries to balance. There is simply so much to shoehorn into the two-hour running time that the storyline often came across as relatively choppy, with each short scene portraying a different year of her life and generally being bookended by a musical number which was heavily abridged. Walking the line between hitting every significant event or focusing on and developing specific plot points is a difficult task, and one which the show slightly wavers on, and whilst it did feel disjointed at times, it wasn’t too much to its detriment. Millie O’Connell, Danielle Steers and Debbie Kurup portrayed the star at different stages of her life, with Danielle Steers standing out from the trio with a confident yet natural performance, the most convincing vocal impersonation and a genuine stage presence; whilst Debbie Kurup brought the vocal 92 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

gravitas, and Lucas Rush gave a scene-stealing turn as Sonny Bono, especially with his performance of I’ve Got You Babe. Nestled amongst the script’s history, humour and histrionics, in any show like this the main event is the songbook, which was performed by a live orchestra and belted out with aplomb by the cast. At times, the musical arrangements on some of the songs felt like odd choices – reimagining some disco stompers as piano-based ballads didn’t always work, but when the musical numbers hit their stride, they were terrific fun. There was an imaginative mixture of songs, from the ones you would expect, such as Believe, I Got You Babe and I Found Someone, and a number you wouldn’t, including Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me, Dov’è L’amore, and I Hope You Find It, making sure both new and old fans found something that they enjoyed. A vibrant and vivacious lighting design only added to the camp value of the first act as the swinging sixties burst into life in a cavalcade of kitsch, and the choreography and direction from the two Strictly stalwarts was as tight, varied, slick and imaginative as you would anticipate. As cramped as the show sometimes feels, you can certainly say that it doesn’t skimp on the life events or songs throughout its runtime and there is a real energy to the production, It celebrates the highs, doesn’t shy away from the lows, and has enough upbeat pop fun for every generation of Cher fan to get something out of what is an ultimately enjoyable enough evening at the theatre.

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CLUEDO @ LYCEUM THEATRE Words: Joseph Food Photo: Craig Sugden

A classic whodunnit caper was in full swing at the Lyceum last night, as the ever-familiar characters of Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, et al were brought to life in the stage version of Cluedo. The main question: just how do you translate a vintage, quintessentially British post-war board game into engaging theatre? Well, you set it in post-war Britain at a quintessentially British country home (preferably one containing a study, library, billiard room, etc). The first half of the performance deals largely with the arrival of the guests on a stormy, ominous night in rural England, each having been invited by the mysterious Lord Boddy and each hiding a dark secret of their own. They are greeted by Boddy Manor’s eccentric butler Wadsworth – who seems to rather revel in the growing sense of consternation amongst the group – before being presented with boxes containing an instantly recognisable item (or, ahem, a weapon?): revolver, candlestick, lead pipe, rope... I’m sure you get the picture. As wild accusations are made and tempers become frayed, it isn’t long before the lights go off and the first body of the night is discovered. From then on, it all descends into a frantic, silly 94 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

and often hilarious tangle of murder and allegation as the guests scramble around the maligned mansion (aided by some seriously impressive set design and direction) in an attempt to save their own skin. The script is delivered at an equally excitable pace, with jokes and one-liners – most of them falling to the dim-witted Colonel – quipped to the audience at regular intervals. Some land, some don’t, but combined with oodles of slapstick action there’s rarely a dull moment. The second half comes into its own and the play’s exhilarating denouement ensures proceedings are brought to a satisfying conclusion. It’s not quite Hercules Poirot, but it is refreshingly daft and the murder mystery element has enough bite to keep you guessing right to the final scene. While headliners Michelle Collins and Daniel Casey were on good form in their respective roles as the sultry Miss Scarlett and pompous Professor Plum, it’s Jean Luke-Sorrell who steals the show as Wadsworth. It’s all eyes on the butler as he elegantly glides across the stage, somehow managing to raise laughter at the mere closing of a door and generally pulling the strings as this assortment of oddballs blunder through a most eventful evening. Fun, farcical theatre that doesn’t take itself too seriously – it’s just what you need sometimes.

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