Exposed Magazine August 2024

ELECTRIC DREAMS

THE HUMAN LEAGUE BRING IT HOME FOR TRAMLINES ‘24

TRAMLINES ROUNDUP // HELEN MORT // DIG WHERE YOU STAND // RUMBI TAURO // MICHAEL SOMERSET WARD // NEWS & PREVIEWS

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

available until 6.00pm, SUNDay TO FRIDAY

Treat yourself to a delicious cocktail or two!

CHOOSE FROM OVER 20 COCKTAILS TAGGED WITH THE 'CUBANA STAR' IN OUR DRINKS MENU FOR ONLY £7.00! PLUS...

>> House Spirit Double £7.00

>> Selected bottled beers £3.50 - Corona and Super Bock

>> Selected house wines £4.25 per glass or £18.50 per bottle. Choose from Pinot Grigio White, Pinot Grigio Rosé or Montepulciano Red

>> Prosecco - £22.50 per bottle

>> Sangria or Sangria Blanca £22.50 per jug

**DOWNSTAIRS BAR EXTENDED HAPPY OFFER**

We have extended all of the above Happy Drinks offers for a further two hours, until 8pm, Monday to Friday in the downstairs bar **only available in the downstairs bar

available until 6.00pm, SUNDay TO FRIDAY

Call in and chill out at the end of a hard day, unwind and soak up our relaxed Latino vibe whilst enjoying our ‘Happy Tapas’ deals.

2 tapas dishes for £12.95 £5.00 off ANY Of our tapas

menus –– OR ––

Fantastic value when you dine early. APPLIES TO ALL TABLES SEATED AND ORDERING BEFORE OR AT 6PM.

Please note our Happy Drinks and Happy Tapas Offers are not available on Bank Holiday Sundays

Cubana’s LATEST Cocktail & Drinks Menu

IRRESISTIBLY, DIVINE BLENDS & SENSATIONAL FLAVOURS!

OUR LATEST DRINKS MENU BOASTS OVER 50 AMAZING COCKTAILS, and we truly believe it’s our best menu yet!

Discover the Cubana originals - there are over a dozen Cubana original recipes, one-of-a-kind concoctions that you won’t find anywhere else:

VERY BERRY JERRY is a divine blend of spiced rum, raspberry liqueur, fresh blackberries, and raspberries combined with cranberry juiceIt’s like sherbet, lollipops, and sunshine dancing on your palate!

We’ve crafted an entire section of the menu dedicatedly solely to the nectar of the godsRUM! Indulge in the authenticity of traditional Cuban cocktails such as, EL NACIONAL, invented in the prestigious Hotel Nacional, Cuba or you can explore our imaginative twists on legendary classics.

Let the SINGAPORE SLING; or the refreshing STRAWBERRY CAIPIROSKA whisk you away on a tropical journey of flavour.

Can’t Find Your Favourite? No Worries .. If your go-to cocktail didn’t make the cut, our talented bartenders will be happy to oblige.

Another Cubana classic is LA MANZANA MALA, made with Green Island Spiced Gold and is combined with St Aubin Vanilla rum, Disaronno, lime and apple juice and a dusting of cinnamon to finish. You won’t be able to resist the allure of this Cubana masterpiece!

PA S RES TA URANT

So, what are you waiting for? Join us at Cubana and dive into a world of sensational flavours, incredible originals, and refreshing twists on the classics!

STEAK COCKTAIL

17 TRAMLINES RETURNS!

Dunno about you, but we’re still catching our breath following the 16th instalment of Sheffield’s biggest party. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite shots from Tramlines 2024 so you can relive the scenes at Hillsborough Park.

34 THE DIY SCENE

Exposed Magazine’s Ash Birch meets up with Drastic//Automatic founders Sean Hession and Sissy Green to discuss the growing DIY music collective in Sheffield, a mini “scene” that has recently sparked a series of exciting collaborations across a range of genres.

56 THIS WRITER’S LIFE

In our new monthly feature showcasing talented northern writers, Sheffield-based poetic powerhouse Helen Mort speaks to Charlie Parker about what inspires her to pick up the pen.

66 DIGGING DEEP

Following the launch of their biennial exhibition, Dig Where You Stand is inviting locals to delve into the untold history of the region through a city-wide showcase of artistic talent. Ruby Deakin recently spoke with Creative Director Désirée Reynolds about putting together this groundbreaking exhibition and the importance of the stories unearthed.

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GRAFTERS

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GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins, Rosie Knapp, Amy Britton, Maja Drwal, Q Cummins

THE BUSINESS STUFF

Exposed is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1b, 2 Kelham square Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD

MAKING WAVES

Award-winning podcast company Persephonica is moving its headquarters to the steel city, as part of its plans to create a ground-breaking podcasting hub in the North of England.

The company has been celebrated for its acclaimed podcasts like ‘Miss Me?’ with Lily Allen & Miquita Oliver, and ‘Political Currency’ with George Osborn and Ed Balls, as well as hosting podcast festival Crossed Wires in Sheffield earlier this year.

Its headquarters will be one of many new organisations moving into Leah’s Yard in the city centre, a former industrial workshop on Cambridge Street that will open its doors on Saturday 24th August.

CEO of Persephonica, Dino Sofos, said: “This is a huge boost for creativity in the North. We are very excited about starting a new chapter for British podcasting in this buzzing, creative and diverse city.”

Dino and co-founder Tom O’Hara, both Sheffield natives, are passionate about increasing socio-economic diversity in the media. As part of this, moving away from its previous HQ in London will mean some of the country’s biggest podcast shows can now be made and produced in Sheffield.

“Talented people from lower income

backgrounds often struggle to get a foot on the ladder in the media because they can’t afford to do free work experience or freelance on low wages while paying high rents in London,” Dino added. “It means people growing up in the South East have an unfair advantage at securing interesting and influential media jobs. The best way to change the status quo is to create more opportunities outside the capital.”

Persephonica is also committed to developing a new pool of podcasting talent in the region, and will partner

with local colleges and universities to generate new training opportunities and internships.

Dino explained: “Thanks to its abundance of world-class journalism and media courses, South Yorkshire is full of people with huge potential to become the future stars of the podcasting industry.”

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard praised the return of the podcasting pioneers to the city:  “I’m delighted to see Persephonica move into Leah’s Yard in Sheffield’s new Heart of the City. A multi-award-winning company with an audience of millions across all its productions choosing to relocate here shows that new, energetic and creative businesses share our confidence in the future of South Yorkshire. I look forward to working with the Persephonica team as they go from strength to strength.”

To keep up to date with Persephonica’s latest activities, follow them on socials @ persephonicahq.

BIG CHANGES BREWING

Thornbridge & Co, a joint venture between Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar who already run three pubs, announced last month they will be opening a new site, ‘The Fargate’, in the vacant Yorkshire Bank building as part of new developments taking place throughout Sheffield city centre.

Work is set to begin on The Fargate later this year, with an opening date yet to be announced.

Director Jamie Hawksworth explained: “The Fargate is going to be one of Sheffield’s most prominent pubs with over £1M of investment being made on the new bespoke interior.

“This is going to be a wonderful showcase for the brewery and its beers will be served over a beautiful polished oak island bar surrounded by hand crafted oak panelling and

leather banquet seating.

“We think it will be a great boost to the great work already been made to make the City Centre great again.”

Fellow director Simon Webster added: “We have been working with Sheffield City Council for over a year in identifying this site and then working together to offer outdoor seating as part of the new Fargate development.

“The views from both inside and out of this prestigious building will add

to the customer experience. Thornbridge & Co is delighted to be able to invest in Sheffield City Centre and is delighted to be part of the new development of Fargate and create a great gateway to Heart of The City”

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome this fantastic addition of Thornbridge & Co to our rapidly transforming city centre.

“The Fargate will breathe new

CANNON’S NEXT CHAPTER

The former Cannon Brewery plot is set to become a creative new neighbourhood for the city after plans were given the green light.

The developer’s proposals aim to breathe new life into the long-dormant spot where beer was brewed until the 1990s. The plans include retention and repurposing of the most interesting buildings from the former brewery alongside contemporary new builds to deliver over 500 homes, work and cultural spaces.

A lush urban park and a new public square with shops, cafés and spaces for pop-up events are also on the cards. Aiming to grow the city in a considered way, Capital&Centric are pushing to attract some £200m of investment into the city across several regeneration sites.

It comes as the newly elected Labour government seeks to get Britain building, with a pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes over the next parliament.

At Cannon Brewery, the team is working with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and Sheffield City Council to make the blueprint a reality. The combined authority awarded a £11.67 million grant to kick-start the regeneration earlier this year.

Tom Wilmot, joint managing director of Capital&Centric, said: “Neepsend will play a major role in Sheffield’s future. As the city’s popularity skyrockets, it’s important that the districts not only deliver growth but have a real sense of character and

personality. Cannon Brewery has that in spades. Our plan is all about creating a diverse and interesting neighbourhood, with genuine community spirit, on a massive brownfield site that’s been derelict for decades.

The team is working with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and Sheffield City Council to make the blueprint a reality. The combined authority awarded a £11.67 million grant to kick-start the regeneration earlier this year.

Capital&Centric are also on site at Eyewitness Works in Sheffield’s Milton Street (a space that hosted Channel 4’s Big Interiors Battle series in 2023), where they’ve repurposed the historic former cutlery works into rental loft apartments and townhouses, alongside hidden gardens for residents.

life into a beautiful building across from the Town Hall and will fit in brilliantly alongside the many new shops, offices and other hospitality venues that are opening up throughout the city centre.

The addition of outdoor seating, made possible thanks to the improvements to the surrounding area, along with the bespoke interior will add the venue the list of must-visit places within Sheffield.”

thornbridgebrewery.co.uk

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1

SWIMMER

WILD

SWIMMING IS REALLY JUST SWIMMING IN THE OUTDOORS.

People have done it FOREVER. Obviously, you can make it as wild as you like, but there are literally dozens of places in the Peak District to swim outside, which don’t require you to be Wim Hoff or Bear Grylls. You can wear a wetsuit if you don’t get on with the cold, or you can wear a cossie – there really aren’t many rules. Lots of people are keen to try it, but anxious at the same time. If you remove the ‘wild’ word and remember that babies and pensioners do it, then so can you.

IMMERSING YOURSELF IN COLD WATER IS WILDLY GOOD FOR YOU.

It’s been studied, written about at length, and is increasingly prescribed by health professionals for people with poor mental as well as physical health. You already know that exercise is good for you, so combining the two - a good walk with a swim or two is brilliant medicine, whether you feel that you need it or not. Take a friend or two along and you have the perfect combination.

CONTRARY TO WHAT WE ARE TOLD, IF IT’S DONE PROPERLY, WILD SWIMMING IS NOT DANGEROUS.

2 3 4 5

Walk around the Peak District or much of England and Wales and you will be forgiven for thinking that swimming, especially in reservoirs, is a highly dangerous activity. But if you can swim, and treat the water with respect, then it really isn’t. Many of the dangers of have been well and truly debunked as is in evidence by the demographic of the wild swimming community - let’s just say it’s not made up of adrenaline hungry red bull sponsored young men. Of course, you need to treat all water with respect, but there’s really little reason to fear it.

WATER QUALITY IS AN ISSUE, BUT WITH A COLLECTIVE VOICE WE CAN CHANGE THIS FOR THE GOOD.

Changes in legislation, or rather, a slackening of the rules, combined with budget cuts over recent decades means that raw sewage is released into our rivers much more often than it should be (there’s a precedent for controlled release during times of flood). Is this a problem? Yes, it is, and not just for wild swimmers, but any river users, human or not. Can we do anything about it? Yes, we can. With a growing collective voice and visible presence, we will surely make a difference and stop this practice, meaning cleaner water for everybody. Write to your MP and demand change.

THE PEAK DISTRICT IS A HAVEN FOR WILD SWIM WALKS.

Surrounded by the major cities of Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Birmingham, millions have ready access to the Peak with its huge network of footpaths, streams, open access land, lakes and waterfalls. If you don’t know where to go to find decent walk and swim spot combos, then I’ve written a book which will help you. With 28 walks ranging from a few km on the flat, to full days out over the moors, there is something for everybody, each and every walk detailing the best swim spots along the way. There’s also a wealth of information on how to get into wild swimming, the kit you can use, the countryside code and more.

Matt Heason is a Sheffield-based wild swimmer and outdoors fanatic. He co-founder Sheffield Adventure Film Festival and recently wrote Wild Swimming Walks Peak District – a guide to 28 lake, river and waterfall days out on your doorstep. Scan the QR code to purchase a copy.

SPOTLIGHT ON

IN GOOD COMPANY

For this month’s origins story, Amy Britton speaks to the founders of In Good Company, a series of immersive community events designed to bring women together for conversation and connection.

Created by Nic Sowden and Rachel Hirst, In Good Company hopes to create a welcoming space to bring the women of Sheffield, and even further afield, together for a good old chat. The idea was born during lockdown after the pair became inspired by their chats about the simple pleasures in life that they missed throughout the pandemic. After being deprived of social connection for so long, Nic and Rachel set up events to get local women talking and forging connections with each other.

Nic said: “Most importantly, we were both in two very new parts of our

lives where we were talking about the difficulties of making new connections as an adult and the importance of having that support. We wanted to bring together a community that lifted each other up.”

The next In Good Company event is taking place on 19 June at The Mowbray. However, if you are unable to attend this one, there is already another event in the works for October. The simplicity of the event is what makes it different. Rather than having an activity to do, In Good Company provides guests with a welcome drink and a two-course meal to share and encourage conversations. Many

newcomers will go to the events alone and leave with a new group of friends.

After the meal, visitors are invited to listen to a panel of inspirational speakers. Rachel said: “Through our panels, we talk about navigating life from a woman’s point of view. We cover all different topics that generally people can relate to in some way, like the challenges that we’ve faced or the ambitions that we have.”

Aside from their supper club evenings, Nic and Rachel have held special events for International Women’s Day and Christmas parties. Nic said: “Although a Christmas party might sound quite frivolous, actually there’s a lot of women in our community that are freelance or don’t have a place of work. We hold that event to be the Christmas party for those people.”

In Good Company tries to make their events as accessible as possible by being aware of the social issues facing women in the UK at the moment. There are no

obligations to attend every event, so you can pick and choose what times work best for you.

The events also rope in local businesses. “We bring in creative partners from the city. So people like photographers, illustrators, florists, and ceramicists all bring skills to the table and contribute something. We’re also shining a spotlight on female-led businesses in Sheffield.”

The pair have already been blown away by the response to their events and want this community to continue to grow. “At the end of every night, we are always really gobsmacked by the feeling that everybody leaves with,” said Nic. “It’s really joyful and positive. It’s about women supporting women.”

Discover more about how you can get involved with the next In Good Company event at www.theingood. co.uk. Keep up to date with all the latest news on socials @theingood.

BRINGING THE PARTY: TRAMLINES ‘24 SNAPPED

Sheffield’s biggest bash returned for its 16th instalment last month, with 30,000-plus revellers flocking to Hillsborough Park to bask in the sunshine and enjoy live music across the festival’s five stages.

PHOTO: @JACKFLYNNPHOTO

PHOTO: @JACKFLYNNPHOTO

PHOTO: MATT HIGGS

UPFRONT

FRIDAY

Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini headlined the Main Stage at Tramlines 2024, marking his debut at the festival. Indie favorites Bombay Bicycle Club, pop queen Sophie EllisBextor and guitar hero Miles Kane set the stage for Nutini with some big performances that warmed up the crowd.

Over on T’Other Stage, Britpop legends The Charlatans delivered a headline performance that showed just why they continue to draw in the big crowds a full 24 years after the release of their debut album. Meanwhile, Soft Play brought high energy and chaotic fun to one of the weekend’s most raucous sets and The Mysterines, known for their powerful alt-rock sound, almost took the roof clean off the Leadmill Stage. Tramlines had arrived – with a bang.

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PHOTO:

SATURDAY

The headline slot on Sunday went to another household name in British indie. South London genre-fusing artist Jamie T followed lively performances from Tom Grennan and The Snuts, playing a mixed bag of a set lending heavily from his first two albums ‘Panic Prevention’ and ‘Kings and Queens’. A couple of strange comments to the crowd and the odd lull in proceedings were arguably rescued by spirited airings of closers ‘Sheila’, ‘Sticks and Stones’ and ‘Zombie’.

Elsewhere, the love for Sheffield artist Coco was real, with the veteran MC regularly whipping the T’Other Stage crowd into a frenzy with his catalogue of grime, garage and DnB-inspired bangers. The Steel City celebration continued over on the Library Stage where the cream of South Yorkshire crop was represented by rapper KDot, hip-hop artist Franz Von and intergalactic funk-pop outfit Astrels

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PHOTO: @JACKFLYNNPHOTO

PHOTO: @LILI_TAKESFLICKIS

PHOTO: @JACKFLYNNPHOTO

SUNDAY

The temperatures cranked up for the final day, with the sun beating down on Hillsborough Park throughout the afternoon and well into the evening. These were the perfect conditions, some might say, for Example’s back-catalogue of nostalgic summer-friendly dance bangers. It felt like the busiest the Sarah Nulty Main Stage had been all weekend, and the crowd only seemed to swell at the introduction of local favourites The Human League. The 80s pop legends let the synths fly and an appreciative hometown crowd bellowed back hits from their seminal album ‘Dare’ with some gusto before finishing strong on beloved anthems ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ and ‘Don’t You Want Me’.

Closing out the weekend in the top spot were anthemic Northern Irish-Scottish rock outfit Snow Patrol. The multi-platinum guitar band had enough big hits to draw a vast crowd for the finale, but a significant chunk did appear to break off the experience a much more upbeat, postpunk-fuelled performance from Leeds band Yard Act. Final day shoutouts also go to special guests Maximo Park, who got the early doors crowd limbered up nicely at 1.30pm and Brighton outfit Magic Gang who signed off another popular year for the Leadmill Stage with their selection of infectious indie bangers.

SAME AGAIN NEXT YEAR?

Earlybird tickets go on sale on Friday 2nd August at midday for £89.50 + bf. Scoot over to tramlines.org.uk to bag yours.

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 the davinci michelangelo experience

£25.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 20 sept 2024 los campesinos

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 21 sept 2024 antarctic monkeys

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 28 sept 2024 harry’s house of gospel

£17.50 - £28.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 4 oct 2024 the tuesday club x displace pres. valve sound system

£20.00, Doors 10:00pm, 18+

saturday 5 oct 2024 crime viral: murder staged

£20.00, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 6 oct 2024 michael aldag

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 10 oct 2024 pale waves

£22.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 11 oct 2024 from the jam

£35.00, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 13 oct 2024

matt bragg

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

wednesday 16 oct 2024

skinny living

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm friday 18 oct 2024 red richardson

£16.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 26 oct 2024

cast

£30.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 1 nov 2024

kai humphries

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 1 nov 2024 the brand new heavies

£30.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 9 nov 2024

pete & bas

£17.50, 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+

saturday 16 nov 2024

kingfishr

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm

monday 18 nov 2024

sports team

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 23 nov 2024

john bramwell

£25.00, Doors 6:30pm saturday 30 nov 2024

katy j pearson

£16.00, Doors 7:00pm sunday 8 dec 2024

michael head & the red elastic band

£25.00, Doors 7:30pm thursday 12 dec 2024

emo karaoke night

£14.00, Doors 7:00pm friday 13 dec 2024

turin brakes

£27.50, Doors 7:00pm saturday 14 dec 2024

grace petrie

£18.00, Doors 7:00pm

SATURDAY 25 JAN 2025

THE MAGIC NUMBERS

£25.00, Doors 7:00pm SATURDAY 25 JAN 2025

ania magliano

£17.50, Doors 7:00pm monday 25 feb 2025

the mysterines

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

A YORKSHIRE WELCOME

The York has been a staple of the Broomhill pub scene for a long time now. In fact, the building itself dates back to the 1830s, when it initially served as both a blacksmith and an alehouse, then called The Travellers Inn. True North Brew Co took on the pub in 2010, overseeing a refurb and establishing the venue on the city’s growing foodie scene. After 14 years, the reins have now been passed on to All Points North Pub Co, a joint venture by Kirkstall Brewery and Five Points Brewing, who have given the pub a significant lick of paint and a fresh lease of life.

Following its official reopening in June, we popped in for a nosey ourselves, speaking with Marketing and Community Manager Adam Warner about their plans for the beloved boozer.

Tell us a bit about the refurb –what changes have been made?

The York is a fantastic Victorian corner pub. We wanted to really enhance the pub feel and create a modern British pub – and so the refurb has been about evolution, not revolution. We have given the place a great new paint job and refreshed upholstery.  We’ve also opened the pub up and removed an internal barrier by the bar, creating more space for customers to meet and chat.

There’s new furniture and refreshed lighting, including some incredible vintage chandeliers and wall décor which features historical pub memorabilia from Sheffield and Yorkshire.

We’ve also improved the

outside of the building with new paintwork and external hand-painted gold leaf signage reflecting the new look. We hope your readers like what we have done with the place!

What first interested you in taking on the venue?

Ed and Steve, the founders of Five Points Brewing & Kirkstall Brewery (who co-own the pub), feel that The York has tonnes of potential. Broomhill is an exciting area with its mix of families, students and professionals. We want to create a pub with an emphasis on a warm welcome for all, top quality drinks and great food using locally sourced produce.

Can’t go wrong with that. What sort of feedback have you had so far from customers?

Feedback has been great. Customers are enjoying the new drinks and especially the new food menu. People seem pleased that things have

improved, and for the regulars it’s still The York that they know and love.

We can see that a focus on quality beer is a big part of the offer. Could you talk us through what people can expect on the bar?

Kirkstall and Five Points are known for championing premium quality beers, both keg and cask. There is a range of drinks from both breweries including Virtuous, Veltins, Five Points XPA  and JUPA. To keep it local, we have rotating guest beers from breweries across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The bar will also serve premium spirits and a full cocktail menu.

In terms of the food, the Sunday Roasts look epic. Is there anything else you’ll be bringing to the menu? The roasts are a highlight of the

menu, but there is also plenty more to enjoy. The menu features familiar pub classics, alongside dishes you wouldn’t expect to see such as the currywurst (our chef’s favourite.)

Of course, the pies and fish & chips are always a big hit too. If you are just looking for a snack to accompany your pint then our homemade pork scratchings are not to be missed. We have regular specials and we’ve recently launched a new sandwich menu to coincide with our new daytime opening hours (we now open 7 days a week from 12 noon). We also have a kids menu, so families are very muck welcome!

Will there be regular events taking place?

We will be continuing with the popular Monday night pub quiz, now with a bigger and better rollover cash jackpot prize. We will also be hosting

some tap takeover events, showcasing interesting, exciting and lesser-known beers from breweries across the UK and beyond. Keep your eyes on our socials (@theyorksheffield) for info on upcoming events.

We think you’ve given us a good idea, but fundamentally, what sort of ethos are you looking to bring to the revitalised venue?

We want The York to be a welcoming modern pub for everyone – with an emphasis on hospitality. It’s a home from home where people can come and enjoy a good drink, some great food, a warm welcome and top-quality service!

Bookings available now at www.theyorksheffield. co.uk. Find out about the latest events and news by following @theyorksheffield on Instagram.

1. BOOK A SLOT ONLINE

Sign-up online via the QR code and receive your booking confirmation via email.

2. GET SCANNED IN OUR STUDIO

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3. GET PAID

Sign a release form and receive £50 cash for your participation.

Where is the studio located and how do I get there? Ten24 is located at Lydgate House, Lydgate Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 5FH.

FOOD & DRINK BEST BOY BAGELS

THE HOLEY GRAIL

Sheff’s favourite bagel slingers, Best Boy Bagels, are set to open a new shop on Abbeydale Road. Located in the former premises of La Baracca, an Italian eatery that recently moved down the road, the transformation will allow Best Boy to keep punters happy with an extended kitchen/ bakery space and the ability to host community events.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and we’re already well on with the refurb,” owner Dec Stafford shared with Exposed. “We’re looking forward to having a space where we can serve food and drinks and also host events – pop-ups with local artisans, bistro nights and social events.”

As anyone who’s witnessed the regular queues snaking outside their Chesterfield Road shop would attest, the demand for their hand-rolled, freshly baked bagels is consistently high. Selling out before closing time has been a recurring problem, but a significantly larger kitchen and prep space means that concern should become a thing of the past.

“At the moment, we’re restricted on space and can only make 160 bagels per day,” explains Dec. “With the new shop, that won’t be a problem (touch wood) as there will be a downstairs bakery and our head baker, Joe, can bake during service. We will actually be able to expand the menu, serve coffee, offer catering packages and have sit-in space so people can spend more time here.”

For the team, Abbeydale Road and its bustling

SCAN THE QR AND DONATE TO THE BEST BOY 2.0 FUNDRAISER

community of independents is a familiar locale. Both Dec and Joe have previously been based at Barrow Boy, where the former operated his previous food business, Deckards, and the latter worked as General Manager on the bar. The third member of the Best Boy Team, Ailish, also worked just down the road at longstanding café Bragazzis. “We know the area well, the community is great, and we’ve told our customers that it’s only a five-minute walk across the road.”

People are very much at the heart of the Best Boy ethos, and in just over a year they have established themselves as one of the city’s most-loved independent brands. Accolades have arrived, including being listed by National Geographic as the best bagel shop in the country and winning the ‘Best Takeaway’ category at this year’s Exposed Awards. However, Dec emphasises that, fundamentally, their work is driven by a commitment to the community.

“It’s been said before, but it’s true: Sheffield is like a big village. Independents and people make it what it is, and we’re really happy to be able to contribute to that. The support for the crowdfunder going towards the makeover has been incredible; we’ve even had regulars get in touch asking if they can offer their services to help with the refit. We’re really looking forward to taking things up a level with the new shop.”

Best Boy Bagels hopes to be fully operational in their new Abbeydale Road premises by late-September/early-October. For more information and updates, check out their socials @bestboybagels.

SPOTLIGHT ON: THE DOG & PARTRIDGE

TOASTING TRADITION

Voted ‘Best Traditional Pub’ in Sheffield by Exposed readers, lauded by Guinness as one of the top 10 pubs in the UK, and now the only place in the city to serve the renowned Irish ‘Spice Bag’, we went to find out what makes The Dog & Partridge on Trippet Lane such a beloved local boozer.

Let’s start with some trivia, shall we? When it comes to the perfect traditional pub, it’s always advantageous for the building in question to be enriched with a sufficient amount of history – a story to tell. Incredibly, The Dog & Partridge has been pulling pints for the good people of Sheffield since a public house was first recorded on the site in 1797, making it the longest continuously serving pub in the city.

“I think it’s important to have that timeless feel to traditional pubs,” says landlord Conor Smith. “Of course, things are going to change over the years, but it still needs that essence of tradition, somewhere you can feel and see the history around you.” Fittingly, we’re sat in the pièce de résistance of all top-tier traditional pubs – a cozy, characterful snug featuring a handy drinks hatch connecting the bar. “As well as the look of the place, the hospitality is another essential part of any tradtitional pub. We view customers as guests in mine and Sarah's home, so the whole team work under that philosophy,” he adds.

Two years of freedom as a fully independent free house have allowed them to make their stamp on the local beer scene, carefully picking a rotating selection of traditional ales, craft beers and ciders while keeping prices for all – and their much-coveted Guinness –competitively priced. (Conor is a proud Dubliner and takes this matter very seriously).

The pub’s commitment to traditional drinks extends beyond beer. Almost exclusively for Sheffield, The Dog offers a wide selection of Irish whiskey. “I have one American whiskey,

one Scotch whiskey, and 20 Irish whiskeys,” he proudly states. This handpicked selection caters to a range of tastes and budgets, from standard options to the valuable Midleton Very Rare, which some consider the greatest whiskey on the planet.

It’s not just about drinks; the pub boasts a recently launched menu rich in comfort food with an Irish twist. Signature dishes include Boxty (a traditional Irish pancake with savoury toppings), West Cork poutine, and their infamous Chips o’ Doom for anyone who thinks they’re up for the challenge.

An inspired addition to the Béilí’Beaga bar snacks menu is the Spice Basket. It’s an eat-in version of the Irish Spice Bag, a beloved takeaway dish originating from Chinese restaurants in Ireland, featuring crispy fried chicken pieces combined with salt and pepper chips and tossed with sliced peppers and onions, all seasoned with a blend of Chinese five-spice, chili powder, and other flavorful spices. The final trick: a pot of thick curry sauce to lather over the top.

“It’s the perfect food pairing for pub drinks, so it makes a lot of sense,” laughs Conor. “I’m not aware of anyone else doing it at the moment, certainly not in the proper Irish spice bag way, so we’re looking forward to seeing people’s reactions.”

The events calendar has been filling up nicely with weekly quizzes, games nights, darts tournaments, acoustic jams, and special events like Dog Fest – their annual mini music festival featuring local acts and a full day of entertainment for patrons. The latter will be taking place on 28th September, with a wide range of musicians

playing 30 to 45-minute sets throughout the day.

The pub also hosts a monthly Bluegrass session, a popular event that draws musicians and music-lovers alike. Regular weekly events further enrich the atmosphere. Every Tuesday, they host a quiz night followed by Irish bingo, a card game version of bingo that’s both straightforward and fun. “It’s dead simple, great fun, and we usually have a couple of rounds and more than a couple of drinks,” the owner notes. “There are bar tabs and cash prizes to be won, and we find that people don’t need much more incentive than that!”

In terms of clientele, Conor explains that The Dog prides itself on being an inclusive, community-oriented pub for all. “We’re committed to providing an inclusive, bigotryfree space for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or someone visiting on their own, we want to ensure that this is a safe haven where you get a warm welcome from the team and feel looked after throughout.”

That commitment to community is also evident in the fundraising efforts for local charities close to the pub’s heart. Last month’s ‘Pack Up and F*** Off’ party, organised by landlady Sarah, celebrated the outgoing Tory government by raising over £1,600 for S6 Foodbank, a charity they remain as a collection point for throughout the year, with visitors encouraged to drop off a donation at the bar if they can spare it. “It just felt like the right thing to do,” says Conor of the event. “Let’s be honest, it’s been a shite time for a lot of people under that last lot, so we wanted to do our bit. Things feel a bit more positive now, so we’ll see how that goes.”

It’s clear that for the team at The Dog, a traditional pub means more than just aesthetic appeal; it’s in the quality of the drinks, the friendly service and creating a space that not only provides somewhere for people to unwind but actively gives back to the community in the process.

We'll certainly drink to that. @dogandpartridgesheffield

Voted ‘Best Traditional Pub 2024’ in the Exposed Awards / Top 10 UK Guinness / Irish food Spice bags…The tasty Irish ones / Dog friendly / Irish measures and lots of Irish drinks... 56 Trippet Ln, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4EL

Under new management by the people who brought you The Schoolrooms and Assembly

• Serving pub classics and our famous Sunday carvery

• Tuesday night’s pub quiz 8pm with alcohol and cash prizes

• Playing every match of Euros 2024

• Large family friendly enclosed beer garden

• Available to hire for private parties

• Open Monday – Sunday 11:30am – 11:30pm

Follow us on socials; Instagram: @thebradfieldplough Facebook :The Bradfield Plough www.thebradfieldplough.co.uk New Road, Low Bradfield, Sheffield, S6 6HW

PLATE EXPECTATIONS

With its three-year anniversary just around the corner, we paid a visit to Orchard Square’s Sheffield Plate to hear all about what goes into creating “Sheffield’s friendliest food hall”.

Commitment to Community

Sheffield Plate stands out as more than just a place to grab a bite; it is a community hub where everyone feels at home. The venue prides itself on its friendly atmosphere, supported by a team that goes above and beyond to ensure a pleasant experience for all. “We see Sheffield Plate as the city’s friendliest food hall because that’s what visitors keep telling us,” says Ian France, Sheffield Plate's venue manager. “It’s a small tight-knit team who love working here, and I think that shows in the service and atmosphere you get.”

Diverse Culinary Offerings

The food hall features six permanent kitchens, with one dedicated to rotating pop-up vendors, providing a platform for new culinary talents to shine. This setup ensures there will regularly be new and exciting foods to try. “The aim is to support new startup businesses by offering them a pop-up space where they can experiment and grow. They can get help with menu planning, pricing, staffing and health and safety, plus there’s also the chance to learn and pick up things from their fellow vendors – it’s a real collaborative mentality,” Ian explains.

Currently, Caribindi, known for its flavourful Caribbean and Indian fusion cuisine, occupies the pop-up kitchen. “Carbindi’s food is fantastic, with most items priced under ten pounds. It’s great quality and great value, which is what we aim for with all our vendors,” Ian adds. Other street food cuisines covered at the venue include Thai, Sri Lankan, Japanese, Peruvian and American BBQ.

Engaging Events and Entertainment

Entertainment is another key part of the experience. With regular events such as a Tuesday quiz night, drag bingo, live music on weekends, crafts workshops and upcoming comedy nights (watch this space), there’s always something happening to keep guests busy. The venue also boasts a downstairs event space available for private hire, ideal for networking events, birthday parties and even weddings. “We’ve hosted a variety of events downstairs in our event space. It’s a flexible area with a private bar and projector, perfect for any occasion,” says Ian.

A Family-Friendly Destination

Sheffield Plate is committed to being inclusive and welcoming to families. Throughout the summer, they offer a “Kids Eat Free” promotion, making it an attractive option for family dining. “We want families to feel comfortable and welcome here. Our Kids Eat Free promotion during the summer is a big hit, where you buy any main meal from a vendor and get a free kids meal with it,” notes Ian. The venue’s strategic location in a safe and friendly square, just a few minutes’ walk from local theatres and parks, adds to its appeal as a familyfriendly destination.

An Evolving Space

As Sheffield Plate approaches its threeyear anniversary this September, it continues to grow, evolve and look to the future . Despite the ongoing city construction that occasionally poses challenges, Orchard Square is thriving, and the food hall has remained a bustling hotspot, showcasing resilience and community spirit.

Plans are underway for new murals and local art installations, adding to the vibrant atmosphere and making Sheffield Plate an ever-evolving space worth visiting. “We recently had a new mural done by friends of Sheffield Plate, and we’re planning to involve more local artists for future projects.”

Convenience is Key

Accessibility and convenience are at the forefront of Sheffield Plate’s design. Open seven days a week with extended hours, the food hall ensures that you can enjoy a quick, quality meal whenever you need it.

“We’ve extended our hours and are now open from 11 AM to 9 PM on Mondays as well. It’s all about making sure people can enjoy what we offer whenever it suits them best,” says Ian.

With efficient service and a variety of dining options, Sheffield Plate is the perfect spot for a quick lunch, a pretheatre meal or a leisurely dinner with friends. “We’re also introducing a 10% discount for theatre ticket holders, which most of our vendors have agreed to. It’s a great way to offer value and convenience to our customers,” he adds.

Moving forward, Sheffield Plate will continue to grow it offering and the commitment to supporting new businesses remains strong. “We’re proud to be a launchpad for new culinary talents,” Ian emphasises. “Seeing our vendors grow and succeed is incredibly rewarding.”

For more information on the latest updates, events and promotions, follow Sheffield Plate on socials @sheffieldplate.

EARN YOUR STRIPES

Fargate has got a lot sweeter following the opening of Tiger Sugar, the world-renowned bubble tea brand. Known for its distinctive brown sugar boba drinks, Tiger Sugar has rapidly expanded its footprint globally and has now brought its iconic flavours to Sheffield. We went to find out more…

What’s It All About?

Originating from Taiwan, where the first two boba tea houses opened in the 1980s, Tiger Sugar is celebrated for its visually striking drinks often featuring rich, caramelised brown sugar stripes. With over 300 stores in more than 50 countries, including more than 80 locations in the United States, Tiger Sugar has established itself as a leader in the bubble tea market.

Andy Dong, the franchise owner and general manager, expressed his enthusiasm for the brand’s expansion in the UK. “We are excited to bring Tiger Sugar to Sheffield and introduce our drinks to the people here,” he said. “There are only two of these shops in the UK, the other being in Leeds, and we thought Yorkshire was the perfect place for us.”

Standing Out from the Rest

Tiger Sugar’s appeal lies not only in its tasty drinks but also in its meticulous preparation and high-quality ingredients. The brand’s black sugar boba pearls are cooked to perfection, resulting in a chewy, flavourful texture that pairs seamlessly with their premium teas and ingredients.

Dong highlighted the brand’s dedication to excellence: “Our boba takes almost three hours to cook, and we use a special recipe for our black sugar that gives it a unique, rich flavour. This attention to detail is what sets us apart from other bubble tea brands.”

Customisable Experience

One of the hallmarks of Tiger Sugar is its customisable drinks. While their signature drinks are perfected through years of refinement and are not typically altered, customers can adjust the ice and sugar levels

to suit their preferences. This flexibility ensures that everyone can enjoy their bubble tea just the way they like it.

“Our drinks are all customisable, except for our signatures, which we believe are perfect as they are,” Dong explained. “But for everything else, customers can choose their preferred level of sweetness and ice. So you make it as healthy or indulgent as you like.”

A Sleek Look

The new store on Fargate aims to provide a modern and inviting atmosphere where customers can relax and enjoy their drinks. The design of the store reflects Tiger Sugar’s premium brand image, offering a comfortable and stylish environment. Dong mentioned plans to enhance the store further by adding outdoor

seating, creating a perfect spot for enjoying bubble tea, especially in the summer.

Signature Drinks and Flavours

Tiger Sugar’s menu boasts a variety of popular drinks, with the brulee and the signature black sugar boba with pearls being customer favourites. The unique combination of traditional Taiwanese tea and the brand’s secret black sugar recipe keeps people coming back for more.

While very much a treat, the drinks are relatively healthy compared to other sweet beverages. The black sugar used in their drinks is less processed than white sugar, offering a slightly healthier alternative. Additionally, the tea base provides antioxidants, making it a more wholesome option.

Coming Up North

The opening of Tiger Sugar in Sheffield marks a significant milestone for the brand’s presence in the UK. Dong, who also owns the Leeds franchise, is keen on expanding further in the region, bringing the delightful Tiger Sugar experience to more locations.

“I’ve been up here for a long time and love it,” Dong shared. “Bringing this exciting new brand to the north first felt like the right move. We have plans to expand further, but starting here in Sheffield is a great beginning.”

Whether you’re a long-time fan of bubble tea or new to the experience, pay a visit to the Tiger Sugar Fargate store, open 11am-8pm, Monday to Sunday. Follow @ tigersugar_uk for news and promotions.

Sheffield’s Odd Future

It’s been a while since Sheffield has witnessed a true ‘scene’ emerge. Pockets of artists and DIY collectives have come to the fore in the last couple of decades, but not since the mid-noughties, when an indie guitar renaissance exploded out of Northwest Sheffield, riding gleefully on the coattails of a certain bunch of High Green oiks, has a well-defined collective of musicians and artists been front and centre of the city’s creative consciousness.

WORDS: ASH BIRCH PHOTO: JACOB FLANNERY

There are, of course, numerous explanations for the perceived lack of collective identity in the city’s musical vista; not least the ever-changing landscape of how music is now produced and marketed, and the fact that the word ‘scene’ is sometimes thought of as a dirty word, manufactured by music hacks (like me here, probably) to sell papers. Often, even when there is objectively a scene, the founding members don’t like the idea and bristle at their own lack of individuality.

That could all be about to change; or rather, it has changed, and we’re just about to catch up to the doings of a collection of musicians who, thanks to their longstanding friendship and talent, are breaking down the barriers of their respective genres to work collaboratively on each other’s tracks.

This is not a revolutionary concept, of course, but what makes this unusual and something to get excited about is the breadth of genres combining. Dystopian punk is seamlessly mixed with rap and electronic, and they all seem to want to get along (makes you sick!)

At the centre of all this creativity and momentum is a band we have featured (mainly ‘cos I think they’re great) several times, following a chance encounter with their set at Get Together festival back in 2023.

Drastic//Automatic’s dystopian noise punk and electric live sets have gained notoriety in the city, and founding members Sean Hession and Sissy Green are, well, everywhere at the moment. Ahead of an incredibly busy Fringe

at Tramlines programme (there’s an argument that they’re the hardest working musicians at this year’s Fringe, a title Femur and Django have previously laid claim to), and ahead of the release of their latest EP on 24th July, we sat down with the pair in the garden at Shakespeare’s to discuss scenes and sound evolutions.

“There’s definitely a scene,” says Sissy as he sucks on a roll-up, fresh from quitting his day job that morning in order to focus on music and production. “It’s like Sheffield’s Odd Future, man – we’ve got every component of it. We grew up listening to all those collectives, and Odd Future is a really good example. It was so many different influences coming together, and in Sheffield that’s happening, just from people hanging around the right places, at the right times.

“There was a moment when it all switched, and we just started writing together and working on each other’s songs.”

Drastic frontman and guitarist, Sean added: “We’re all in our mid to late 20s, and when we were teenagers, YouTube started getting really good. Collectives like Odd Future were groundbreaking because the visual media component was strong and it felt like there was an independent value to it, but with really high production values, and I think we learned from that.

“For all of us, if we’re not making music, we’re not living – I have to do it!”

Sissy continued: “We could easily start a label tomorrow and it would be great. Everyone is contributing to the music and featuring on each other’s tracks already. It’s almost like collaboration makes us

stronger, and we all just really like making music with each other.”

The crew loosely consists of Powerdrill, Mucarelli, God’s Favourite Characters, Dusthouse, Mickey Nomimono, Richard Carlson Band, Bait Britain, Sissy’s partner Soph, and Sissy’s little brother, Matty, with former Drastic drummer, Benji recording it all with his trusty camera.

“There doesn’t feel like there’s real competition between us all.” Says Sissy, “It exists in Sheffield, but we’re not involved in that. We want all of us to do well, so the spotlight comes back on the city. We were mates first, before the music, so we all know and love each other.

“It’s a shield, and strength in numbers –and also protection from competition.”

Sean said: “We feel very comfortable with each other and know each other so well, it’s inspiring all of our art. Every week, we’re making something and it’s sick!”

This amplified work ethic has led to an all-new Drastic EP, which is released on the 24th July, in time for the Fringe at Tramlines, and is the first release since former drummer Benji Wilson left the band to concentrate on his photography.

Sissy said: “We were very “comfortable with the minimalist thing and knew how to write Drastic songs together in the studio. When Benji left the band, because he’s out there doing his photography thing now, it turned out to be a good outcome; we did lose the best drummer ever, but we gained a photographer and a videographer.

“But at the same time, it’s been really good for us because it changed how we write and record. Now, we work with Ali from Power Drill, who’s like a brother to us. He’s a drumming ninja, and he’s injected a real bulk to our sound.

“He’s a busy guy, so it’s transformed how we write. Sean and I write demos and then we work on them collaboratively with Ali. Our home demo setup has got really good. It’s created a different sound that isn’t as loud and is a lot more popled.”

Sean added: “You should always be asking yourself, ‘What’s next?’.”

“It was going back to a really basic format of making tunes; writing the first thing that came to my head. A lot of the bars ended up being religion-based and that’s kind of turned up in the new Drastic stuff.”

Sissy jumps in: “Writing those Catholic sin bangers! Clean is the wrong word, but it’s a bit more precise. It doesn’t need to be complicated for them to be good songs.”

I AM THE USER, WE ARE CONSUMED is the new EP from Drastic// Automatic and is out now. Head to drasticautomatic.com for more info/ streaming links.

Rumbi Tauro

We caught up with the rising R&B/soul artist to hear about a brand-new live album recorded at Band on the Wall in Manchester.

Hi Rumbi, great to catch up! How are things with you?

It’s always a pleasure, thank you for having time to chat with me! I’m doing well, really enjoying the days where there’s rest involved.

Let’s talk about ‘Live in Manchester.’ Was a live EP something you’d always wanted to create?

Absolutely. I just didn’t anticipate I’d be ticking this off so soon! I had a headline sold-out show at Band on the Wall on 19th January this year, and we decided the day before to record the show. Now, we’re releasing half of that live show on the 5-track EP and it still feels like such a dream. I put so much love and thought into my live shows and I’m excited for people to have my R&B/soul experience wherever they are in the world.

What were your biggest sources of inspiration for these tracks? What stories did you want to tell?

The 5-track EP includes 4 previously released tracks: ‘Take Care’, ‘Lost’, ‘Refocused’, and ‘Storm’ alongside one new track ‘Pressure.’ I wanted to take time to honour the journey so far by releasing these reimagined live versions of my songs. Moving away from that polished soulful sound into a raw soulful feel during the live show. The EP narrative covers themes of self-discovery, faith, love, and hurt.

In 2020, you released your first EP ‘The Process.’ How do you feel your music has evolved since your debut?

I feel that my music feels a lot more free; maybe that’s subjective because they’re my own creations. However, I feel so connected to the words I’ve been writing lately. I really appreciate the feedback I receive when people hear my music and say that it connects to a situation they’re going through right now.

With a packed schedule of live shows coming up, what do you most look forward to when performing for an audience?

I’m currently working on my November tour dates [Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds]. For those shows, I look forward to taking my audiences on a journey, exploring different emotions together.

What do you hope listeners will take away from the EP?

From the EP, I hope people feel connected to the themes being explored. Also, I hope by the end song ‘Storm,’ everyone feels the joy we felt on the stage as we were closing the show. Finally, I hope listeners feel inspired to go ahead and create anything they feel has been on their mind for a long time.

The ‘Live in Manchester EP’ is out now. Follow @rumbitauro on Instagram for more.

GYPTIAN

NETWORK // 3 AUG //£20

Sheffield is set to sizzle with the vibrant sounds of reggae dancehall as Gyptian, the celebrated Jamaican roots and reggae artist, makes a highly anticipated return to British shores.

networksheffield.co.uk

THE PHARCYDE

NETWORK // 4 AUG // £27.50

Boasting a collective stream-ofconsciousness flow, a shared love of freaky humour and fearless penchant for exposing emotions, The Pharcyde has proved itself to be one of hip hop’s genuine originators.

networksheffield.co.uk

THE MAGPIE ARC

THE GREYSTONES // 14 AUG // £20

The Magpie Arc is a Cross-Border band out of Sheffield, Arran and Edinburgh that blends Folk-Rock and Prog with Traditional and New Songs alike. Folk Singer of the Year Nancy Kerr, Albion Band alumnus Tom A Wright and Guitar Legend Martin Simpson provide the English part of the band while “Caledonian Loudon Wainwright” Findlay Napier and Edinburgh stalwart Alex Hunter bring the Scottish roots. mygreystones.co.uk

CAPTAIN ACCIDENT AND THE DISASTERS

YELLOW ARCH STUDIOS // 30 AUG // £8

Captain Accident creates his unique blend of rock-driven soulful roots reggae, ska & dub at his home studio in Cardiff. With the help of the finest musical collective dubbed “The Disasters” this sound is then explosively transformed onto the stage, bringing an energetic and captivating live show.

yellowarch.com

ROCK N ROLL CIRCUS

DON VALLEY BOWL // 29-31 AUG // £32 (PER DAY)

Rock N Roll Circus is where the best in musical talent meets the weird and world of the circus. The show will be opened by hometown hero Richard Hawley on Thursday 29th August, pop queen Becky Hill will be headlining on Friday 30th August & Sheffield legends Milburn will take the stage on Saturday 31st August. rocknrollcircus.co.uk

5 MINS WITH…

OCTOBER

CAUSING A SCENE

Pre-eminent Sheffield photographer Benji Wilson (@jamburrito1) has been capturing the essence of the city’s DIY music scene, warts and all, for a number of years now. After years of sweaty gig shoots and capturing the personalities of some of the city’s up-andcoming artists, he has compiled these moments into a book, Causing a Scene: Vol 1, which Exposed’s Sean Johnson spoke to him about last month.

Tell us a bit about what has gone into the book?

The book captures the Sheffield live music scene in photographs, but particularly as a snapshot from within the past two years.  I started taking photos in Sheffield in 2021, just after the pandemic. I wanted the collection to portray a succinct chunk of time.

When did you first get into photography?

I’ve always had some interest in photography, but I never took it seriously until my partner bought me a Pentax film camera for Christmas in 2020. I kind of just got hooked on the manual process of it, waiting for your negatives to come back and little things like that!

During my first year, I shot Sheffield live music gigs exclusively on film, until I could afford to buy a digital camera that was up to scratch. I still shoot a fair amount of material on film, but I tend to lean towards digital photography because it’s much more cost-effective. I try to carry across techniques on film like multiple and long exposures with my digital works.

What inspired you to capture a music scene?

Growing up, I was always into music and looking back at bands from the past. For instance, looking back at Nirvana, there’s a specific photographer who does these black and white film shots with flash and focuses on the energy of the crowd and the gig. I always used to look at the liner notes of photos of the bands that I was into.

These days, people still have those photos, but they tend to be a lot more digital and on social media, which just doesn’t have the same kind of longevity and intimacy of holding something physical. I think it’s similar to how everyone started buying vinyl again: people long to have a physical product.

With the book, I wanted to pay homage to the era of having really high-quality music photos that capture the energy of the gig rather than just the musicians themselves.

• 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.

Who features in the book?

It’s a good cut of the local music scene from the past two years. It’s definitely very instrument and band-focused. I know there’s a huge electronic music scene in Sheffield, but I’m personally more bandfocused and the photo collection is a snapshot from my point of view.

The people who feature the most are probably FEMUR, the first band I shot coming out of lockdown. Mickey Nomimono also features heavily. We’ve worked together on loads of projects. The aesthetics he has just suit my style so well. I’ve tried to include as many people I’ve worked with as possible!

What are some of your favourite moments captured?

For me, the Jarred Up Shakespeares event over Tramlines has always been my favourite, pretty much every year since it’s ran. It’s the energy in the room; it’s so hot and sweaty and all the bands are so happy to play, so full of energy. Thats always a highlight for me.

From starting to work with musicians outside of a live gig setting, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them a bit more. Obviously, if you shoot a gig, you might say hello, but you don’t really get to know the people. If you’re doing a day shoot or a music video, you’re gonna get to know people more closely and then you can create something that works with their energy and aesthetic.

Do you have any advice for local aspiring music photographers?

My general advice to anyone wanting to start out in photography is to be prolific. Just be yourself, don’t worry endlessly about getting the best gear.

Where can you find the book?

The book is currently available to preorder on my website, Jamburrito1.com and will be released on 26th July. You can also find it through a link on my Instagram page, @ jamburrito1.

A few local retailers will also be stocking copies: Novel, Crookes; La Biblioteka, Sheffield City Centre; and Kelham Island Books and Music, Kelham Island

Causing a Scene: Vol 1 is out now. Order now at jamburrito.com.

RAISING THE BAR

At the Exposed Awards back in May, Neepsend’s Alder Bar was the very worthy winner of the prestigious Best Bar award. Following hot on the heels of scooping Best New Bar award in 2023, we sat down with Alder co-owner, Joe Spriggs, to find out how they have consistently provided one of the best spaces in the city and just what makes it the best bar in Sheffield.

Since its inception, Alder has always done things a bit differently. Even today, we arrive at the same time as a delivery of quiz prizes, which includes 48kg of pizza flour, 12kg of pizza sauce and 15kg of onions!

“I think I might have f****d up, here!” says Joe, “I’m not sure how people are going to take it home.”

Us neither, Joe! Aside from epic quiz prizes though, what else sets Alder apart? For Joe, these are the keys to their success:

A friendly hello

If you’ve already visited Alder, you’ll know it as a friendly and inclusive space. Bar staff are hired on their personality and not necessarily experience, and it’s important that they fit in with the bar’s ethos. Joe and the team all have a willingness to get to

know their customers, have a laugh with them, and welcome people back time and time again.

There’s a ‘no dickheads’ policy, and anyone flagrantly disregards this principle by bringing their bigotry to the premises, will be swiftly ejected; Alder is for everyone.

The main event

They now open seven days a week, having just begun opening on Mondays to host a weekly ‘Autism Friendly Social’. Events are a big part of what draws people in during the week, and regular nights like their weekly quiz, film clubs and jazz jam are frequently booked out. As Joe and co-owner Danny have the freedom to experiment with whatever they want in the space, they are constantly exploring new and innovative

events and recently welcomed an ‘Open Decks’ night into the fold.

Keeping it in the Community

As Joe is a director of the Percy Street CIC, who help kids with autism gain skills, confidence and employment, they are proud to be able to employ some of its service users to work in the bar itself. They also frequently collaborate with other local businesses and events like Get Together, Sheffield Wine Week and Kelham Pride, which Joe was on the organising committee of, as well being involved with Discover Me, a Sheffieldbased talent agency offering singersongwriters and duos a month-long residency in Alder.

Get 'em in

Let’s not forget Alder is a bar and so what of the drinks? Well, Alder prides itself on a well-priced, constantly rotating drinks selection. While they try to offer easy-going tipples to suit all tastes, alongside that, if you’re feeling more adventurous they also offer drinks that people won’t have seen in the city before, having recently set up their own import business, bringing in ciders from Spain and America and fruit wines from Denmark. Cheers!

Alder can be found on Percy Street, in Neepsend and you can follow them for event updates on socials here: @alder_bar_sheff

PROPHET WITHOUT HONOUR

The chances are you won’t know or have heard of Michael Somerset Ward, but I guarantee you will have heard his music. He has been involved in the international music scene for 40, writing huge hits for megastars like Take That and Alison Moyet, amongst others, during his career. An eclectic artist who has been heavily involved in music genres as diverse as dance and industrial music, he has had regular chart action with the likes of Róisín Murphy and Lady Blackbird while being a contemporary of well-known Sheffield superstars Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley.

Interestingly, his collective works outsell his more renowned peers. So why isn’t he better known? The simple answer is that he hasn’t sought fame and notoriety. Additionally, songwriters rarely become as well-known as the artists who perform their songs. However, Somerset Ward is no stranger to performance, having fronted his own major record label band Floy Joy in the 1980s, a band that should have been massive but mysteriously didn’t quite get the recognition they deserved. It is a Floy Joy song written by Somerset Ward, ‘Weak in the Presence of Beauty’, that gave Alison Moyet her biggest-selling hit with sales of four million around the world.

Fast forward through four decades of constant music collaborations to 2024, and Somerset Ward deserves some recognition – not mega stardom or mass adulation, that wouldn’t suit his style, but just acknowledgment that he has made substantial cultural contributions across a wide range of musical genres.

He is not just a mainstream artist; his real love is the work he does on the edge of commercial music. Take, for example,

his latest album release by one of his many projects, Mzylkypop, entitled Threnodies and Ad Hocs. He wrote all the tracks, and under his leadership, he directs a collective of vocalists and musicians with stunning results.

The tracks veer from straight pop to the experimental. It is an absolute banger of an album: accessible but also daring and challenging at the same time. He quite rightly believes it deserves to be heard by a wider audience. This latest release is a follow-up to the band’s debut album four years ago, which received rave reviews. Half the songs are sung by a Polish-born singer, Sylwia Anna Drwal, whom Somerset Ward discovered singing at a local pop-up venue.

On the other songs, he uses several guest vocalists from a plethora of music genres, all with a link to his musical CV. The list of contributors reads like a who’s who of the alternative music scene. On one hand, there’s Cabaret Voltaire’s Stephen Mallinder, then there’s Clock DVA’s Adi Newton on the other. Elsewhere, Peter Hope, previously from The Box, and the legendary Barry Adamson, formerly of Magazine, make inspired contributions. Finally, from the more mainstream music world, there’s David Was, a purveyor of perfect pop in the 80s with his brother in the band Was (Not Was). Not many musicians could rustle up a guestlist like that.

How did he get such an impressive list of contributors? “I have known these guys for years and we have worked together at various points,” he explains, before going on to relate the story of him as an unknown musician flying to America to track down the legendary Don Was (David’s brother) in the early 80s with just a studio address and little more than a wing and a prayer.

Amazingly, he successfully located him, and a fruitful working relationship and friendship blossomed. That’s just one story from Somerset Ward’s musical life. There are many others, involving a lot of household names. He is thinking of writing his memoirs, and judging from the stories he told me, it could be a bestseller – although he might need to run it past a lawyer first!

As well as repeated excursions into the pop world, he has written and recorded a number of short stories. One such piece, A Dog’s Story, found its way to Maxine Peake, who insisted on reading it. Additionally, he has provided soundtracks for Radio 4 drama series, most notably Song of The Reed with Mark Rylance and The Arabian Nights. Then there is the unreleased Norse saga, Sola – a stunning, evocative and mystical work, complete with a soundtrack of

WORDS MARK FINNIGAN

original songs in a Norse style.

If all that isn’t enough, his current working project is his band, The Consumptives, a combo put together to perform a musical he has penned about the notorious Sheffield thief and police killer, Charlie Peace. It is a remarkable and original piece using music written in a Victoriana style and an inspired plotline with a sci-fi element which could easily be a Dr. Who episode. The result is a chilling, gothic and atmospheric piece which enhances this famous Sheffield tale.

With such an eclectic career in music, which has involved writing songs in many different styles for many different people, Somerset Ward is rightly proud of the work he has done – and why shouldn’t he be? After all, it pays the bills! He stands by his extensive back catalogue.

“They are good songs, but what I’m doing now with Mzylkypop and The Consumptives, that is for ‘me’. It’s the first time in 40 years I have done something specifically for me in music.”

Despite his massive involvement in mainstream music, his heart has always been with the more alternative side of music. He is a craftsman; songwriting is his craft, and he is very good at it and, refreshingly, he is not afraid to say so. Michael Somerset Ward is not a musical snob and perhaps that is why he has never been seen, nor does he want to be seen, as part of the Sheffield scene now or in the past. However, it is time we recognised his talent and his legacy.

Mzylkypop’s album Threnodies and Ad Hocs is out now on Discus Records. The Consumptives will be playing dates in November.

There have not been many times when, listening to music, I have shouted “Eureka!”. Up until yesterday, the last time this happened was 20 years ago when I first heard the Arctic Monkeys demos. Yesterday, it occurred when I heard the latest Mzylkypop album. It leaps out of the speakers and demands you listen to the lyrics and dance at the same time. The album is split into two: Threnodies, which means ‘lament’, with the songs sung with gusto by Sylwia Anna Drwal, and then there is the Ad Hocs part with Somerset Ward using an illustrious group of musical friends ranging from David Was, Barry Adamson and local legend Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire, amongst others, to vocalise his lyrics. Amazingly, despite the multiple vocalists, the album is a seamless piece of work and a fully realised concept album. Each vocalist brings their unique style to the songs and allows the work to constantly refresh as the album progresses. The consistent thread underpinning the work is the quality of the songwriting which is brought to life by the talented musicians Ward chooses to use. It’s a genuinely groundbreaking and remarkable body of work.

MZYLKYPOP THRENODIES AND AD HOCS

212 Oakbrook Road - a short walk from Endcliffe Park

day and night in the heart of the City.

Orchard Square is an open air courtyard home to boutique shops and big name brands, restaurants, bars, cafés and more, right in the centre of Sheffield, just off Fargate. Open early until late for all of your shopping, dining and leisure needs.

Following its relocation to the Octagon Centre, Bongo’s Bingo continues to captivate audiences across the country with its frankly bonkers blend of bingo-meets-clubnight. We caught up with Sheffield host Chris Mac, who shared some insights on the Bongo’s journey…

Can you share some insights on how your career as a host has evolved over the years with Bongo’s Bingo?

I’ve been a host for 5 years now. I said that out loud recently to a friend and I couldn’t believe it! It’s gone by so, so fast. I remember my very first show at a place called Canal Mills in Leeds and I was so nervous before it. I’ve spent a lot of times in bands pre-bingo and it felt like I was about to walk on to the biggest gig of my life. Since then, both myself and ‘The Bingo’ (as we call it) have both come a long way. That first show was a few hundred rowdy party dwellers but now the shows I do are mostly to around 9001,000 punters.

What are some memorable moments or milestones you’ve experienced while hosting?

There have been so many over the years! I’ve had. a few marriage proposals, we’ve had some pretty intense dance-offs and we’ve had some really heart-warming stories when it comes to the big cash wins - people who were having a really bad run of luck in their personal life and then came along to a show and won a thousand pounds! My own personal milestone would be hosting the Sheffield XL shows a couple of years back. Around 2k people packed into the Magna Arena all to play bingo and party. The atmosphere was super charged, and the shows were

something I’ll genuinely remember for the rest of my life.

How has the reception been from the Sheffield audience since the relocation to the Octagon?

Sheffield has always been one of the biggest Bongo’s Bingo cities - it’s always sold-out week in and week out and the crowds are always incredible. High energy, good vibes, no trouble... it’s a real mix, too. Sometimes you get 18-year-olds out with their Mums and their Nans! We’ve had great feedback with our new Sheffield home and it’s one of the region’s most iconic venues to be in.

Are there any specific features of the Octagon Centre that enhance the Bongo’s experience?

The production levels at The Octagon are immense. The thing with Bongo’s is that you could set us up with a little p.a. in a

NIGHTLIFE

park and it would be great - we’d make it work, we’d get everyone up and we’d get everyone involved, but when you take that and add a huge sound system paired with massive screens and absolutely hilarious visuals throughout the showyou’re talking about a very unforgettable experience.

What special plans are in place for celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bongo’s Bingo?

That would be telling. All you have to do is look at past events we’ve done and the sheer scale of them to get an idea of what’s going to be happening, but as for the finer details, we’ll be keeping our cards close to our chest!

What do you believe is the key to Bongo’s Bingo’s success over the past ten years?

First of all, I think a lot has to do with escapism - when you walk through the doors at Bongo’s you’ve left your everyday life. You’re in a room full of like-minded people all there for the same reason - just to have a good time. It’s like a Christmas party or a wedding do, one of those atmospheres that you just can’t help but get caught up in. Secondly, I think the value for money. You’re there for around 4 or 5 hours - it’s your complete night out - you don’t need to plan anything else, just buy your ticket and you’re in and that’s you sorted!

BONGO’S BINGO

The Octagon Centre, Clarkson Street, Sheffield, S10 2TQ www.bongosbingo.co.uk for tickets and info.

Twitter and Insta: @bongosbingo www.facebook.com/bongosbingo

BONGO’S BINGO’S NEXT SHEFFIELD DATES:

Saturday August 31st (00s Special) and Saturday September 14th (Country Special) – October and November dates coming soon. Doors open 6pm / doors close 7.30pm / show starts 8pm

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SUMMER SHENANIGANS!

Its August, dear readers, and school’s out for summer! As we approach the end of Pride Season for another year, we have one more event: Sheffield’s first ever Youth Pride (Thu 1 Aug), hosted by SAYiT. With the theme of queer joy and liberation, the main event will take place at Star House on Division Street with an arts and craft market, stalls and activities featuring all the fun of the fair. There will also be a range of popup events and activities hosted by other youth organisations taking place across the city. This month SAYiT will also be hosting Working With LGBTQ+ Young People Forum (Mon 12 Aug) – a drop-in session for professionals to find out more about some of the current issues impacting LGBTQ+ communities, and LGBTQ+ Awareness Training (Wed 21 Aug) – a CPD-accredited LGBTQ+ awareness training covering everything from the difference between sexuality, sex and gender, right through to the language and terminology used by the LGBTQ+ community and the current UK laws that protect us. In terms of new arrivals, Gut Level opened their new

space on Chapel Walk earlier this year. It’s a not-for-profit venue and community space that aims to provide social and creative opportunities for underrepresented groups in Sheffield, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ people, women and gender minorities. It is a welcoming social space to hang out, listen to music and meet friends. Open to members five days a week, they host gigs, club nights, workshops, co-working and more! The venue is set across two floors which includes a roof terrace that houses their community garden project, Wet Patch.

In terms of events, this month you can enjoy Saturday Night w/ Touta (Sat 3 Aug), with music provided by British-Palestinian DJ Touta. Expect beats from SWANA region mixing alternative R&B, pop, electronica, sha3bi (traditional Arab) and hyperpop music. The following week, Gut Level x Studio Monkey Shoulder Presents: FAFF (Fri 9 Aug) features an extended set from Big Dyke Energy residents FAFF – the energetic DJ and production duo made up of Elliott and Orny, one

of the most exciting acts to have burst onto the scene within the last few years. Also keep an eye out for more details announced soon on Sheffield DIY events legends Delicious Clam taking over on Sat 17 August.

If you want to get behind the Gut Level decks yourself, then FLAW DJ Workshop & Social (Tue 6 Aug) is a space for LGBTQ+ people, women and gender minorities of all experience levels to learn DJ skills or just share music and hang out with like-minded people in a welcoming space. You can see those skills on show at Liccle Mix - Open Deck Party (Sat 10 Aug), which will feature four DJs from the community gracing the decks each with a one hour set.

Think you have what it takes to outsmart Sheffield’s most devious quizmaster? Then head down for the Pub Quiz with Luke Tilley [Sun 4 Aug]. Get down early to secure your table on the terrace so you can enjoy some summer sun.

There are plenty of social meetups this month. The aptly named Gut Pleasers [Wed 7 Aug] will be serving up a tasty communal veggie meal at their mid-week munch.

Smut Level (Tue 13 Aug) is a sex worker-led monthly meetup for people currently working in the sex industry to connect, share skills, resources and find community. Elsewhere, Peak Queer Adventures - Craft Social (Wed 14 Aug) will host an evening for people who either have craft or mending projects on the go or would like to learn some crafting skills.

Of course, we have a range of drag offerings through the month. Ditzy O’Darlin and Emma Maezin will be heading to the Quays Hotel for Big Drag Bingo (Fri 2 Aug) with a night full of bingo, live performances, lip sync, dancing and big prizes. Over at Malin Bridge Inn, we have Tanya Minge’s Drag Queen Bingo (Fri 23 Aug) – a hilarious evening of entertainment and naughty shenanigans. Last but by no means least, Electric Blue will be taking to the stage at Eight Foot Way pub in Parson’s Cross as part of the lineup for the first Eight Foot Summer Fest (Sat 31 Aug).

That’s your lot for this month, make sure to check out the latest event announcements at www.facebook.com/ sheffieldlgbtevents.

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HELEN MORT

There is something to be said for someone who chooses to be a writer. A profession that arguably creates more questions than it answers, the great Barnsley author Barry Hines once wrote, ‘A lot of people have romantic ideas about writing. They think you get inspiration by sitting in a cottage in the dales and watching the sun setting over the dingle. Writing is nothing to do with pretty views. It’s to do with commitment: if you know what you’re writing about, and what you’re writing it for, you could write it in a cellar.’ Beautifully succinct from a criminally underrated Northern writer, it got me thinking: what is this writer’s life?

What of the words, the language, the process of writing? Why do some phrases seemingly ‘work’ and others don’t? Why do some writers stick to one form? Ultimately, why bother writing at all?

To be the first to answer these questions in a new is Helen Mort. A Sheffield poetic powerhouse if there ever was one, it was an obvious choice: a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, multi-award winner, non-fiction and short story writer, Eric Gregory Award winner (2007), Fenton Aldeburgh Prize winner (2015), long listed for the Portico Prize for her 2019 novel ‘Black Car Burning’…I could go on. However, that would almost feel inappropriate given her personable nature; within a few minutes, I am already at ease, immediately informing her that one of the first poetry books my father gifted me was her 2013 debut Division Street, claiming, “I know you’re into poetry and this is about Division Street and miners and whatnot.”

‘I’m honoured he did that!’ she replies in typical modest fashion. I first met Helen in person at a poetry open mic night in Sheffield where she was the headline act, performing from her then recently-published The Illustrated Woman. “I keep saying that I’m going to find some funding of some sort,

because I used to run a poetry night in Chesterfield years and years ago, and that was like a combination of open mic but guest poets. The idea was to get performers or readers that you wouldn’t normally get visiting Sheffield, so they weren’t local – the open mic had local performers. However, to do that, you obviously need some way of paying them. I didn’t particularly want to charge people to get in, so every now and then I think I need to get back on it and make something happen. Sometimes it’s thinking about venues, sometimes it’s the admin and the amount of work but really…I just need to sort it out!” Mort’s determination is not unwarranted: “There’s a lot of quite short lived poetry things in Sheffield, which I understand because it is a lot of work, but also I think lockdown was a big factor, and we’ve not yet come back from it. There was a point when there were so many regular nights in Sheffield and Rotherham and surrounding area. However, I think we’re coming out of it because there’s definitely more book events in general. Like this week, I could go to three different things at least if I wanted to, as an audience member. And sometimes it’s like more than one thing on the same night.”

It’s refreshing to hear – a city of Sheffield’s size and history has never been lacking in creative spark, and poetry is certainly an avenue that begs far more attention, especially so given it was only 6 years ago the city appointed its first ever Poet Laureate in Otis Mensah. Although having grown up in Chesterfield, Mort went on to study at Cambridge, thus is only too familiar of the elitism poetry poses: ‘It’s got a bad reputation, as an inaccessible art form, hasn’t it? And I think – I’m not talking about us specifically here – but I do think that there’s a bit of a thing where we sort of as poets, we sort of perpetuate that because the thing about poetry commercially, is it’s always going to be the least commercially lucrative of the writing

WORDS: CHARLIE PARKER PHOTOS: EMMA LEDWITH

forms of the literature forms. Right? From personal experience with other forms, it really is. I’ve written a nonfiction book, a novel, and poetry collections, and I just know what’s been the best. Even just on that level, it’s such a pleasant surprise to go into it that way round; I can see how you could potentially make a living as a fiction/nonfiction writer, but more difficult as a poet if you were just writing the books or doing the performances. So I think because it’s less commercially profitable, what we’ve all done is we’ve kind of fetishized its rarity in some way. If we’ve not got status from the best sellers, or whatever, I think we all participate in this narrative to a various degree that it’s something special, and that not everyone can do it, and that it’s ‘divine inspiration’.

I’ve always thought that to be a good writer you need to be a good poet. The needs of language require understanding of the words and language you’re using, strict as that sounds.

You got to put the hours in, whereas

with poetry, Don Patterson [Scottish poet and writer] has this aphorism where he says something along the lines of: ‘the problem with being a poet, is that you can redeem a whole day in about half an hour’. I know what he means, like suddenly if you have a day where you get an idea and you’re able to work it into something that feels like a poem on the page, and it’s good, and it’s alive, you just feel it’s like nothing else. It’s like this joy, and you feel like you’ve made something but actually in terms of the time you’ve spent on it. Then there are other poems that take you 10 years to work on it and it’s not the same, but you can occasionally get those things that sort of seem like they arrived like a gift. But I would argue that if you’re thinking like an artist or like a writer, I’m not just saying this as a cop out. You’re sort of working all the time anyway. Subconsciously, you see things you’re observing or you’re putting yourself in the way of things that are going to inspire you.’

MOUNTAIN

You are very successful but you have rocks in your chest, skin-coloured sandstone wedged where your breasts should be.

Your stomach is a boulder. To hold you up, your legs grow stony too.

You zip your jacket up and nobody notices you are a mountain.

You buy coffee, run board meetings where no-one says you’re made of scree but above your head, their talk is weather,

your eyes collect new rain and you know what you are because like any hillside you don’t sleep. Your feet could hold you here

forever but your sides are crumbling, and when you speak your words are rockfall, you’re scared your heart is tumbling from your mouth

Are you a poetic mountain now within the UK poetry scene?

That’s really interesting. That poem, if it’s about anything, is about mountaineering and finding metaphors to describe the act of climbing, but part of it was almost like a reversal of that. It’s borrowing a metaphor from the idea of mountains and what mountains are to describe anxiety, or more specifically, the feeling of imposter syndrome. It’s like this: I think what I wanted to convey is this idea that some people are always walking around with this constant sense that there’s something wrong with them and that they’re going to be found out at any point for being somehow not adequate to what they think they’re doing with their life. I remember writing that poem driving on the way back from Manchester Airport, through the peak districts. I get a lot of ideas for poems while I’m driving, as well as when I’m running or walking. And I just had this line going round and round in my head: something about ‘you’re very successful, but you have rocks in your chest’. I got to Hathersage in the Peak District, pulled over the car, parked up at the side of the road and just started writing it down on whatever I’d got to hand. I was scared that I was going to lose it. That happens

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QUICKFIRE QS…

First book? Walt and Pepper. It’s about a cat and a dog who’s facing each other in windows across the street, and they fight through the window, but one day one of them goes missing, and when it comes back, the animal is delighted but they go back to fighting. And I really remember it’s stuck with me because I love this idea that rivalry is actually a form of intimacy.

Favourite word? Ice.

Least favourite word? Cabbage.

One sentence advice? Listen to others, but listen to yourself last. Modulate the input that you’re getting with your own feelings and instincts.

The moment you knew you wanted to become a writer? Sitting at my desk in my bedroom - I say desk, it was like a plank of wood basically - when I was about 10 or 11, being really pretentious, I lit a candle. I remember it very clearly. I wondered why nobody wanted to go out with me at school! It was like a ritual of writing, and I was just like, I don’t care if anyone reads it, it was all about the candle and the notebook.

Unforgivable writer traits? I have two. One is saying stuff like ‘that’s not poetry’ when it clearly is intended as such. Why are we so obsessed? The other thing is telling other writers that there are arbitrary rules about words or things that you can’t put in poems. So some writers have like a banned list of words that must not appear in poetry and that’s nonsense. Or when I was starting out, I remember another poet said to me that you shouldn’t put ‘-ing’ words in a poem.

What profession other than your own would you like to do? A hairdresser.

As the Writer in Residence at Chesterfield Football Club…another Chesterfield promotion or the double over Doncaster Rovers? Another promotion, less aggro that way.

Can you tell me more about the Writer in Residence? Well, I am not really a football fan! I like it but I’m not diehard. I got approached by somebody who was working for Chesterfield FC supporters club and they wanted me to write some poems about the team. My first thing was, ‘I don’t know anything about football, I’m a bad choice’. However, it was a good opportunity because it made me think about things that I loved about Chesterfield, so a lot of the poems that I wrote were more to do with Chesterfield as a place than football specifically.

And finally…a bestseller or a Pulitzer? A Pulitzer!

to me quite often with driving. It’s almost annoying. It’s like having a benign version of having intrusive thoughts, because it’s like ‘I don’t want to hear you right now’. Especially if it’s something that’s a bit troublesome to you.

I feel very lucky that I get to make my living around making writing the centre of what I do. It’s kind of a dream come true in many ways to be working as a writer and as a mentor and teacher and stuff, so when you get a bit like, ‘Oh, I’m no good’, I thought it’d be an interesting move to start a collection with this metaphor of the crumbling mountain.

This sounds quite a facetious question, but do you enjoy writing? Do you enjoy what you do?

That’s a great question, because the answer is yes and no, both in terms of the act of writing and in being a writer. I think it’s a fortunate thing to get to do. My colleague at Manchester Met Uni, Andrew McMillan, says, whenever we’ve got a difficult thing to do at work, ‘it’s not like going down the mines, is it?’ It’s a huge privilege for people to listen to you, and you shouldn’t take it for granted. I think that a lot of people don’t

have easy access to. The act of writing itself is like a love hate thing, isn’t it?

How much do you focus on language? Do you ever mimic what you’re reading?

I definitely accidentally imbibe bits of whatever I’m reading at of the time. And so, for example, recently I’ve been reading a lot of a certain poets work and I wrote this poem that I was really pleased with. I sent it to another friend who’s a poetry critic. And he was like, ‘Oh, this really reminds me of so-and-so’, because you just attune to their choices of language and theme. And if I can’t write, if I don’t feel like writing, I read to get myself into that frame of mind. That’s because I get excited by someone else’s language choice. I’m focused on lyric and sound and image maybe to an extent, but also combined with some kind of narrative. Whereas I know there are some poets that are interested in sound over sense, for instance, they don’t care if you can’t follow a kind of narrative in some way. And that’s really interesting, I think, and one isn’t more valid than the other. It’s just a different kind of element and craft.

CHARIOTS OF FIRE @ THE CRUCIBLE

WORDS: JOSEPH FOOD PHOTO: JOHAN PERSSON

Artistic Director Robert Hastie may have run his race with Sheffield Theatres, but the man who helped to bring productions such as Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie to life bowed out in exhilarating fashion with Chariots of Fire.

Reviving Mike Bartlett’s 2012 stage adaptation of the 1981 Oscar-winning film, this tale of perseverance, identity and values continues to delight audiences as we reach the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Paris Olympics, where the original events took place.

While there are stellar performances delivered across the cast, particularly the portrayal of the main characters, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, played by Michael Wallace and Adam Bregman respectively, it’s the innovative set design, lighting and choreography that frequently takes centre stage. Treadmills are pounded while strobes flash during race scenes, super slo-mo scenes are accompanied by actors bellowing out those all-important seconds and on more than one occasion, they vacate the stage, running along the rows where the audience is seated, sometimes exiting the auditorium entirely and re-entering from an opposite entrance. I’d wager that there aren’t many theatre productions this year requiring such an impressive VO2 max from their ensemble.

For those unfamiliar with the storyline,

it revolves around two talented runners: one, a devout Christian running to spread the word of God, and the other, a Jewish immigrant at Cambridge with a point to prove amidst daily life shackled by the archaic structures and prejudices of one of the world’s oldest universities. The two become rivals, particularly in the eyes of the determined Abrahams, played in feisty fashion by Bregman, who initially resents the assured, composed nature of Liddell. He is, after all, someone who knows exactly what he is running for, a question that is repeatedly levelled at Abrahams, and one he is unable to answer.

Abrahams eventually hires a running coach, Sam Mussabini (Waleed Elgadi), to improve his technique so he can qualify for the Paris Olympics and finally beat Liddell. This is much to the ire of Cambridge College Masters, who continue to promote the upper-class values of ‘the gentleman’ in sport: sticking to amateur ideals, not placing emphasis on winning at all costs and never stooping to the level of “playing the tradesman”. However, he is so desperate to succeed that he roundly ignores their protests and jeopardises a blossoming relationship with love interest Sybil Evers (Bessy Ewa) in the process.

Liddell’s growing celebrity due to his athletic feats doesn’t come without difficulties, either. His sister (Lois Pearson) frequently voices concerns that

a dedication to the track is overtaking his responsibilities to god, and his religious ethics are sorely tested when the allimportant 100-metre race at the Olympics is scheduled for a Sunday. Incidentally, one of the play’s funniest scenes comes when several lords (a deserved mention to Richard Kant and Mark Lockyer, both of whom are excellent in multiple roles) and none other than the Prince of Wales himself (a great comedic turn from Leo Wan) attempt to convince the abstaining Scotsman to run.

In an interview with Exposed Magazine during the run-up to the show, cast members Leo Wan and Lois Pearson spoke of the challenges in translating an actionpacked film to the stage, with the former commenting that “the joy of theatre is the demand of invention ... And when you get it right – and I have very high hopes that we will – it’s thrilling for a live audience to witness.” It is, and it certainly was for the sold-out crowd who stood together to applaud an at times breathtaking performance.

A powerful reminder of the human spirit’s resilience and the enduring allure of the Olympic dream, Sheffield Theatres’ Chariots of Fire not only pays homage to an inspiring true-life story but displays the transformative power of live theatre in bringing these narratives to life.

4/5

GARDEN P-ARTY

Art in the Gardens returns for its 21st year to Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens on 7th8th September.

Each year, the Botanical Gardens is home to one of the largest outdoor art markets in Northern England, celebrating the work of artists and makers from across the UK. The wide range of stalls will include a selection of jewellery, ceramics, fine art, sculpture, glass work and so much more, from both returning and brand-new vendors.

The picturesque backdrop makes it the perfect location for the market as well as a wonderful day out for all ages, welcoming thousands of visitors year on year to explore the variety of makes on offer.

Alongside premier artists and professional crafters, Art in the Gardens will again feature budding talent from Sheffield Young Artists (facebook. com/SheffieldYoungArtists), offering a fantastic opportunity for local school students to showcase their work.

Also returning this year is the annual Open Art Exhibition competition which praises featured artists for their achievements in a range of categories. Each artist will get their chance to shine, with awards and commendations on offer for all mediums from photography and portraiture to abstract pieces and landscapes.

Featuring artwork in the pavilions, marquees, and sculpture displayed on the garden lawns, visitors will be able to explore every bit of the gardens and meet the artists while browsing. The event will also offer a selection of locally sourced food and drink so everyone can make the most of their trip.

Art in the Gardens opens Saturday 7th-Sunday 8th September, 10.30am - 5.30pm. Tickets can be bought in advance via Eventbrite (£7.21) Under 16s go free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

SHEFFIELD FILM FESTIVAL SHOWROOM CINEMA

// 2-31 AUG // PRICES VARY

Sheffield Film Festival is a new annual celebration of the rich film heritage and thriving film culture of Sheffield, and the surrounding region. The inaugural edition will focus on homegrown talent and showcase the continuing contributions of Sheffield-based filmmakers, producers, programmers, academics and cinephiles. showroomworkstation.org.uk

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW PLAYHOUSE

// 14-17 AUG // £22

The father-in-law is nowhere to be found. The aunties are on the warpath. The guests from London keep attempting Yorkshire accents. The teenage band want to put their own spin on the first dance. And don’t even mention the catering. When the party gets forced into a rundown community centre everyone has to face what it means to commit to someone and somewhere. Can they come together and save the wedding and their community?

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

CYBER CAFE

SITE GALLERY // 2 AUG-8 SEP // FREE Cyber Cafe takes inspiration from the first internet cafes that acted as a site for optimism and excitement at the early potential of the internet. These spaces offered new possibilities for connection, collaboration and creative self expression. Site Gallery’s young people’s collective, the Society of Explorers, have collaborated with artists Antonio Roberts and Lucy Cheesman over a series of workshops, experimenting with opensource platforms and old technologies. Together they have designed an interactive exhibition reimagining the creative potential of the internet cafe of today.

sitegallery.org

TESS JARAY: PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS ACROSS 60 YEARS

MILLENIUM GALLERY // UNTIL 13 OCT // FREE

Tess Jaray is one of the most influential British painters of the last century. For over six decades she has continued to explore form and space in abstract painting, governed by an interest in architecture, pattern, repetition and colour. The exhibition presents a number of Jaray’s paintings and drawings selected from the past 60 years accompanied by a selection of her inspirations and influences sheffieldmuseums.org.uk

Following their biennial exhibition launch, Dig Where You Stand is inviting locals to explore the untold history of the region with a city-wide showcase of artistic talent. Exposed Magazine spoke with Creative Director Désirée Reynolds about the groundbreaking exhibition.

WORDS:

RUBY DEAKIN

The ‘archival justice movement’ aims to shed light on the city’s unheard stories through art, dismantling the myths of a purely white history maintained and entrenched for centuries. Dig Where You Stand powerfully reclaims the region’s racial history by recovering these stories.

For the event, they commissioned 14 artists in a creative spectacle of the heritage and culture of working-class people of colour, one never seen before in South Yorkshire on this scale.

Désirée explained that her initial vision for the movement was clear and that she was committed to uncovering historical realities for marginalised groups.

“If you’re from the diaspora, whatever diaspora that might be, and you go to school, and you’re learning history, you know it’s not the full story, because you’re being told something different at home. So, I’ve always been thinking, ‘What is the full story?’”

Archives have formed the backbone of the exhibition’s creation over the last six months, with featured artists invited to explore documents and historical fragments as inspiration for their work. Each artist will put their own creative slant on reviving and interpreting the stories unearthed, ranging from poetry to textile art to shadow puppetry.

Archives have been central to the work of DWYS since it began, acting as powerful tools to bring the past into the present. By exploring documents and records, the movement recognises how history continues to inform the experiences of marginalised people today in a way that cannot be forgotten. So often are injustices dismissed as ‘products of their time’, but DWYS is keen not to let the passage of time overturn their significance.

On the idea of this dismissal, Désirée commented: “It’s not useful. It’s an unuseful metric of how to view and frame the archives. It shuts down conversation. It makes it easier to excuse atrocity. Sheffield Archives were brilliant – they were absolutely passionate and committed to the idea of racial justice.”

The revival of the past through art hopes to empower people of colour to claim their connection to history, while acknowledging that there will always be ‘gaps’ – undocumented stories, identities and voices that will never be truly heard.

“You have to approach the archives knowing you’re going to find gaps. You can’t expect it all to be written out for you nice and neatly,” Désirée said.

By bringing history to life, the creative responses on show recognise these ‘gaps’ and the injustice of a past that cannot

be fully reconciled. But the movement is careful to avoid speaking on behalf of those denied the opportunity to tell their own stories.

“The idea of giving a voice to the voiceless, I don’t really subscribe to. It denies people their agency. What I’m very mindful of with Dig Where You Stand, is that we don’t do that. What we’re doing is we’re saying, ‘They were here.’ Art, for me, lets you think about the trauma of the stories and look at which bits touch you, and filling in some gaps, but not the gap, because that can’t be done.”

Désirée, herself a writer championing the stories of working-class Black women and intersectionality, spoke of the inspiration for her work.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about my great-grandad, who died when he was 111 and worked on the Panama Canal. He had to run away from one job that he had because they found out he could read and write. That’s always kind of haunted me a little bit and goes towards my thinking and being a creative person, having a skill perhaps that somebody thinks you shouldn’t have. That reading is an act of resistance, that writing is an act of resistance. That something that people might take for granted is denied by other people, and what do you do with that denial, but you change it into activism.”

The diverse creativity and talent on display promises to introduce the people of Sheffield and beyond to a whole world of stories yet untold.

But the festival isn’t just about the here and now. Beyond the exhibition’s close on the 18th of August, seeing what comes next will be just as exciting.

“The reason that I want it to be a movement and not a project is because ‘project’ implies short term, and a movement is a continuation of something. It may not be me, and it shouldn’t be just me, really. It’s important to build in legacy and organise yourself around having to hand it over at some point. I’m so looking forward to that when others take it on.”

She added: “There are still untold stories of us in there we’re yet to find. It just means we have to keep digging, and we will keep digging.”

Made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported on brand and exhibition design by Peter & Paul, Dig Where You Stand takes place at five venues – Persistence Works (Yorkshire Artspace), Sheffield Cathedral, Moor Market, Sheffield Central Library and Winter Garden – from 20 July to 18 August. Free entry to all.

DIG WHERE YOU STAND FEATURED ARTISTS

WEMMY OGUNYANKIN

- Visual anthropologist and ethnographer Wemmy uses photography and poetry to challenge representations of Blackness in response to three stories from the early 20th century.

PATRICIA BUGEMBE

- Through portraiture, mixed media artist Patty B reimagines the lives of Romulus Wimbledon and Remus Stanfield, two Black men 'gifted' to Lady Rockingham in 1776.

OTIS MENSAH

- Sheffield's first Poet Laureate Otis explores the encounter between two West African sailors and a Sheffield-born missionary, interrogating the celebration of her civilising mission in Africa.

JACQUI HILSON

- Textile artist Jacqui uses fabric to honour unknown Africans who have settled here, connecting stories of West Africa and South Yorkshire.

COLE MORRIS

- Through shadow puppetry, multimedia artist Cole reimagines the journey of Joe Philips, a steel worker who built his own boat from scrap metal to sail home to Jamaica.

ELLIS WALKER

- Short story author Ellis imagines the story of an old Jamaican man contemplating his life and the way the world views his existence.

ROSA CISNEROS

- Through dance, Rosa responds to the stories of Lucretia Smith and Mathilde Boswell, two Romany Gypsy women buried in Sheffield.

SEIKO KINOSHITA

- Seiko captures the connection between Japan and Sheffield in six banners, telling the story of a steam locomotive in the late 19th century.

ASMA KABADEH AND NAJMA HEYBE

- The artists craft a fictional audio story inspired by the storybook by a Somali woman named Halima who worked in Sheffield's steel factories.

CJ SIMON

- Through poetry, CJ powerfully explores the story of Edgar Jessop Smith as he grapples with the fame of his AfricanAmerican father while adapting to working life in Sheffield.

EELYN LEE

- Eelyn and her collaborators perform a March of the Ancestors, a street procession exploring East and Southeast Asian ancestry.

DALBINDER KULAR

- Writer Dal explores the invisible story a Sikh woman named Bachan Kaur through poetry and an imagined letter exchange.

KEDISHA COAKLEY

- Kedisha uncovers the experiences of the Black boy and male servants of Wentworth Woodhouse, creating a wallpaper that imprints their lives and the colonial tension into the fabric of the house.

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