Exposed Magazine July 2022

J U LY 2 0 2 2

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

YORKSHIRE POST-PUNKS YARD ACT ARRIVE FOR TRAMLINES

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FESTIVAL PREVIEWS // FRINGE AT TRAMLINES // NEW OPENINGS NEIGHBOURHOOD VOICES // RUMBI TAURO // HARRI LARKIN

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DJ

CONTENTS 26

87

54

17

FEATURES 26: IN OUR YARD

One of the hottest bands around right now, Yard Act are all set to bring their post-punk witticisms to Tramlines this summer, and we caught up with ‘em to chat about making music in lockdown, album two and… dinosaurs!

23: SHEFF’S BIGGEST PARTY RETURNS

Tramlines, baby! We’ve got all the deets covering five stages of music, art, performance and comedy that’s set to light up Hillsborough Park for the 13th instalment of your fave festival.

17: HIDDEN GEM

In an all-new feature, each month we’ll venture off the beaten track and showcase a Sheffield business well worth seeking out, and first up we’re heaping praise on Hymn to Ninkasi.

48/54: GRUB’S UP

We’ve also got a pair of food reviews for you to get stuck into; First up, Raffina by Reece Elliot (p.48), followed by Lavang (p.54). Tasteh!

20: SMELLING OF ROSES

The Floristry School is an allnew hub of creativity helping the development of professional florists and those wishing to enter the industry. We get the lowdown.

REGULARS

10: CITY VIEWS 48: FOOD & DRINK 59: NIGHTLIFE 67: MUSIC 75: LGBTQ+ 76: COMEDY 80: CULTURE

Let’s talk Tramlines, shall we?

The formation of the festival back in 2009 was an example of Sheffield at its best: passionate local people coming together to push the agenda and do something positive for the community.

What started off as a way for venues to combat the student exodus each summer quickly became a Steel City institution, growing each year into what it is today – a festival of national significance. Founder Sarah Nulty’s vision of throwing a big party for her friends became an annual celebration for tens of thousands of people and their friends, too. It really is an incredible legacy to leave for the city.

As such, most Sheffielders have a bank of Tramlines memories to cherish. I remember finding indie kid utopia in the early years seeing Mystery Jets on Dev Green in 2010, Alt-J at a ridiculously packed Bowery in 2012 and Wolf Alice at an equally sardined Bungalows & Bears in 2013. In later years I worked on the official Tramlines Times newspaper – a free publication often found wafting like tumbleweed around Division Street, helpfully being used as a makeshift rain shield or simply being sat on by festivalgoers looking for a comfy timeout. Regardless, it was exciting and invaluable experience for a young journo looking to earn some writing chops, even if it did mean spending half of the weekend cooped up in an office attempting to write coherent copy with a belly full of Red Stripe.

After doing the hard yards editing the festival paper for a few years, which basically entailed chasing AWOL journalists for review submissions that seldom arrived, I’ve since made more of an effort to avoid extra work and enjoy the experience in full – always ensuring there’s time to visit a few city centre venues either before or after attending Hillsborough Park. There’s a rich vein of homegrown talent running through both the main festival (we’ve rounded a few up on p.24) and particularly the Fringe at Tramlines events (take a nosey at p.36), so if you’re joining in with the festivities, do make sure you pick out a few local acts and venues to support over the weekend.

For a general guide to Sheff ’s biggest bash and interviews with the likes of Yard Act, Harri Larkin, Rumbi Taura and Neighbourhood Voices, scoot on over to page 23 and fill yer boots. Elsewhere I’d highly suggest reading Steve Edward’s Sheffield story (p.10), finding out what a bioponic farm is (p.72) and discovering some new venues to try this month (p.50).

As ever, thanks for the support in picking up a copy of Exposed.

Have a belter of a month and we’ll catch you in August!

JF x

GAFFERS

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

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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, Emily Fletcher, James Leaney, Adele Parr

COVER IMAGE Phoebe Fox

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.

UPFRONT

2009

YEAR OF THE INAUGURAL FESTIVAL, A FREE-TO-ATTEND EVENT CURATED BY A GROUP OF LOCAL VENUE OWNERS, PROMOTERS AND VOLUNTEERS.

BRING IT ON...

6

STAGES WILL BE SPREAD ACROSS THE FESTIVAL, FROM SARAH NULTY’S MAIN STAGE TO POETRY AT THE LIBRARY STAGE.

40K

A DAY ATTENDED LAST YEAR, WHICH TOOK PLACE AS PART OF A GOVERNMENT RESEARCH PROJECT & WAS ONE OF FEW FESTIVALS IN EUROPE TO GO AHEAD.

It’s that time of year again – Sheffield’s biggest music-based event returns this month! This year’s Tramlines Festival, the 13th instalment so far, takes place 22–24 July at Hillsborough Park and features an eclectic lineup of music, comedy, art, performance and more.

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My Sheffield - City of Soul

My relationship with Sheffield goes back to my childhood in the late-70s. I was born in Worksop, but I’ve been coming here since I was a nipper. You see, Sheffield is like a capital city to Worksopians. There is a definable character about this place, one which I identify with.

Having family in Sheffield, I visited often.

I’d sleep at my Aunt Hilda’s in Sharrow, be taken to Spital Hill to get an afro haircut, or would generally just run amok in Crookes with my cousins. I remember playing in the brutalist concrete jungle of the long-gone Kelvin Flats on Infirmary Rd (dodging TVs getting thrown from upper balconies) and being taken to the bookies in Walkley with my Uncle Cliffy.

I would get on the 85 bus from Worksop with my mum and get off at the Wicker.

We’d walk to Castle Market, an adventure for a kid from the provinces. I was amazed by the sights, sounds and aromas of the world.

We’d get our Caribbean foodstuffs, exotic yet normal for a secondgeneration immigrant like me, then off to get the bus to Walkley.

My dad was a minister in the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, a mainly black church in Darnall. Every Sunday we’d be taken there, where we saw much singing, clapping, hollering and preaching. It was daunting for a wide-eyed boy in an atmosphere of chairs and tables being chucked about by people ‘possessed by the Lord’. This, however, was negated by the rice, peas and chicken served to the Sunday school kids afterwards. I really felt part of a wider black community and, looking back, I realise how important that has proved to be after growing up in a mostly white,

working-class environment.

My teenage years were all about football, pubs and clubs. I was on the red side and enjoyed going to Bramall Lane with my mates. My interest in clothes grew, buying loafers from Rebina on the High St, Harrington jackets from the market and Lacoste shirts from Suggs – the most impressive sports shop I’d ever seen. By this time, I was getting my haircut on City Road by the late, legendary Trevor Darien aka ‘Mr T’. All the rudeboys went there.

80s nightlife was great. Often starting at the Mulberry Tavern, we’d embark on glorious pub crawls to legendary pubs like The Stonehouse or Henry’s. The pressure would be on, however, when trying to get into nightclubs like Romeo & Juliet’s, where brutish bouncers gave you the third degree before refusing entry: “Sorry, mate, not with them on.”

Sheffield was one of the first cities to embrace Acid House, which was typical of its independent spirit, a quality I ascribed to.

With the cheap suits swapped for baggy jeans and tie-dye, I frequented underground haunts with colourful names like Donkeymans, CJ’s and Pinkies. This new cultural revolution of illegal raves and electronic music had a natural home in Sheffield.

The Sheffield music scene was vibrant, independent, experimental and exciting. Going to clubs like Jive Turkey at the City Hall Ballroom, or through attending The Limit, I got to meet Sheffield’s up-andcoming DJs like Parrot and Winston, plus there were great record shops like Warp or FOPP. I was gigging in bands at venues like the Hallamshire or the Slug & Fiddle. If you

BY STEVE EDWARDS

“I FREQUENTED UNDERGROUND HAUNTS WITH COLOURFUL NAMES LIKE DONKEYMANS, CJ’S AND PINKIES. THIS NEW CULTURAL REVOLUTION OF ILLEGAL RAVES AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC HAD A NATURAL HOME IN SHEFFIELD.”

STEVE IS A SHEFFIELD-BASED SONGWRITER AND VOCALIST @UKSTEVEEDWARDS 10 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Kelvin Flats. Image: JR James Archive

“Being on the doorstep of the Peak District is manna from heaven.” Image: Tony Williams

were half decent, you might even get a slot at the Nelson Mandela or Leadmill.

Around this time, I worked in recording studios like FON and Axis in the Red Tape building. There was a real community of producers, musicians, photographers and filmmakers working in tandem, with some going on to become household names. It has always been a city of innovation, especially in the arts, and I have been fortunate to have worked with people who have always been generous with their time and creativity – another Sheffield quality.

During a period of transition for the city, Meadowhall opened in the 90s, the Supertram was born and, unbelievably, the ‘Hole in the Road’ was being filled in! I used to love walking through there – a unique roofless subway helping you bypass the heavy traffic above. I always liked to stop at the big aquarium to watch the weird fish before moving on.

By now, I’d moved to Sheffield with my partner who got a job at Wilson Peck, a decades-old city centre music shop. It was a firm part of Sheffield’s heritage, but it would ultimately go the way of most institutions and disappear.

When our first child was born at the end of the 90s, Sheffield had dramatically changed from the city I once knew.

A lot of traditional industries were disappearing and new ones emerging.

The ‘little mesters’ of skilled machinists, cutlery makers, etc., were being consigned to history. To me, the little mesters represents what Sheffield is: a network of small villages tied together by friendship and fiercely independent by nature. Thankfully, we realised that one of the city’s greatest commodities was its industrial history, so I think it’s great that effort has gone into places like Kelham Island, Millennium Gallery and the Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, which help to preserve and celebrate its heritage. We loved taking our kids to these places.

I love the diversity of Sheffield, with cultures and communities from all around the world, whether British, Afro Caribbean, African, Eastern European, Asian, Chinese amongst others. These cultures have served to make Sheffield a vibrant, exciting city with so much potential. Due to this, the cuisine has improved dramatically, which can only be a good thing...

Being on the doorstep of the Peak District is manna from heaven. I live about 15 minutes from the countryside and when my wife and I drive out there, it’s like a wonder of the world. We love it and we’re lucky to live in the greenest of cities. It’s another reason why I love living here; why I’m glad our children were born here; and throughout a welltravelled life, why I’ve always been proud to tell people where I’m from.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 11

now open 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

UPFRONT 2. Connection is key

For me (and pretty much anyone I’ve ever met in this industry) radio is about connecting with the listener as if they’re sitting across from you, listening, cuppa in hand. I came to appreciate this at the start of the first lockdown. The phones were ringing off the hook with elderly and vulnerable people in panic, frantically trying to figure out how to get their shopping or medication, or just terrified of what was going on and needed someone to talk to. Those first few weeks were both emotionally exhausting and eyeopening. It really hammered home how important the connection is with listeners and that in times of need, they actually turn to their radio stations.

THINGS YOU ONLY KNOW IF YOU ARE A...

RADIO PRESENTER 1. It’s not just music and talking…

Well, it kind of is, but so much more goes into making radio than you might think. Everything you hear, from the playlist to the wonderful packages painstakingly crafted by journalists or producers, has been carefully curated, planned and probably the centre of several conversations between producers and editors to approve the finished product that you hear on your way to work in the morning. In saying that, there’s more to radio than just radio; it’s never been more important for pretty much everything to live on social media, too. So, being able to turn a memorable moment on the radio into a successful IG post or tweet is always the absolute cherry on top for us radio peeps. But, of course, radio comes first!

3. Expect the unexpected

My job is amazing for many reasons but one of the best things is that you never know what’s going to happen next. You never know what random, controversial story is going to get everyone talking, whether it’s some report about Britain’s favourite biscuits that divides people on social media (for some reason, people love to talk about biscuits?), or a furious local homeowner’s provocatively pruned hedge becomes a viral local tourist attraction (true story). No matter how much you plan a show, you never quite know where it will go, who will text in, or even what breaking news story causes you to throw your show out the window and start again.

4. Time really is of the essence

Your concept of time will never be the same again once you work on live radio, or live anything for that matter. Every second counts. Precision and accuracy are imperative. You never notice the hands of a clock until you’re counting them down in anticipation of pressing the next button... at exactly the right time.

For the most part, every bit of the show you hear has been planned to time, so everything starts and ends precisely when it should. I find this awareness follows me out of the studio and I’m hyper-aware of every minute that passes. You’d think this could be quite useful outside of work, though I still seem to find myself running late most of the time!

5. Radio is a powerful medium

I remember a listener who texted in to thank the presenter for playing a song – yes, just a song! I imagine it was one of those moments where you hear a song on the radio in a shop or the car and the lyrics jump out at you like the song was made for you to hear at that exact moment. Well, I think something like that happened to her and, during the time the song played, she made a call to her solicitor to end a very unhappy marriage.

Apparently, the divine timing of us playing this song (I wish I could remember which one!) was all it took for her to act on something she’d put off for so long. It reminds me how all the little things we do in life, radio or otherwise, can be so powerful.

Xanthe Palmer is a freelance producer and presenter at BBC Radio Sheffield WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 13

UPFRONT

Support Your High Street

Following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, rebuilding people’s confidence to venture out and explore the vast range of diverse shops we have on our high streets has been fundamental to the stability and future of those businesses. At the same time, though, an increase in the cost of living is putting a squeeze on local businesses and their customers alike.

Alan Ball is one of Business Sheffield’s team of high street experts, supporting local businesses to weather the challenge.

“I am seeing three main areas that our high street businesses are facing challenges on,” he says.

“These are rising energy costs, the rising costs of ingredients and products, and the reduction in cashflow available.”

“To help combat these issues, there are a few things I suggest doing immediately. The first is a cashflow forecast – this can just be a line on what the sales are weekly and carry that forward for a month, then add the outgoings weekly and take that over a month so you capture things like wages and utility bills. You can now see immediately if you have any shortfall and begin to act.”

“The second is to look at costs. When was the last time you looked around for an alternative supplier, or asked what alternative lines they might have available?”

“I can visit to help with a range of queries and problems. Our high street businesses are the backbone of our community, not only in the city centre but across the districts. Support for our high streets will maintain the important service they provide, the jobs they create and that all-important experience. I hope that they continue to reach out for support; I will be on hand to do that where my experience adds value.”

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If you’d like some support for your business, call 0114 224 5000 or email BusinessSheffield@ sheffield.gov.uk.

You can also watch a recorded webinar from Alan on managing cashflow by scanning the QR code below.

LOOKIN’ LOCAL We showcase three independent businesses proud to serve their community.

Martha Heritage Martha Heritage was founded in 2012 by Anna Coupland with a desire to inject something new into her neighbourhood in Sheffield whilst gaining some work/life balance with a growing family.

In 2015, Josh Mintoft joined when family circumstances made Anna think she may have to close. By 2016 a great bond had formed, and their working partnership was cemented. In 2018 they purchased the shop next door, and in May 2019, Heritage Lifestyle, a local independent department store, was born. They sell a mixture of furniture, locally sourced candles, room fragrances, decorative accessories, giftware, loungewear and much more.

Josh said: “We love that every day is different for us, and we’re faced with so many challenges along the way, but each of those has helped get us to where we are.”

“We are nestled within a neighbourhood, which makes us unique. We’re a row of fully independent shops and businesses that all support each other! We offer something entirely different from the usual high street, and we pride ourselves on our customer service and making everyone feel welcome within our neighbourhood.”

“The biggest challenges we face as an independent is getting our name out there; we’re very much a destination and not

somewhere you’re likely to fall upon.”

“However, it’s so lovely knowing how many people recommend us to friends, and we see daily how many people find shopping independent so important.” heritagelifestyleshop.co.uk Ooops A Daisy Ooops A Daisy is a florist in Chapeltown which sells gifts, garden ornaments and flowers for weddings and memorials.

Diane Round started her business about six years ago. There was no florist in Chapeltown at the time, so Diane saw the opportunity to open, and being a part of the Chapeltown community means a lot to her.

Diane said: “The community spirit in Chapeltown is excellent; there are always events for different charities – veterans, mental health, animals. It’s communityminded, and there’s often a focus on creating things to do for both older and younger people alike. People are keener on shopping local now because they couldn’t go far during the pandemic, so local businesses were delivering more and more for their communities. Now, people are repaying those businesses by continuing to shop with them and I think I can speak for all small business owners when I say we are eternally grateful for that. ooops-a-dasiy.business.site

Worth Worth is an interior design, homeware and gift business in Broomhill, creating bespoke soft furnishing and upholstery.

Founder Sarah Worth opened her shop in 1991, curating a collection of home and giftware with an emphasis on artisan, handcrafted and ethically made items. She tries to source unusual yet affordable product ranges.

Sarah told us last month: “I enjoy the diversity each workday offers, and working in Broomhill is excellent. An eclectic community of independent small businesses provides a fantastically diverse retail offering.”

“The beauty of shopping locally is that customers and shop owners can build up a unique relationship, and many of my customers are just as welcome to pop in for a chat as they are to come in and make a purchase.”

“There are lots of challenges for independent businesses. We were coming through the other side of the pandemic only to now be faced with the pressures created by the current cost of living crisis.”

“The high street is quieter. All we can do is provide the best service, stay adaptable, show our customers how much they are appreciated, keep people on our high streets, and challenge the increasing trend toward online shopping.” worth-interiors.co.uk

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IN INK

/ TAKE OUT / EXP

LO RE 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

UPFRONT Each month, Exposed ventures off the beaten track and showcases a Sheffield business well worth seeking out…

HIDDEN GEM

HYMN TO NINKASI

They don’t come much more ‘hidden gem’ than Hymn to Ninkasi, a bustling craft beer bar and bottle shop nestled in the heart of the achingly trendy Little Kelham development. Opened by two beer-loving brothers-in-law, Andrew and Nathan, towards the end of 2021, the venue has since solidified its position as another jewel in Kelham Island’s gleaming craft beer and ale crown.

The exterior is in keeping with the modern, post-industrial façade present throughout the development, and inside the triangularshaped bar you’ll be instantly drawn to a selection of vast fridges lining one side, expertly stocked with a curated selection of craft beers: everything from easy-drinking session IPAs to chunky imperial stouts, crisp pilsners to uber tart sours, gluten-free to alcohol-free. Basically, whatever the preference or requirement, there’s something for everyone to pick up and sup.

Behind the bar, you’ll find three rotating keg lines, plus an enviable selection of specialty wines and artisan spirits to peruse. Following its winter opening, HTK was naturally a good call for take-home beers (they offer subscription box packages, too) or a couple of cosy warmers inside; but now, with the summer months bringing the heat, their outdoor seating is really coming into its own. Situated next door to the popular Domo restaurant, on a warm day the adjacent courtyards bustle with day drinkers and al fresco diners, creating a convivial atmosphere and making the bar a perfect stop-off for a crafty aperitif and/or digestif.

That said, if you are feeling peckish, they can rustle up some top-notch snacks in-house courtesy of local legends like The Bhaji Shop and Waterall Butchers. The friendly neighbourhood bar ethos is very much front and centre of everything they do, so expect a warm welcome from the owners, who are more than happy to talk you through everything on offer. Every beer is hand-picked by them from trusted breweries, so you’re certainly in safe hands!

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Where to find it: The Wedge 5 Cotton Mill Walk, Little Kelham, S3 8DH

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

For a future in flowers Introduction to Professional Floristry Part 1 begins on 29th September Ground Floor, Eagle Works, Cotton Mill Walk Little Kelham S3 8DH 0114 322 2820 hello@thefloristryschool.co.uk | thefloristryschool.co.uk

FOR A FUTURE IN FLOWERS A hub of creativity situated in Eagle Works, a refurbished steel mill in Little Kelham, The Floristry School is an established independent training organisation created to further the development of professional florists and those wishing to enter the industry.

INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS & CAREER COURSES

WHAT THEY OFFER ACCREDITED COURSES These courses are aimed at improving skills, developing professional business practice through bespoke courses, accredited programmes and national apprenticeships. They begin at Level 2 Florist Apprentice – a smart, cost-effective way to learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to become a successful junior florist – and run right through to a Level 5 Master Diploma in professional floristry.

Full information on all courses can be found by heading to thefloristryschool.co.uk/courses.

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Developed by the tutors at The Floristry School, the 10-week Introduction to Professional Floristry course offers a perfect taster of the industry and provides the proper underpinning to start a career in floristry. The course, split between floristry theory and design, will help you to understand the needs of the botanical materials you are using each week and will teach students to become more confident using a range of design techniques and mediums as you develop your creative skills.

The Business of Floristry is a two-week intensive course that will give you a good understanding of the theoretical side of the industry and also arm you with a range of practical designs which can be developed upon in future design courses to enhance your customer offer.

Introduction to Professional Floristry – Part 1 begins on 29th September. When students have completed the course, they can apply to study on Part 2. Courses for late 2022 to 2023 will be available soon, for more information and pricing, head to thefloristryschool.co.uk/events or email hello@ thefloristryschool.co.uk.

THE FLORISTRY SCHOOL

MASTERCLASSES AND MORE WORKSHOPS! Throughout the year, a number of masterclasses will be available to attend, hosted by awardwinning Master Florists and covering everything from colour combinations and harmonies to sustainability in floral design.

Alongside this, a wide variety of workshops will be on-hand to cover various other integral parts of the industry, whether that’s hands-on design skills or correct health and safety procedures for retail florists.

Dates and pricing for all the upcoming masterclasses and workshops can be found at thefloristryschool.co.uk/events

COMMON QUESTIONS why choose the floristry school?

They individualise all learners and encourage them to develop in a way that will suit their learning style. There is a wealth of commercial floristry experience on-hand, together with formal teacher training qualifications enabling The Floristry School to inspire and guide learners through the courses and qualifications on offer.

can i do any course?

Have a chat with one of the friendly staff members if you are unsure which is the right course is for you. Most courses are aimed at florists who have achieved a level 2 floristry qualification or who have been working within the industry for some time, but there are training courses and workshops for students new to the industry. Just drop an email to hello@floristryschool.co.uk.

applying for a course

thefloristryschool.co.uk Visit: The Floristry School Ground Floor, Eagle Works, Cotton Mill Walk, Little Kelham S3 8DH Call: 0114 322 2820 Email: hello@thefloristryschool.co.uk Follow: @thefloristryschoolsheffield

Head to the website and click the ‘Apply Now’ button or alternatively email hello@ thefloristryschool.co.uk. They need to know that each student has chosen the course best suited to them so potential students will be interviewed to make sure the course will be the right one.

what will i learn?

Each course shown on the website, whether it’s an accredited course or a masterclass workshop, will have a detailed description of the course content. The information on the specific designer delivering the course is also shown so you will be able to understand their styles and inspirations.

Once you have enrolled on a course you will be sent a detailed list of tools which you will need for the class, timings for the class and any other relevant information needed.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 21

t r a m l i n es Special

Image: C Faroulo // Fanatic

IT’S PARTY TIME SHEFFIELD’S BIGGEST BASH RETURNS FOR 2022!

Headlining this year’s Tramlines shenanigans are Sam Fender (Friday), Kasabian (Saturday), and Madness (Sunday), alongside a whole host of huge acts including The Wombats, The Vaccines, James, Sigrid, Reverend and The Makers, Little Man Tate, Shed Seven, Self Esteem, The Coral, Sports Team, Yard Act, Working Men’s Club, Everly Pregnant Brothers and more.

Five stages of music, art, performance, comedy, a family-friendly area and a genre-spanning lineup of the internationally acclaimed to grassroots talent, 2022 is set to light up Hillsborough Park for the 13th instalment.

This year’s event takes place following a cracking 2021 edition where the festival took place as part of the Government’s Event Research Programme. It was the largest festival in Western Europe to go ahead since lockdown restrictions were eased and marked a national celebration of the return to live music.

Timm Cleasby, Tramlines Operations Director, said of this year’s event: “After the amazing spirit that everyone brought to Tramlines 2021 and how the team delivered an amazing festival in challenging times, we’re all back working hard to make 2022 better than ever. I honestly can’t wait to be back in the park and having a blast with Sheffield again.”

tramlines Special

tramlines timeline

A POTTED HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL’S LANDMARK OCCASIONS, MUSICAL HIGHPOINTS AND CONTROVERISAL MOMENTS...

2010

Tramlines announce they will be expanding the festival to include new venues, including Sheffield University’s Octagon Centre, Tudor Square, The Leadmill, O2 Academy Sheffield and Winter Gardens.

Acts are announced for the second instalment of Tramlines, including Echo and the Bunnymen, Mystery

Jets, Simian Mobile Disco DJ set, Professor Green, Tinchy Stryder, The Hoosiers, Toddla T and Annie Mac. In total, 250 artists appear across the festival’s many stages.

The attendance of the festival almost doubles with 65,000 people attending.

2012

Alt-J, already on course for global stardom, play for free in The Bowery.

The likes of Roots Manuva, We Are Scientists, Ms Dynamite, Julio Bashmore, and Spector all play the festival.

95,000 people attend over the weekend.

2009 - DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME?

People from all over the region flock to Sheffield City Centre for the first Tramlines.

Artists are announced for the first Tramlines instalment, including Reverend and the Makers, Toddla T, Just Jack, Pixie Lott, Example and Little Boots.

The XX perform at The Harley a month before their self-titled LP drops to universal acclaim.

Figures reveal 35,000 people attend the festival over the weekend.

2011

The hugely popular Folk Forest area is launched.

Acts announced for the third edition of Tramlines include Ash, Olly Murs, Pixie Lott, The Futureheads, and Heaven 17.

The festival wins ‘Best Local Event’ at the Exposed Awards and ‘Best Metropolitan Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards.

2013

Tramlines announce they plan to get over 700 acts for 2013’s festival.

Catfish and the Bottlemen bring down the house (and a disco ball) at a packed Soyo.

The Selecter hit the main stage and lead the crowd into a mass skank.

tramlines Special

2021

After a two-yearhiatus, Tramlines announces its return as part of the Government’s third phase of the Events Research Programme (ERP) pilot scheme.

40,000 revellers a day attend the sold-out event, as Tramlines becomes the largest festival to return in Western Europe.

Highlights include The Streets, Royal Blood, Little Simz and Dizzee Rascal.

2015

Tramlines announce that the main stage will move to the much larger Ponderosa Park.

Wu-Tang Clan, Basement Jaxx, The Charlatans, Buzzcocks and Sugarhill Gang are announced as main acts.

The Exposed In Session Stage, which showcases the best of local talent, is announced on Devonshire Green.

2019 2016

Dizzee Rascal tops a diverse line-up including Kelis, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Jurassic 5.

Funk legend George Clinton brings seamless party groove to the main stage.

Spanish rockers Hinds play with borrowed instruments after having their gear stolen a few days before the show.

2014

Hip-hop royalty Public Enemy join fellow headliners Katy B, The Cribs and Annie Mac on the main stage.

Sister Sledge lead the crowd in a disco singalong on a sunny Saturday evening.

Tramlines’ first wedding proposal takes place! It’s a yes!

The 11th instalment of the festival returns to Hillsborough Park and expects to welcome 30,000 people a day.

Nile Rodgers, Courteeners and Johnny Marr are amongst the acts announced.

The main stage is renamed the Nulty’s Main Stage in tribute to the festival’s late director who passed away prior to the 2018 event.

2017

The official festival becomes an exclusively outdoor event, with the Devonshire Green stage making a return.

The Libertines, Metronomy and All Saints are announced as festival headliners.

A petition is launched to make the Monday after Tramlines a bank holiday. It sadly fails.

2018

Organisers plan a major celebration of the festival’s 10th year.

The festival moves to Hillsborough Park, moving it out of the city centre for the first time.

Main acts announced include Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Craig David’s TS5.

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tramlines Special

g n i t t u p he in t hard yards Following an unlikely breakthrough at the height of lockdown and subsequent release of their debut album The Overload, Leeds-based post-punkers Yard Act have finally been able to unleash their live act on a more than game public. We caught up with members Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums) to talk lockdowns, album two and… dinosaurs!

Words: Ash Birch Fresh(ish) from soundcheck on the day that Leeds United secured their Premier League survival (a fact they claim not to be interested in, but we could hear the intermittent shouts of delight from the adjoining dressing room), Yard Act’s rhythm section and guitarist saunter into the tiny dressing room in the bowels of the Foundry.

Following the initial pleasantries, Sam settles in to restring his guitar while Ryan and Jay get cosy on the sofa, before Ryan looks at me and pipes up, ‘Hey, don’t I know you?’ I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t clocked it, but I definitely should recognise him. Ryan has been prolific on the Leeds music scene for years, and over a decade ago was bassist for Leeds outfit Komakino, who my band of the time [Harrisons] crossed paths with numerous times along the way.

Thankfully, Ryan’s memory is way better than mine, so we swap a few stories and with the ice firmly broken, we settle in for a chat about the merits of ‘breaking out’ during a global pandemic.

There surely can’t be too many bands that can claim to have only really started playing live shows a year after releasing their breakout single - a debut that was pieced together from a laptop demo in the middle of a national lockdown, no less - but, then again, there aren’t too many bands like Yard Act right now, either.

Obviously, the enforced delay to live performances was far from expected and not what they would have chosen, but the band admit that it allowed a sound to develop that might not otherwise have emerged.

“If we’d been in a practice room, I think it would have been a little a bit different,” explains Ryan.

tramlines Special

Photography: Phoebe Fox

tramlines Special

“The process became more me and James sat around a computer, usually late at night. It forced us to work in a different way. We did maybe two or three shows before the lockdown. We hadn’t even put anything out at that point, then, when we did start releasing stuff, the thing just caught on and we came straight out of lockdown into headline shows that were sold out.”

“It feels like we skipped a couple of steps, which I was grateful for because I’ve done those steps in like ten different bands and I’ve definitely paid my fucking dues!” Ryan breaks off to look towards most recent member and drummer, Jay, and with a glint in his eye says, “You fucking haven’t though, have ya?”

Sam looks up from his now stringless guitar and adds, “It’s funny thinking that our first support gig was with Foals at Empress Ballroom, and our next was with Jack White! It’s insane, really.”

Ryan adds, “We’re doing it backwards. Now, all we’ve got to do is navigate the decline!”

Based on the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the album and live shows, the decline (if it comes) is some way off. Last night they were in Manchester and Leeds before that.

The closer proximity to their hometown comes as a relief and the prospect of a 40-min journey up the road after tonight’s show is clearly preferable to the sometimes ten-hour journeys across the US. Ryan says: “Manchester was great.

It was a bit more subdued than other shows in Manchester, which I think was because it was early. It was more controlled, in a good way, because it sometimes felt a bit fucking

it’s funny thinking that our first support gig was with foals at empress ballroom, and our next was with jack white! it’s insane, really.

dangerous. It’s been a bit too gnarly.”

“The night before was Leeds Irish Centre, which is the biggest hometown show we’ve done and that went off. They’ve all been great, though, and they’re all within about 60 miles of our house, which has been welcome.”

“Everything’s been great since the start of the year, luckily. The travelling and the waiting around is bullshit, but it’s absolutely worth it.”

“I’ve noticed in other bands, like when we toured with The Cribs, it was very much like a football crowd.

And it’s like, you are not getting what these people are about. I mean, it should be for everyone but, for us, it’s been a hugely mixed crowd.”

Jay adds: “It feels quite balanced now. I suppose it depends where you go; you’ll have some shows where there’s maybe more of a certain demographic than others but, from playing gigs all over now, it feels quite balanced. There are slightly older people who might be with their kids, there are tonnes more young women, and everything in between. It’s a really good balance and everyone’s relatively respectful.”

If, like me, your first introduction to the band was their summer 2020 banger ‘Fixer Upper’, you’ll know there’s more to the band than their post-punk tag, and while they’re not daft enough to dismiss its merits and the help it’s provided them in terms of a platform, in reality, they are more than just another speck of postpunk dust waiting to be blown away for the next passing scene.

Sam says: “Sometimes, artists resist labels and I find it really tedious because that’s just your own private battle in your head. It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t restrict you in any way.”

Ryan adds: “I think it’s wrong, but I don’t care in the slightest. It’s fine. When people say it sounds like Idles, I think, are you listening to the same record? I like

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tramlines Special

Idles, but it’s definitely not a reference or an influence.”

Jay chips in, “I suppose it’s how tuned in you are on with your knowledge, maybe people see a shouty angry man and make the connection.”

Musically, it’s hard to argue that they sound too much like the current crop of post-punk contemporaries, but the groove-led backing tracks aren’t what set them apart completely: that honour falls to the wit bursting out of the lyrical content created by the afore mentioned angry, shouty man, Mr James Smith. I mean, everyone knows a Graham, right?

“I was surprised by the reviews, to be honest, I thought it’d be a bit more marmite, this type of sound and because of the slightly grating singer,” says Sam with his tongue firmly in cheek. “He sings in quite an upfront way, but it’s all been really positively received and I was like, ok, that’s weird, but fair enough.”

Ryan adds: “Along the same lines, the lyrical content is very English, and very regionally English. But then we got good reviews in France, Belgium, and like, Norway, and I was like, are they gonna get the references? You know – pound shop terracotta frogs!”

“I thought about it, and I kind of liken it to hip hop-in the 90s. I didn’t know anything about the Bronx, but you know what the fucking gist is, don’t you? I think it’s maybe just that, and the energy carries it. I guess the topics are universally known about.”

Despite the commonality of the characters and lyrics, the process of creating the record was anything but common. Far from just being a logistical problem, these were, of course, unprecedented (yes, that word) times, full of uncertainty and introspection for everyone, not least the band.

“I went west with it in my head,” says Sam. “I was obeying the rules to the letter and more, so I did it all [the recording] completely online. I really struggled.

It was all quite remote. My brother and his partner saw us yesterday, and they had never seen us live and didn’t know what was involved. They were like, ‘this is really different to record.’ And I was thinking yeah, it’s because of the circumstances of how we made it. It’s not a live band at all. It was built up like an electronic record.”

I was surprised by the reviews, to be honest, I thought it’d be a bit more marmite, this type of sound and because of the slightly grating singer...

Ryan adds: “We were just passing stuff around. And then, when you were allowed to meet up for work, we weren’t sure if it was work because we weren’t signed at the time. It was all very weird.

“Even when we had signed a deal, we didn’t all go to the studio at the same time.

It was just me and James and then people came when they needed to, so the first time playing everything together was for live shows.

“We had to almost relearn it for live.

Stuff like Dead Horse, that was a bassline that I did to a drum thing, on my own, once, drunk. I just chopped it up, tidied

it up and never played it again for like two years! In hindsight, that was pretty stupid thing to do because I should have anticipated that I would have to play it live, but it was all a bit backwards.”

I mention that this system of layering up tracks, through recording and passing on the files, reminds me of mid-00s supergroup The Postal Service, who operated in a similar style due to conflicting schedules.

“Yeah, but there was no universal tragedy back then,” says Ryan, “Well, there probably was, there’s always one, isn’t there? It probably would have been

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“What’s that game called that you play at Christmas, where you fold the paper, draw the legs and then you pass it on and someone draws the body, and then the head and it makes a weird thing?

It was like that, anyway.”

For the record, the game is (weirdly) called Consequences and the obvious consequence of this method of album making for Yard Act has been a lot of success, so will they continue to adapt the same approach for the second album?

“It’ll be a bit of the same system going on, yeah.

It sort of works,” says Ryan, “A couple of us have started doing ideas. The three of us have been having a couple of little jams, just dicking around in sound checks.

“James likes to move very quickly, and never repeat himself, but I think he is very aware the system works, and he does like constructing things as well. There’ll obviously be a bit more live stuff.”

“James has got a couple of good ideas for themes. I would imagine it’s going to be another concept, with an overarching theme. He’s just finessing that at the minute.

Sam adds: “He thinks it’s going to be about fatherhood and absent fathers. James has just had a kid, so I think it’s on his mind.”

And speaking of kids, in playing the record at home, my kids have got very into it, so I crowdsourced a question from them and, from their keen journalistic minds, they fashioned this corker: “What, Yard Act, is your favourite dinosaur?”

Jay is straight in there: “Diplodocus.”

Ryan is quick to pull Jay up: “It doesn’t exist. It was false. It turns out it was bullshit and they made a mistake.”

“But it was in in the Natural History Museum,” Jay hits back.

“Yeah, but they retracted it. It was like, you know when they declassified Pluto as a planet? When they were like, no, you’re a shit planet!” clarifies Ryan.

“Well, I like the legacy of the Diplodocus,” concedes Jay. It turns out, on relaying their response to my youngest, that the Diplodocus did in fact exist, but was removed from the Natural History Museum as the skeleton was a fake, which is probably what’s causing the confusion.

Either way, our time is up, and that seems like a good place to leave it before we get onto the veracity of Jurassic Park!

Later that evening, the gig at The Foundry is everything that the lads have come to expect from the fervent crowds at their live shows, with James playing puppet master. He’s a funny bloke, as his lyrics attest, and closing the set with a localised version of Jonathan Richman’s ‘Roadrunner’ was a real touch. Your humble reporter even got a shoutout when someone from the crowd asked who their favourite Sheffield band is? Ryan suddenly remembered, probably still thinking of dinosaurs, “I met one of the Harrisons earlier, he was alright!”

High praise. They’re pretty alright, too.

Yard Act plays The Leadmill Stage at Tramlines on Sunday 24th July

LEADMILL Special

LARKIN’ ABOUT Words: James Leaney

As well as a roster of blockbuster names and hotly tipped up-andcomers, each year Tramlines will showcase a number of local artists to keep the Sheffield spirit intact. So, as crowds descend on Hillsborough Park once again, this year’s festivities present another opportunity to discover an emerging crop of homegrown talent.

Among the handful of local acts selected to play Sarah Nulty’s Main Stage are Sheffield’s-own Harri Larkin, an eclectic three-piece who have coolly gone about their business in grabbing the attention of punters and tastemakers alike. A personal favourite of BBC Radio Sheffield’s Christian Carlisle, they featured on BBC Introducing’s local playlist a staggering 15 times last year.

The group’s journey began when the eponymous Harri ventured north from Cornwall home in search of a band. It was around three years ago, here in Sheffield, she encountered drummer Danton and

lo o k lo c a l From the big-hitters to the up-andcomers, James Leaney picks out the cream of the South Yorkshire crop across the festival stages…

MAIN STAGE: FRIDAY

Harri Larkin (see interview) A female-fronted indie trio based in Sheffield UK. The promising new outfit have had numerous tracks broadcast on BBC introducing, with varying influences cited such as No Doubt, Red Hot Chili peppers and Paramore.

MAIN STAGE: SATURDAY

Everly Pregnant Brothers The Yorkshire uke-toting legends are a powerhouse of parody fuelled on bitter, pork pies and raucous gigs.

Little Man Tate The scrappy indie rock outfit are back with their blend of catchy tunes and playful lyrics about everyday British life.

MAIN STAGE: SUNDAY

Reverend & the Makers Fusing indie rock melody and attitude with dance rhythm, Reverend & the Makers were formed by vocalist and songwriter Jon McClure in 2005 and have since become one of the Steel City’s household names.

Luxury Goods Luxury Goods (FKA LIO) offer a mindset of fiercely fighting to love yourself and the world around us. Introspective lyrics, hypnotizing synths, catchy guitar hooks and drums are woven into melodies that your mind keeps wandering back to.

LEADMILL Special

bassist Oscar. A Covid-enforced hiatus meant that last year’s performance at the Tramlines Fringe was only their second ever gig, and now they’ve made the leap from fringe stage to main stage at remarkable speed. It’s a leap which, as any local band or performer will tell you, is no small feat.

Holding true to her material through five incarnations of the band, Harri’s songwriting draws on varied musical influences and collaborative input to embed an eclectic mix of grunge, funk and pop within indie sensibilities. Harri herself described to me how the group’s sound has developed since teaming up with Danton and Oscar: “The way the songs are played has constantly evolved since meeting the guys. I love the way our new stuff sounds; it definitely has a different edge to the music I’ve already recorded. The guys make everything sound groovier.”

This ability to bounce between genres while retaining a consistent level of output has been key to the band reaching what is essentially the holy grail of the Sheffield music scene: the main stage at Tramlines. That said, Harri and the boys have also been forthcoming in expressing thanks to Sheffield’s local music scene for its driving support. “We love the local music scene! It has welcomed us with open arms. If I had moved anywhere but Sheffield none of these things would have happened. We are forever grateful to the Sheffield music scene and the people in it.”

Before the headline slot from one of the UK’s latest household names, Sam Fender, followed by a bit of 90s nostalgia with James, Harri Larkin will set the tone as the thousands of music lovers pour through the gates at Hillsborough Park for a sun-baked (hopefully) afternoon of Tramlines goodness.

Without giving too much away, the group have tailored their set to the expectant buzz of the occasion, adapting

LEADMILL STAGE: FRIDAY

Frankie Beetlestone A new distinctive voice in British genre-melting indie pop, Frankie emerges as an exciting artist who produces all of his music from his bedroom in Sheffield

T’OTHER STAGE LIVE: SATURDAY

Self Esteem Rebecca Lucy Taylor has shaken off the shackles of her indie band past to become the unapologetic pop star she always wanted to be. Expect plenty of heartfelt, bombastic pop bangers.

SHEAFS The Sheff-formed alternative/post-punk group will be following up the release of their debut album, A Happy Medium, a week prior to their performance at this year’s Tramlines.

T’OTHER STAGE LIVE: SUNDAY

Bedroom High Club An exciting four-piece bursting out of South Yorkshire. Their varied music tastes make for a sound that has a flavour for everyone.

introductions and interludes in some of their tried and tested favourites, as well as treating us to some new material.

So, what else can we expect from Friday’s opening slot? You can have it in their own words: “An abundance of funksoaked summery goodness! Expect anthemic choruses, explosive riffs and grooves that make you grab your mates and dance around the field”.

And, when you’re done chucking your mates around the field, you can rub shoulders with the band at the sets they are most looking forward to from Tramlines weekend. Harri’s looking forward to Crawlers, Coach Party, Self Esteem and Bedroom High Club; Danton has eyes for Sigrid, Sam Fender and Madness; while Danton will be indulging in some Britpop nostalgia at Shed 7 before seeking out some new artists he hasn’t heard yet.

Exciting times for Harri Larkin, then. There’s a new single and video coming out following Tramlines, and with further UK festivals in the pipeline, keep ‘em peeled for more Larkin in the fields.

“This summer we will be hitting the road, playing a string of festivals around the country. We don’t want to give much more away yet, but we hope you will stick with us and keep an eye on our story as it unfolds.”

Harri Larkin play Nulty’s Main Stage on Friday 22 July. They will also be supporting BlackWaters at Yellow Arch Studios on 17th September (£5.50 tickets available from futuresound.com).

You can listen to the band’s debut album ‘Beach City’ on all available streaming platforms.

THE LIBRARY STAGE: FRIDAY

Teah Lewis Teah Lewis is a Sheffield-based singer-songwriter whose sound channels the soulful folk of Vashti Bunyan and Joni Mitchell. Teah spent 2021 releasing four new singles, and her track ‘Magnolia’ was selected in Christian Carlisle’s top 50 songs of the year for BBC Introducing Sheffield.

THE LIBRARY STAGE: SATURDAY

Coco Steel City MC and producer Coco has been steadily championing Sheff in the national UK grime and hip-hop scene. Expect big bars, unapologetic delivery and infectious energy

THE LIBRARY STAGE: SUNDAY

Otis Mensah The first Poet Laureate of Sheffield, Otis is a musician and performing artist with an inimitable take on hip-hop, rap and poetry.

the fringe at tramlines RETURNS IN FULL FORCE FOR 2022

Sponsored by Sheffield BID, The Fringe at Tramlines promises a packed weekend of entertainment including free outdoor stages at Devonshire Green and the Peace Gardens The Fringe at Tramlines returns to Sheffield over the weekend of 22nd - 24th July with a full programme of events following a stripped-back festival in 2021. With sponsorship from Sheffield BID, the city centre will once again be bursting with music and entertainment over the weekend as people take to the streets for the biggest party of the year. The free outdoor stages at Devonshire Green and The Peace Gardens and Sheffield city venues, bars, pubs and clubs will feature a huge array of live music and DJs, creating a unique festive atmosphere across the town

centre and beyond.

The main arena for the Fringe at Tramlines at Devonshire Green will feature a large stage and an enviable range of food and drink vendors. Curated by local legend Papa Al, the lineup aims to include a diverse range of music to suit all tastes.

Saturday headliners Jungle Lion are a frenetic 10-piece ska band with a long history of performances during the Tramlines weekend. Jungle Lion are joined by the outlandish Captain Avery, Romano Jilo (a local

Romani dance group), Neighbourhood Voices (60 strong selfidentifying choir singing alt-pop and indie covers), Blue Street Brass, LAIK and post-punk electronic sounds from Speed for Lovers. DJs on Saturday include Andy H, Ian Hodgson, Kom Kom, Broc Pastor and Dubcentral. The host for the day will be acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer, April Ess. Sunday at Devonshire Green is headlined by Highway Child (soul, blues and funk classics) and the magnificent Sheffield Beatles Project, a supergroup of local musicians playing music from the The Beatles. Also performing are Solar Love (reggae, dub, Latin), Tin Soldiers (15-piece festival band), alt-folk from Before Breakfast and chilled acoustic from Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Teah Lewis. DJs on Sunday include festival specialist Jimmy the Gent, Kat Sugi, Myna, Rob Cotterell, Aejazz Zee and Papa Al. The hosts for Sunday will be Penny and Johnny.

Papa Al, stage curator, said of this year’s Devonshire Green event: ‘‘The Fringe at Tramlines stage on Devonshire Green is going to be a monster this year and I really relish the chance to put some of the city’s finest musicians on the stage. With the Women’s Euros in town, and both footballers and supporters coming here, there’s an emphasis on women in music, with five female DJs playing over the weekend, a 60-strong female choir and some truly talented musicians gracing the stage.”

Following a big success last year with this format, The Peace Gardens will feature DJs across a multitude of music genres

who are guaranteed to get people dancing. Hosted by Sile Sibanda of Radio Sheffield (who will also DJ), Saturday highlights include a set from Dorian Cox of The Long Blondes and an open deck event hosted by local music shop and music venue Record Junkee.

Also featured are Herbal T & Mikki Revel from Bradford FM playing a smooth mix of reggae, dub and soul and Jesus Hairdo, former DJ from the famous ‘Brighton Beach’ club night. Also on Saturday are nON sTOP eROTIC cABERET with dark electro-pop and Manchester DJ/Producer Xariella Music.

Sunday will also feature Sile Sibanda and Record Junkee DJs whilst Henry Carlyle from The Orielles will play an indierock set and Emily Pilbeam will play the best unsigned, undiscovered music from across the region.

With so much musical entertainment being hosted across the city, Sheffield City Council have partnered with app developers Woov to create a brand-new mobile app that will include a comprehensive guide to everything that’s taking place over the weekend. The free app can be downloaded for both Android and Apple devices using the link woov.to/tramlinesfringe For more Fringe and Tramlines news, including updated listings and artist interviews, head to the ‘Fringe at Tramlines’ section at exposedmagazine.co.uk.

the fringe at tramlines

pushing forward Words: James Leaney. Photo: Pix Lens

South Yorkshire’s Rumbi Tauro is poised to release her new single, ‘Take Care’, on 1st July. The Soul/ RnB artist burst onto the scene following a triumph at the Hope Works-led Pattern and Push competition in 2021. Since then, Rumbi has been working tirelessly to establish herself as one of the most exciting new voices in the region and will be joining fellow local talent on the Library Stage at Hillsborough Park.

You’ve had a big year since your breakthrough with Pattern and Push. For any of our readers who aren’t yet familiar, could you tell us a bit about your music and journey up to this point?

I started playing the piano and violin at ages five and seven.

Around age seven I started singing in church and realising that I really enjoyed it. I was introduced to artists like Tracy Chapman from a young age, then having the introduction to Alicia Keys and seeing a black female artist playing the piano, which I had just started doing, while singing incredible songs... it meant I started dreaming of just being able to write a song! I was so used to singing covers that when it came to lockdown in 2020, that’s the time I really had to be like, “I want to do this now and I don’t want to wait any longer; I don’t want to think about how I can write lyrics or how I can create a song. I just want to do it.”

You’re up to play the Library Stage on Saturday at this year’s Tramlines. How are you feeling about it?

Yes, I’ve been graced with the opportunity to come back this year, and I’ve now got a full band. I’m so excited – not just to be able to go back, but also to push myself. The fact that I can go from performing last year just by myself, to now coming back with like five musicians. I’m really excited to experience that as part of the Tramlines Festival. There’s not long to go!

With ‘Take Care’ out on July 1st, what can we expect from the new single?

With Take Care, I feel like it’s very much a personal song. In the sense of when I started writing it, it sounded completely different, but then it started to grow when I just sat down by the piano and played some chords. The first line of is: ‘I’m so captivated by the way that my heart beats around you.’ I feel like with this song I’ve kind of gone on a positive, personal love journey. In building the song, it started from kind of a vulnerable opening line about being honest with someone else: ‘This is how I feel when I’m around you, this is how you make me feel.’ And from there it grows into this kind of love anthem.

Any pre-release nerves?

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I’ve released something!

I’d about forgotten that pre-release feeling, but yeah, I’m getting it! I’m excited but I’m nervous. I’ve been performing it live and I’ve had a good reception, so that’s put my mind at ease a bit. Although, it’s a whole different thing when you release something for the whole world to just do whatever they want with it. Overall, I’m looking forward to it!

Rumbi Tauro’s new single, ‘Take Care’, will be available across all major streaming platforms from 1st July. Catch her live performance on Saturday 23rd July on The Library Stage at Tramlines Festival. @rumbitauro

the fringe at tramlines

there goes the neighbourhood Ahead of their upcoming Fringe at Tramlines show on 23rd July, Exposed caught up with Sheffield-based upper voices choir Neighbourhood Voices to talk inclusivity, live shows with Self Esteem and their big comeback gig.

the fringe at tramlines

Neighbourhood Voices is definitely not what you instinctively think of when you conjure up your own memories of a choir (belting out ‘He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands’, this is not!). Founded back in 2017 by Gina Walters, who you may recognise from her other musical incarnation, the superb Before Breakfast, the choir has gained huge popularity in Sheffield for their uplifting performances of contemporary classics, while simultaneously upending expectations of what a choir can look and sound like.

Such has been the success of the group, that around two and half years ago Gina enlisted the help of Liv Muir Wilson as assistant musical director, and between them, they craft interesting arrangements of songs that you probably won’t hear from other choirs around the city.

“I would say that in Sheffield, we are unique in what we do,” says Liv, who prior to joining NV gained plenty of experience working in choirs while studying music at the University of York. “Our rep[ertoire] choice is different to a lot of other groups.”

“I’ve sung in rock choirs and pop choirs before and covered a lot of choral standards which are often taken from musical theatre or the current mainstream pop charts which is what you hear on the radio. This is great but they don’t do what we do. What I think Neighbourhood Voices does is tap into music that you hear a lot of, great popular music, but you might not hear choirs perform.”

The inclusive founding principle of Neighbourhood Voices has always been important to its members and through the choir, people from many diverse walks of life have been given the platform to sing and interact together socially.

Given these commendable achievements, it would be easy for them to rest on their laurels; however, they are keenly aware that while their intention is to engender an inclusive space, they aren’t perfect and more efforts can be made to include people of colour and other marginalised communities.

Liv explains: “Recently, we’ve had a lot of discussions around our inclusion language. We obviously don’t want to pointedly ask people in the choir how they identify, but we try to make it extremely clear that we are an upper voices choir and people can make of that what they want. If they feel they fit into that, they are welcome along. It’s something that we’ve had real conversations about, because we want it to be a safe space for women, but we don’t just want it to be a safe space for women.”

“We really, really want to make sure that people from any background feel welcome, included and safe to sing.

Something that I love about it is that it’s a non-auditioned choir. There are people here who have done music degrees, who’ve been lifelong music learners and can read sheet music and play several instruments, and then there are people who’ve literally never sung in a choir before in their lives. We teach it all by ear.”

“We have a number of LGBTQ+ and Queer choir members, of which I’m one, and we’re actively welcoming to non-binary people, trans people, and anyone who feels like they don’t currently have a place in choir. We’re doing a lot of work elsewhere to be allies to other groups, and that’s something that’s ongoing and we’re taking on training to support that.”

“For example, we’ve booked in racial equality training because we recognise that we are a very white, and not exclusively but predominantly middle-class choir. It isn’t lost on us. We want to do the work to make sure that we’re

welcoming to all demographics, and everyone feels that they can join. Obviously, you need to see yourself represented in something to begin with, so we want to make sure that work is being done to ensure that.”

“Something that we’re really working on musically at the moment is to make sure that we’re representing a diverse range of artists in our rep choices. I think everyone, especially on the committee, understands that it’s an ongoing conversation and everyone’s very willing to keep having those conversations. We just want to make it the most open and inclusive space that it possibly can be, and we know that we’ve got work to do to help it get there.”

Thanks in part to this inclusive attitude, Neighbourhood Voices bring a unique vibe to all their shows and have played some incredible sets through the years, including memorable Tramlines slots and a magical night at the Leadmill in January 2020, where they performed with another Sheffield fave, Self Esteem.

“The gig with Self Esteem was definitely a highlight for me while I’ve been in the choir.” says Liv. “It was amazing. She [Rebecca Lucy Taylor] also performed at our Christmas gig in 2019 at Picture House Social, which was incredible as well.”

Liv originally commuted from York for choir, before moving to Sheffield in March 2020, which frustratingly coincided with the first national lockdown, meaning that choir and singing in groups were a definite no-no. Now that things are creeping back towards normality, at least in terms of restrictions on singing, there is extra enthusiasm for the upcoming shows.

“We’re just dead excited to be doing a big gig again.. We’ve got new rep and it’s a new time now as well. We have had to work up our confidence as a group and I think this is really going to be the event where we’re like, we are back!”

Neigbourhood Voices play the Devonshire Green Stage on Saturday 23rd July

YELLOW ARCH

JOIN US AT YELLOW ARCH THIS FRINGE AT TRAMLINES WEEKEND

FRIDAY 22 JULY FOR THE RECORD 10PM-4AM

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WE PLAY OLD RECORDS… SOMETIMES THEY’RE ALBUM TRACKS, SOMETIMES THEY’RE B-SIDES… SOMETIMES THEY’RE THE BIG HITTERS BUT THEY'RE ALL GREAT SOUL • FUNK • DISCO • REGGAE • SKA • ROCK & ROLL 100% WAX, GET ON DOWN!

SUNDAY 24 JULY INDUSTRY PRESENTS 2PM-8PM

FREE ENTRY

INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS BRINGS SOME OF THE FINEST ACTS FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FREE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE BILL: ANY OLD IRON TEN EIGHTY TREES TEEFF CAESAR DID IT WORKFRIENDS

SUNDAY 24 JULY JIMMY THE GENT 9PM-2AM

FREE ENTRY

PROVEN PARTY STARTER AND DANCEFLOOR DEVASTATOR, JIMMY THE GENT SEAMLESSLY BLENDS GOOD MUSIC FROM ALL GENRES INTO A DELICIOUS BROTH OF MUSICAL SOUP. WITH OVER 2 DECADES PLAYING THE LIKES OF GLASTONBURY, BOOMTOWN FAIR, GREENMAN AND BESTIVAL, EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN HIGH ENERGY, BIG HORNS AND RAD TIMES STRICTLY POSITIVE ENERGIES GET LOOSE, SWEET GOOSE

YELLOWARCH.COM/EVENTS

EXPOSED VISITS

Raffina by Reece Elliott

It’s been three months since MasterChef star and born-and-bred Sheffielder Reece Elliott launched his Raffina venture, joining the city’s densely populated stretch of restaurants lining Ecclesall Road.

WORDS BY JOE FOOD

Situated just after the bend taking you past Endcliffe Park and up towards Banner Cross, the restaurant is hard to miss with its standout glassfronted exterior and a distinctly more modern façade than surrounding buildings in the area.

Inside the décor is very much ‘chic European bistro’ with plenty of natural light, colourful furnishings and plush seating.

We were welcomed warmly and shown to our table by a friendly member of staff, Guy, who recommended a fresh, easy-drinking bottle of Fiano to accompany our meal – a summery Italian wine to complement the Italianinfluenced menu.

For starters, we ordered the pan-fried king scallop and the wild mushroom and truffle arancini. The sumptuous-looking scallops were ample in size, tender and succulent, served with charred sweetcorn for a subtle smokiness, confit tomatoes providing a touch of tang and a luxurious nduja and parsley butter that I couldn’t get enough of. My partner was equally impressed with the arancini, praising its crunchy texture, the savoury, peppery flavours and the rewarding 50 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

richness of the truffle hollandaise.

Appetites well and truly sharpened, we dived into our mains. My miso caramel glazed sea trout arrived looking nothing short of delectable.

There was a lot to register amidst the mouthwatering presentation: two generous fillets of fish served on a bed of pak choi, tempura battered mussels, creamy pieces of prawn and wasabi ravioli, an umami-rich dashi sauce, all topped with salty samphire stalks. If it was a lot to take in visually, the taste experience provided an absolute rollercoaster experience of combining flavours – one that I’d gladly jump on again and again.

My partner’s plaice fillet arrived looking equally resplendent. The plaice was topped with squid ink pomme maxim (fancy potato chips, basically) and shaved truffle, supplemented by leeks and potato fondants beneath. This delightful bundle of food was accompanied by black truffle mousse and a white onion and thyme puree, which was swiftly declared exquisite. The delicate fish was a great pairing which allowed the more complex, rich flavours to come through and the portion

size just right to keep us looking forward to dessert.

And, when the time for sweet came, I could look no further than the salted caramel custard tart, a winning sweet and decadent combo topped with cappuccino ice cream to combat the oncoming post-meal slump. I was mercifully allowed a spoonful of the chocolate and hazelnut delice – crunchy on the outside, velvety smooth on the inside, and paired with sweet orange sorbet for a fresh, citrusy hit. It was a rewarding end to a fantastic evening of exciting, innovative food where passion practically jumps off the plate.

Without hesitation, ’d put it firmly in the ‘mustvisit’ category for any Sheffield foodie.

Book a table at raffina.co.uk/reece-elliott Opening Times Monday: 9:00-16:00 Coffee & Cake Tuesday: 9:00-16:00 Coffee & Cake Wednesday: 9:00-15:00 Lunch / 17:30-23:00 Dinner Thursday: 9:00-15:00 Lunch / 17:30-23:00 Dinner Friday: 9:00-15:00 Lunch / 17:30-23:00 Dinner Saturday: 9:00-15:00 Lunch / 17:30-23:00 Dinner Sunday: CLOSED

Raffina by Reece Elliott 837 Ecclesall Road, S11 8TH 0114 252 7777 WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 51

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

FOOD & DRINK// NEW OPENINGS

HAVE A SLICE OF THAT Relaxed neighbourhood pizzeria Rudy’s has opened its doors, situated at the former Lonestar Site at 40 – 44 Division Street.

Creating light and classic Neapolitan pizza since 2015, with the original Rudy’s situated in Ancoats, Manchester, the pizzeria has since opened sites in Leeds, Greater Manchester, Soho, Liverpool and Birmingham.

Born out of passion for pizza, Rudy’s follows the authentic Neapolitan tradition of pizza making, serving classic recipes such as Marinara, Margherita and Calabrese – all originating from Naples, the birthplace of pizza.

Believing Neapolitan pizza to be the best in the world, Rudy’s dough is made fresh daily using Caputo ‘00’ flour which ferments for at least 24 hours, alongside the best quality ingredients imported twice a week from Naples, including San Marzano tomatoes grown on fields next to Mount Vesuvius, and Fior di Latte mozzarella.

Victoria Eyres, General Manager of Rudy’s Sheffield said: “We’re overwhelmed with the response to bringing Rudy’s to Sheffield this Summer; we can’t wait to fire up the oven and meet the local community.” @wearerudyspizza

JOIN THE CLUB

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.

The venue will open on July 8 at 92 Burton Road, next to The Parrot Club and Peddler Warehouse. In terms of food on offer, there’ll be a British classics menu using small but good quality ingredients, as well as brunch on weekends and a Sunday roast.

Inside, the space itself will be split into three areas: the front section being more of a lounge vibe, the middle given over to the canteen and restaurant, leading into the

COMING SOON...

back area for darts and table fussball. The aesthetic will borrow from 60s era working men’s clubs, with vinyl patterned floors, red carpet tiles, maroon curtains and plenty of wood cladding throughout.

As far as the drinks go, the bar has eight taps, which will see a rolling cast of craft ale from local breweries, as well as some popular favourites, plus a small section of well-made cocktails.

Co-owner Tom told Exposed: “After a year of working on the project we are absolutely buzzing to finally get the doors open and welcome everyone in. Being a part of the fantastic line-up that Kelham and Neepsend already boast is what’s driving us on to finally get the doors open; the team is in place, the beers are on order and the chefs are ready and raring to go. Let’s be having you!” @neepsendsocial

FOOD & DRINK // NEW OPENINGS

SKY’S THE LIMIT Owners of family-run Sardinian restaurant Domo have recently opened their rooftop bar in the Krynkl shipping container development, just in time for some much-needed summer aperitifs.

Kelu, which means ‘sky’ in Sardinian dialect, touts itself as a luxurious Mediterranean ‘sunset bar’ serving an exciting array of cocktails, self-service fine wines from an Enomatic fine wine dispenser – a sort of wine vending machine that can‘t be found anywhere else in the city – and traditional Sardinian nibbles which, if you’ve already checked out Domo, you know will be worth climbing the stairs for!

“It’s both a cocktail bar and an aperitivo bar,” co-owner Sarah told Exposed. “There’s a tiny kitchen doing things like arancini, so keeping the Domo, Sardinian vibe; but the cocktail menu is something really exciting.

The look we’re going for is that relaxed, Mediterranean style to tie in with Domo.”

As well as cocktails and light bites, there are plenty of top-of-therange fine wines available, which you can buy via a self-service wine cabinet, allowing customers to buy pre-paid cards at the bar and select from an extensive selection of wines kept fresh inside the cabinet.

The bar launched on Friday 24th June and bookings are now available at kelu.co.uk.

Walk-ins are also welcome and will be accommodated if room is available. @k_e_l_u

IT’S A (CHEAP) DATE Last month, Orchard Square welcomed the latest addition to its growing list of hospitality venues with the opening of Cheap Dates, a New York-style Dive Bar. The independent business is located on the Orchard Terrace overlooking the square, and serves up “draught beer, strong cocktails and the best music you’ve ever heard” according to their team – with a 2am finish on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Launched by the group behind the popular fried chicken and craft beer spot Lucky Fox and Bamboo Door Tiki Bar, Cheap Dates takes its inspiration from the States, where laidback Dive Bars offer craft and crispy beers on tap and a wide variety of ‘weird and wonderful’ cans of

independent beer and ciders in the fridges.

Commenting on the launch, owner Richard Ledger said: “A true dive, to us, is somewhere a young couple, a 9 to 5’er or a retired grandmother can come together for a drink and to be social.

Ultimately, a dive bar is the great equaliser, regardless of background or budget. It’s just great drinks, served by a great bartender, and great music.”

Cheap Dates revellers can also expect a journey through country, classic rock and 80’s classics on the soundsystem until the early hours, plus happy hours and drinks offers so they can live up to their name! @cheapdatesbar

YARD PARTY

Building work is progressing nicely at Over the Yardarm, a new cocktail bar with a European-style vibe, which will soon be opening its 24-seater sun terrace on Abbeydale Road.

The former home of Starlight Kitchens takes its name from the traditional nautical saying “sun is over the yardarm”, an indication it’s time for a morning drink, but co-owner Alfie Chester is quick to point out there won’t be a nautical theme to proceedings.

He told Exposed: “Over The Yard Arm, to me, just means it’s time for a drink; it’s time for the

first drink of the day, to start the weekend and come down to meet your friends.

I’ve always really loved drinking in places like Seville and Barcelona with that sort of on-street, off-street; indoor, outdoor vibe. That’s what we’re going for.”

The soundtrack will be heavily 70s-influenced, with chilled vibes in the day and plenty of funk and soul in the evenings.

Opening from 11am–11pm, Wednesday to Sunday, during the day there will also be a big emphasis on cakes and bakes. @overtheyardarmbar

RESTAURANT, PIZZERIA & BOTTLE SHOP KIDS EAT FOR £1 IN JUNE!* BOOK A TABLE NOW!

7-9 Langsett Road South, Oughtibridge, S35 0GY @Luca_Oughtibridge *One child per full paying adult, T&C’s apply Luca_FP_0622.indd 1

27/05/2022 11:11

FOOD AND DRINK

Powerful Plates, Elegant Surroundings Exposed pays a visit to Fulwood’s modernthinking Indian restaurant Lavang It’s strange to think that Lavang has only been with us for four years, such is its cemented reputation in the city when it comes to innovative Indian cuisine. In fact, this seasoned journo recalls sitting in the cool, contemporary restaurant during the spring of 2017 and speaking to the co-owners about their vision to provide a different experience to the traditional Indian restaurant: a venue focusing on fresh ingredients, quality over quantity and exemplary customer service in a clean, comfortable setting.

It didn’t take long to bring the formula to life. Executive chef Jay Kauser brought an ever-evolving, seasonal menu to the dining table – think indulgent Indian dishes with a finedining twist – while the excellent waiting staff and laidback vibe did the rest. Today Lavang is well-reputed as the place to go for a classy curry, aided by its prime location in the leafy suburb of Fulwood.

That said, one thing you certainly can’t accuse them of is resting on their laurels; the last few years have seen them add a spacious suntrap terrace, set up their online shop (featuring their very own Lavang Spiced Gin) and achieve carbon neutral status. Throw in a year of Covid-related challenges and they’ve spent much of their first few years expanding, adapting and pivoting as a business.

White tablecloths and smartly dressed staff greeting you at the door may give the impression of a fine-dining establishment, but the atmosphere is anything but pretentious here. They’ve nailed the professional but personable customer service approach, and we felt instantly relaxed upon taking our seats and ordering drinks. I went for the Indian meal classic, a crisp Cobra beer, while my partner perused the cocktail menu, a selection of classics alongside a few in-house specials, before plumping for a tangy Lavang Berry Twist.

Customary poppadum and pickle tray ordered, we turned our attention to starters. I was briefly swayed by the Samundar Squid - apparently one of the more popular options - but eventually opted for the Railway Prawns.

Presented with a nod to the classic prawn cocktail in a tall martini glass, inside were juicy king prawns marinated in a spicy curry sauce and sautéed red onions wrapped in a puri.

My partner’s Mutton Chapli looked just as impressive - two minced kebab patties packing a rich, flavoursome punch topped with salad and pomegranate seeds.

If the starters were good, the mains were on another level.

Following the refreshing lime and coriander palate cleansers another nice touch - I opted for the Lamb Nawab and knew I was onto a winner after the first bite. The lamb was incredibly tender (a food review cliche, perhaps, but it really was slowcooked to perfection) and the savoury naga sauce provided a rewarding chilli kick with refreshing hits of fenugreek and coriander coming through. My partner chose the Makan, a delightfully creamy and fragrant chicken curry cooked with

Indian butter, Longley Farm cream (local suppliers are a big part of Lavang’s ethos), smoky paprika and sun-dried tomato.

Joining this feast were our sides of garlic naan and pilau rice, both rising admirably to the task of soaking up the wealth of flavour on the plate.

The post-curry slump suggested that it could be wise to forego the desserts menu, but we braved it out and chose to share a traditional Indian Carrot Fudge - a perfect light and sweet finale to the smorgasbord of rich flavours that preceded it. It provided a satisfying end to the Lavang experience and reinforced that when it comes to innovative Indian dishes, wholesome vibes and supreme customer service, they really do remain second to naan.

Lavang 478/480 Fulwood Rd, S10 3QD 0114 263 0106 www.lavangsheffield.co.uk @lavang_sheffield

LEOPOLD SQUARE PRESENTS

FRIDAY 22ND JULY MONTUNO - 17:00 - 19:00 DJ - 19:00 - 22:00 SATURDAY 23RD JULY PHIL JOHNSON - 13:00 - 14:30 JULIAN JONES - 15:00 - 16:30 DIZZY CLUB - 17:00 - 18:30 PAPA SOUL - 19:00 - 20:30 SUNDAY 24TH JULY NICOLA FARNON & THE MADE UPS - 13:00 - 14:30 RYAN TAYLOR - 15:00 - 16:30 LINDSAY DRACASS - 17:00 - 18:30 CARIOCA SOUL - 19:00 - 20:30

VENUE

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LEOPOLD SQUARE | LEOPOLD STREET | SHEFFIELD | S1 1RG FOR BAND INFORMATION AND TIMES VISIT LEOPOLDSQUARE.COM

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BONGO’S BINGO IS THE DEFINITIVE BINGO EXPERIENCE It’s a crazy mix of traditional bingo, dance-offs, rave intervals, audience participation and countless magical moments, currently taking place in almost 50 locations around the world.

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NIGHTLIFE

A FULL HOUSE PARTY

The UK’s award-winning and original bingo rave phenomenon, Bongo’s Bingo, is bringing two epic Back To The 80s XL shows to South Yorkshire for the very first time in September.

Following on from their sold-out XL spectaculars in Manchester and with other huge shows in Liverpool, Leicester and Newcastle happening this summer, Bongo’s Bingo’s double whammy of super-sized dates in Yorkshire take place at Magna on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September.

This is Bongo’s Bingo amped up to the absolute max for Sheffield, with thousands of players coming together at the iconic location. Expect loads of 80s tunes, massive prizes and surprise guests at the two biggest parties they have ever created in the region. It’s time for everyone to rewind back to an era of bangers, classics and anthems all night long with fancy dress very much encouraged, but not compulsory.

Bongo’s Bingo’s co-founder Jonny Bongo says: “Our two XL shows in Sheffield are going to be the biggest we have ever done in the whole of Yorkshire. This is basically Bongo’s Bingo on steroids – everything from the production to the prizes to the stage to the amount of people coming to these two dates – it’s going to be insane.

“Back to The 80s is the theme so we are going to have wall-to-wall classics and sing-a-longs all night long. Sheffield is a special place for us, the crowds are always brilliant and shows sell out months ahead. There’s this insane energy there and we really can’t wait for September – it’s going to be class.”

Bongo’s Bingo combines the much-loved quaint pastime of bingo with a wild live show, crazy antics and wonderful prizes which have created one of the most talked about nights out in the country.

Brace for a night full of madness, mischief and

shared euphoria, with hits from across the ages all night long – imagine N Trance’s Set You Free filtered via S Club and Gerry Cinnamon, to renditions of Total Eclipse of the Heart. Got it? Lovely.

Tickets are on sale now, available at bongosbingo.co.uk/events That’s your lot for this month! As always, keep an eye on the Sheffield LGBT+ events page on Facebook www.facebook.com/sheffieldlgbtevents for updates and announcements on the latest events and news.

BONGO’S BINGO: WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? It’s basically the definitive bingo experience. Picture a crazy mix of traditional bingo, dance-offs, rave intervals, audience participation and countless magical moments, currently taking place in almost 50 locations around the world.

Bongo’s is a wild shared social extravaganza and a night of pure nostalgic escapism, with the chance to win iconic prizes from giant pink unicorns and Henry Hoovers to mobility scooters and karaoke machines at each and every show.

It’s immersive, inclusive and incredible. Everyone from 18 to 92 plays and parties together.

There are no barriers and no limits.

NIGHTLIFE // TOP PICKS

Picture: Alex Morgan

((TRAMLINES)) SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: JACKIE’ BANGERS ALL NIGHT LONG!

Hope Works // 23 July // £6 Every year, Hope Works throws a big old knees-up for Tramlines weekend, and this year they boast a jam-packed line-up over two arenas featuring loads of Sheffield’s finest. From residents Lo Shea and Diessa to a Glyph takeover in Mesters (led by Craig Cassiera, James Maplebeck, Mak Jurphy, Jordan Hunter & Put It In H) delivering the Trancey Sizzlers and Tek swingers via fav’s STEPHANIE and Alex.Aubyn bringing the EBM and Techn. If that’s not enough, there’s also Manilla’s Dj Wanderlei & Tribal’s lead selector Nick Spencer serving up the groovy goods and new kid on the Techno block, Jacob Beswick. It’s gonna be a banger!

HARRY’S HOUSEWARMING: A HARRY STYLES CLUB NIGHT Leadmill // 15 July // £6 Calling all Harry Styles and One Direction fans – This is the club night for you!

Whether you missed out on Harrychella, One Night Only in London, Love on Tour or the latest Pleasing drop, Harry’s Housewarming arrives at the Leadmill to welcome you home. With all your favourite Harry Styles, One Direction and other pop anthems, plus themed giveaways and so much more, this isn’t a club night you want to miss.

APRICOT BALLROOM W/ LUKE UNA, DR SMORSLI, FAB & FRIQUE

Bal Fashions // 2 July // £16.90 Apricot Ballroom are set to celebrate the scorching weather with one of their favourite DJs in the entire world, Luke Una. His Worldwide FM shows became the stuff of legend through the pandemic lockdowns, and his peerless taste in music combined with absolutely top tier patter helped many through the forced isolation. He’s also one of the creative minds behind Manchester’s ‘The Electric Chair’ and ‘Homobloc’ parties. Combine all the above with one of the best sound systems in town, and a crowd that knows how to throw down, and we should be in for a special one.

MIRROR - THE HIGH SUMMER BALL

SAVED BY THE 90S SUMMER TERRACE PARTY

Network // 30 July // £6 Throwback events take over the terrace at Network next month for the ultimate 90s party in the sunshine. Spice Up Your Life and take yourself back in time to an era that will make you feel Larger Than Life!

Find yourself Dancing In The Moonlight to the greatest 90’s hits (plus all those guilty pleasures you used to listen to in your mum’s car). Scream your heart out to all the anthems of your youth, including Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, NSYNC and Britney, and remember, fancy dress is highly encouraged!

DINA Venue // 16 July // FREE Described as a ‘night of sonic reflection for artists, dancers, those who look and those who love, with freedom to express the identity you desire to be.’, MIRROR’s summer shin-dig will feature everything from disco and synth, to eclectic electric, with MIRROR DJs Doctor Disco (Manchester), Robert E Baker (pLSrS), and DJ Jonaxthan (X-Loungers) hosting alongside a whole host of guest artists.

BONGO’S BINGO

O2 Academy // 23 July // £13 The award-winning original bingo rave phenomenon returns with twist on the traditional game. Expect rave intervals, dance-offs, sing-a-longs, big prizes and loads of surprises. Tickets sell out fast, so don’t hang around.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 63

TAVVIN’ IT LARGE

Last month, the Neepsend Tavern opened its doors for its inaugural weekend bash, giving us an exciting taste of bigger things to come…

A once famous Sheffield brewery and pub, the Neepsend Tavern re-opened over bank holiday weekend for four days of music, drinks and food in their rejuvenated courtyard, providing a small taster of what’s to come before opening with a full refurbishment this summer.

The pub’s tenants teamed up with their new neighbours at Dryad Works to showcase the historic venue’s regeneration at a series of ‘Work in Progress (WIP)’ events. One of the new directors and renovators of the Neepsend Tavern, Joe Taylor, described their vision for this latest addition (or return) to the Neepsend and Kelham Island Bar scene: “The building carries so much history and was dormant for years. We plan to re-imagine the Neepsend Tavern with a modern twist, inclusive of good food, good beer and great vibes all-round.”

A year on from discovering the disused space, Joe and the new team have been hard at work creating a new chapter in the venue’s history.

Existing first as an 1800s public house, the building survived the great flood of 1864 before falling into obscurity in recent years. However, the pub’s new landlords are keen to demonstrate that after surviving a flood which destroyed over 600 nearby houses, a few cobwebs are not going to see off this tough old bird.

So, as their full opening creeps nearer, the team invited us all in for a peek at what they have been up to and what we can expect from the exciting new venture. As Joe explains: “The venue is a work in progress but we want to share the 64 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

excitement of the rebuild with some events for people to come and see the space for themselves.”

The series of courtyard events, spanning each of the four days over the elongated Jubilee weekend, were curated by Dryad Works.

Spanning a range of tastes and flavours, the gatherings hosted Dubshack Summer Sessions, Sinai Soundsystem, Risky Disco and resident DJs from Dryad Works.

Eventually, the team visualise the pub as a modernised venue which preserves the building’s heritage while boasting spacious indoor and

Photography: Dan Shore

NIGHTLIFE

outdoor drinking and eating areas. They are also keen to bring some of Sheffield’s new waves of music to the Tavern, and with events in the pipeline throughout summer, don’t expect huge soundsystems on the cobbles to be a one-off in Neepsend.

For the latest events announcements, head to the venue’s socials: @ neepsendtavernsheffield and facebook. com/neepsendtavern.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 65

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MUSIC // LIVE REVIEWS

BY ASH BIRCH

COMING SOON...

REVIEW: JOCKSTRAP @ YELLOW ARCH

MUSIC IN THE GARDENS

The evening saw Yellow Arch play host to the glitch-hop electro weirdness that is Jockstrap for a strangely endearing evening full of whimsy, big drops and genre swapping that would upset your da’.

Over the last few years, Jockstrap’s willingness to experiment across all things pop and electro has gained quite the cult following and recent radio play has ensured that against all probability, the unusual mashups could be propelled further to an even bigger, dare we say, mainstream audience.

For us, their most recent release, ‘Concrete Over Water’, best showcases all that is great about Georgia Ellery (who you may recognise from Black Country, New Road) and her haunting vocal delivery, and Taylor Skye’s madcap instrumental layering. This brand of vintage-sounding, almost soundtrack-like ballads fused with Skye’s insane electronic wizardry is endlessly captivating. It’s pop, but a proper wonky, twisted version of it.

So, what of their Sheffield gig? Well, after falling foul of the recent air travel chaos (their flight to Blighty from Dublin was delayed – thanks, Brexit!), Jockstrap arrived at the famous Sheffield arches with barely time to soundcheck. With proceedings slightly delayed, and with less-than-ideal prep, Jockstrap took to the stage pooled in purple light, met by an eager, packed-out Yellow Arch – people wanted to let rip. It was in the air.

They were made to wait just a little bit longer. With a short, if understandable, amount of warming up required, and a sterling effort made by the Yellow Arch techs, the show really picked up as it progressed. Their sound is difficult to pin down, part dream-like and airy, with ethereal meanders through melody-led filmic verses; they often shunt into big and raucous electronic payoffs and, when they come, the satisfying drops hit hard.

Tracks like ‘Acid’ float through swaying bodies, while the squiffy synths and heavy bass of closing track, ‘The City’, pick those bodies up and rattle them about. It’s a lot of fun to be dragged through it all.

The nature of two folks on a stage, with limited traditional, analogue instruments (violin notwithstanding), often means there’s an element of repetition to a live sound and a danger of becoming stale. No such warmed-up imitation of the recordings here though, as the pair glide through the set, bouncing off each other, using the natural peaks and troughs of their sometimes-disorientating dynamic to drive into a final three tracks that any touring act would be more than happy to close out their set with.

Moving from the grace and beauty of ‘Concrete Over Water’ to the unhinged ‘50/50’ before closing with ‘The City’, we left fully satisfied, if not a little intrigued to see where all this could go.

The Rotary organised event Music in the Gardens is set to return to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens after a two year forced hiatus on Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July 2022.

One of the most popular and largest charitable events in South Yorkshire’s musical calendar, Music in the Gardens will be celebrating its return with a showcase of homegrown talent including Sheffield R&B/ Soul artist Kat Eaton, the legendary Dizzy Club and local Jazz favourite, Nicola Farnon.

Ticket holders for the originally-planned 2020 show will also be relieved to hear that ELO Experience will finally take to the stage to perform fan favourites such as ‘Mr Blue Sky’ and ‘Strange Magic’ as headliners for Friday 1st July’s show ‘Pop in the Gardens’ alongside local musician’s musician David Spencer.

Andrew Bates, Production Manager for Music in the Gardens said: “We’re excited to finally be back! Music in the Gardens has been a staple in the Sheffield event’s diary since its beginnings back in 2005 and has raised thousands for charity in the process. We pride ourselves on putting on an excellent show that doesn’t break the bank.

“People love to really get in the spirit and bring their own picnic and a bit of fizz, but, likewise, we have a lovely group of food and drink vendors that don’t charge extortionate, festival-type prices. We’re certainly a one-off event in the local area.”

by Ash Birch Photo: Benji Wilson

68 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Tickets cost £26 and £12 for U18’s and are available from www.musicinthegardens.co.uk.

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MUSIC // TOP PICKS

THE CHATS

The Leadmill // July 10 // £22 The Chats, Australia’s finest garage rock trio, make their Sheffield debut this July following a sold-out tour earlier in the year. Additionally, their newest album Get Fucked is now available for pre-order, so crowds can expect to be surprised by new sounds from the lads.

SHAGGY

O2 Academy Sheffield // July 22 // £27.15 Diamond-selling Jamaican artist Shaggy is coming to Sheffield this July! He has sold millions of records worldwide, landing numerous singles and albums at the top of the charts. As a result, he continues to release music, which you’ll be able to catch live soon..

SLOTHRUST

Record Junkee // July 13 // £14.00 Following the recent release of their latest album Parallel Timeline, indie rockers Slothrust (Sloth-rust) are touring the UK and Europe, coming to Sheffield this July. Expect lots of energy, new music and colourful outfits!

PORTRAYAL OF GUILT

Record Junkee // July 11 // £11.25 Portrayal of Guilt are set to tour the UK with the release of their nihilistic and unrelenting album CHRISTFUCKER. Plunging headfirst into unfathomable depths and powerfully unsettling tracks to make the audience go unbelievably wild.

LITTLE TYBEE

Record Junkee // July 16 // £11.25 Little Tybee is an experimental, progressive folk-rock band based out of Atlanta, GA, coming to Sheffield this July! Since their beginnings in 2009, the band has released 4 full-length albums and conducted numerous tours, the most recent being a full-US run in support of CHON and Tera Melos.

WILKO JOHNSON (WITH SPECIAL GUEST JOHN OTWAY)

02/07/2022 // Leadmill // £27.50 Revered blues rocker Wilko Johnson returns to Sheffield, treating The Leadmill to another legendary performance alongside special guest John Otway. Following a stint with Ian Dury and The Blockheads, the Wilko Johnson Band was formed with ex-Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy on bass and Dylan Howe on drums, adding up to one of the most exciting R’n’B bands in the world today. leadmill.co.uk

THE PRODIGY

08/07/2022 // 02 Academy Sheffield Undoubtedly some of the greatest figures in dance music to have come from our shores, The Prodigy are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their ground-breaking 1997 album, The Fat of the Land. So, they’re feeling generous and are treating us to two consecutive shows in Sheffield as part of their UK Tour.

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FILM

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FARM UNDER THE CITY

A Sheffield-made documentary tells the story of how fomer builder Luke Ellis has taken root beneath a Kelham Island courtyard, transforming the underground space into a sustainable, bioponic farm called Leaf & Shoot.

Words: Emily Fletcher

Local filmmakers Jordan Carroll, Brett Chapman and Lewis Coates first discovered Luke’s farm while recording a music video. Lewis, who helped produce the documentary, was the one who came across a callout from Quorn asking for pitches on short documentaries exploring the future of food sustainability. The trio contacted Luke and set about showcasing the vital – and potentially game-changing – work he’s doing here in the Steel City. Following the release of the short doc (available to view with a free sign-up at WaterBear.com), I spoke to Jordan and Luke to find out a bit more about the project.

Luke, how did you come across this type of farming?

L: Well, it’s actually the first of its type.

Essentially, it was a direct answer to the fact that hydroponics, which is used in outdoor farming, is not sustainable. So, looking at the hydroponics industry made me look at researching ways to run an indoor farm that is sustainable.

In the film, you explain how you were in the building trade for over 20 years. What made you decide to change career paths?

L: I really liked the idea of an indoor farming business. I’d been building for 20 years, so I was 74 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

looking for a change and wanted to get into something that actually made a change. I also really liked growing stuff. I did it as a hobby in my spare time, so I thought, if I were to do it as a business, I had to do it the way that [Leaf & Shoot is] run at the moment. It’s also a USP, so it’s good for the planet and good for the market in regards to teaming up with our local shops and restaurants.

You also mentioned that when you start a business nowadays you should look at being as sustainable as possible. What does sustainability mean to you?

L: It means that whatever you’re doing, whenever you’re doing it, you ask the question: “Is this sustainable?” It could be as little as using label printers, plastic bags or deciding what to put into the soil mix. We apply this question to all our working practices, what we buy and how we deal with things. On the farm, every time we do something, we try to find the most sustainable way of doing it. You don’t need to be a sustainability expert at all. For example, perlite (which is little white stones that go through loads of unethical processing just to go in our soil mixes), and I thought, do we really need white stones in our soil? So, I looked at more sustainable options. At the minute, we are using heat-treated rice husks, the organic alternative to perlite.

What do you think this type of farming can do for the future?

L: Well, the future of farming will eventually be coming indoors. Seasons are becoming more and more unpredictable, so outdoors hydroponic farms will come indoors.

Jordan, how did you come across the farm?

J: Well, weirdly enough I came across the farm because I was shooting a music video in the basement. Then I met Luke and got talking to him and realised this would be a great idea for a short film. Luke came to me asking if I’d seen the pitch for Quorn, so essentially it came from two directions and was just the perfect recipe.

What made you so interested in the farm that you wanted to make a film on it?

J: I believe it’s always good to make a film that has meaning and purpose. Making work for an advertisement or business can be superficial and I wanted to do a documentary on people doing good in the world, and Luke came to mind.

I’ve made a bunch of documentaries supporting independent stuff as I’m really passionate about Sheffield and Sheffield businesses. Luke’s farm ticked that box because he’s a local business connected with other local businesses. When you make a documentary, you want a strong subject matter. So many things come under it – having a character is one of them, and Luke was that character. People won’t connect without a character and Luke sells the idea of sustainability; you need a character to sell the narrative and that is what he did.

When you came to filming it, what were you most keen to get across: Sheffield, Luke, or the environmental aspect?

J: The most important part was Luke – that was the core thing. We had done a massive multimedia approach, which is all fun and keeps people interested, but from day one this was a character piece, so we pitched it that way.

Initially, we made it too formal, so we then stripped it back – no lights, just cameras, sort of like a day in the life of Luke. All the best bits then came from when we just followed him around on his E-bike, going to local businesses. If it was too formal, he would have reverted to a formal persona. It was a pleasure to film the whole thing.

As well as this, when filming we ensured our production was as sustainable as possible. We got the highest level of sustainability [using the albert toolkit], which was quite hard to do. We did a lot of offsetting such as when driving around following Luke, and it was quite a pleasure to know we got credited as a sustainable production.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LEAF & SHOOT AT WWW.LEAFANDSHOOT. CO.UK, OR BY FOLLOWING THEM @LEAFANDSHOOTKELHAM. THE FARM UNDER THE CITY CAN BE VIEWED WITH A FREE SIGN-UP AT WATERBEAR.COM.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 75

LGBTQ+

PRIDE OF THE CITY The sun is shining as Pride season continues in Sheffield. While the main Pride festival is not scheduled to return until 2023, this month we’ll see LGBT Sheffield return to the Peace Gardens for Pinknic does Pride (Sat 16 Jul) with a lineup including Sami Brookes, Rob King, Jade Hewitt, Adam Heyes, Chris Paul and your host for the afternoon, Electric Blue. Following the day event, the official afterparty will be hosted at Spirit of Sheffield from 7pm, where I will be playing your favourite Pride anthems until late. Don’t forget, LGBT Sheffield will also be at Spirit for their monthly night Rockies (Sat 2 Jul) with DJ Gail playing old skool Hi-NRG. Andro and Eve will be taking over Leadmill for their Reyt Queer Extravaganza (Sat 30 Jul) for a night like no other, with queer performance from across the north hosted by Rikki Beadle Blair. Put on your most extravagant party lewks, whatever that means to you, and come celebrate in the queer joy!

Malin Bridge Inn has more queens than a Platty Jubes on this month’s line-up, including Dolly Diamond Cabaret DIVAS (Sat 2 Jul) bringing you all your favourite numbers from the biggest divas around.

Expect replica costumes, stunning stage presence and fantastic live vocals. Another top shout is DJ Brooke’s Fireball Friday (Fri 8 Jul) with non-stop

Until next time, love and rainbows...

76 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

bops, hilarious live comedy and special offers on Fireball Bombs! Later in the month, you can enjoy the Miss Bella End Show (Sat 16 Jul) – a Malin Bridge debut performance evening of cabaret, comedy and games. Drawing proceedings to a close, their biggest party night, the 90’s Neon Drag Queen Club Classic show (Sat 30 Jul), will be flooding the venue with UV lights, confetti cannons, glitter artists and a 500 balloon drop!

Ivy Alexxander is at Yellow Arch Studios with a brand-new cabaret show Presents: Everybody Say Love! (Fri 29 Jul), raising money for Parkinson’s UK. Over at Sheffield Plate, Karma Leon have their star-studded variety, all-sinful and killer show, Sin City! (Fri 29 Jul) – an old Hollywood-inspired show with just a little bit of added sin, mixing glitz and glamour with a punk edge.

DINA have a special one-off screening

of the 2014’s psychological horror film The Babadook (Fri 1 Jul), alongside performances from local drag superstar King Confuza and other queer performers. There are more big screen queerness over at the Showroom with I’ve Heard The Mermaids Singing (Thu 7 Jul) as part of the QUEERIOUS season, which explores a multitude of desires on screen in ways we rarely see in cinema: through stories of sexual (re) awakenings and queer love through a feminist lens.

And last but by no means least, we have a special matinee performance by The Bowie Contingent (Sat 2 Jul) at The Washington, paying a joyous homage to the music of David Bowie.

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

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COMEDY // TOP PICKS

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL PREVIEW ALL-DAYER

New Barrack Tavern // 3 July // £10 Funhouse Comedy brings an outstanding day of comedy to the covered beer garden stage at The New Barrack Tavern, Sheffield on Sunday July 3rd with its Edinburgh Festival Preview All-Dayer featuring the likes of Paul Sinha and his show One Sinha Lifetime, Patrick Monahan’s Classy and Eddy Brimson’s A Comedian.

COBO: COMEDY SHUTDOWN SUMMER TOUR

ROFL Comedy Club // 10 July // £18 Acts include Kane Brown (BBC, 1Xtra, Amazon Prime), Aurie Styla (TV, C4, Radio 4), Marlon Davis (BBC Live At The Apollo, Comedy Central) and Lovell Smith (Best New Act 2019). If you’ve never been to one of these nights before then get ready for an evening of rip-roaring, back slapping belly laughs!

CARL HUTCHINSON

Leadmill // 3 July // £15 After two consecutive sell-out years, Carl Hutchinson returns with a brand-new show! Expect stories, observations & audience interaction. Always an exciting night, join this dynamic and versatile performer for a truly unmissable evening of comedy.

THE SHOW THAT MUST NOT BE NAMED

DINA Venue // 16 July // FREE Witches, wizards, and magical folk of Sheffield, this July you are invited to take up your place at “The Show That Must Not Be Named”, a spoof improvised Harry Potter from Chortle Award-winning Jericho Comedy. Watch as the performers conjure a never-before-seen adventure set in a wizarding world, all inspired by your suggestions and a little bit of improv magic. See this show in Sheffield in preview before it takes the Hogwarts express up to Edinburgh for the Fringe 2022.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

Lyceum // 11 – 16 July // From £15 Mischief ’s multi-award-winning international smash-hit comedy is returning to Sheffield, following its previous sell-out success! The Cornley Drama Society are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident-prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue!

PAUL MERTON’S IMPRO CHUMS

Leadmill // 4 April // £23 Paul Merton is joined by his team of improv chums, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike Mcshane and accompanist Kirsty Newton for another evening of mind-blowing improvisation. The unique comedy show is based entirely on suggestions from the audience and their hilarious improvisational skills.

WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 79

CULTURE

PICTURE THIS Brothers Rob and Andy Nicholson talk to Exposed about Pedalo, an up-and-coming photography studio and creative hub documenting people, places, projects and products in Sheffield and further afield.

Dotted around Sheffield’s old industrial heartlands, particularly the Kelham Island and Neepsend districts, you’ll find a slew of abandoned factories and workshop spaces being repurposed for the city’s growing creative and hospitality industries.

The former spring factory at 92 Burton Road is a neat example of this cultural shift. Once housing a variety of labourers and innovative little mesters, today the building and its courtyard contain a number of bars, cafes, restaurants and businesses plying a form of trade more reflective of where the Steel City finds itself in 2022.

A recent addition to this bustling S3 address is Pedalo, a collaborative venture between siblings Rob and Andy Nicholson and longtime friend James O’Hara. The seeds of the project were sown during lockdown when keen photographers Rob and James would while away lockdown hours on their bikes in the Peak District, taking photos and discussing the idea of setting up a free service to showcase independents during the difficulties of the pandemic.

“So, that’s what we did,” says Rob. “We did free shoots for Public, Gatsby and Ashoka initially; then we went up to Manchester and shot a few businesses there. Times were tough for hospitality, so it was good to do something helpful, but it was all good experience and helped me find out a bit more about my photography at the same time.”

Since then, Pedalo has gone from strength to strength, branching out into a range of projects capturing the various spices of Sheffield life: independent businesses, memorable gigs, stunning landscapes, heritage brands like Sheffield FC, portraits of the people that make the city tick, and even collaborating with Pete McKee on his highly anticipated ‘Don’t Adjust Your Mindset’ exhibition.

Finding premises of their own was the next natural step in the company’s development, and with their new studio, which also contains a hireable podcast room, they’ve now found the perfect space for themselves and fellow creatives to thrive in.

“Getting your own studio provides plenty of new options,” says Andy. “During Peddler [Market] we’re thinking about opening it up to the public or hosting a few exhibitions in

here. But from a photographer’s perspective, it just gives you the creative space to do more of what you want. Creatives can hire it out and we’ll leave them to it, or clients can book in with me or Rob for a more specific shoot – there’s a lot of different ways we’re planning on using it.”

The trusty Sheffield word of mouth has been working a treat in recent months, with a number of new clients approaching Pedalo to showcase their business – and not necessarily just hospitality venues.

“It’s been a good couple of months because the work’s been so varied,” says Rob. “Everything from food and drink to live events, or shooting Yorkshire Tile Company’s flagship store.

It’s been growing quite naturally, and I think the fact we really enjoy what we do shines through. That’s what we’re focusing on at the moment: pushing ourselves, making sure the client gets what they want and, importantly, enjoying doing it.”

Discover more from Pedalo at pedalophotography.com // @p_e_d_a_l_o

CULTURE

SHARING THE LOVE Words: James Leaney

A new exhibition from local photographer Brian Mosley has brought all the warmth and local pride of ‘Love Sheffield’ to Sheffield Cathedral.

At 23,000 strong, the Love Sheffield online community is a thriving space for people across the region to share their love for the Steel City and its surroundings. Brian, Love Sheffield’s founder, describes how sharing photos and videos on the platform has proved an effective tool in creating unity and compassion in the often divisive world of social media: “All we do is create this peaceful, personal space online and connect by sharing our views of Sheffield that we love, and we love to share.”

Having utilised photography to explore and appreiate his surroundings for over thirty years, Brian has drawn on his connection to sharing these experiences as a means of wholly embracing our shared environment.

“Generally, when I’ve been at my happiest in life, I’ve been more connected with beautiful things around us.

So, I’ve tended to use photography to connect with the real world, to focus on the things I appreciate.”

This capacity of the digital sphere to serve as a medium for creating connections has never been more evident than through the social-to-digital acrobatics we’ve all performed during recent lockdowns. As we tentatively 82 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

move forward, Brian reflects on the importance of connection as one of the valuable lessons learned during the pandemic, and how Love Sheffield will continue to strive toward nurturing their community. “We continue our purpose in Love Sheffield, which is helping people to become more connected on every level: connected with their personal sense of agency; connected with their power to live their own lives; connecting with each other in friendship; connecting with our surroundings and heritage across the city.”

The ongoing exhibition is hosted at the cathedral’s Café 1554 venue. Here, you will find prints and postcards of some of Brian’s most popular photographs, available for purchase, order, or simply to enjoy in a peaceful and reflective ode to the Steel City. Brian himself suggests we view the exhibition, fundamentally, as another opportunity for the people of Sheffield to connect over the shared adoration of their home. “We hope that the Cathedral café could become one of many ‘friendship venues’, where people come together and connect in the real

world; to have a focal point where people who love Sheffield can come together and enjoy being in a space that is peaceful.”

For those wishing to experience Sheffield in all of its beauty, the exhibition is now available to view and will be updated over time. Keep an eye out for some of Brian’s personal favourites, Hendo the Panda and the Stanage Edge millstones.

Catch it at Café 1554, Sheffield Cathedral, Church St, S1 1HA.

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CULTURE

OUT & ABOUT Cultural and hospitality venues in sheffield’s CIQ come together this summer for four exciting weekender events...

Between July and September, celebrations will be held through a series of four weekenders in Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter (CIQ). These ‘Out & About’ events will bring together cultural, community and hospitality businesses in the area, alongside community groups, local artists and creatives to celebrate creativity and making in Sheffield.

The programme of free, family-friendly activities is funded through Sheffield City Council’s economic recovery fund and led by a partnership between Site Gallery, Showroom Workstation, Yorkshire Artspace and Bloc Projects. The CIQ square (pictured) will be transformed into an outdoor venue where visitors can hang out, buy food and drinks, and take part in a variety of exciting activities in the area with a map guide.

WHAT’S ON? Urban Futures: Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 July, 11am – 6pm What could the future of our city look like? And what part can we all play in the shaping of our urban environment? What changes would you like to see in your own city in 10, 100 or even a 1000 years into the future?

Visitors can get involved with a programme of free informative and participatory workshops and drop-in children’s activities. These include exploring newly commissioned artworks, joining a Buildings of the Future architecture walking tour led by Studio Polpo, taking part in the Artist Lead Housing workshop with local designer Jon Orlek, and having their say live on the radio with creative broadcasting partner Montez Press Radio.

Freshly Squeezed: Saturday 30 July, 12-9pm & Sunday 31 July, 12 – 8pm Freshly Squeezed is a two-day festival of live music and workshops taking place in Site Square programmed by and showcasing some of the most talented young 84 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

creatives, musicians and producers in the city.

The Saturday will be programmed

by Hope Works and features live performances by artists who have taken part in Pattern + Push, a leading talent competition and mentoring programme for aspiring rappers and singers in South Yorkshire The Sunday events will be programmed by DINA and their Young Producers. Site Gallery will also be launching a new collaborative zine made with Andro and Eve and Site Gallery’s Society of Explorers.

Paint Jam: Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 August, 11am – 6pm The Paint Jam Weekender is a celebration of art and creativity in the public realm.

Visitors can take a map and explore a series of newly commissioned murals sited on the facade of popular locations along the Creative Industries Quarter, or find out more about the works in the guided Hitting the Streets: Mural and Street Art Tour. We will be launching exciting new murals by acclaimed artists

in a celebration of the city’s unique character, heritage and communities.

There will be lots to do in the CIQ Square, including Live Painting by Artists and an exciting break-dance workshop led by Rationale Arts with a live DJ. Sustainability: Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 September, 11am – 6pm What are our own relationships to local and global environmental concerns?

Through cooperation and knowledge exchange, what small changes can we make to build a more sustainable future for ourselves and each other? And what does sustainability mean to you?

Visitors can take part in free, drop-in workshops sharing the joys of pickling, fermenting, gardening, seed saving and foraging with Social Pickle, engage with newly commissioned artworks, grab a bite to eat or and have their say live on the radio.

The full events programme is available at welcometosheffield.co.uk/outandabout

SHEFFIELD, REPRESENT!

© Kate Peters, 2012

Who are the people that represent Sheffield? A new exhibition at the Millennium Gallery created in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery poses that very question and celebrates some of the pioneers, performers, athletes and artists synonymous with our city.

Opening on Thursday 30 June, Creative Connections Sheffield brings together over 30 works from the National Portrait Gallery and the city’s own collection, including portraits of Alex Turner, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sean Bean, Self Esteem, Otis Mensah, Helen Sharman, Mary Queen of Scots and more. The works go on display alongside a brand-new, large-scale commission by Sheffield artist Conor Rogers and young people from Sheffield Park Academy.

Creative Connections is a nationwide participation project which sees the National Portrait Gallery showcase highlights from its collection in partnership with galleries, artists and young people to explore ideas of place, community and the people who inspire us. Works on display in Sheffield include three contemporary portraits of inspirational city figures, which will join the National Portrait Gallery’s extensive collection as part of the project.

© Julian Broad, 2013

The exhibition also highlights some surprising and lesser-known connections to Sheffield, including those of US aviator Amy Johnson, founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale, and award-winning author A.S. Byatt.

The centrepiece of the exhibition sees students from Sheffield Park Academy work with artist Conor Rogers (@rogersconor) to create brand new artwork exploring ideas of place, community and inspiration. The installation, based around a decommissioned bus shelter, includes original artwork created by Conor and the young artists inspired by themes explored in the exhibition.

The exhibition and its associated event programme will also invite visitors and attendees to reflect on the people who they feel should be recognised as inspirational Sheffield figures.

Creative Connections Sheffield opens at Millennium Gallery on Thursday 30 June and continues until Sunday 2 October 2022 – entry to the exhibition is free. For more information, head to sheffieldmuseums.org.uk.

CULTURE // TOP PICKS

news

AS BRITISH AS A WATERMELON

Studio Theatre // 21 July // £11-£13 Zimbabwean writer and performer Mandla Rae has a selective memory and is scrambling to piece together a life mostly forgotten in the name of survival. Told through an unflinching narrative, weaving poetry and storytelling together with destruction and chaos, you are invited to join Mandla’s rise from the dead. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

SONIA BOUÉ: THE ARTIST IS NOT PRESENT

Site Gallery // 2 July // Free To mark the 102nd anniversary of the 1st Dada International Exhibition, Sonia Boué’s work explores conditional visibility and invisible disability. The Artist is Not Present will be a durational performance live streamed from the artist’s studio between 12 and 6pm where Sonia will build an installation in her studio to inhabit and embody a living Dadaist collage. sitegallery.org

POWER

Studio Theatre // 14 July // £11-£13 A circus Strong Lady celebrates the ways we can feel powerful, even in an uncertain world. In an attempt to find clues for how to overpower uncertainty, Charmaine asked: “Can you tell me about a time when you felt truly powerful?”. We travel with Charmaine as she uncovers stories of resilience and determination, marvelling at the extraordinary strength of ‘ordinary’ people. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

CHRIS MCGLADE: FORGIVENESS

The Montgomery Theatre // 21 July // £20 A fiercely powerful and critically acclaimed show about a brutally shocking story; Chris’ father was murdered in 2011. How do you forgive your father’s murderer? Only Chris knows… Inspiring uproarious laughter, tears of sincerity and standing ovations, Chris’ conscientious comedy and cutting-edge poetry makes for an unforgettable show. themontgomery.org.uk 88 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ARTS AND HERITAGE SPECIAL TO KICK OFF UEFA WOMEN’S EURO 2022 Sheffield is part of an exciting programme which will run alongside the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 this summer. Featuring a line-up of arts, heritage projects and musical events, the programme will celebrate and explore the rich history of the women’s game. Taking place nationwide across the nine Host Cities and ten stadia, the programme begins this month, ahead of the tournament kick-off on 6 July, and runs throughout the summer season.

In Sheffield this will include UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 outdoor heritage exhibition across the city from 6 – 31 July, an exhibition in Sheffield Central Library and Winter Gardens, The Supercompensation Cycle by Emma Smith warm-up performance on 21 July and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Pop-Up and Fan Zone performances on 26 July.

New commissions by women artists will be presented throughout the programme, including an immersive artwork for all ages by award-winning visual artist Emma Smith; a new anthem by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra led by celebrated conductor Shirley Thompson OBE; a Stadium for the Future – danced into existence by art, environment and social justice collaboration, Idle Women; as well as a new creative resource for libraries by interdisciplinary artist Deborah GoatleyBirch.

For a full outline of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 arts and heritage programme including events in each Host City, check out the programme www.thefa.com/WEURO2022Arts.

DANCE IN THE GARDENS presents

24th and 25thAugust 2022

By TALA LEE-TURTON PRODUCTIONS

A dance and music experience presented for the first time at Sheffield Botanical Gardens

Gates open 6:00pm Ambient soundscape starts 6.30pm Performance starts 7:00pm

Tickets available to purchase at www.talaleeturton.com/danceinthegardens

CULTURE // LIVE REVIEWS

ROCK/PAPER/SCISSORS @ CRUCIBLE, LYCEUM & STUDIO THEATRES WORDS: ASH BIRCH PHOTO: JOHAN PERSSON Sheffield Theatres have pulled out all the stops for the 50th anniversary of the iconic Sheffield institution, showcasing a new Chris Bush-written production across all three of its locations (The Crucible, Studio Stage and The Lyceum) – yep, it’s more than a little ambitious!

It’s essentially three stand-alone yet interlocking plays (stay with us) running simultaneously across three stages. Rock/Paper/ Scissors utilises the same incredible 14-strong ensemble cast, playing the same set of characters weaving between the locations, and is delivered with expert precision, right down to the timing of the concurrent intervals.

Chris Bush has taken one of the city’s most enduring legacies, our ability to make bloody great scissors, and used that as a metaphor to depict the changing nature and landscape of our city. The trilogy is full of love, loss, and legacy, but more than anything it’s about transformation. Einstein’s 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, where he asserts that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, is referenced in all three plays, and in Rock Bush also uses Ecclesiastes’ line about there being a season for everything to emphasise the inevitability of change, the loss of the old world, and the prospect and impermanence of the new, without turning into a bleating nostalgia fest.

Her setting is the fictional Spenser and Son, a once thriving patriarchal family business that has slid over the course of 50 years to the brink of extinction. All the action takes place inside the factory, which is one of the last of its kind still making highquality, hand-crafted products with precision, know-how and 90 | WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

decades-old machinery. However, this failing business is haunted by the spectre of the new: online shopping and cheap Wilkos scissors, as well the recent death of its owner, Eddy Spencer, which has led to a custody battle for the ownership of the space between his surviving relatives and employees.

The economic trepidation is seen most notably through the lack of actual craftspeople left in a factory that is now entirely staffed by young apprentices, soon to be let go after completing their year-long qualification. This idea of a new world encroaching on the old is also seen in the young and, on the face of it, arrogant pop duo Co-codamol, who crash into the set for a photoshoot; and the sister and stepdaughter of the deceased factory owner, who use their competing plans for the future of the space to stake their claim on the building.

Different themes are also weaved throughout, giving each play a distinct feel and style. Rock, in which middle-aged punk Susie (Denise Black) steals the show, becomes a near farce as the confusion of names and purpose is played out at break-neck speed, while Paper, which if I was pushed would be my choice of the three, has at its centre a simmering, edgy relationship between Faye (Samantha Power) and Mel (Natalie Casey), which in turn contrasts again to the seething political discontent and burgeoning love between the young apprentices in Scissors.

In short, this world-first has been a boundary worth pushing and cuts right to the heart of Sheffield’s identity crisis. Equal parts funny, poignant, and packed with emotional punch, it’s a hard recommend from us.

Rock/Paper/Scissors is at Sheffield Theatres until 2 July

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CULTURE / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

JOHN WILSHER Words: Adele Parr Local artist John Wilsher talks about his passion for art and how it’s been a part of him from a very early age. John’s varying styles of work show his ability to paint portraits from a figurative point of view whilst his landscapes peel back his abstract style to show texture and colour.

Have you lived in Sheffield your whole life?

No, I was born in Dagenham in East London, but I came to Sheffield as a student. After finishing my PGCE in Sheffield, I worked in a comprehensive school for 37 years as a language teacher teaching German. I’ve been living in Sheffield ever since with my wife and two children in Crookesmoor.

How did making and selling art become a part of your life?

Hmm, selling. I’m not sure selling is a good word – I’m rubbish at it. In fact, I think I’m the world’s worst salesperson. But I started doing art when I was about 50-years-old, as my wife told me about a friend of hers doing a painting class. I was feeling fed up with my job at the time, so I went along to try it out. I enjoyed it so much that I applied for an access course at Chesterfield College to study Art. After completing my degree in 2016 at the University of Huddersfield, I knew I wanted to carry on painting. So, I started renting a studio in Exchange Place in Sheffield and I’ve been here ever since. It’s like my garden shed really, a shed I have to travel to.

What was your relationship like with art growing up?

My parents always encouraged me and my brothers to sit and draw from a young age. I’m not sure if it was to keep us quiet, but we’d sit in the front room and draw for hours while my mum was making our clothes. I’ve always liked it for as long as I can remember.

Are there any artists who influence your work?

I have a big mix really as my work is constantly changing. I’d say Van Gogh has always been there; I would visit the Kröller-Müller museum in the Netherlands with my children most years. Picasso’s use of colour and shapes have influenced some of my landscape work as well.

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Music is big part of your work, particularly the blues. Where did that come from?

Whilst I was at these drawing and painting classes, a friend of mine who used to run a blues festival in Sheffield asked if I would do some paintings. So, I went about painting people like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and artists like those. This led me to do other musicians such as Amy Winehouse and Richard Hawley over the next few years. This graduated into doing more portraits of singers, then athletes and members of my family.

What do you try and capture in your paintings?

Emotion is key and I love using colour to portray this. My paintings of blues, jazz and rock allow me to capture it; the artists sing with such passion and it’s so important to show this. Sometimes, just listening to the artist helps me to portray the emotion through their music.

How has your style evolved over the years?

My style changes all the time. I don’t like to paint in the same style each time, I like to have a mix and try out new things. Some of my art is very figurative, so I try to make it as close to the real thing as possible. Whilst, with others, I’ve done abstract work where I concentrate on the texture, especially in the Peak District. It’s not meant to be an exact replica, you know? I need to get a feel of the crags and the mountains around me.

Have you got anything in the pipeline?

I have an exhibition coming up at Sheffield Cathedral from 1st – 14th October. The fundraiser is called ‘City of Sanctuary’ and will be working with the local charity Assist, which aims to raise money for refugees who are seeking asylum. So, currently, I’m working on a few pieces for the exhibition influenced by an artist called Edvard Munch, most commonly known for ‘The Scream’.

His work really inspired me as a large part of it focuses on psychological trauma and that is obviously relevant for this cause. @johnwilsherpaintings johnwilsherpaintings.co.uk facebook.com/JohnWilsherPaintings WWW.EXPOSEDMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 93

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tM

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