BACK ON THE BEAT
JOE CARNALL LAYS DOWN THE LAW AHEAD OF THE SECOND GOOD COP BAD COP ALBUM
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22: IT’S A FAIR COP
For this month’s cover interview, Exposed grabs an 808 and enters the synthinfused world of Welcome to the Marble Zone, the sophomore album from Joe Carnall’s solo project Good Cop Bad Cop.
11: LAST CHANCE TO VOTE
Our annual do celebrating the best of Sheffield heads to Peddler Warehouse next month - and you have mere weeks remaining to vote for your favourites! Find out how you can have your say and get involved on the big night.
16: ALWAYS AN ALTERNATIVE
For this month’s ‘Doing Their Bit’ feature, Exposed sits down with Anthony ‘Big Ant’ Olaseinde, the visionary behind Always an Alternative – a charity dedicated to empowering young people in South Yorkshire, guiding them towards positive life paths and mindsets.
42: CRACKING THE CODES
Following the release of his sixth solo album, Hauntology Codes, the Sheffield-based artist and MC Kid Acne stops by for a natter about a return to the live circuit, paying dues to the hip-hop genre and why he feels able to open up more in music these days.
60: PAINTING A PICTURE
We hear from local street artists Alistair Flindall and Megan Russell about their hugely exciting plans for the upcoming Lick of Paint Festival –Sheffield’s first mural and street art festival.
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FRIDAY 26TH JULY
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
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SATURDAY 27TH JULY
TOM GRENNAN
HOLLY HUMBERSTONE - THE SNUTS - ANNIE MAC - PEACE
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CUCAMARAS - OTIS MENSAH - CITY PARKING - FRANZ VON - KDOT
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PHILIPPA ZAWE - CREEPING JEAN - STATIC LIVES
The countdown is on! We’re one month away from our annual do bigging up the very best of the city – and voting closes on 15 April!
Sponsored by the IPM Group, the Exposed Awards 2024 will be returning with its usual promise of live entertainment, delicious food and drink, late-night party venues and all the usual bells and whistles that make it such a popular night out for the good people of Sheffield.
But we’ll be turning things up a notch by combining the event with Exposed Magazine’s 20th anniversary celebration. Yep, you heard right – little old us have reached the big two-zero! What better way to celebrate than with a big knees-up celebrating all things Steel City?
WHEN IS IT?
You can expect the usual big night craic taking place at 92 Burton Road on Thursday 9 May promoting the best of the local scene spanning food, drink, culture, fashion, music and beyond – with all winners on the night chosen by you lovely lot and our group of local judges.
HOW TO VOTE
Simply by scanning the QR code on this page, mi owd. Once the votes are counted, we’ll announce the shortlist for each category.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
We tot up the votes to get top fives for each category. We’ll then send the shortlists over to our team of independent Sheffield judges, who will take a closer look and order them according to preference. Their votes will then be added to the public vote (à la Strictly!) and the winners will be revealed at the big bash. All make sense?
MORE ABOUT THE NIGHT
Following a superb debut, Chris Arnold will return on host duties and we’ll have some of Sheffield’s finest handing out awards throughout the night. Tickets are £40+VAT (£20 standing), which includes entry to the event, drinks on arrival and food from some of the city’s finest street food traders – as well as plenty of live entertainment to get you in the party mood.
A VERY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE...
Last year, we had some of the superb cast from the awardwinning Standing at the Sky’s Edge closing out the event in style. It’s a tough one to top, but we’ve pulled out all the stops once again and have another big end-of-night performance in the works…
ON A LATE’UN?
The fabled Exposed Awards afterparties will take place at Neepsend Social at top-notch neighbouring venues Neepsend Social and Factory Floor. Might be worth booking the next day off work – don’t say we didn’t warn you…
Tickets are flying out – quicktime! – so, if you want to guarantee a spot, contact nick@ exposedmagazine.co.uk or call 0114 2757709.
QR CODE: LAST CHANCE TO VOTE
UPFRONT
Just a month after CADS (Creative Arts Development Space) made the difficult decision to close the Abbeydale Picture House, the charity has announced it has been awarded a £300,000 grant from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.
CADS has said that this grant marks a vital step towards the restoration of the iconic Grade II listed building, which was recently added to the Theatre’s Trusts’ At-Risk Register. The funding from the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities will allow CADS to not only move towards buying the building but also prepare for the essential repairs needed.
ABBEYDALE PICTURE HOUSE SECURES VITAL GRANT MAKING WAVES
Launching this summer, Crossed Wires Festival is assembling the nation’s top podcasters in Sheffield for one weekend.
From Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June, the city’s favourite venues will be packed for blockbuster live shows, never-seen-before performances and special guests – all hosted by the biggest names in podcasting, across comedy, current affairs, culture, sport, family and wellbeing.
Award-winning musician Self Esteem will join Adam Buxton on stage for a ‘ramble chat’ as well as a live performance. Katherine Ryan will bring her signature brand of candor, sharp-wit and unflinchingly honest advice to the City Hall. Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo will share hilarious tales of newly married life in an added stop on their sell-out tour. And Brown Girls Do It Too transport their smashhit show to the festival for a fierce, funny, and wonderfully frank night of entertainment.
Elsewhere, Russel Tovey and Robert
Diament will bring their award-winning podcast Talk Art to the Steel City, featuring a special guest appearance from Sheffield-born artist Corbin Shaw. Katie Price will be joined by her younger sister Sophie for a live recording of The Katie Price Show, and Gonzo journalist Jon Ronson will be delving into the strange and unexpected stories behind the human culture wars in Things Fell Apart.
This huge podcast party is organised by some of the most respected names in British podcasting and live events including Alice Levine, Co-host of My Dad Wrote A Porno and British Scandal, Dino Sofos, Founder of Persephonica, the production company behind Dua Lipa’s At Your Service, Political Currency and co-producers of Global’s The News Agents, and James O’Hara, Co-founder of Tramlines and Day Fever.
Tickets are available now at crossedwires.live and you can follow the latest line-up news on socials @crossedwiresfest
The charity will be holding an ‘open doors’ event in the coming weeks and is hoping that the local community and potential partners would be willing to get involved in the extensive project to save an essential part of Sheffield’s cultural heritage.
The Abbeydale Picture House, which first opened in 1920, was nicknamed the “Picture Palace” owing to its luxurious cream and gold colour scheme. CADS took over the lease for the building in 2017 with hopes of undertaking an extensive refurbishment project.
CADS founder and board director, Steve Rimmer, has expressed his excitement about securing the grant but has also recognised the difficulties that lie ahead for the restoration project. He said: “While this grant is undoubtedly a huge leap forward in our mission to revive The Abbeydale Picture House, it’s important to recognise that this is the first step of many to fully restore the building to its former glory.
For more information on the project, head to theabbeydalepicturehouse.com and keep on eye on their socials @ abbeydalepicturehouse
FASHION RETAILERS OPEN IN HEART OF THE CITY PROJECT
Last month, two exciting new fashion retailers opened their doors on Pinstone Street and Charles Street, welcoming Sheffield shoppers for the first time.
Originally founded in 2016, Yards Store established its first store in Macclesfield, before relocating to Manchester in 2019.
An independent menswear and lifestyle retailer, it’s dedicated to showcasing the finest British and international designers. Pop in and you’ll see a range of outdoor and heritage brands including And Wander, Ten C, Carhartt WIP, Gramicci, Hikerdelic, RRL, ST95, Hoka, Karhu, Clarks Originals and New Balance to name just a few.
Announcing the new store opening, Director and Co-owner Tim Gardiner, said: “With the severe challenges that retailers in the UK have been experiencing, we believe there are great high street location opportunities for independent retailers such as us, the key is to have a distinct identity and a carefully curated brand line-up, and this is what our team has achieved with the new Sheffield store.
“We believe that Sheffield is the ideal location to host our continued development of the Yards Store brand, coupled with its close proximity to the great outdoors, we feel it will sit perfectly among the existing retail and
hospitality offering that Sheffield has been successfully evolving.”
Situated opposite, the new Sheffield Fjällräven Store is the leading Swedish outdoor clothing brand’s third UK store has been designed and project managed by space design expert Kevin Gil.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Fjällräven to Sheffield city centre and our multimillion-pound Heart of the City development. We had always planned to give shoppers in the city a unique experience, offering brands you wouldn’t be able to get elsewhere, and this latest
addition is the perfect example of that.
“Sheffield really is a city on the up and Fjällräven opening their third ever store here highlights the fact that retailers are seeing how we are transforming Sheffield city centre and are wanting to be part of it.”
There's plenty more to come for the area, so for the latest information on planned Heart of the City openings and future projects in the works, head to heartofsheffield.co.uk and follow @ sheffieldhoc2 for regular updates on socials.
@yards_store // @fjallraven_ sheffield_mcr
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SHEFFIELD HATTER
THE HATTERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE...
The Sheffield Hatters have been going since 1961, started by the late basketball pioneer Betty Codona OBE. The club began at Hatfield House Lane School, where Betty was a PE teacher, hence the name Hatfield Hatters which became Sheffield Hatters.
THE SHEFFIELD HATTERS ARE THE MOST DECORATED WOMEN’S SPORTS TEAM IN THE COUNTRY BOASTING OVER 65 NATIONAL TITLES
The women originally played against men because there was no women’s league, but over time, and with the help of Betty, basketball started to grow for women in the UK. The women competed in Europe back in the day and also played in the top women’s league, which was previously Division One.
WE HAVE 60-YEAR-OLDS PLAYING BASKETBALL
The club’s participant age range spans from eight years to our Masters who have been around from the early days, from our Hotshots session for primary school age to our GB Masters players playing in our Yorkshire League team. Anne Skelton is our oldest player and is still an active club member. At the grassroots level we have lots of kids ready to be future Hatters stars.
THE HATTERS IS HOME TO YORKSHIRE’S NUMBER 1 PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM
Competing nationally in the WBBL, the Hatters have a multinational team with players from the USA, Germany and Australia. We also have homegrown talent such as Great Britain player Georgia Gayle and Great Britain Assistant Coach Vanessa Ellis. Seeing this team play is something you don't want to miss.
WE ARE THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY
The Hatters is run by Betty Codona’s OBE daughter Loraine and her granddaughter Vanessa, along with the help of many volunteers. At the Hatters we are one big family – athat is why many people continue to play until they physically can’t! We always say once a Hatter, always a Hatter. #HattersFamily.
Fancy witnessing the Sheffield Hatters in action? The team have some big games coming up at the Canon Medical Arena against Durham Palatinates (7th April) and London Lions (21st April). Tickets are just £5 for adults and free for under-16s. Secure yours at sheffieldhatters.com.
For the latest updates on all things Hatters, sling them a follow on socials @ sheffieldhatters.
DOING THEIR BIT ALWAYS AN ALTERNATIVE
FOR THIS MONTH’S SPOTLIGHT ON AN ORGANISATION CHANGING LIVES FOR THE BETTER IN SHEFFIELD, JOSEPH FOOD SITS DOWN WITH ANTHONY ‘BIG ANT’ OLASEINDE, THE FOUNDER OF ALWAYS AN ALTERNATIVE – A CHARITY SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE AND HELPING THEM TO MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES.
“Growing up, I did stuff that I shouldn’t have done,” Anthony Olaseinde tells me. “Why? Because people around me were doing it; I didn’t have the positive role models and you’re led to believe it’s your only option.”
Plain-speaking but equally personable and earnest, you can immediately see why young people relate to Ant when he begins sharing his experience of life on the streets of Sheffield. Today, as director of the not-for-profit charity Always An Alternative, his role is to challenge and change the mindset of young people when it comes to violent crime and gang culture in the city.
He explains that the turning point came after he began questioning the day-to-day life he was leading. “I didn’t enjoy what I was doing, I knew it was wrong. Why am I constantly trying to watch my back? Why am I looking to address issues with violence? I eventually thought to myself, ‘There has to be more to life than this. This doesn’t make sense.’”
Actively choosing to take a more positive path in life, Ant went to college and got the grades to study a degree in Computer Network Engineering at university. He gained first-class honours, achieved a masters in the same subject and eventually set up his own security company before moving into projects to help younger people make more informed choices with their lives. “I got into a place where I was able to start giving back, so that’s what I did.”
Six years ago, Ant started ‘Keep Sheffield Stainless’ – a campaign to reduce the number of knives on the streets through education, support and amnesty. As well as six weapons bins dotted across the region (locations are all listed at alwaysanalternative.org. uk), people are able to contact Ant and he will personally and discreetly pick up the weapons himself. To date, this campaign has taken over 1,000 knives off the streets.
Always An Alternative was formed as a deeper dive into the issues highlighted by Keep Sheffield Stainless. Their aim
GROWING UP, I DID STUFF THAT I SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE, BECAUSE PEOPLE AROUND ME WERE DOING IT, I DIDN’T HAVE THE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS AND YOU’RE LED TO BELIEVE IT’S YOUR ONLY OPTION.
is to spread awareness around current risks to young people from knife crime, the glamourisation of gang culture and anti-social behaviour. Through a variety of initiatives ranging from talks and workshops in schools to the creation of podcasts, documentaries and music projects, alongside regular youth clubs held in Fox Hill and High Green, the primary objective is to provide young individuals with a safe environment where they can hear and be heard. Through a blend of social interaction, mentoring and community engagement, they are given the tools to respond positively to the challenges they may come up against.
“I think the way we engage young people is vital,” he says. “Just putting them in a room and telling them what to do won’t work. Using my life experience, I try to give them the information I needed at their age, and then you have to leave some of the responsibility down to them. The youth clubs give kids a safe space to chill and be kids, but we’ll also discuss things like current affairs, teaching them the skills of how to have a debate and how to learn.”
On that note, the charity is currently in the final stages of preparing to launch their mobile youth club, having transformed a van into a travelling gaming and music production studio.”That has been a graft!” laughs Ant. “It’s taken a year and a lot of YouTube tutorials but it’s all come together now.”
“Tackling knife crime is just the tip of what we do,” he continues. “It goes ways deeper than that. Most of the work we do is around mentoring young people in Sheffield. That’s the best way to change situations for the better, and it’s something that I love doing. It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives, but I think, if you’re given the option, you should always choose to help others. It’s a big world out there and we need to connect with each other.”
Find out more about the work
Always An Alternative does at alwaysanalternative.org.uk. You can also follow the charity’s latest updates on socials: @aaamindset // facebook.com//Aaamindset.
hidden gem: annie judes
Ok. If you live in Hillsborough, Annie Jude’s gift shop and makers space is hardly a secret, but the only way to live is not necessarily in S6, so for everyone else’s benefit here’s what you can expect from a visit to owner Faith Nicholson’s treasure trove of goodies…
Firstly, Faith is an ever-enthusiastic and downright lovely person, so it’s easy to see why she and her shop have become such a treasured part of the Hillsborough community where she lives and works.
Last year, that gratitude from locals and beyond saw the shop rewarded at our very own Exposed Awards, where Faith took home the award for Best Independent Shop – a well-deserved accolade.
The shop itself offers a whole range of gifts, crafts and handmade items created by local makers, with a strong emphasis on female creatives.
With everything from candles and confectionery, jewellery and prints, to skincare and clothing, as well as all manner of random and tempting nick nacks – there’s truly something for everyone and we recommend heading down with a full wallet!
Faith has always had her heart set on being her own boss and during the pandemic set up a cross-stitch business to scratch the itch. Following the sad passing of her mum, Judith Anne, for whom the shop is named, she was able to take things to the next level, using her inheritance to set up the shop in the community she loves.
Faith said: “I absolutely love Hillsborough. I’ve been here for over ten years now. It’s just such a nice place for families. There are wonderful schools, wonderful parks and the people in Hillsborough are absolutely fantastic.
“More people should take the time to seek out the fantastic independents we have here, and while they’re here, I would love to welcome them in to check out what we’ve got to offer.”
The shop can be found on the Hillsborough Park Tram stop, nestled amongst a slew of recently opened independents, including The Pangolin micro pub, The Orange Bird restaurant, Molly’s Café and Deli, and Hillsborough Bookshop, who’s owner, herself, is a former stockist in Annie Jude’s.
anniejudes.co.uk // @ anniejudesshopsheffield
For this month’s cover interview, Exposed grabs an 808 and enters the synth-infused world of Welcome to the Marble Zone, the sophomore album from Joe Carnall’s solo project Good Cop Bad Cop.
WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB NICHOLSON (@P_E_D_A_L_O)
“The Marble Zone started as a bit of a joke,” says Joe Carnall. “I mean, the tunes on Sonic are pretty amazing and I was even toying with the idea of doing a cover at one point. But in my old house where I first started making this album, I’d go down into the basement where I had my studio. I could hear the chaotic sounds of the world above but I’d be immersed in this space downstairs, fully inside the Marble Zone, on the lava level!”
For those not sufficiently well-versed in the world of Sega’s famously nippy hedgehog, the Marble Zone is an ancient cave-like complex, filled with subterranean lava pools and all manner of tricky obstacles requiring zen-like focus (and plenty of frenzied button-bashing) to overcome.
Just as millions of gamers have escaped the harsh realities of life by spending some time engrossed in a pixelated underground maze, Carnall would slip down the stairs and enter his own personal sanctuary where, as he succinctly puts it, “self-reflection led to creativity and the minutes became hours”.
Settling down for a pint with Exposed, he explains that having a cathartic space like this was a blessing during a period which saw him juggling the myriad challenges posed by lockdown while bringing up young children with his wife. “During that time, I suppose we were all forced to look inward,” he reflects. “There were some beautiful personal moments but also some really tough ones. So, it’s a case of reflecting on a mad period in my life, but crucially, being old enough to want to write about it and not to feel like I had to lie about it.”
Unsurprisingly, the result is Carnall’s most introspective album to date, the second Good Cop Bad Cop offering which has seen him grow the synth-heavy sound with the addition of some hip-hop style grooves, cuts and edits courtesy of Sheffield-based producer GoldTeeth. The result isn’t far removed from what you’d expect if New Order, Gorillaz and LCD Soundsystem happened to be jamming together when Tier 3 restrictions were announced.
“This record was a real sort of diary entry, something which I’ve never allowed myself to ➢➢
THIS RECORD WAS A REAL SORT OF DIARY ENTRY, SOMETHING WHICH I’VE NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO DO BEFORE.
do before,” he continues. “It’s a bit warts and all.” There’s a brief pause before he asks, “Do you know where that saying comes from, by the way?” I admit my cluelessness, and then, in true history teacher style, he dives into a detailed explanation of Oliver Cromwell’s role in coining the phrase. Look it up and pocket it for your next icebreaker.
As it happens, the duality between his jobs as a musician and a schoolteacher partly inspired the naming of this solo project (“and I think Good Cop Bad Cop just sounded cool”). Building on this theme, there are frequent nods to the creeping doubts and drudgeries of adult life and parenthood throughout
the album, from the sentimental laments of ‘Running Away With The Circus’ (“Kick me, kiss me / Do anything but pretend that it’s easy”) to the inescapable grown-up reality of having to deal with dickheads on ‘Mr Misfit’ (“Why can’t you see I’m resigned / Bathe me in all your white lies”).
But nowhere else is the album more emotionally honest than on the fifth track, ‘I Cried for a Friend’, a poignant tribute to the passing of a cherished pal. “There was a clutch of people in my life that died recently,” he says of the song, “and some far too young. Writing about it felt like a natural thing to do to try and process it, but at the same time, I ➢
Back in 2018, Joe Carnall, famed in these parts for being part of local indie heroes Milburn, wanted to make some new music, but with a deliberate shift away from the ‘guitar band’ sound he was forever associated with. Looking for inspiration, he uploaded GarageBand to his PC and started making a different type of more electronic-sounding music. After a while, he thought his old mate Matt Helders, of Arctic Monkeys fame, would be interested in what he’d written. They started chatting, and before he knew it, they were together, in the Hollywood hills, recording what became the first Good Cop Bad Cop album. Now, Joe has continued the project with a follow-up album, Welcome To The Marble Zone, and this time has teamed up with Steel City producer Goldteeth AKA Andy Nicholson.
The songs take their starting point from Joe’s diary entries from the past few years, as he deals with his personal struggles, bouts of lockdown-inspired lows and not least the challenges of being a father of three, whilst at the same time celebrating the beauty and chaos of life in the 2020s. He talks about the Marble Zone being a place he can be at peace, even retreat to, where he can be creative and make music. He’s a self-confessed fan of charity shop vinyl discoveries, and he has clearly reached back into the past few decades for influences to his latest album, with echoes of New Order, that famous 808 drum sound and Bernard Sumner’s delivery and melodies. My standout album tracks of the ten on offer here are ‘Mr Misfit’, unsurprisingly about trying to fit in with people he feels he has nothing in common with, and ‘Houdini’, a synth-driven song, which has sound sitting somewhere between Kraftwerk and Human League, but with a cheeky little guitar solo thrown in at the end. A second album release is always a challenge, and they often fail to develop the energy and promise of their predecessor, but not so here. Joe Carnall is on a roll. 4/5
➢really struggled to sing some lines in the studio and had a hard time keeping it together. I think it’s something that will connect with listeners, as unfortunately, it’s something we all go through at some point. Not that it makes it any easier.”
There is, however, plenty of light to go with the dark, and more than enough upbeat energy to move the ruminations along nicely. ‘Madness in the Aftermath’ is a shimmering, lilting ode to those blissful moments where your life balance is redressed and a sense of self is rediscovered, ‘Does It Get Any Easier?’ combines squelchy hip-hop beats with scything guitar riffs and album closer ‘We’re Alright’ will surely be the only Neil Kinnock sample you’ll find on a track this year, with the Labour leader’s 1992 rally call leading in a relentlesslypaced plea to restore some sanity in UK politics.
“I think, fundamentally, I need to do it,” he says when we move on to motivations for the Good Cop Bad Cop project and changing definitions of success. “Making a record like this is kind of like a form of therapy for
me, or at least a temporary escape or release. I’ve been able to push the sound sonically with Andy [GoldTeeth], get some things off my chest and have a bit of fun with it. Making a record is a really special thing to do, and I’ve always felt that way. Maybe I appreciate it more because I’ve got this thing about everything being ‘my last one’, but I’ve been saying that for the last 20 years! That said, if I’m still proud of it in five years time and still enjoy playing the tunes, and if I have one or two conversations with people that it meant something to, that’s fine for me.”
Carnall will be taking Welcome to the Marble Zone on a five-date UK tour during April, culminating in a gig at the Leadmill on the 20th. It’ll be a considerably more intimate live experience compared to Milburn’s next hometown appearance, a headline slot for Rock & Roll Circus at Don Valley Stadium. However, what both shows will share are setlists that capture snapshots from influential eras of the artist’s life: the brash riffs and infectious swagger of the mid-noughties indie
scene juxtaposed with a far more reflective period almost two decades later, trying to make sense of the chaos while deep inside the Marble Zone.
Welcome to the Marble Zone is out on 5 April. Tickets for the Leadmill show on 20 April are available now from leadmill.co.uk.
SCAN
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Wines by the glass change weekly so there is always something exciting to try!
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SPOTLIGHT ON:
LA BOTTEGA
The team behind popular Sheffield restaurants Grazie and Paesani opened the gorgeous La Bottega last summer, bringing authentic Italian flavours to your lunch and dinnertimes in Sheffield city centre.
Situated on the corner of Leopold and Church Street, in the former home of Grazie, La Bottega’s name itself evokes the corner shops and cafes of the owners native Puglia and represents what the venue is all about for them.
Open all day, serving coffees, Italian pastries, a lunch menu, a refined evening menu and beautiful wines, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a beautiful spot to while away a couple of hours in a relaxed city centre setting that’s not going to break the bank!
Co-owner Vito Vernia explains: “It’s an all-day place; if you want to come in for a coffee, you can; if you want to come in for a glass of wine and a small plate before a show, you can; if you’re starving and want a big evening meal, we can do that too!
“We’re not a crowded restaurant, it’s much more relaxed. It’s somewhere you can sit with a bottle of wine and eat some proper food. It’s a really chilled atmosphere, which is what we’ve got here. People don’t want to leave.”
Vito’s partner and childhood friend (or paesani), Giacinto Di Mola, added: “I love this spot. When Grazie moved around the corner, I persuaded Vito to keep the lease and create La Bottega.
“It’s somewhere to come and have a nice meal. With the light’s down it feels cosy and I love the windows that look out onto the busy city street. There’s something for everyone.
“The small pates start from around £6, so it’s also really good value.”
The reasonably priced food menu changes throughout the day. The lunch menu comprises small plates, sandwiches and deli items, while the evening menu has a beautifully refined selection of small plates, where everything is made in house.
They also boast one of the best wine cellars in the city, and regularly hold wine tasting evenings, where they focus on a particular region of Italy. The owners of wineries in that region will come and talk to guests about their wines, which La Bottega pair with authentic tastes and dished from the region.
“We’ve got one of the best wine cellars in Sheffield,” says Giancinto. “The wine tastings have all sold out.”
Vito added: “In October, we did a Sicilian Night, and we got the winemakers
to come over from Sicily to explain their story. Who can explain the wine better than the owners of the winery? It’s something different from the usual wine tastings.”
Little details like these set La Bottega apart, and Vito and Giacinto wouldn’t have it any other way.
Vito expands on this point: “We enjoy it because this is what we love to do. We have a restaurant because it is in our blood – we live and breathe it.
“People have been really, really positive about the food, the atmosphere and the service here. They are often surprised when they step in at how much they enjoy it.
“For anyone who’s already been to our other venues, we would say, trust us, try us, and give it a go!
“Come in for a coffee, and you’ll want to come back for an evening meal the next day.”
La Bottega is open from Monday –Saturday from 9am – 9pm and is also available for private hire. @labottegasheffield
FOOD & DRINK
HIGH FIVE
Purveyors of Park Hill Punjabi cuisine, 5Tara, have opened their second Indian restaurant on Shalesmoor, near Kelham Island, and went for a sneak peek inside the finished restaurant before the big day.
Ahead of opening, they’ve also revealed a new lunch menu from midday-2pm, including Thali’s, bheega naan and samosas, as well an evening menu featuring many of your favourites from their Duke Street restaurant, as well as new dishes like Truck Driver chicken curry, sev tamatar nu shaak, and dhal makhana.
Co-owner Amanpreet Bawa’s mum sadly passed away in February and as a tribute to his late mother, all the dishes on the new Kelham Island menu come from her original recipes.
There’s no need for fans of the Duke Street 5Tara to panic either, as the OG restaurant will continue to cook up authentic Indian dishes, but with a new focus on street food classics.
The slight tweak is necessary as their current award-winning operation consists mainly of husband and wife team, Amanpreet Bawa (front of house) and Shivangi Kheironiyan (head chef).
In order for Shivangi to head up the new venture in Kelham, Aman, a chef in his own right, is taking on the cooking reigns over at Duke Street.
Ahead of opening, he said: “Shivangi will head up Kelham because we can’t be everywhere, but the style won’t change because I don’t think I can improve what she’s already done.
“Everybody has a different style of cooking, but the style that we adopted here, people are loving. Rather than put my personal touch on it, I will follow what’s already working, that’s the intelligent move.
“I’m a chef as well, and I
love making street food, and previously worked in a street food restaurant, so we’ll be making Duke Street an Indian Street food joint, on a bigger scale than it is already.
“Kelham will offer more starters and main courses. We want to show people how starters are different from street food –they’re not the same thing.
“We’ll also be doing more vegan and gluten free dishes, while keeping our classic meat dishes -especially our lamb curry, which comes from our 101-yearold recipe. People say it’s the best lamb curry in Sheffield, and I can’t deny it.”
THE WICK RETURNS
Following an abrupt closure late last year, The Wick at Both Ends has remained missing from the city centre’s bar scene, but work is now underway to restore the longstanding venue back to its former glory ahead of a grand reopening this spring.
The bar has been taken over by a triumvirate of West Street venue owners, including Metin Arslan, who has worked at Efes for the last ten years and is now one of the partners in the restaurant. He told us how the group plan to revitalise the venue, opening seven days a week and bringing
back its partying heyday.
He told Exposed: “We’ll be a bar and pub from midday until around 10pm, turning into a club and late bar until 3am, opening up the space for a dance floor.
“We’ll keep it close to what it was before, and the name will remain the same. It’s been a bar for a long time – it was Scruffy Murphy’s before it was The Wick – so we didn’t want to change that, but it will also be a little bit different to what it was before.
“During the day, we’ll serve food. The menu is being finalised, but it will be around classics like
There will also be new additions and seasonal changes to the menu, and Aman tells us that both venues will offer tweaks to how the food is served, while retaining that original ethos of beautiful, home cooked, authentic Indian food.
He added: “Our excitement is not just for Kelham, it’s for both places, as we’ve created new menus in both.
“We’ll be changing how the food is served, using classic thali and tiffin, as well as tweaking how the food looks, but always keeping this in mind – we will still be serving home cooked food.”
Aman tells us the feel and décor of the new place invokes ‘vintage Indian’, heavily inspired by old Delhi cuisine that offers a nostalgic, homely experience for guests.
Following a successful couple of years on Duke Street, which has seen them shortlisted, as well as triumphing in numerous awards celebrating their food, Aman and Shivangi now feel confident to expand.
“It’s exciting, tense, everything all together, but we want people to know it’s the same 5Tara, just an improved, authentic Indian journey. It’s a big leap for us, but the idea is to make Kelham a new spot for people who think we are a bit far away in Park Hill.”
5Tara Kelham can be found at 238 Shalesmoor, S3 8UH. @5tara_sheffield
burgers and bar snacks. We’ll mostly be a bar and club though, so it will be a smaller food menu.”
Metin tells us that over the years the bar has been neglected, which is why they have decided to give the venue a full refurb, including a whole new bar, new floors, new windows which will
open up during the summer months, and a freshening up of all the toilet facilities and kitchen. They also plan to put TV’s in for live sports.
That work is ongoing and the new owners are hoping to be open later in the spring. “We are feeling confident,” says Metin, “we know it’s a good spot and it has its own customer base already, so I’m feeling very good about it.
Keep your eyes peeled on Exposed for opening dates and first look inside the revamped venue.
GIVE IT A GO
MEET THE BREWER NIGHTS AT HYMN TO NINKASI
If you’re a craft beer fan from Sheffield and haven’t visited Hymn to Ninkasi yet, we hate to break it to you, but… you’re slipping.
The cosy independent hop haven is situated in the heart of the up-andcoming Little Kelham development, opened in 2021 by two beer-loving brothers-in-law and containing some of the most impressively stocked fridges that you’re likely to find around these seven hills (plus rotating keg lines and a selection of specialty wines and spirits to peruse).
As you can imagine, they’ve built up a loyal following of beerheads due to this offering and have decided to add another string to their bow by launching a series of ‘Meet the Brewer’ nights. The idea is simple: they invite representatives from some of the best craft breweries in the country to come down, bring some excellent beer for everyone to try and have a good chinwag in the process.
This sounds like the perfect evening to us at Exposed, so we popped along to their inaugural event featuring Martin from New Bristol Brewery – a producer that Hymn to Ninkasi have stocked from day one due to their independent ethos and excellent selection of IPAs and stouts.
A most agreeable price of £20 gets you five beers on the night on top of some intriguing insights into the industry and
a tasting profile of each drink. We began the night with the brewery’s flagship Joy of the Sesh, a flavourful session IPA packed with Mosaic and Citra hops. We then moved on to the tropical Mango & Lime Lassi Gose Sour (our favourite), the crisp, no-messing-about Bristol Lager, the Munich-style Helles Speed Wobble Lager and – saving a real indulgent treat for dessert – a mind-blowing Cinder Toffee Stout made with chocolate malts and blowtorched honeycomb.
The topics flowed as well as the drinks and ranged from the processes and inspiration behind each brew to the tensions between brewers and creatives when it comes to designing artwork for a beer. Throw in some amusing digressional anecdotes from Martin and the hours flew by, ending with Exposed leaving the venue slightly less cognisant than when we entered (hic) but with plenty of fresh knowlege about the brewing industry and having enjoyed a good slurp while we were at it.
Follow Hymn to Ninkasi on socials for news on their upcoming events @hymn_to_ninkasi_kelham
Frazer’s Coffee, #propercoffee
Now open. Visit our new shop with its on-site roastery and seating for up to 60 people. 203 Arundel street Sheffield, S1 4RE
We also offer subscriptions
How It Works
• All of our subscription coffees are 5% off our usual prices
• FREE UK delivery
• Enter code FRAZER23 at the checkout and you’ll get your first subscription bag of coffee at half price!*
*Applicable to coffee subscription orders only
Tel: 07885445315 / Email: frazerscoffeeroasters@gmail.com / Website: www.frazerscoffeeroasters.co.uk
BREW BEGINNINGS
Since opening towards the end of 2023, Frazers Coffee founder Frazer Habershorn has been busy renovating what was formerly a dilapidated space at the back of the café into a spacious dining area for up to 60 people.
Now fully open to the public, seven days a week, the new room now unites the café, communal space and in-house roastery sections of the venue.
The building itself is steeped in history, formerly being used as a space to repair the fire service’s horse-drawn carriages and stagecoaches in the early 1900s. Since getting the keys to the Arundel Street building, Frazer has worked hard to turn the space into a friendly coffee haven which holds true to the award-winning brand’s core ethos: providing high-quality, ethically sourced products at honest prices while teaching anyone that wants to listen about how coffee works.
“It’s a lovely open-plan space and we’ve varnished the original flooring that has been there for over 100 years,” Frazer told Exposed. “There are windows at the back where people can see the roastery in action from the new room, similar to you’re your might seen with some brewer taprooms, and it really brings everything together nicely.
“It’s designed as a welcoming environment for people to come and work, relax and simply enjoy the space –no rules on coffees per hour to use the free wifi or anything like that! We’ll be offering free filter coffee refills throughout the day, serving fresh sandwiches on-site and our pizza slices, plus homemade cookies and brownies.”
FANCY POPPING ALONG TO TRY THE NEW SPACE? HERE'S WHERE TO FIND THEM:
FRAZERS COFFEE
203 ARUNDEL STREET S1 4RE
OPENING HOURS:
MON-FRI: 09.00-16.00
SAT: 10.00-16.00
SUN: 11.00-15.00
FOLLOW ON SOCIALS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES:
@FRAZERSCOFFEEROASTERS
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE FRAZERS COFFEE STORY:
WWW.FRAZERSCOFFEEROASTERS. CO.UK
Come for a coffee and a bite to eat. Norfolk Heritage Park, Guildford Ave, Sheffield S2 2PL
• COFFEE • BREAKFAST • LUNCH • OUTDOOR PLAY • DOG FRIENDLY • AFTERNOON TEA •
The perfect cafe to kick start your day in the Peaks or just take a break and enjoy a hearty meal
Open Monday - Sunday 9am - 5pm Reservations available via our website!
Sunday Roast now being served in Assembly 12pm – 7pm
BAR LOUNGE • COCKTAILS • TAP ROOM MODERN BRITISH DINING • EVENT HIRE
Assembly is our late night, neighbourhood Bar & Bistro Providing a superb dining experience for all occasions, putting a modern twist on traditional British dining.
Open Wednesday to Friday 4pm til late Saturday & Sunday 12pm til late.
Based in Norfolk Park overlooking one of Sheffield’s best views, the welcoming cafe Dukes in the Park offers visitors a scenic space to relax while enjoying a coffee and a sweet treat.
Friends of 30 years Kelsey Booth and Julie Collins tell Exposed they opened the cafe after a “turbulent” year and have built up a thriving customer base since.
As previous manager of the Rose Garden Café in Graves Park, Julie experienced a shock when the building was suddenly closed in July 2022 due to structural issues highlighted by a survey, giving staff and customers only 15 minutes of notice to leave the premises.
Kelsey was also going through a difficult period in life after losing her father and struggling with job dissatisfaction. Feeling like a fresh challenge would help them regain some direction, the duo decided to take over the old Norfolk Heritage Park café when Sheffield City Council advertised it as looking for new owners.
Despite some initial concerns, the friends took the plunge. “We thought we’d give it a punt and we got it,” says Julie. “We came from such a terrible place over a year ago but these opportunities came ou which we didn’t want to turn down. We thought, let’s go for it we’ll just see where it takes us.”
“It has taken us 12 months to build up a steady trade and still people come into the cafe and say, ‘Oh my god, we didn’t know you were here’,” adds Julie.
Light and airy inside, with an abundance of outdoor seating available, the cafe offers the perfect place to enjoy
a relaxing breakfast or Sunday lunch throughout the summer. The cafe’s constantly changing menu means that customers can expect a different experience with each visit. They also offer a wide range of baked goods for those who have a sweet tooth.
“Our chef Greg has been working in the industry since he was 16. He is properly trained and put himself through catering college. He has opened pubs and restaurants for various places,” says Julie. “He was the head chef at The Broadfield and opened up many pubs and restaurants. We are lucky to have him and we leave him to the menu. It’s great!”
The cafe has recently acquired an alcohol licence, and the friends hope to put on some evening events such as bistro nights in the future.
Continuing their momentum without any signs of slowing down, the friends are
expanding their business by opening two new cafes, following the huge success of their Norfolk Park venture.
Opening on 10th April, Dukes on the Green will be located in Concord Park Golf Club. They’ll be serving up the usual mix of superb coffee and sweet bites, alongside a tasty revamp of the food offering at the venue.
Julie and Kelsey have also decided to take on the challenge of restoring the Rose Garden Cafe and running it on a shortterm basis. “It deserves to be open and it deserves to look spectacular,” says Julie. “I have a longstanding connection to the café and we’re really excited to return it to the community.”
Due to current constraints with the space, The Rose Garden Cafe will be takeaway services only but they are working closely with The Rose Garden Partnership to ensure it achieves its potential and also offer a few exciting tweaks to the space. Keep ‘em peeled!
KATIE O’BRIENS
A taste of Ireland, in the heart of Sheffield
Think exposed brick, a super cosy atmosphere and a unique mezzanine stage that features a variety of live acts every weekend. We’re serious about our drinks too, boasting a delightful whiskey range straight from Ireland.
Whether you’re a Guinness fan or prefer a fancy cocktail, you’ll find something to love. After a smashing success for St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Katie O’Brien’s is your new go-to spot for a lively night out or a chilled catch-up with friends. (
It’s a must-visit for those looking for a relaxed environment to have a drink or two in.
If you’d rather a more chilled out tipple, then head down to Katie’s for some quality pints!
The cosy ambiance and decor full of candles, barrels and string lights fill the room with a warm atmosphere that is best enjoyed with a side of live music and a pint of Guinness.
Visit us on 1 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT katieobriensirishtaverns.com/ sheffield Find us on socials! @ KatieOBriensSheffield
BRINGING THE MOST AUTHENTIC ASIAN FLAVOUR TO YOU IN A FUN WOKIE BOX WAY!
FROM THE TASTE OF JAPANESE TERIYAKI, TO THAI TOM YUM, KOREAN SPICY SHIN, SINGAPORE SATAY, MALAYSIA SAMBAL, HONG KONG XO SAUCE, SAIGON BLACK PEPPER AND MANY MORE.
YOU PICK THE INGREDIENTS & WE WOK IT UP FOR YOU, SUPER FRESH & FLAVOURFUL!
MUSIC
CRACKING THE CODES
Following the release of his sixth solo album, the Sheffield-based artist and MC speaks to Joseph Food about a return to the live circuit, paying dues to the hip-hop genre and why he’s more at ease with writing introspective lyrics.
in years, the MC recently performed a hometown in-store gig at Bear Tree Records and took to the stage in Leeds alongside long-time collaborators Juga-Naut and Sonnyjim.
Back in the Steel City, Acne headed up a bill alongside Jackie Moonbather, Lil Jay Erryday, Tom Newell, Zeeni and True Fiction at Church – Temple of Fun last month and will be performing at Get Together Festival on 18 May. “I performed last year as part of an exhibition with visual artists in Denver and I suppose it was a bit of a baptism of fire show,” he reflects. “It’s just a case of getting back into it now. I think for me, there’s a sense that if you leave something too long with art and music, you start worrying about whether the rust has set in.”
During our last interview, which took place in November 2021 following the release of his fifth album, Kid Acne described how much he enjoyed producing “the most straight-up, traditional hiphop I’ve ever made”.
By this point, the MC had solidified a formidable alliance with Chicago-based producer Spectacular Diagnostics (Robert Krums) and Sheffieldbased mixing maestro Dean Honer through 2019’s Have A Word. Together, the trio continued where they had left off with the follow-up, Null & Void, imprinting their stamp on the golden era of boombap and taking listeners on an immersive journey through a dystopian world destroyed by the arrival of new technology.
An embedded sense of direction and selfassuredness in the process is evident on their third album linkup, Hauntology Codes, which continues with a winning combo of gritty beats, mind-bending rhymes and impeccably delivered flows.
“We’ve now got our system and formula in place,” he says
on achieving a hat-trick with Honer and Krums. “I think this a natural follow-up to Null & Void, and we’ve revisited some beats and lyrics which laid dormant but made more sense alongside the newer material. It feels like a really balanced album, an enjoyable start-tofinish listen and something that can also serve as part of a broader playlist with the other two [albums].”
The latest release has also heralded a return to the live circuit, where a half-hour set will feature a mix of tracks from Have A Word, Null & Void and Hauntology Codes
His first run of live shows
For those who’ve closely followed Acne’s musical output, they might discern in Hauntology Codes the odd tonal shift amidst familiar servings of unadulterated hiphop topped with a distinctly British garnish (cabbage, hedge privets and pebble-dashed culde-sacs all get a shoutout on the record). Compared to previous offerings from the artist, there’s a noticeably increased presence of vulnerable lyrics coming through the mic.
“Can’t sleep without valerian / Wrestling thoughts staring up at the ceiling,” he raps on ‘Dues Paid (Now I’m Overdrawn)’ – a standout track that pulls no punches in reflecting on the artist’s personal development. Further references to a transformative journey undertaken can be found in ➢
➢‘Eat Right’ (“Went through some shit when I wrote this / It’s not like anybody noticed / Except my girl and my bro did / And they helped me maintain focus”) and ‘Quicksand’ (“It’s a shame we adore those who ignore us / And in turn we ignore those who adore us”).
“Political statements and emotional outpourings aren’t really my thing, but there are definitely some more vulnerable moments on this album,” he answers when we get onto this subtle but meaningful shift in lyrical content. “I think when I was younger, I maybe exacerbated the comedic side of things in the lyrics and played up to that role. My biggest selfcriticism would be that it took over from learning the basic skills of rap; I was more about a punk-style approach back then, driven by raw energy. But as I got older and mellowed out a bit, I realised that studying the art of rapping would be a useful thing to do, and while I can’t do it the same way as other people do, I’ve found my own way that I’m actually more comfortable with.”
As well as the honing of rapping skills, there has been been significant personal progress made, bringing him to a place where he’s more at ease with himself and, as a result, delve into more introspective writing. The loss of his dad nine years ago due to the effects of alcohol abuse led him to make a number of lifestyle choices, including going teetotal and seeking bereavement counselling.
He explains that given his family’s experience, sobriety came easy to him, but therapy was where the hard yards were to be found, leading to years of unpacking and analysing until a sense of self was rediscovered. “Looking in at yourself is an uncomfortable thing to do. But over a number of years, I started finding my voice again. I’ve since found that everything’s easier in terms of my creative output, as how can you be authentically you if you’re avoiding the difficulty in your own life? I think there’s a relatability to that, and I’ve➢
MUSIC
➢had more MCs contact me about this album than any other. When they’re giving me props for what I’ve done, it makes me think I must be doing something right!”
While external validation from peers provides a natural boost, it doesn’t automatically confirm the record a success for Acne. “For me, success comes from the fact that I’ve made the thing I wanted to make. I stuck to the deadline, chose the songs carefully and brought along some meaningful guests. Cappo, Sonnyjim and King Kashmere are three high-calibre emcees who are renowned internationally and I have personal relationships with all of them.”
As we round off the interview, we touch upon how last year marked the 50th anniversary of hip-hop – a milestone commemorating
the time DJ Kool Herc used his turntables to play the instrumental drum breaks of popular funk and soul songs at a party in the Bronx. I wonder aloud whether the celebrations allowed for some reflection on what the genre, which has infused his art and music for so long, means to him.
“It means everything to me,” he replies without missing a beat. “When I found hip-hop in the early ’90s, I found a frequency which resonated with me and I wanted to be part of it. Hip-hop is so unique in the sense that it’s a participant-based youth culture, so it came packaged with all these extra elements: breakdancing, DJing, rapping and graffiti. It was something you could actively partake in rather than just consume.”
There’s a thoughtful pause before he continues. “I was
LOOKING IN AT YOURSELF IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE THING TO DO. BUT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, I STARTED FINDING MY VOICE AGAIN.
fortunate enough to go from a small market town in the East Midlands to meeting my heroes at international graffiti jams, from growing up in a council house and working in a factory to travelling the world and supporting my favourite hiphop artists. That’s amazing. It’s a genuine phenomenon, a youth movement born out of poverty and making the most out of difficult circumstances using unconventional methods to create something groundbreaking that remains relevant to this day. It really did change my life. Without it, I don’t know what I would be doing.”
Hauntology Codes is out now. Catch Kid Acne at Get Together Festival in Sheffield on 18th May.
MUSIC
LET’S GET TOGETHER!
The fourth edition of Get Together festival returns to Sheffield on 18 May and promises to showcase over 50 artists, headlined by the irrepressible CMAT.
Following an outstanding performance at Get Together in 2023, CMAT has soared to new heights of success over the last year. With her second chart-topping album securing the number one spot in Ireland, CMAT has firmly established herself as one to watch for 2024.
Also joining the line-up is Welsh indie icon and Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys! Gruff will be debuting music from his latest record ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’ which is released on 26th Jan, along with fan favourites from his vast and wildly creative back catalogue of solo albums.
The festival’s wide-ranging line-up also includes artists such as; The Bug Club, Porij, Liz Lawrence, Miso Extra, Picture Parlour, Maruja, Sailor Honeymoon and many more.
For the the second year running, Get
Together will take over warehouses, breweries, and unconventional spaces spread across Kelham Island and Neepsend. Festival organiser Kieran Crosby told Exposed: “We’ve finally settled in our home in Kelham and Neepsend. Last year was a perfect day of Sun, music, friends, and good vibes, and we’re ready to do it all again! We put a lot of time and effort into getting together as many people doing new and interesting things and we know you’ll have a brilliant day. See you in May!”
Beyond music, Get Together continues to bring together the very best in independent food and drink. One of the city’s most loved food markets, Peddler, will once again be curating a selection of the best street food available in the country.
And beer lovers should get ready to embark on an exciting adventure with ‘The Kelham Beer Mile.’ This unique beer trail has been curated with Purity Brewing Co. and Kelham Island Brewery and promises to be a journey through one of Sheffield’s coolest neighbourhoods, offering a taste of the city’s thriving craft beer scene. Expect amazing beers, tap takeovers and an impressive selection of local craft beer.
Following the unique art experience created for the festival by Corbin Shaw last year, Get Together has announced its second artist in residence for 2024 will be Conor Rogers. Conor is an awardwinning Sheffield-based artist whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally (not to mention, gracing our cover back in 2021).
The latest announcement is only the start of Get Together’s 2024 full line-up, with the promise of more to be added – including secret sets and surprises on the day.
Tickets for Get Together are on sale now at gettogether.seetickets. com. Find the latest updates on their socials @gettogetherfest.
MUSIC
THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN
As the second annual Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield gears up for another round of circus-themed live performances, organisers recently confirmed that Libertines frontman Peter Doherty will join the bill alongside more huge acts and some of Yorkshire’s finest emerging artists.
Led by an all-female team, the awardwinning festival will now also welcome indie sensation The K’s to the bill as well as the iconic Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan.
Speaking about the addition of Doherty to the bill, Milburn’s Joe Carnall, said: “The Libertines show at the Leadmill in 2003 was a formative experience for Milburn, so to have Peter support us is a real honour. Throw into the mix loads of great new Sheffield artists and this Don Valley gig is going to be one for the scrapbook.”
Meanwhile Gilbert O’Sullivan, handpicked by Richard Hawley himself –who has fully curated Thursday’s opening event – proves the event supports music royalty and emerging music in equal measure.
LOOK LOCAL
Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield is fully committed to supporting the local community, with over 20 homegrown bands taking the stage alongside the headliners.
Harriet Rose joins the bill and is currently riding high after selling out the Leadmill and performing on tour around the UK
South Yorkshire’s own City Parking’s punky post-punk sound, meanwhile, captures the essence of the Steel City with nods to local landmarks like Meadowhall and West Street Off License.
You might know him from Reverend and the Makers, but Ed Cosens is stepping into the spotlight with his solo act! Singer, songwriter, producer, and part-time brewer, he recently dropped his latest album ‘Fortunes Favour’. Get ready to be swept away by his soulful tunes and infectious energy.
Elsewhere, Bromheads Jacket will be playing their first hometown festival appearance some years. The band were handpicked by Hawley and will be rolling back the years with an explosive live show.
THE BIG TOP
This year’s event will feature some of the finest aerialists, jugglers and fire performers on the planet. The event returns bigger and better and will now boast a third stage, extended opening hours, a huge food and drink village and improved VIP packages.
For more information, answers to FAQs and to buy tickets, head to rocknrollcircus.co.uk.
THE ZUTONS
Leadmill // 17 April // £30
20 years after their last headline show at the Leadmill, Liverpudlian indie icons, The Zutons are back. The show is taking place just before the release of their longawaited fourth studio album on 26 April and features support from Liverpudlian rockers Casino.. leadmill.co.uk
PAUL WELLER
Oval Hall // 11 April // £55.50-£57.95
Mod legend Paul Weller is stopping off in Sheffield on his UK tour in April. After finding fame in The Jam, Weller has been a part of multiple projects before going solo in 1992 and will be revisiting his considerable back-catalogue on the night. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
JETSKI
Leadmill // 13 April // £12
Jetski will be playing their biggest show yet at The Leadmill in April. The emo ensemble is returning to their hometown of Sheffield after releasing their first EP, The Four Before, earlier this year. leadmill.co.uk
BROMHEADS JACKET
Yellow Arch // 12-13 April // £20
Nearly 18 years after the release of their debut album Dits from the Commuter Belt, BromheadsJacket is coming to Yellow Arch to play two very intimate gigs in celebration. The Sheffield indie favourites band will be playing the album in full, so expect an explosive nostalgia-fest. yellowarch.com
TRACKS FOR TRACKS LIVE AT THE PAX
The Dorothy Pax // 7 April // £10£15
The Dorothy Pax is excited to announce that the Tracks for TRACKS fundraiser will be heading to the venue in April. There will be performances from a supergroup of well-known Sheffield artists singing original songs written by young musicians who've benefited from the TRACKS initiative. The event is raising money to help for the Sheffield Music School who do a stellar job of providing an inclusive environment for young people across the city to access the transformative power of music.
dorothypax.com
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
RHIANNON SCUTT
Before taking to the stage as part of ‘Sheffield supergroup’ for the Dorothy Pax TRACKS fundraiser, the solo artist takes a stroll down musical memory lane…
THE FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT
Listen, it was B*witched by B*witched, alright? I was exactly nine years old and a prime audience for bangers such as ‘C’est La Vie’ and ‘Blame It on the Weatherman’. Essential listening. When you’re nine.
MY FIRST GIG
My parents took me to see The Corrs at Sheffield Arena for what I think was my 11th birthday; I only had eyes for Caroline. The last time I was at the arena was for the MOBOs this February just past with the young people from Tracks, lightyears away in terms of time (and cool) from what these questions are clearly revealing to me as my Irish-pop roots.
THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED
Being in the wind band was truthfully a highlight of my school week, and the one place where I had any social standing, real or imagined. But I won’t count an ill-advised alto sax rendition of the Braveheart theme. I’ll opt for the time I dragged my family – or they dragged me – to the local folk club. I knew nothing of the turntaking format of these nights and was horrified to realise no-one was skipping. I ended up crashing my way through Lisa Hannigan’s ‘I Remember’ – still one of my favourite songs to sing and play.
A SONG I WISH I’D WROTE
There are so many lines I wish I’d written, and when I think of them now, they are largely around the theme of family. I often struggle to articulate my feelings around my loved ones, yet songwriting is an effective method to try. So when I hear
a masterpiece like Big Thief’s ‘Mythological Beauty’, it feels like it’s speaking directly to the things I want to say.
I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN...
Music was, and is, one of the biggest shared joys in my family. I don’t really have any memories that aren’t accompanied by a soundtrack. Growing up there was rarely a moment when Thin Lizzy (Dad) or Neil Young (Mum) wasn’t blasting out the hi-fi. Neither parent is a musician, but both huge music appreciators. Some of my fondest memories are dancing around the living room to the likes of Guns N’ Roses and Fleetwood Mac, pretending to be Axl Rose and Stevie Nicks. Bandana and lace shawls included.
A
SONG I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY HEAD AT THE MINUTE
The young people that I work with at Tracks often come up with the hookiest, most
devastatingly catchy top lines that will never stop haunting me. One such track is ‘Changes’ by one of our girl bands, Maychix, and this tune is in the set we’re performing on April 7th at The Dorothy Pax. Us mentors are performing to raise funds for the Tracks programme, enabling more young people in Sheffield to access musical education. I dare you to come and be forever infected with this chorus. It’s a corker.
A RECORD WHICH REMINDS ME OF A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE
Erin McKeown’s As Fast As I Can was served up to me by the algorithms, and it instantly landed me in my dorm room in my first year of Uni. There’s something about the song that is at once wistful, melancholic, yet hopeful. Whatever it is grabbed me back then and I couldn’t stop listening. That year was the first moment I was to discover my own music tastes.
MUSIC ALLOWS ME TO... Feel, I suppose. From joy to despair, music is often the vehicle through which I best feel emotion. It’s also been my route to performing, something that’s taken me a long time to realise I absolutely thrive on. Whether playing sax for Franz Von, pretending to be Mark Mothersbaugh in We Are Not Devo, drumming for Neighbourhood Voices, or performing my own music with my band, I adore being on stage. Thinking back to the impossibly shy introvert I once was, I have a lot to thank music for. We’ve been through a fair bit together.
Rhiannon will join the TRACKS band/supergroup at the Dorothy Pax on 7 April, raising money for the so young people can access the transformative power of music in the city through the Sheffield Music School. Tickets (£11) are available from eventbrite.
saturday 6 apr 2024
one night in nashville
£22.00, Doors 7:30pm
tuesday 9 apr 2024
kid kapichi
£16.50, Doors 7:30pm
friday 12 apr 2024
absnt mind
£5.00, Doors 7:30pm
saturday 13 apr 2024
pulp’d vs blur2
£15.00, Doors 7:00pm
thursday 18 apr 2024
luisa omielan
£16.00, Doors 7:00pm, 18+
friday 19 apr 2024
the academic
£18.00, Doors 7:30pm
saturday 20 apr 2024
daft funk live
£15.00, Doors 7:00pm
tuesday 23 apr 2024
The Tuesday Club: songer, phibes & more
£12.00-16.00, Doors 11:30pm, 18+
saturday 27 apr 2024
eleanor conway talk dirty to me
£12.00/14.00/16.00, Doors 7:30pm, 18+
saturday 27 apr 2024
sam scherdel
£10.00, Doors 7:30pm
thursday 2 may 2024
cody pennington
£23.00, Doors 7:00pm
friday 3 may 2024
saturday 4 may 2024
moving pictures
(a tribute to the music of rush)
£18, Doors 7:00pm
saturday 11 may 2024 a certain ratio
£25, Doors 7:00pm
monday 13 may 2024
the feeling
£27.50, Doors 7:00pm
friday 15 may 2024
english teacher
£14, Doors 7:30pm
saturday 25 may 2024
marina summer
£14, Doors 7:30pm
wednesday 5 jun 2024
jake lambert: the sunshine kid
£11.00, Doors 8:00pm
sunday 9 jun 2024
goat girl
£12.50, Doors 7:30pm
thursday 27 jun 2024
belgrave house band pres. amy winehouse’s back to black
£16.00, Doors 7:30pm
friday 13 sept 2024
big country
£32.50, Doors 7:00pm
saturday 14 sept 2024
brogeal
£11.00, Doors 7:30pm
saturday 14 sept 2024
scan for tickets sold out sold out sold out
abba inferno
£12, Doors 8:00pm, 18+
saturday 14 sept 2024
antarctic monkeys
£20.00, Doors 7:00pm
all shows open to the public (14+ unless stated otherwise)
tickets available from foundrysu.com
box office: 0114 222 8777
crime viral: murder staged
£20.00, Doors 7:00pm
friday 11 oct 2024 from the jam
£35.00, Doors 7:00pm
friday 18 oct 2024
red richardson
£16.00, Doors 7:00pm
saturday 18 oct 2024
george lewis: the best thing you’ll ever do
£11.00, Doors 8:00pm
saturday 26 oct 2024
cast
£30.00, Doors 7:00pm
thursday 14 nov 2024
kneecap
£20.00, Doors 7:30pm
friday 15 nov 2024
craig charles
funk & soul house party
£20/22/24, Doors 7:00pm, 18+
thursday 14 nov 2024
kneecap
£20.00, Doors 7:30pm
saturday 23 nov 2024
john bramwell
£25.00, Doors 6:30pm
friday 13 dec 2024
turin brakes
£27.50, Doors 7:00pm
foundry, sheffield students’ union western bank, s10 2tg
foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk
MUSIC
Just What the Doctor Ordered
corruption, so there’s a lot to be angry about. I started writing furiously from my hospital bed and wrote nine songs in a week.
Susumu and Mackii got the basic tracks down and then a bit of magic happened; I started getting phone calls from people like Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Sarah J Morris (Communards), Terry Edwards (Pj Harvey, Nick Cave) and Lily Bud saying they wanted to be on the record.
It came out in 2019, and it was responding to the world as it is and was: a fairly dangerous and anxiety-inducing place. On this tour, we’ll be doing a selection of songs from all four albums.
After a 46-year hiatus, William Burroughs inspired, proto punk pioneers The Doctors of Madness return for their final ever UK tour with a stop off at Sheffield Dorothy Pax. Ahead of the April show, Ash Birch sat down with Richard Strange (aka Kid Strange) to talk about The Mucky Duck, Japanese cover bands and snubbing Jonathan King…
Hi Richard. It’s over 40 years since the last Doctors show in the UK, why have you decided to resurrect the band now? In the early 2000s I got a call from a label Japan saying they wanted to re-release all three Doctors of Madness records on CD, and they asked if I’d consider putting the band back together and touring it. I haven’t seen half of them for 20 years and although the separation had not been especially acrimonious, I’d not really felt inclined to get the band back together.
I spoke to a friend of mine, David Coulter, and set about reworking some of the songs for a solo show. Two weeks before the tour was due to start, I got another call from the label saying, good news, we’ve found a DOM tribute band in Tokyo. This is just too absurd. I don’t
even want to hear them. I’m going.
We have our first rehearsal in Japan, and they were brilliant! They’d learned everything that I’ve ever recorded. That was 20 years ago and they (Susumu Ukei and Mackii Ukei) have been my band ever since. I might be the second-choice vocalist in a Japanese Doctors of Madness tribute band.
On your first UK tour with this line-up, you’re playing songs from all three 70s albums as well as your latest release, Dark Times – how did that album come to fruition?
In 2018, I’m in hospital and I think I’m dying. Bit dramatic as it turns out, but it makes me think that I still haven’t written and recorded the album I’d like to be remembered by. In 2018, there’s Trump, Brexit, Tory
Going back to those first three albums, how did the Doctors of Madness begin life? We started in 1974. David Bowie and Roxy Music has happened. We were doing gigs as an amateur semi pro band, mainly around London.
I was having trouble finding gigs, but I found a pub in Twickenham that had a music room upstairs that was empty on Saturday nights. I spoke to the landlord and asked if he would consider letting me put on a month of Saturdays. There were three people in when I asked him so, safe in the knowledge I’ve got at least six friends, I tell him I can double it.
On the first night, we got maybe 20 people in, some of them we didn’t even know! The second Saturday we got 40 People in and the third we got 80 people in. By the fourth Saturday, we sold out.
That fourth night, whether it was desperation or frustration, we were brilliant. To our astonishment, two moguls of the music business came to see us after the show. The first one I recognised and didn’t have a good feeling about. He told us he managed a band called Genesis, it was Jonathan King.
I told him that’s unfortunate, because I don’t really like that band and that was a bit of a conversation killer. After a while I said, nice to meet you but no thanks. The band are looking at me thinking, that was the dream!
Then there’s another knock at the door. This time, a cigar
comes in about five minutes before the bloke smoking it. It’s Brian Morrison, who publishes Pink Floyd. He’s made so much money he’s retired to play polo aged 30.
He’s got bored of playing polo so his mate, who had been to the show the previous week, said if you want to get back into the business you could do a lot worse than go see us. When he meets us, he says, ‘my mate said you were brilliant. You aint brilliant, but you could be.’
We got a three-album deal with Polydor in ‘75, and our third album was released in ‘78. In that interim, someone pulled the entire rug out from
underneath us.
What happens between that first and third record?
Punk happened. In ’76, I get a call asking us to put on this band that needs some gigs outside of London, they’ve got a bit of a reputation but they’re sweet kids, really.
I’d heard of The Sex Pistols – you couldn’t miss them – but no one had really seen them, so charitably, I let them play with us in Middlesbrough. I watched them in soundcheck, and they look like obnoxious kids bunking off school, and its all a bit lacklustre and shambolic.
The door’s open and 800
people swarm in, but rather than go straight to the bar, some of them head down for the support slot. I stuck around to watch and within three songs, I knew that it was over for me.
There was I, thinking I’d be spending my time on Mustique with Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret and I realise I’m more likely to be down the job centre.
Despite later finding out that a lot of the punk bands were fans of ours, in 1978 we did our last show and our support act was none other than Sheffield’s Cabaret Voltaire.
What are your memories of
playing in Sheffield over the years?
It was on of our favourite places in the 70s; The Mucky Duck, The City Hall and the Old Polytechnic.
More recently, I’ve done my one man show with the lovely people from the Dorothy Pax up at The General Cemetery, which is a beautiful building. It was a very atmospheric and informal night. I really loved it.
Doctors of Madness play Dorothy Pax on 15 April with support from Django Jones And The Mystery Men. Tickets (£15) at dorothypax.com.
SAFE
Released by Sheffield-based film production Big Buddha Films in connection with International Womens Day 2024, Safe is a short film which explores the harassment women endure in public spaces and the ongoing adaptations they must make in their lives to ensure their safety.
After picking up Best Director and Best Screenplay at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York and a Best Actor award at Seville Indie Film Festival, Exposed’s Ellie Ashton reviewed the film and delved into its themes with director Debbie Howard.
Can you explain the significance of choosing the title and how it reflects the central themes or message of the story? As women we have to think about our safety often. If we’re going for a night out, or travelling somewhere etc, we often have to think ahead about how to keep ourselves safe. What route we’ll take home. Getting a taxi even when we can’t afford one, or when we could easily walk but it’s too risky. If we’re driving, how close to the venue we can park. It’s something we always have to take into consideration. I don’t know a single woman who hasn’t thought about these things and who hasn’t been harassed, or worse, usually many times, throughout her life, who hasn’t felt afraid going about her very normal daily business. Safety is a real issue for us.
Can you discuss the significance of the setting, particularly the choice of a bus stop during a rainy evening? We can’t all drive, or afford a car, or a taxi. And even if we can, we could, and should be able to take public transport. Our main protagonist, Anne, isn’t a person with spare money. She’s done a shift at work. She just wants to get home, easily and for as little of her hard-earned wages as
possible. The fact that it’s pouring down limits her choices even more. It also makes it harder for her to move away from the bus shelter. She doesn’t even have waterproof clothing. All of this just adds to confining her to the bus shelter where she gets harassed.
The film includes moments where bystanders are present but seemingly unaware of the situation unfolding. What commentary were you making on bystander apathy or societal attitudes towards harassment?
Sometimes bystanders notice things and do nothing. Sometimes they just don’t notice. In this case, the young man at the bus stop isn’t really aware of what’s happening because he’s wearing headphones and is absorbed in his phone, as is often the case. Our perpetrator, Daz, is behaving in quite subtle ways that might not attract the attention of others. I wanted to make it clear in the film that sometimes threatening and intimidating behaviour can be quite subtle. Anne tries to make eye contact with the other man at the bus stop a couple of times, but is unable to get his attention. It can be difficult for a person to ask for others for help when an actual physical attack might not have taken place, as it can be very hard to explain what is happening.
The woman in the film attempts to assert control and protect herself in various ways. What commentary, if any, were you making on the expectations
of women to navigate threatening situations imposed by men?
Women and girls have learned from a very young age to instinctively try to keep themselves safe by assessing situations and avoiding them escalating. Sometimes that means that they appease men to try to avoid a situation becoming out of control and putting themselves in further danger. Women have been blamed so much for men’s behaviour. Implying if they hadn’t been dressed a certain way, or had a drink, or walked down a particular road, that whatever happened to them wouldn’t have happened. I had a very similar situation to the one in Safe on the tube over twenty five years ago on a Sunday morning. I’ve never forgotten it. I have been in this kind of situation many times. My daughter has, my mum and sisters have, and all of my friends. We shouldn’t have to work so hard to protect ourselves, because these situations shouldn’t be happening in the first place. But we find ourselves having to do that so many times.
As a female filmmaker, what challenges have you faced in the industry, and how does your experience inform the stories
you choose to tell?
There’s still a lot of prejudice and although things are getting better, women still have to fight for their place in the film industry. Especially northern, working class women, especially older women like myself. But it’s really important to be able to tell our own stories, to have stories and perspectives from everyone, not just the same people. I’m passionate about telling stories that are very female centric. Stories that are sometimes uncomfortable. Getting funding for films is so difficult. Laura, Rachel and I have another film in development called Roach. Laura has written that script, I will direct and Rachel will produce. We’re looking for investors if anyone is interested in finding out more.
What do you hope audiences take away from watching this film, particularly in terms of awareness or reflection on the issue of harassment?
We screened the film at Aesthetica short film festival in York recently, it opened the festival and had several screenings throughout. It went on to win Best Director and Best Screenplay at the festival which was wonderful. It sparked so many
conversations about harassment and the Director of the festival said that when she first watched it she was shouting at the screen in her kitchen because it enraged her so much. Women were discussing the film afterwards in the toilets. It resonated for everyone. We had some very interesting conversations from men too. Some who really got it and others that had no idea. I really hope the film will make men think about their actions and also be more aware of what’s going on around them. Obviously there are loads of men out there that would never behave like Daz. Being aware of these issues, though, could really help others. There needs to be a lot more education about harassment and intimidating behaviour. And this needs to be taken far more seriously. It can be difficult to report something that’s not really considered a crime. So much needs to change.
You can find out more about Safe and the work Big Buddha Films do at bigbuddhafilms.co.uk. Keep up to date on socials by following @ big_buddha_films.
SAFE
Safe is a compelling short film that delves into the pressing issue of women’s safety and harassment. Set on a gloomy, rainy evening at a bus stop, the film follows protagonist, Anne, as she navigates the subtle yet menacing advances of a stranger. Through its poignant narrative and resonant themes, Safe prompts essential conversations about the constant vigilance women must maintain in public spaces.
The film places emphasis on the threat of eye contact and, while not inherently harmful from a bystander’s perspective, it can evoke an intense sense of unease for the victim on the other side of it. “Why are you women so f*cking paranoid?’ the perpetrator says, reflecting the degrading attitude that lots of men have today. The film accurately underscores the emotional stress that women can endure in their day to day lives, capturing the psychological toll of harassment.
What sets Safe apart is its predominantly female team, bringing an insightful perspective to the narrative and fostering a collaboration that enhances the film’s message. Despite the challenges faced, director, Debbie Howard, remains steadfast in her commitment to amplifying diverse voices and challenging stereotypes.
Overall, it is a powerful and thought-provoking short film that leaves a lasting impression, advocating for greater education and accountability in addressing issues of harassment and intimidation.
COMEDY
ALFIE MOORE @ THE WINDING WHEEL, CHESTERFIELD
For those of you unfamiliar with the ex-copper turned standup, Alfie Moore is a gentle, old-school delight of a comedian.
His BBC Radio 4 series and podcast, It’s A Fair Cop, recounts real-life (though no doubt embellished) stories from his days on the beat. And while that’s been a big success and brought him a healthy following of loyal fans, his attempts to crack TV have been rather less successful. But here’s hoping!
Tonight’s audience is emblematic of that: predominantly aged 60 and above, these are clearly Radio 4 aficionados. Alfie meanwhile, dressed sharply in a dark suit with an open-necked shirt and waistcoat, is noticeably slimmer than the pre-lockdown version, his face accentuated by a neatly trimmed beard.
He’s a very warm presence and starts by engaging with the crowd in his accommodating style, welcoming latecomers and honing on any police officers present – territory in which he is clearly very comfortable.
With over two decades of service in the Humberside Police Force, Alfie’s comedy career has very much centred around his former occupation. Originally from Sheffield, he kicked off by reminiscing about his school days, and why he took on the role of class clown. His anecdotes about his father, fondly referred to as Big Alf, and his loyal police dog Zeus, revealed his deep affection for both, and trod comfortable territory for his loyal fanbase.
Alfie shared snippets of his personal life, including his ex’s unconventional romantic encounters in a shed dubbed ‘The Larva Shack’ with her maggot farmer boyfriend (yes, seriously) and how his second wife encouraged him to venture into stand-up.
But of course, there have been ups as well as downs. Whilst he’s about to release the seventh series of his Radio 4 series, a TV sitcom which was optioned by ITV refused to cast him in the lead because he was ‘too fat’, instead offering it to Jason Manford. Manford ultimately turned it down, and post-COVID, they pulled the plug on the whole project, but it did lead to Alfie losing a whole load of weight in an attempt to become more castable.
As the evening concluded, amidst plenty of laughter and applause, Alfie bid farewell, donning his father’s cap, leaving behind a delighted audience, safe in the knowledge they have a new series of his podcast to tune into in just a few short weeks.
RIA LINA
Leadmill // 21 April // £15
The comedian and scientist had a ‘Riawakening’ after the pandemic and now sees the world differently. Her new show tackles the issues of coming out of a global pandemic, modern-day dating, motherhood, and what it is really like to be a woman today. leadmill.co.uk
LUISA OMIELAN: BITTER
Foundry // 18 April // £17.60
Comedy’s first ‘BAFTA Breakthrough’ winner, Luisa Omielan is taking over the Foundry for a night of frank comedy. After years of being told she’s too much, Luisa is throwing away the rulebook with her show ‘Bitter’. foundrysu.com
ED GAMBLE
Oval Hall // 5 April // £30.50
Join Ed Gamble for an evening filled with ranting, raving, and spluttering. The co-host of the awardwinning podcast Off Menu is bringing his show to Sheffield for one night only. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
ROMESH RANGANATHAN: HUSTLE
Oval Hall // 13 April // £35.95
Ready to get existential? Romesh Ranganathan explores the human condition in his show ‘Hustle’. Described as ‘deceptively sharp and utterly disarming’, Romesh will be delving into a range of issues while providing no real answers to them. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
TWO PINTS PODCAST
Oval Hall // 28 April // £31.95-£39.95
Will Mellor and Ralf Little are heading on the road again with their April Fools’ Live Tour. Similarly to their much-loved podcast, the evening will be uproarious by combining the natural chemistry between Will and Ralf with plenty of audience participation. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
SPRINGING FORWARD
April is here, spring has sprung and beer garden weather is officially upon us! To add to the general joy of the season as we emerge from the winter months, we have another month packed full of queer happenings.
First up, we have the return of Andro and Eve’s The Kingdom Come (Sat 13 Apr) for their Salty Seas edition, a night of nautical nonsense at Crookes Social Club hosted by Beau Jangles featuring some of the UK’s most exciting drag acts including CYRO, Oedipussi and Sigi Moonlight. There’s more drag over at Malin Bridge Inn with residents DJ Brooke’s Sassy Saturdays (Sat 13 Apr) and Tanya Minge’s Drag Bingo (Fri 19 Apr). Think you’ve got what it takes to sashay across their stage? Then you have
two more opportunities this month, as Electric Blue hosts the latest rounds of the Drag Idol Heats (Fri 12&27 Apr), where you could become or cheer on Sheffield’s next drag icons.
And there’s another opportunity to take to the stage whatever your talent, at Mandala’s LGBTQIA+ Talent Night (Sun 7 Apr), where singers, poets, musicians, burlesque artists, comedians from our fantastic LGBTQIA+ community are all welcome for a spectacular night of guaranteed fun, frolics and debauchery, presided over by your very own hostess with the mostess: the fabulous, the incomparable, Miss Bipolar Abdul! Continuing the comeget-involved vibe this month, we have Key of She (Thu 4
Apr) – Theatre Deli’s improvised jam session for women and marginalised genders. Sign up on the night if you’d like to be part of a jam, or simply come and watch.
For more live music, head to Shakespeares for Earwig presents Pink Suits w/ Speed Dating + Junk It (Thu 4 Apr). Pink Suits are a Queer Feminist Punk Rock & Rage duo, making loud, aggressive, political punk noise as well as dance, theatre, film and art as an exploration of sexuality, fantasy, mental health, politics, activism and as a resistance of binary gender, questioning how voices and bodies can be used as a form of protest.
Taking to the stage at City Hall we have Tom Allen (Sat 20 Apr). The comic has finally moved out
of his parents’ house, which has been great news for him, better news for department stores and even better news for his latest stand-up tour as he’s eager to share his life updates, get your opinions on his vegetable patch and delve into the protocol of inviting friends with children for dinner.
In community happenings, Trans Active Swimming (every Saturday) will be taking place at Heeley Pool open to any trans, non-binary and genderquestioning people of all fitness levels. Diversity Fest will be back at Showroom Cinema Bar for the Diversity Fest 2024 Planning Meeting & AGM, where you can meet the team, find out more and get involved in the planning for this year’s festival. There are a
couple of online sessions where you can find out more about our LGBTQ+ communities with SAYiT with their Working with LGBTQ+ Young People Forum (Mon 8 Apr), a one-hour lunch time drop-in session where you can find out more about what has been happening in the past few months affecting our communities and ask questions about any issues you are facing in your settings; and LGBTQ+ Awareness Training [Wed 24 Apr], a half-day accredited training session explaining all, from the difference between sexuality, sex and gender to the UK laws that protect us.
And last but not least, Terrence Higgins Trust head to Millennium Gallery for Panel Discussion: How Do We End New Cases of HIV by 2030? (Thu 18 Apr) as part of this year’s Festival of Debate. Hear from a panel of public health experts, activists and people living with HIV about how radical reform can end an epidemic – and what could jeopardise this historic goal being achieved.
That’s just about your lot for this month – make sure to check out the latest event announcements at facebook. com/sheffieldlgbtevents. Until next time.
SHOW SOME RIVERSIDE PRIDE!
This summer, Kelham Island and Neepsend Community Alliance (KINCA) are hosting a brand-new, friendly and all-inclusive gathering in the name of pride!
The free one-day event will feature a parade route, main stage, 10 official partner venues and even more fringe venues with something going on for everyone.
Among the official partner venues are Peddler Warehouse, Happy’s, Yellow Arch, Alder, Neepsend Social, Grafters, Factory Floor, Parrot Club and Kelham Kitchen and Wine Bar.
With performances, art and music showcased across the venues and main stage, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Along with children sections designed to take them away from the louder areas and engage in creative activities.
Following the footsteps of all major LGBTQ+ events, Kelham Pride will also host a vibrant and energetic parade route for all to enjoy.
Local Ward Councillors have assisted the event with startup funding, encouraging the community to come out and get involved with the party.
Douglas Johnson, Sheffield City Councillor, told Exposed: “It’s fantastic to see an event like Kelham Pride taking place in the city. This is a brilliant opportunity to bring people from all walks of life together and celebrate diversity and inclusivity, all while having a great time.”
“We can’t think of a better way to do that than to throw a huge party where not only is everyone invited, but we welcome them with open arms,” added Ben McGarry, Chairperson for KINCA.
“We at KINCA are 100% community-driven, with everything we do about enhancing the lives of our residents and visitors. An event like this is so important for championing inclusivity, and giving visibility to all corners of the community including those that might often not get a light shined on them.
Want to get involved? Well, the hosts are still on the look out for more artists, volunteers and venues to take part in the riverside festival, visit their website for more. www.
kelhampride.com
Kelham Pride will be held on the 1st June – no tickets required! Keep up to date with all the latest announcements at www.kelhampride.com and on their socials @kelhampride // facebook.com/kelhampride.
CULTURE
GIVE IT A LICK OF PAINT
Joseph Food paints an exciting picture of Sheffield’s first street art and mural festival.
Take just a brief stroll through central Sheffield and you’re likely to come across some engaging street art on your travels. It’s certainly a sobering thought to picture the city centre and its suburbs without contributions from the likes of Kid Acne, Phlegm, McKee, Jo Peel, Rob Lee, Marcus Method, Florence Blanchard and countless other artists who’ve added an injection of life and vibrancy into our surroundings.
Not only can a diverse selection of street art aesthetically improve previously uninspiring urban spaces, but studies have shown it can have beneficial impacts on community engagement, increase tourism to an area, spark important conversations about social issues, provide networking opportunities for creatives and help to foster local artistic talent.
It’s for these reasons and more that two Sheffield-based artists, Alastair Flindall (@neckofthewoodsstudio) and Megan Russell (@_peachzz_), have come together to form Lick of Paint Fest – the city’s first mural and street art festival.
“I’ve always wanted to do a street art festival, ever since realising they were a thing,” explains Megan. “For me, it’s all about giving back to the community; it’s public art that’s free and accessible for people to engage with.”
After speaking to Alastair on the topic around two years ago, Megan found that they shared an ambition and plans were quickly put in place to make Lick of Paint a reality.
Together they make a perfect fit. Alastair’s teaching background makes him the prime candidate to drive the festival’s engagement efforts, organising educational workshops, developing young artists and collaborating with local schools and community groups. Meanwhile, Megan’s extensive experience in street murals, spanning projects worldwide, qualifies her to spearhead the curation and production of the event.
The festival will prominently feature local artists from Sheffield, Yorkshire and across the North, with approximately 20-30 artists commissioned, including a selection of international talents. The organisers aim to utilise 10-15 walls as canvases, all of which will be nearing completion by the festival weekend.
To keep things compact and accessible, a central hub will be agreed upon to host the artworks with live music, DJs and culinary offerings on hand to help generate a festival atmosphere. A downloadable map
WE WANT TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN GRAB SOME FOOD OR A BEER, LISTEN TO MUSIC FROM LOCAL BANDS, GET INVOLVED WITH A WORKSHOP… IT’S ALL ABOUT BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
and events guide will also be provided to make planning out the weekend a straightforward affair.
“We’ll be contacting a few live venues to collaborate with,” says Megan. “While artists are painting, there’ll be other examples of live art to watch and we want to create an environment where people can grab some food or a beer, listen to music from local bands, get involved with a workshop… it’s all about bringing the community together.”
In terms of making Lick of Paint stand out from other street art festivals in the UK, Alastair explains that there will be a key focus on two areas: sustainability and technology. “We’re looking to talk to leading people in the field of sustainable
development in cities, discussing how we can use the materials more wisely and create street art in a more eco-friendly matter. It’s a big talking point in the industry and one we want to address, so we’ll also be opening that debate up to the public while directly asking people what they want to see at the festival.”
“The technology focus of the event coincides with sustainability in some
aspects,” he continues. “A lot of that revolves around reducing carbon footprint in art, so we’ll be exploring AR artworks – which we’ve already seen in Sheffield through the Look Up project –while using projection mapping to create temporary exhibits of street art as well as permanent ones.”
The inaugural Lick of Paint will take place next summer, with a series of soft launch events planned this year so the team can promote the festival’s aims while engaging with public feedback. Keep an eye out a collaboration with Festival of the Outdoors this month and some free workshops and live art heading to Get Together Festival in May.
“You’ll be hearing more from us throughout 2024,” says Megan. We’ll be collaborating with different local events and festivals so we can share with the community what our plans are. We want to create a successful festival that everyone wants to see – this event is for Sheffield, so getting that feedback will be key.”
For more info, sign up at lickofpaintfest.com and follow @licklickofpaintfest on Insta.
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IT’S TIME TO TALK
The Festival of Debate returns to Sheffield for its 10th edition...
With events taking place both online and in-person across city, the UK’s biggest non-partisan politics festival will be covering topics from clean air to neighbourhood democracy.
This year’s line-up includes huge names in the political world such as journalist and BBC presenter Sathnam Sanghera, Green Party House of Lords member Natalie Bennett and author and LBC presenter James O’Brien.
The Festival of Debate will run from 16 April to 25 May and looks to discuss and put forward potential solutions to the country’s systemic problems.
Joe Kriss, the festival director, has expressed his excitement over the scale of
this year’s festival. He said of the milestone instalment: “This year’s festival is the most ambitious we’ve ever put together, and we’re really excited about what we’ve got planned.
“We’re facing a series of intersecting crises in this country and in this city, from the cost-of-living crisis to the continuing effects of the pandemic. We’re really interested in finding solutions to those problems, helping Sheffield and the wider world transition to a more sustainable and equitable future.”
The performance poet, Hollie McNish, is taking to the stage at The Leadmill on 18 April and will be reading from her latest collection ‘Lobster: and other things I’m learning
to love’.
Marianna Spring, the BBC’s first disinformation and social media correspondent, will be diving into the complicated world of conspiracy theories, online hate and fake news.
The UK’s foremost expert in public health, Sir Michael Marmot, will be holding a talk on 21 May at Millennium Gallery about the effect inequality has on health in this country and what can be done to improve it.
Poet Jackie Kay will also be performing poetry at The Leadmill on 23 May on topics ranging from decades of political activism such as feminist and LGBT+ struggles to the Black Lives Matter Movement.
After the main festival, a
bonus event is taking place at Crookes Social Club with writer George Monbiot talking about his new book collaboration with Peter Hutchinson, ‘The Inivisble Doctrine’, which discusses the history of neoliberalism.
Alongside these main headliners, the festival will be host to a range of workshops, interactive sessions, and panels exploring alternative solutions to some of the country’s most pressing problems. These will include ‘Moving Towards Conscientious Consumption’ and ‘Food Waste: Whose Responsibility is it?’.
For a full guide to the 2024 programme and info on tickets, head to festivalofdebate.com.
CULTURE
Lager, Lines & Louts
Sheffield-based artist Melville chats to Exposed about his upcoming debut exhibition, which will see him joining forces with a number of creatives to explore the underbelly of British society and its often dicey relationship with escapism.
How long has this exhibition been in the works?
The current project has been in the works for over a year now. The first finished piece that will be on display will have been around for nearly a year to the date of the exhibition. After featuring in the January edition of Exposed, I’d said that I’d love to finally do an exhibition this year. Thankfully, Mondo Radio reached out to offer their historic place as a home for the event.
What has the process been like to pull it together so far?
The most enjoyable thing with this collection of work is that it’s been able to naturally progress to its current form. I’ve always split my work into main projects and single pieces which have acted as a continuous visual diary. With Lager, Lines & Louts it’s been nurtured and developed over a long period of time, so it feels like some of the most complete set of works that I’ve created. The idea that I’ll be showing this work in a real visual setting has been an enriching experience.
Your work often explores the vices of British culture, or as you’ve termed it yourself, “the underbelly of society”. Creatively, what interests you in this subject matter?
Ultimately, it’s a reality we can’t ignore: we are a product of our environments. We have too little time to discuss every issue we face in modern Britain, from corrupt politicians to low-paid jobs and greedy corporations. But unfortunately, the side effects to the hardships of the day to day dross we endure will come out in various forms of vices. Growing up and experiencing first-hand a lot of these issues has made me want to put a spotlight on it. I also find that this transcends class systems, which really interests me. From the lower to the upper classes, we all have our ways of escaping our expectancies in life.
On that note, which specific topics will the exhibition explore?
The main idea behind the exhibition will focus on escapism. Why do people need to participate in the things that they do as a release from the realities of life. My work will touch on the topics of drink, drugs, violence and different ways that we find solace in life, like our British holidays abroad. All of these things are deep rooted in British culture.
You’ll be collaborating with a range of artists on this. What can we expect to see and why did you it was important to add new artistic voices into the mix? Personally, from the very start I’ve wanted to collaborate with other creatives. That’s what I love, and there’s definitely not enough of it happening. It’s important to share these experiences with other people. We have some amazing creatives involved in the exhibition: Spicebag (mála spíosraí), who recently painted the ‘Free Derry’ wall; Bloodshot inc, a class videographer who I’ve done many projects with; Get A Real Job Kid, an artist who’s worked with bands such as Paramore, Green Day and My Chemical Romance; Ugloe, a talented creative who’s featuring soon at Bring the Paint. We’ve got True Fiction, of Sheffield’s finest podcast, Tha What, who is going to be curating all the music for the night. These are all individuals I have a huge respect for and have the same ideals as.
What do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing the art, sculpture, videos and music curated for the exhibition?
The most important thing for me is for people to see this exhibition and be inspired to host their own events, as this has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. By pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I hope others will follow and do the same –the Sheffield art scene needs more of these events! We have a lot of talented individuals in and around Sheffield, but unfortunately as an art community, it’s quite stagnant right now. We do have the opportunity to change this by making more of these events and supporting each other.
Lager, Lines & Louts opens on Saturday 27th April from 7pm until late at Mondo Radio, 7 Smithfield S3 7AR. Free entry and bring your own booze.
@melville_the_third
THE CRUCIBLE @ CRUCIBLE THEATRE
Local spectators at Sheffield Theatres’ production of The Crucible will instantly recognise the modernist-inspired lightbox overlooking the stage: a scaled-down version of the venue’s iconic signage, providing a present-day reference point in a play that transports you back 300-plus years to the stark setting of Salem, Massachusetts.
Fittingly, this austere and foreboding environment is reflected in a decidedly minimal set. Adding to the intimate atmosphere, various lighting techniques and props are used throughout to great effect: house lights snapping on whenever the fourth wall is broken, directly addressing the audience as though they were extended members of the community; the intermittent use of a microphone passing hands as characters fight to be heard loudest above a din of righteous chaos; and dark, hellish reds depicting the mounting hysteria and ever-lurking presence of evil.
In an interview prior to opening night, Simon Manyonda told Exposed Magazine that he “wanted to understand the human folly at the heart of the play”. His powerful portrayal of John Proctor, a man fiercely resisting a growing tide of derangement while grappling with his own moral redemption, brilliantly illustrates the range of human experience on display and is gripping to watch from beginning to end.
The perfect foil to an exasperated and increasingly irate John Proctor is Anoushka Lucas’s Elizabeth Proctor. Humble, stoic and wise, her character epitomises the ultimate undeserving victim amidst the vengeful accusations cast around the town.
While the Proctors’ plight takes centre stage, there are stellar portrayals throughout the cast. Sargon Yelda is the embodiment of spineless selfinterest as Reverend Parris, Rose Shalloo plays a girlish but deeply vindictive Abigail Williams and Sid Sagar’s Reverend Hale displays a hugely affecting transformation from dangerous self-aggrandiser to the town’s voice of conscience, leading impassioned pleas for reason and mercy from Ian Drysdale’s cold and dogmatic Danforth.
Combining Miller’s timeless writing on structural power and the exploitation of fear – equally relevant today as during the McCarthy era – with bold, innovative direction from Anthony Lau and a multitude of compelling performances, the result is a transfixing experience that prompts audiences to reflect on modern-day instances of political scare-mongering, persecution and manufactured hysteria. These sobering thoughts linger long after leaving beneath the original Crucible sign overlooking Tudor Square. 5/5
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE
Lyceum // 9-20 April // £15-£55.50
The smash-hit musical makes its homecoming to Sheffield. Step out of the darkness, and into the spotlight with Jamie New, as you follow his journey of discovery. The show’s star-studded line-up includes West End icon Ivano Turco, as the titular character, and X-Factor winner, Sam Bailey, as Miss Hedge. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
A AYE CAPTAIN
Theatre Deli // 5 April // £12-£14
Comedy troupe Fishpie are back with their biggest show to date. Filled with eccentric characters, original songs, and even some puppetry, the show is sure to have you crying with laughter. Join the crew on their strange adventure as they search for Captain Fishfingers. theatredeli.co.uk
THE 39 STEPS
Lyceum // 30 April - 4 May // £15-£45.50
Adapted by Patrick Barlow, the popular comedy is back on tour in the UK after spending 10 years on the West End. Follow Richard Hannay as he tackles murders and secret agents all while maintaining his typically British stiff-upper-lip manner. Four fearless actors will be taking on the feat of playing 139 characters in one play. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
THE POLAR BEAR (IS DEAD)
Theatre Deli // 4 April // £10-£12
Best friends Nat and Dani explore loss and being alone. Before lockdown, they had been working on a show about the climate crisis until they were both hit by personal tragedy. The play discusses the Spice Girls, Prestatyn beach, and most importantly of all, friendship. theatredeli.co.uk
ROOTS: (OVERSEAS) & IS ANY BODY HOME?
Theatre Deli // 27 April // £12-£15
This double bill by Wency Lam addresses themes like migration, colonialism, and identity. (Overseas) sets out to bring confusion and ambiguity and revolves around an identity crisis that occurs due to migration. theatredeli.co.uk
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF DR
JOHN COOPER CLARKE
Oval Hall // 7 April // £24.50-£34.50
Celebrate John Cooper Clarke’s 75th birthday as he embarks on his new live tour. You can’t miss this opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest spoken word artists. Named the ‘Godfather of Punk Poetry’. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
OLI MUMBY
How did your artistic journey begin?
I studied art and design at college and university in the late 90s before beginning my career as an advertising art director in London soon after, so I’ve been on an artistic journey for as long as I can remember. It’s only in the last five years or so, however, that my journey has pursued an additional, more personally expressive path into painting.
Frustrated with being an art lover who never made art myself, I decided that it was time to start scratching that itch. The catalyst was an image – a photograph I took – that had stuck with me from a holiday in St Ives, of a hooded boy staring out to sea from the rooftop café at Tate St. Ives. It felt to me like it was meant to be a painting, to give the image more meaning somehow. The finished painting was awarded a ‘People’s Favourite’ at the Great Sheffield Art Show then sold to a collector in America. The limited edition print I made of the painting continues to be one of my most popular, and when Tate St Ives got in touch to ask if I’d like to stock the print in the gallery shop, I decided I should probably carry on making paintings.
Were there any key creative influences on your art as you were developing your style?
I would say that my style is still in development actually – and possibly always will be! I enjoy exploring different styles and approaches, so I’m not sure I’ll ever arrive at a particular aesthetic or way of making pictures that I will decide satisfies and answers all the questions I’m asking. St Ives Hoodie, for example, is a representational acrylic
painting on canvas, whereas much of my work today is more stylised and impressionistic, with increasingly stronger nods towards the abstract.
There is certainly a visual consistency about much of my work, of course. I often use collage in quite a distinctive way, for example, and work primarily in pastel, but I’m not ready to settle down and commit to a single and specific style quite yet.
My background and interest in graphic design has been a major influence on my work. I use collage a lot because I like the clean, graphic quality it can bring to paintings – the crispness of boundaries and contrasts.
I would say I’m naturally drawn to certain images, or forms and colour all working together in a way that’s probably impossible to describe but triggers an instinctive response. You could say it just comes down to taste and what moves me, I suppose.
My personal taste in art has always automatically and
instinctively informed my own work – I make what I like, or at least try to. So, the work of artists including David Hockney, The Nash brothers, David Milne, Adrian Berg, Julian Trevelyan, to name a few, have in some way influenced my work.
You’ve said before that you’re “intrigued by the distinction between looking and truly seeing”. Could you explain this in relation to your work? The way David Hockney talks about really looking at the world has always resonated with me. He describes looking at things with a real intensity – to understand it I think. And that the process of looking can make a thing beautiful. I don’t think many people do look at the world very closely, so the beauty that’s not immediately obvious can pass them by.
I do look at things with intensity, and like to create pictures that aim to capture what I’ve seen. Whilst my thinking might be that if I find it beautiful
then surely other people will as well, my motivation is more to answer questions for myself; like, ‘will this translate to paper and shine in the way I see it?’, for instance.
I’ll often focus on a small area within a landscape – noticing the composition of forms, colours and features that are discovered when you really look.
What are you working on at the moment? How is the rest of 2024 shaping up for you?
I’m currently working on a series of landscapes that are a little more abstract in their aesthetic. I’m exploring simplifying and distilling down forms within the landscape to create quieter and cleaner stylised depictions.
I’m increasingly thinking about printmaking as well, and keen to explore the opportunities these processes could bring to my work.
I’ll be exhibiting at Art in the Gardens this year in September in the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield, hopefully with some new work to share, so please come and say hello!
What advice would you give to any aspiring artists out there?
I think one of the biggest challenges and barriers for aspiring artists is inspiration, and getting over the blank canvas mindset. To help overcome this, I would advise artists to go and see as much art as they can in shows and exhibitions. The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield and Salts Mill in Saltaire are two of my favourite places to go when I need an inspiration fix.
I think the key to finding your style (or just finding a subject and way of working that works for you) is to just work and be productive. Make work without seeing it as needing to result in finished pieces of work – it will lead to good places eventually, if not sooner. I find that it’s only through producing work that solutions to problems will present themselves. @olimumby //
JAZZ ON THE PARK SATURDAY 15.06.2024 12PM-9PM
WESTON PARK
SHEFFIELD
MANSUR BROWN
TONY KOFI ALINA BZHEZHINSKSA
K.O.G - RUMBI TAURO - FUJI SPEEDWAY
AFRODESIA - J2OH - BALO
DONNA LEAKE
MILLIE MCKEE - BOSS DADDY ASHLEY HOLMES
LEVI BUSSUE - MYNA - HAMES HOLON - ANISA
ANGELA KENDALL ASHLEY GRIMSHAW SIRREY
After party by Apricot Ballroom at SADACCA Sheffield
Pink Lemonade Roller Disco - Local Food Traders - Pop-up Shops and Record Stores
A Charity Music and Arts Festival In Aid of Low Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Tickets avaliable online via Resident Advisor
Embark on a Culinary Expedition with Our Exquisite 4-Course Tasting Menu.
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Each course has been meticulously designed and sourced, from the origin of our ingredients to the plates we serve them on - commissioned from local Sheffield ceramist, Pots by Prince. Our scallops for our first course are hand dived and bathed in dripping from Wortley Wagyu before searing on hot coals and finished with wild foraged herbs from Bello Wild Food, making every bite packed full of flavour and a delight to the tastebuds
We’re super excited to bring you a new tasting adventure in Sheffield and look forward to welcoming you for this next chapter.. Our tasting menu will change every 4 weeks, follow the link or QR code to book
www.silversmithsrestaurant.co.uk/book
Our Tasting Menu is 4 courses for just £39 per person and is available every Saturday from 5:15pm with a vegan set menu also available!
The Tasting Menu also includes home made bread on arrival and an intermission course!