Exposed Magazine August 2023

HEARD about our NEW ‘HAPPY’ offers?

HAPPy DRINKS!

available until 6.00pm, MONDay 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 £6.00!

PLUS...

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

>> Selected house wines £4.00 per glass or £17.00 per bottle. Choose from Pinot Grigio White, Pinot Grigio Rosé or Montepulciano Abruzzo 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

HAPPY TAPAS!

available until 6.00pm, MONDay 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.

ANY 2 tapas dishes for £11.95

–– OR ––

£5.00 off

ANY Of our tapas set menus

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

EAT – DRINK – LIVE MUSIC – DANCE

AT CUBANA WE HAVE THE FULL PACKAGE:

> Delicious, authentic Spanish & Latin American Tapas

> Exciting New Cocktail & Drinks Menu

> Brand New Happy Offers

> Live Music & Entertainment – Every Night

> Big Swing Events – Every Wednesday Night

> Popular Bottomless Brunch packages

> DJ & Club nights

> Dance Classes

> Table to Table Live Magic - Every Sunday

PA S RES TA URANT

For more about the complete Cubana experience visit www.cubanatapabar.co.uk

DJ EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY FROM 1ST DECEMBER

PANORAMA RESTAURANT

FESTIVE LUNCH

VIP HOSPITALITY

INCLUDES:

owlertonstadium.co.uk 0114 234 3074

Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2DE

32:

COVER STORY

Exposed speaks to Sarah Joseph, a Trinidadian contemporary artist now based in Sheffield. Sarah discusses her artistic journey and how moving to the Steel City has helped to energise her work, which draws inspiration from her cultural background as well as current environment, emotions and interactions with others.

10: GIVING IT A KICK

We popped down to The Old Shoe, a new city-centre bar in Orchard Square, which promises one on the UK’s most diverse drinks list when it comes craft beer, artisan cider and natural wines.

14: CITY VIEWS

Chris McClure gives an honest account of growing up in Sheffield, experiencing firsthand both the delights and pitfalls of his involvement with the city’s famed 00s music scene, before eventually finding solace in his own creative projects.

28:

TRAMLINES 2023 RECAP

Fancy a debrief? Whether you were sliding through the mud down in S6 or partying in one of the city’s packed out fringe venues, here’s a throwback to the 15th edition of Tramlines Festival.

39:

SUMMER IN THE CITY

We’ve reached the business end of the summer month, so let’s not let it go to waste, eh? From immersive AR art trails to canalside street food markets, frothy celebrations of local beer to outdoor art extravaganzas, we’ve rounded up a bunch of topnotch days and nights out to see the season out in style.

46: KINGS OF THE HILL

The team behind Sheffield’s critically acclaimed Bench have announced the upcoming opening of their second venue, The Pearl at Park Hill. Here’s the full scoop ahead of its opening later this month.

The post-Tramlines slump in the Exposed office is always fun to watch: colleagues falling asleep at desks while seeking revival from their third cup of coffee, others bickering heatedly over who smashed their sets (verdicts on the McFly surprise gig range from “awesome” to “utter bobbar”) and some – in a surprising first this year – comparing photos to decide whose clothing was rendered most knackered by the infamous Hillsborough Park mud bath.

Family commitments meant that I couldn’t make it down to S6 for the main festival, but I did have an enjoyable Friday evening and Sunday afternoon pottering around a few fringe events up my end. From attending a packed-out Heeley People’s Park, where an intergalactic ‘cosmic dross’ band sang anti-authoritarian anthems about nuclear disarmament (quite on-brand for the locale), to latenight acoustic sessions serenading hundreds in the rain outside The Sheaf View, I managed to eke out my fair share of the warm, giddy Tramlines feeling that engulfs the city each July. Roll on next year, eh?

You can relive last month’s festival fun in this issue (pg. 28), but we’ve also packed in plenty of bits and bobs to look forward to this summer. There are showcases on brand-new businesses including city centre craft beer and cider haunts (pg. 10), inner-city street markets (p. 23) and exciting bar concepts heading up to Park Hill (pg. 46). Throw in a big ol’ guide to owt worth doing over the next month or two (pg. 39) and your social calendar should be looking pretty impressive.

Events and venues are a big part of what we shout about at Exposed, but people are intergral too. Our cover feature this month goes to Trinidadian artist Sarah Joseph, who discusses an artistic journey which has taken her across continents, constantly evolving and drawing inspiration from ever-changing environments. Today, Sarah finds herself embedded in Sheffield’s dynamic art scene, and Ash Birch explores how she’s found the experience so far on pages 32-36. Sticking with local legends, you can also read a stirring City Views instalment from Chris McClure (pg. 14), familiarise yourselves with hotly-tipped local act Django Jones and the Mystery Men (pg. 54) and stroll down musical memory lane with talented multiinstrumentalist Yarni (pg. 56).

The rest, as ever, you can flick through and discover over a coffee, a pint, or whatever your choice tipple for a relaxing reading break might be…

Have a good’un, and I'll catch you next month!

GAFFERS

Phil Turner (MD) phil@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Nick Hallam (Sales Director) nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk

FINANCE

Lis Ellis (Accounts) accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk

GRAFTERS

Joe Food (Editor) joe@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Ash Birch (Online Editor) ash@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Lizzy Capps (Content Creator) lizzy@exposedmagazine.co.uk

Marc Barker (Design dogsbody)

GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Iago Castro Charlon, Olivia Warburton, Heather Paterson, Cal Reid, Emma Taylor, Mark Perkins

THE BUSINESS STUFF

Exposed is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd

Unit 1b, 2 Kelham square Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD

The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd

Now open SØSTRENE GRENE, SHEFFIELD

GROSVENOR HOUSE ON CAMBRIDGE STREET

THROUGH THE LENS

NOWT FRINGE ABOUT THAT!

Photography: @lili_takesflickis

Lili was at FØRGE Warehouse on 22 July to capture the return of iconic Sheffield party Kabal. The legendary all-dayer saw residents Winston Hazel, Pipes and Toddla T back behind the decks for a stint, joined throughout the event by the likes of Serocee, Coco, Naomi Cowan, Alex Foulds, Angela Kendall and Rayman.

The Old Shoe

Owners of The Old Shoe (a new city centre bar in the former Orchard Square Schuh unit – geddit?) officially opened the venue’s doors last month.

The bar boasts one of the UK’s most diverse drinks lists, with a constantly rotating selection of 20 draught lines and two cask lines of both craft beer and cider alongside an equal number of by-the-glass options: artisan ciders, unorthodox wines from natural producers and fruit wines fermented from unexpected ingredients like rhubarb and cherries.

Mike Pomranz, who runs The Cider Hole, Sheffield’s only dedicated ciderhouse and tap room, and Matt Beety, who owns popular Abbeydale Road micro pub The Bear, announced the plans back in April.

Since then, they have taken on in-house sommelier Tom Claxton, who handcrafts his own non-alcoholic drinks – think colas, shrubs, and juices – that double as mixers for the bar’s small but carefully curated collection of spirits.

Filter coffee is available from a rotating cast of independent roasters including Sheffield’s-own Foundry, and the bar is the new home of the city’s only cider brand, Exemption Ciderhouse, which is produced on-site using local apples sourced from residential gardens.

Perhaps intimidating on first look, the vast selection was built with the customer in mind. General manager Nath Hehir, a veteran of many of Sheffield’s most beloved pubs, explains: “We have a big range of drinks to make sure we can help find the perfect one for you.”

Additionally, The Old Shoe has four fridges stocked with beers, ciders, wines, and more ready for takeaway. It’s part of a retail section which also sells the vinyl records spun throughout the day, as well as glassware, artwork, streetwear… anything really.

You can expect regular events including meet the brewers, wine tastings, comedy nights, movie screenings, and who knows what else. Details will be posted on theoldshoebar.com and @theoldsheobar on Instagram.

“At The Old Shoe we are combining accessibility with bravery,” says co-owner Matt Beety, a lifelong Sheffielder, who made his mark on the city’s beer scene after opening The Bear on Abbeydale Rd two years ago. “We also have the team to enthusiastically guide you to make the right choice: people with an interest in all types of drinks who want you to try new things, find new favourites, and, overall, enjoy your experience at The Shoe.”

Expanding consumers’ horizons has long been the vision of co-owner Mike Pomranz, including at his previous bar, The Cider Hole, which shuttered in May after an acclaimed two-year run.

“Looking at our opening day menu, I am excited about every single one of these drinks,” said Pomranz, who doubles as the in-house cidermaker and personally imports many of the beverages sold.

“I’m even more excited for the next day, and the day after that, and every day we print a new menu with new drinks on it. I love these drinks. I love the people who make them – many of whom I’ve been lucky enough to meet. And I love everyone who walks in the door looking to try something weird and wonderful and support passionate producers.”

The Old Shoe will be open five days a week: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am – 11pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 11am – 1am; Sundays, 1pm – 8pm. The venue is dog-friendly and kid-friendly. @theoldshoebar

THINGS YOU ONLY KNOW IF YOU’RE A...

GAMES DESIGNER

LEVEL DESIGNERS DON’T JUST PLACE 3D ASSETS

The basics: the role of a level designer is to design and create game levels, usually within the game engine (the core software used to make a video game). This starts at the design stage, where you create pen and paper designs and start working in the engine, and finishes at the polishing stage, where you’ve worked with all the other disciplines to get the level ready for the release of the game.

Our job is, at its core, about finding the best layout, flow and pacing for desired gameplay, visual composition and weaving in the game’s narrative. Finding the best way to showcase the gameplay and making the level a joy to navigate is fundamental for any level designer. Not to mention making everything technically work together in the level, and fixing all those wonderful bugs we make.

CUBES ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND, BUT OTHER SHAPES ARE PRETTY

Using 3D cubes is the quickest and easiest way to create a 3D space; you have everything you need to prove out some cool ideas and test the gameplay. Occasionally, though, we want to make things

pretty too, so using other basic shapes like cylinders, arches, spheres and cones all help to create different gameplay, as well as the right vibe and framing to a space.

YOU ARE THE BRIDGE

A lot of the time, you will be the one taking all the nice shiny things the other team members have made and adding them to the game’s level. I’m talking gameplay mechanics, level objects, enemies, NPC (non-playable characters), collectables (if the game has any) and more! You’re also always working closely with other disciplines to make sure that everything matches the overall vision for the level.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

COMMUNICATION IS KEY (just in case I wasn’t clear enough!). Working closely with all the other disciplines on a project is one of the most important parts of working in a team of game developers, and if you’re the bridge, you’d better make sure you’re listening, collaborating, and keeping everyone else in the loop.

And everyone’s generally happier when they are surrounded by excited collaborating team members who all know what’s going on.

3 4 5

EVERY PROJECT IS DIFFERENT

Every studio and every project will have its own definition of what a level designer does day-to-day, even if the overall idea of it stays the same.

The skillset a level designer develops will also depend on the type of game that they work on. A level designer who only works on racing games will have different experience and skills than someone who only works on 3D platformers. Not every game is the same, and you’re always learning new tricks and skills to get the best out of the levels for the game you’re making.

Georgia Rerrie-Thomas is Senior Level Designer at Sumo Sheffield

I grew up in Grenoside, one of the most northerly parts of the city. If Sheffield had been Westeros (Game of Thrones), the wall would have been situated in Grenoside. My parents always worked in public service, my dad a nurse and my mum in care. The importance of public services was made clear to me and my brother from an early age, we were taught the importance of looking after each other. I’ll always be grateful to my parents for teaching us that.

BY CHRIS MCCLURE

When I look back on growing up as a kid, I swear It was always sunny. The 90s seemed a sunny decade to me, and it felt like an exciting decade to grow up in. When I reminisce about that time, I remember playing out late until dark, putting on musical shows in my auntie’s kitchen and re-enacting whatever goal I’d witnessed at Hillsborough the previous Saturday. Magical times in my head.

My mum’s side of the family were all from Hillsborough but eventually settled in Upperthorpe. I’d spend pretty much every school holiday there. You’d walk onto the estate off Addy Street and within a quarter of a mile radius you’d have all my family’s houses – nan-nan, aunties, uncles, cousins – all within 100 yards of each other. Marcus Smith (AKA Sheffield artist, Matic Mouth) lived right in the middle of all of them. I can’t really remember a time not knowing Marcus; he’d float about the estate and I’d be mesmerised by the fact he was a relation of Johnny Nelson, a world champion boxer! Sheffield was always the boxing city. Maybe I’m guilty of over-romanticising these times, but Upperthorpe felt like a tight-knit community, much louder and more vibrant than Grenoside where I lived.

Grenoside did feel slightly separated from the rest of the city, in a geographical and a mental sense. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that years later when the music scene erupted nearly all the bands that emerged were from the northern parts of Sheffield: Grenoside, High Green, Ecclesfield and Chap. Maybe the disconnect did something to the psyche? I think there’s something in that.

As a teenager, I remember often walking to the top of Jawbone Hill, one of the highest parts of the city. Here, you’d get one of the great views over the seven hills. Sometimes I’d be accompanied by my brother. I remember us once sharing a headphone each, he insisted we listened to The Verve’s ‘This is Music’. I can still remember the lyrics as we looked down from our vantage point:

“I stand accused just like you For being born without a silver spoon Stood at the top of a hill Over my town I was found”.

I’d sit there, looking down at the sprawl below, wondering what was going on in the nooks and crannies of the city. De-

pending on where you are in the city, you get a different perspective of what is around you as a whole. I think our hills encourage creativity, and they’ve definitely shaped the way we think and view ourselves. We have an awareness that is unique to us. You’re never lost in Sheffield – just look up or down and the landscape will remind you of who you are and where you’re going… literally.

The top of that hill in Grenoside also provided me with the perfect view of Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday FC. It was a place of mystique and magic to me as a kid. In the early 90’s the team was magical. The moment I watched Chris Waddle play I was hooked – the way he twisted and turned; I was in awe of him. If I’d known at that age just how special it was, I’d have cherished it more. You assume that it will last forever, but it doesn’t. Nothing does.

Wednesday recently played in a playoff semi-final second leg at Hillsborough and we were 4-0 down from the first leg. I went to my parents in Grenoside for tea before the match, and I orchestrated it so I could walk via that hill on Jawbone on the way to the ground. I refused the offer of a lift and walked it alone. I said a little prayer to myself as Hillsborough came into view: “If there is any magic in the air tonight, please let it be over that old ground.” We won 5-1 and went to Wembley via a penalty shootout. I’m telling ya, there is magic on that hill!

Me and my brother went to Notre Dame School, which is on the other side of the city to where we lived. It had a reputation of being posh, but that wasn’t the reality. It was an absolute melting pot of everyone and anyone. You had Irish Catholics from Shirecliffe sitting next to the African-Caribbean kids from Pitsmoor, with people from Stocksbridge, Dore and everywhere in between. It opened my eyes and ears up to different people; it was genuinely life-changing.

My school reports all read the same: “Chris is a likeable person with lots of potential. However, he sometimes lacks focus and will often play the class clown. He needs to apply

WE HAVE AN AWARENESS THAT IS UNIQUE TO US. YOU’RE NEVER LOST IN SHEFFIELD – JUST LOOK UP OR DOWN AND THE LANDSCAPE WILL REMIND YOU OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU’RE GOING… LITERALLY.

Image: Rob Nicholson // Pedalo Photography

himself more.” Our lass reckons it’s still applicable, even now!

As a teenager, I played football for a team called Ecclesfield Red Rose. A lot of significant relationships were forged via this team. It was managed by Ian Carnall, dad to Joe and Louis Carnall (Milburn). The assistant manager was Rob, the dad of Tom Rowley (Milburn, Arctic Monkeys), and Rob is the man who years later would inspire me to create Steve Bracknall, the comedy character I portray online. Red Rose also had Jamie Cook (Arctic Monkeys) in the squad and Joe Green (Milburn) at right back, this team would later go on to make up a large part of the Sheffield music scene in the mid-noughties.

It was around this time that the Milburn lads would start putting their own gigs on in town at places such as The Boardwalk and the Grapes. The bus to take us to Snig Hill would cut right through the heart of north Sheffield. On the way back it would depart bang outside The Boardwalk, stopping at Hillsborough, up to Grenoside before looping back around High Green and Chap. Just like Red Rose, we have a lot to thank this bus for. Everyone seemed to catch it: our kid, who would later form Reverend and the Makers, Andy, Alex and Helders who would become Arctic Monkeys, and even members of The Harrisons. That whole scene seemed to be cemented on the back of a mainline!

If you were growing up in Sheffield at that time, you were either in a band, working for a band or going to see a band. Between 2002-2004 it felt like only our little part of the city knew about it but fast forward a year and the secret was well and truly out. Tunes like ‘Mardy Bum’, ‘A Certain Romance’

and ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ had been written, released online and our little group of mates were now at the centre of national hysteria. Don’t get me wrong, these were brilliant times for our city, but looking back, on a personal level and with the benefit of hindsight, I think I felt a little lost. Having spoken to friends since, I don’t think I was the only one. The period between 2008 to 2015 is a bit hazy and strange for me; I wasn’t sure of who I was, what I wanted or where I was heading. I started my own band, The Violet May, but I don’t look back on this time too fondly. Crazy stuff was happening but internally I was struggling with my alcohol intake.

Throughout all this madness I was known as “the kid smoking the fag on the Arctic’s album”. It consumed me in all honesty. I know that may sound ridiculous from the outside looking in, but that’s the truth. Don’t get me wrong, being connected to that record put me in situations and in the company of people I could never have dreamed of, but I found it difficult to have the same conversation over and over: “How did it come about? What’s Alex really like? Do you still see the lads?” Having to talk about other people’s success on a daily basis starts to take its toll and it mashed my head up. At the same time, my ego needed it bringing up, it kept me in fantasy land, meaning that I didn’t have to face up to the reality of me or my drinking.

I started to become bitter towards Sheffield. It was as if I’d fallen asleep on the back of that mainline bus, missed my stop and all my mates had got off and left me there. It’s probably the only time in my life where I felt resentment for this amazing city. In hindsight Sheffield was never the problem, the problem was me.

In 2019 I was encouraged to seek help for my alcoholism. I did what was suggested by some very kind Sheffield folk, who had been through a similar experience, and it changed absolutely everything. I didn’t realise the support that was on offer in this city I sought help from people that I identified with. It gave me a sense of perspective, just like that hill on Jawbone Hill had done previously.

Immediately after putting the drink down, I studied Occupational Therapy at Sheffield Hallam University. The influence that the universities have on Sheffield shouldn’t be underestimated. I’d spent all my life in a city that was famous for its creativity yet I’d never had any creative output of my own, Steve Bracknall gave me that. I’d had the idea years before but due to my drinking, it mainly consisted of lying in bed and thinking about it, hating myself for doing nothing with it and worried that no one would like it. Sobriety has given me the chance to get it out there. The response online has been incredible, and it’s allowed me the opportunity to work with a production company. We will pitch the

project to TV in the coming months.

Who knows if it will succeed? It doesn’t really matter in a way. What matters is that I’ve got something to call my own. Bracknall couldn’t be based in any other city. There’s something about Bracknall’s humour and charm that is quintessentially Sheffield. I think he’s suffering from a lot of the same issues I was: unfulfilled potential, no creative outlet and at times an over-inflated ego. I couldn’t imagine it coming from any other part of the UK. It has been a conscious decision to make Sheffield central to the story, to have normal, everyday folk be a part of it.

Sheffield has provided the backdrop for all the highs and lows of my life thus far; it’s been a constant. It’s so important to me that I’m from here. I feel like we are at an important crossroads for the city. I hope we don’t try and follow in the footsteps of Leeds or Manchester. I’m by no means a city planner but it feels like our strengths lie in being creative –whether that be steel, music, film or whatever., we are innovators. We make things here, things of quality. That should be at the heart of any decisions that are being made.

During lockdown, I had this constant urge to walk in and around Sheffield. I would take walks to the empty city centre, to Upperthorpe and Hillsborough. I’d just soak it up and look around me. I think I was probably looking for some sort of security in what felt like really insecure times. That same feeling of when you hug your mother. That’s what Sheffield gives me – security. I’ll always be grateful that I get them feelings from my home city, we welcome people here. We should be very proud to call it home.

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UPFRONT

SPOTLIGHT ON:

The Schoolrooms and Assembly Bar & Bistro

Nestled away in the picturesque village of Low Bradfield, a former Victorian-era school housing a much-loved café, aptly named The Schoolrooms, has recently broadened its offering by opening a classy new bar and bistro space, Assembly, adding a decidedly modern twist to the historic venue.

The building itself dates back to the 19th century, when it served as a junior and infants school educating children in the local community until its closure in 1985. Decades later, the building was beautifully restored, preserving its original features while incorporating contemporary design elements.

The family-run business opened in 2011, initially as a farm shop and café with a deli counter and butchery also on-site. The ethos was “to give school dinners a good name!” and the location quickly became a popular stop-off for local residents and walkers looking to enjoy a day out in the Peak District.

The farm shop eventually became a gift shop for a matter of time, before the decision was made at the beginning of this year to commence with a significant renovation of the award-winning café space, closing the adjoining gift shop to make way for additional seating and a brand-new bar and bistro venue in the process, Assembly.

“Assembly opened around Easter,” says Charlotte at The Schoolrooms. “It looks amazing and it’s been going really well so far. It only opens in the evenings, Wednesday to Sunday, so people have been coming along to sample our cocktails (we have a lot of great speciality gins), guest beers from local breweries and to try out the menu, which puts a modern twist on traditional British dining.”

While the award-winning Schoolrooms focuses on providing fuel for the day via its hearty breakfasts and lunches, Assembly takes on the evening shift from 4pm ‘til late, Wednesday to Sunday (1pm ‘til late on weekends) and serves up a slightly more refined experience while honouring its commitment to seasonal menus stocked by local suppliers.

A brief glance at Assembly’s offering will reveal everything from sea bass and gnocchi dishes to ‘fancy’ fish and chips (using Bradfield Brewery beer for the batter, of course) and indulgent Yorkshire puddings loaded with beef brisket, crispy onions and topped with a red wine jus.

The Wednesday and Thursday evening Supper Clubs have been a huge hit with punters, giving diners the opportunity to enjoy a discounted midweek treat: two courses for £19 or three for £24. However, if you’re looking for a more casual

culinary affair, a tempting bar snacks menu serves everything from bread and olives to truffle fries and harissa halloumi bites.

If it’s a warm day, bar drinks and nibbles from Assembly can be taken outside and enjoyed while basking in the delights of the great British countryside. Alfresco evening meals are not yet on offer (though it’s something they’re looking into), but The Schoolrooms has plenty of external seating for summer coffee and food during the daytime.

Speaking of plans for the summer, Charlotte tells us there are a few more tricks up their sleeve yet: “We introduced the Supper Clubs offering at Assembly, which are doing great, and the next step is to introduce some live music evenings –acoustic nights, dinner and dancing, that sort of thing. We’ll be announcing any new events on our socials, so keep an eye out for that.”

“We feel really privileged to be based in this setting, a quintessentially British village that’s only a 20-minute or so drive from the city centre. There’s also a short bus from Hillsborough that drops you off nearby. We’ve got outdoor seating overlooking the cricket pitch, there’s a play area for kids in the garden and we’re obviously next to some beautiful walking routes. It’s just a lovely way to spend the day – and now an evening!”

The Schoolrooms is the perfect cafe to kick start your day in the Peaks or just take a break and enjoy a hearty meal

Café & kitchen open Monday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm.

INTRODUCING

Assembly, our all new, late night, neighbourhood Bar & Bistro, working the evening shift on behalf of The Schoolrooms.

With the help of our newly acquired, talented chefs, our aim is to provide a superb dining experience for all occasions, putting a modern twist on traditional British dining.

Open Wednesday to Friday evenings 4pm til late Saturday 1pm til late Sunday for drinks only from 1pm - 8pm.

CHOO-CHEWCHOONS!

A collection of the city’s most successful event organisers has announced that it’s full steam ahead for a brand-new, family-friendly street food market and live music showcase in the space outside Sheffield Train Station.

The first SoundBite will take place across the weekend of 5th and 6th August, showcasing six Sheffield-based street food vendors, a stage with live music from up-and-coming Sheffield artists, as well as a bar, coffee from Motore Café, and family-friendly activities.

The event is free to attend and runs from midday to 10pm on both Saturday and Sunday and, given that the event takes place on the concourse of the station, they are hoping to have an offlicence onsite for train beers!

The team behind Skyline, a multivenue dance music festival, Ciaron Elm who organises the popular Woodseats Live music festival, and Chris Hanson, a

UPFRONT

chef and founder of Blend Kitchen will all lend their expertise to the new event.

Skyline and SoundBite organiser, Phil McCue, told Exposed: “This has been one we’ve been planning for a while and we’re unbelievably excited to get it announced!

“SoundBite will showcase the best of Sheffield, with incredible independent food vendors and local musicians taking over the train station concourse to offer something completely new.”

Fellow Skyline and SoundBite organiser, Simon Tomlinson, added: “We’ve brought on board Ciaron Elm, the mind behind Woodseats Live and Heeley & Meersbrook Live, to curate a line-up of the finest Steel City talent to keep people entertained over two days of phenomenal

local food and drink!”

Rounding out the team is Chris Hanson, who will draw on his decades of experience in the food industry, most recently running the Exposed Awardwinning café and restaurant Blend Kitchen, to help represent the breadth of diversity in the Steel City’s food scene.

Long-term, if the inaugural event proves a success, the ambition is to run the event as monthly staple on the Sheffield events calendar. In doing so, and perhaps more importantly, they plan to give back to Sheffield communities through the event and are looking to link up with organisation across the city.

Skyline’s Simon Tomlinson explained: “One of the key things for SoundBite is looking at how we can give back to the Sheffield and offer opportunities to underrepresented communities.”

Phil added: “I played at youth centres growing up, and I would love to give back to those types of places. It would be great to have a process where, over time, some of those kids could be provided with a stage. It’s what Sheffield’s about.”

If you’d like to be involved in a SoundBite event in the future, then fire over an email to hello@soundbitemarket. co.uk.

For more info on the August event, head facebook.com/ SoundBiteSheffield or follow @ soundbitesheffield

UPFRONT hidden gem

THE HIDDEN GEM CAFE

Fittingly set back from the main road connecting the southwestern part of the city to the Peak District, you’ll find The Hidden Gem Café at the back of a narrow lane overlooking Bents Green playing fields. Its leafy location and fuel-giving coffee and breakfasts make it a popular pitstop with walkers heading for a day out in the Peaks, and such is its reputation for culinary excellence, you’ll find it bustling away with all manner of visitors most mornings – especially on weekends!

The café was set up by Work LTD, a unique local charity that offers the chance for people with learning disabilities to reach their potential in life. Their students gain valuable work experience in the café, developing important life skills and providing a stellar service for customers while they’re at it.

Their award-winning menu changes seasonally and is created using local produce freshly prepared onsite each day. When Exposed visited last month, the kitchen was serving up everything from their famed Full English breakfast to Greek lamb sandwiches, orzo salads and seitan bratwursts – all of which could be washed down with homemade drinks specials including flavoured iced teas, lemonades and cold brew coffee.

“We keep switching things up to ensure the menu stays seasonal and fresh,” café manager Charlie Sullivan told us. “Our head chef Sam Baker is very talented, and we’ll soon be reintroducing pop-up evenings – Italian nights, tapas nights, etc –with set menus and bookings only, so we’re looking forward to them returning.”

“We get great feedback on the quality of the food and the welcoming atmosphere here. Our students are the backbone of what we do – whether that’s serving food or growing the herbs we use in the kitchen. There’s a lot of good work that goes into this place.”

We can confirm that the food is stunning. Exposed were treated to a sumptuous asparagus and crispy poached egg dish served with toasted ciabatta, salty parma ham and spicy sriracha aioli, as well as a beautifully presented breakfast hash made with chilli, fennel, sausage meat, eggs and spicy ketchup. Both of these delights were seen off in truly indulgent fashion – a generous portion of strawberry cheesecake French toast.

After recently undergoing an extension, around 50 diners can now sample these delights inside the modern-feeling, spacious café space, while a welcoming al fresco dining space can fit another 30 outside – with scope to get more seating onto the field during the summer months.

Their growth in size has been complemented by the opening of an onsite deli shop, showcasing local produce and a few interesting collaborations.

“We’re really excited to get the deli open,” says Charlie. “We’ve got a couple of interesting local collabs that we’ll be stocking in there. Our students will be heading down to Bullion Chocolate to make a limited edition bar there, and we’ll also be stocking our limited edition Henderson’s Relish bottle designed by Sheffield artist Luke Horton.”

“All proceeds from the café and deli shop goes directly back into the charity. Covid was a tough for one us, so we’re really pleased to be able to pick things back up again, increasing our offer to customers and launching some new projects. We just want to remind people that even though we are hidden away, we’re still very much here and looking forward to welcoming people in!”

hiddengemcafe.co.uk

@hiddengemcafe

0114 2620094

S11 7TB (off Folkwood Grove)

It was only a matter of time until we matched up this much-loved Ringinglow retreat with its namesake feature – a true hidden gem, by name and by nature.

TRAMLINES 23: SINGING IN THE RAIN

EXPOSED’S ASH BIRCH TAKES REFLECTS ON THE MUD-SOAKED MADNESS WHICH ENSUED AT HILLSBOROUGH PARK FOR THE 15TH EDITION OF TRAMLINES FESTIVAL.

Right, let’s get this out of the way – the weather was shit on Sunday! Sheffield suffered a biblical downpour and my jean shorts and windbreaker did little to nothing to stave off the cold and wet (everything waterproof I owned was already covered in mud after the first two days). Along with a decent swathe of punters, I ditched, unable to bounce my extra onboard weight, during Reverend, but was the weekend a washout overall?

Well, no, not exactly. The weather on the first two days, while treacherous underfoot, was clement enough, and the line-up threw up enough thrills and spills as to make Sunday’s losing battle worth the endless mud yomps for most people.

Bloc Party stole the show for me on Friday night, and the early afternoon Zutons party, that followed an hour and half delay to doors opening on Sunday, was a welcome bright spot as the heavens opened.

But, more so than any other year, the line-up felt pretty safe to me. I’m thinking the likes of Blossoms, Courteeners, and Red Rum Club, who have all been stalwarts of the festival and while loyalty is to be commended, you know what you’re getting with each of these acts.

While there were slightly more leftfield acts to be found – High School on Saturday were a surprise and there was plenty of up-and-coming Sheffield-based loveliness over at The Library stage, thanks to Pattern and Push and BBC Music Introducing – I think it’s probably time to accept that I’m not the target audience for Tramlines anymore.

And that’s fine – chin stroking, Nathan Barleyesque levels of pretention is not for everyone! I’m also sober, so beer jacket supported japes are out of the question! So yeah, I’m not their key demographic now, which probably make my opinions a little unfair.

So, if it’s not for me, what about the people it is for? If the office is anything to go by, their diverse snapshot of the festival makes for a far sunnier outlook. Kate Nash’s bitter lemon barbs and awesome outfit, The Mary Wallopers’ riotous Irish folk fun, Everly Pregnant Brothers throwing breadcakes into the crowd – it all went down a storm. Throw in Sugababes, McFly, Katy B… it’s

unashamedly a pop festival now and rain and mud weren’t going to dampen people’s good time!

Tramlines never fails to bring everyone together for one massive weekend of bumping into everyone you’ve ever met. That side of things is great. I spoke to so many people over the weekend and the majority consensus was that they were enjoying the weekend away from their respective grinds. I didn’t ask the mud man who was skidding about by the main stage, but I’m fairly confident, at least in the moment, they were loving life! Faith over at Annie Jude’s in ‘Little Hillsborough’ was living her best life. All in all, the outlook was positive, and I think my line-up misgivings were probably compounded and influenced by the bad weather. Again, probably unfairly.

The ‘it’s not what it was’ argument is, quite frankly, boring now, because it was never going to be when it moved, was it? And The Fringe, which I dipped into after drying off on Sunday, does retain that original DIY spirit. Venues across the city are still packed out.

That said, one issue that rumbles on and I think needs revisiting is the policy of not letting people in and out. This year’s Sunday weather made the folly of this even more evident. While families were given the opportunity to organise dispensation to leave with kids and return alone before 7.30pm, I’m not sure that was wider public knowledge. And I do understand the organiser’s argument that police incidents of antisocial behaviour have dropped in recent years, but I still think the option to dip in and out might have been worth revising, at least this time around.

So, yes, the new regime gets things wrong at times, but it’s impossible to deny how much good and positivity Tramlines brings to the city. However, I think the important question, that has largely gone unanswered in all of this, is how is Steve Bracknall gonna get the lads at the Royal Oak up to speed on that field? RIP to Royal Oak’s pre-season training!

Super early bird tickets are on sale for Tramlines 2024 (Friday 26th-Sunday 28th July) costing £89.50. Only an extremely limited number of tickets are available at this price from Monday 24th July 6pm at www.tramlines.org.uk.

TRAMLINES

A VIEW FROM THE FRINGE

Club, aka Chris Arnold, whose stupendously good reggae and dub remixes of Fab Four classics have been going down a storm at festivals up and down the country. But the scheduling here didn’t do him any favours. His early afternoon set at a drizzly Dev Green didn’t attract the crowd it deserved, with the gloomy skies keeping people away and hinting that a different kind of storm was on the way.

Relentless rain. Grey, overcast skies. Oh, and mud. Lots and lots and lots of mud. Yep - the UK festival season is in full swing, and it’s as wet as ever. But when did a bit of rain ever dampen our spirits? Anyway, this is par for the course for Tramlines. There were similarly biblical conditions during the very first edition back in 2009, but that didn’t stop the festival becoming an immediate success. Start as you mean to go on and all that.

Fast forward to 2023, and Tramlines has become as much a staple of Sheffield culture as stainless steel, Hendo’s and unprompted rambles about the weather. While the main Tramlines Festival has gradually expanded into Hillsborough Park (via a brief sojourn in Ponderosa), The Fringe at Tramlines remains stubbornly rooted in Sheffield city centre. And it’s still ‘Free For All’ -

just as the original Tramlines promised in 2009.

The Fringe certainly hasn’t stood still, mind. 2023’s offering is more diverse than ever before, with a dizzying mix of styles, genres and venues that make the main event’s Indie Disco 2008 lineup look a little pedestrian in comparison.

My Fringe began at the main stage at Devonshire Green on Saturday afternoon. I was there to check out The Beatles Dub

After the set I wander down Division Street. With alreadymerry punters spilling out into the streets and the strains of live music bleeding out of every bar, it feels like the proper beating heart of the festival around here. But I had an appointment to make on the fringes (geddit?) of the city centre. I’m heading up to Heeley People’s Park to check out Pax in the Park, which is run by the same team behind the Dorothy Pax. The vibe up in Heeley is a little different to Division Street, in the same way that the Sun is a little bit warmer than Earth. Here, it’s more vegan beer and sequins than plastic glasses and polo shirts.

I’m here to see Astrels - the latest project of bonafide Sheffield legend Steve Edwards. Steve has been writing catchy, uplifting, joyous pop songs since around the time of the Big Bang, and the spaceship funk of Astrels is only a slight deviation from his sun-kissed songbook. It was the perfect middle finger to the ominous grey clouds

gathering above.

It wouldn’t be a proper festival without walking for bloody miles, so I hotfoot it back into town and make it into Crystal just before the heavens open. I’m there in time to check out the fittingly named Floodhounds, who bring massive riffs and massiver tunes to the party during a 30-minute set of rip-roaring rock’n’roll fun. Outside, Division Street is slowly but surely degenerating into fully-fledged lunacy. I pass by a makeshift tent blaring out 90s garage before making my way to a Sheffield institution: the Frog and Parrot.

This legendary venue remains one of the best live venues in the city. I’m here to see the highly-touted Any Old Iron play a sweaty, high-energy set of fuzzy garage rock to a packed crowd. It’s all wall-shaking guitars, monolithic riffs and debauched frontman antics, who almost certainly would have swung from a chandelier had there been one present. He had to make do with climbing the bannisters instead.

I did move on to The Washington afterwards for a late-night dance and drink, but at this point my memory starts to get a little hazy, which is probably for the best. You win again, alcohol. Some things never change, and nor does The Fringe. It stays true to the original, idealistic principles of this most Sheffield of festivals.

NICK HARLAND ROUNDS UP HIS PICK OF THE ACTS FROM THE FRINGE AT TRAMLINES…

PHOTOGRAPHY: Meli Forris, Mal Whichelow and Issac Johnson

COVER STORY

CANVAS OF CHANGE

For this month’s cover interview, Exposed delves into the world of Sarah Joseph, an accomplished Trinidadian contemporary artist who has recently crossed continents to make Sheffield her home. With a background deeply rooted in Trinidad’s rich cultural tapestry, Sarah explains to Ash Birch how her artistic journey and evolving style have been constantly influenced by the environment, emotions and people that surround her.

Can you start by telling us a little about your background and how you got into art?

I’ve always been artistically inclined. As a young person my talent was encouraged by my family and refined by a robust art department at my high school, Holy Name Convent, in Port of Spain, Trinidad. After completing my A-levels, I pursued a BFA in Painting and Set Design at Howard University in Washington DC. I returned home and taught at my alma mater for three years while submitting to group exhibitions and raising my two young children. Around 1999 I began exhibiting, mainly at Horizons Art Gallery – and I continued to exhibit with them for about twenty years. I’ve also exhibited in St. Lucia and Fort Lauderdale.

How has your style developed over the years?

Early in my career, after living in the US to attend university, I returned home and was drawn to the many indigenous festivals that flourish side by side in Trinidad & Tobago’s diverse multicultural society, and I depicted these as well as scenes of everyday life in either watercolour or acrylic on canvas. Over the years, as I began to develop my artistic voice, I chose acrylic as my vehicle and my mode of expression became increasingly semi-abstract. By then, my style was becoming more confident, and I experimented with resist techniques, producing vibrant layers of organic transparencies, which I used to govern the emotional tone of each painting, creating a visual tension with the figures in the foreground. Having mounted several solo shows since then, I now feel a certain freedom in my expression which is leading me down an ever more abstract path.

How would you describe your work?

All my pieces are acrylic on canvas, and while it is continually changing, I would describe my style roughly as stylized figurative painting that employs elements of cubism and symbolism among other ‘isms’. A distinctive feature is an organic pointillist variation that simultaneously renders texture and models the figure. My work, however, continues to evolve.

Where do you find inspiration?

My work is typically inspired by cultural expressions, my environment and the emotions evoked on my human journey as I interact with family, friends and strangers alike. I find it cathartic to paint through whatever emotional issues I may be experiencing, and the undeniable reward comes when others tell me that they resonate with a personal issue that I’ve depicted, and how it has helped them to see that they’re not alone.

You moved to Sheffield relatively recently. How’ve you found the art scene in the city?

The Sheffield art scene is dynamic, and I’ve found the artists here welcoming and supportive. I visited Art in the Gardens two years ago, where I met award-winning artist Cath Dunn. Although she hails from Edinburgh, she’s been a Walkley resident for many years and she’s been instrumental in my assimilation into the scene. With her encouragement I joined the Walkley

THE DRASTIC CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT THAT CAME FROM MOVING TO THE UK HAS ENERGISED MY WORK GREATLY. THE CHANGING OF THE SEASONS, THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF FLORA AND FAUNA AND EVEN THE DIFFERENT QUALITY OF LIGHT HAVE ALL INFLUENCED MY CURRENT WORK SIGNIFICANTLY.

Edge Artists and more recently I was invited to join the Peak District Artisans. It was in setting up a Walkley Edge group exhibition in 2021 that I met Kelham Island art scene stalwart, curator and sculptor Simon Wigglesworth-Baker, who has also been invaluable in helping me navigate my career here. Through him I had a space at the KIAC studios in my neighbourhood, Kelham Island, for Open Up Sheffield earlier this year, an event which contributes greatly to artist exposure in this progressive city.

How does it compare to your birthplace, Trinidad?

While Trinidad’s art scene is also vibrant, it’s not as multi-disciplinary as in the UK and is dominated by painters, more specifically landscape artists. However, due to its smaller size there are fewer opportunities to exhibit. At home I was attached to a very successful commercial gallery, Horizons, run by co-owners Cheryl Blanc and the late Richard Gordon, and over the course of a 20-year stint in their capable hands my career was nurtured and in fact flourished, as I found a group of collectors who warmed to my unusual style and at times emotional subject matter.

Has your move to Sheffield changed how you approach your art or the output?

The drastic change of environment that came from moving to the UK has energised my work greatly. The changing of the seasons, the different type of flora and fauna and even the different quality of light have all influenced my current work significantly. Living in such an artistically supportive environment has given me the courage to push my boundaries and experiment with new techniques. More recently, I felt the freedom to drive my work towards an ever more abstract expression. Having the use of the studio at KIAC has given me the opportunity to work large, something which I’ve been yearning to do since I left home.

What is your take on the city?

Sheffield is an energetic city which champions its creative industries and strives for inclusivity. As such, my husband and I feel so at home in the relatively short period of two years that we’ve been here. We love the northern warmth and generosity of spirit which is so similar to home.

Do you dabble in other forms of creativity?

Yes, I love music and when I was about seven years old I was taught to play a Venezuelan cuatro – a four-stringed musical instrument – by my maternal grandfather. Due to its very close proximity to Trinidad, Venezuelan folk music, called Parranda, became popular during Trinidad’s Christmas celebrations many years ago and is still practiced today. I play our national instrument, the steel pan, on a very amateur level and I also sing in my husband’s studio, mostly jingles.

What pieces are you most proud of to date?

That’s difficult to say as my work continues to develop as I grow artistically. I could tell you instead which pieces are most special to me.

I’m always intrigued by a narrative and one of my most significant pieces was a triptych called ‘Dry Winds of Easter’, done in 2014, which was taken from a poem of the same name by an accomplished St. Lucian poet, Adrian Augier. In the lengthy poem, he chronicled the death of his grandmother to cancer, with vivid highlights of her life on earth as her spirit travelled from this world into the next. My husband who is a keyboardist and producer was commissioned by Augier to compose a soundtrack for the poem. While listening to it repeatedly, I became haunted by the words and music and was driven to paint my interpretation of it, which, luckily, the poet was happy with! I went on to interpret two more poems with his permission and the triptych is now happily in his home in St. Lucia. I also value pieces that are able to emerge from deep emotion: an example being ‘Release, done in 2020 during such a painful and turbulent time for the world. I was so acutely affected that I was unable to do much creatively; however, I found it cleansing to paint this piece which represents my letting go of what was constricting my emotional and spiritual growth. Worth mentioning is the first piece that I completed in Sheffield, ‘Autumn Spirit’, which won ‘Best Figurative and Portrait’ at Art in the Gardens 2022.

What’s the best bit of advice you’ve received as an artist?

A more experienced artist told me to keep trying new things and pushing my boundaries artistically, as it keeps the work and the process of creation instinctive.

Sarah Joseph’s next show will take place 1-3 September at Art in the Gardens and then a solo exhibition starting in the second week of September at the Gardener’s Rest, Neepsend.

@sarahjoseph.artist

Ship Inn

312 shalesmoor, s3 8ul

wishing our local sides good luck for the new season

sky sports and tnt sports showing premier league and championship games

HAPPY HOUR

20% off all food pint of pravha, magners original, any cask ale or medium glass of house wine for £4

Tuesday - friday til 7pm

a proper boozer

312 shalesmoor, s3 8ul

SCRAN, SUP, SHOP AND PARTY

4-5 August

The 74th instalment of Peddler Market returns to 92 Burton Road with its usual top-notch lineup of award-winning street food, craft beers from some of the country’s best breweries, live music from emerging local talent, market stalls from local indie businesses and plenty more to keep you entertained. @peddlermkt

SWING THE NIGHT AWAY

1 August // 5 September

On the first Tuesday of every month, the highly-acclaimed Jazz Hot Six will be bringing their energetic swinging style to The Dorothy Pax at Sheffield’s Canal Basin. Playing everything from traditional Gypsy Swing through to the bebop era of the early ‘50s and beyond, it’s the perfect spot for a classy midweek boogie.

RAISE A GLASS

3-6 August

Combining the finest breweries from across Sheffield and Yorkshire with one of the city’s favourite stretches for independent bars and pubs, Abbeydale Road Beer Festival returns for a celebration of craft beer and will be spread across 12 iconic venues: The Bear, Dead Donkey, Turner’s Bottle & Tap, Over the Yardarm, Glass Frog, Abbeydale Tap, Picture House Social, Barrowboy, Two Thirds Beer Co., The Teller, The Gin Bar and The Broadfield.

VISIT THE SEASIDE

1-29 August

A family favourite returns as Sheffield by the Seaside sees the Peace Gardens transformed into a traditional British beach resort –complete with fairground rides, refreshments and a whole lotta sand. Bring your bucket and spade any day of the week, 10am-6pm, and get involved! Free

STAYING OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

EXPLORE AN AR(T) TRAIL!

Sheffield’s augmented reality art trail, Look Up, has recently been updated with an addition from artist Corbin Shaw, whose artwork commissioned for Get Together Festival can now be viewed via the bespoke ‘Look Up AR’ app, available for free on Apple and Android devices. Once downloaded, a handy map will guide you around central Sheffield, allowing you the chance to view and interact with various interactive characters and designs.

GET YOUR GAME ON

Open every day 22 July - 3 September: 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.

Discover worlds real and imagined with Fast Travel, a new way to explore the National Videogame Museum this summer. Visitors can explore a display of rare gaming objects such as maps, manuals and artefacts before traversing the gallery, hopping off at any game station that takes their fancy, featuring old favourites alongside a host of fresh games and instalments. Pre-book tickets at thenvm.org.

VISIT A CANALSIDE STREET FOOD MARKET

12 August

Quayside Festival is the monthly street food market situated at the heart of Sheffield’s canal basin. Amongst the cobble pathways down at Victoria Quays you’ll find a host of amazing street food traders along with independent craft stalls, live music/DJs, cocktails and craft beer.

ATTEND A BOTANICAL BASH

20 August

Pollen Market, Sheffield’s much-loved innercity flower market, brings a huge abundance of greenery and local produce to the revitalised Grey to Green corridor by Lady’s Bridge in Castlegate. Joining proceedings will be a mix of local traders, live music and art, along with a mouth-watering selection of street food.

@pollenmarket

SIP AT SEVEN HILLS

25-27 August

Sheffield’s Seven Hills Beer Festival returns for 2023, showcasing a wide selection of the best cask beers available from local and regional craft brewers, plus live music, street food and a premium gin bar at Sheffield Tigers Rugby Club (feel free to catch a game and show some support while you’re there!).

TOUCH THE SKY...LINE

27 August

After the huge success of eight consecutive soldout parties, Skyline are taking things to a whole new level and showcasing more of Sheffield’s finest talent across four stages at FØRGE Warehouse and Southbank Courtyard. Expect festival-level production, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, plus some of best DJ talents found amongst these seven hills.

Tickets (from £10) are available from fixr. co.uk

STEP BACK IN TIME

28 August

Organised by Sheffield City Council in partnership with The Friends of Norfolk Heritage Park, The University of Sheffield and the National Fairground and Circus Archive, Sheffield Fayre celebrates its 20th year this month! Free to attend, the event brings together a wide selection of traditional activities and things to see from a 1950s vintage village to kite-flying demos.

JOIN THE (ROCK N ROLL) CIRCUS

1-3 September

Heading to Don Valley Bowl for three days and nights, the Rock N Roll Circus combines the best in musical talent with the weird and wonderful world of the circus. Alongside a varied live music bill containing the likes of Noel Gallagher, Self Esteem, Happy Mondays, The Cribs, Natalie Imbruglia and Gatecrasher Classical, guests will also be treated to performances from resident aerialists, stilt walkers, fortune tellers and all manner of circus-themed entertainment. Tickets available from rocknrollcircus.co.uk

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN SHEFF

1-3 September

A collaborative festival event between a multitude of arts and culture groups based in the city will be taking place over the first weekend of September Returning for its third annual event in 2023, the Sheffield Showcase brings together a variety of cultural activity that takes place in the cityfeaturing film screenings, music performances, art exhibits and family-friendly activities - collectively creating a full-weekend programme showcasing the city.

For details of all activity taking place, please visit the event programme page: ourfaveplaces.co.uk/sheffield-showcase

ENJOY ART AL FRESCO

2-3 September

The annual Art in the Gardens, held in Sheffield Botanical Gardens, showcases arguably the largest outdoor art market in the North of England, artists, craft makers and visitors come from across the UK to attend the weekend-long celebration of culture. It’s the perfect opportunity to buy direct from the artists, while making the most of the onsite refreshment facilities and relaxing in the park.

Tickets (Adult £6, under-16 free) are available from eventbrite.co.uk

RAVE WITH ALL THE FAMILY

10 September

Network Sheffield welcomes the award-wrinning Big Fish Little Fish back for a special 10th birthday. The family-friendly rave project have been helping parents be responsibly irresponsible since 2013 and you can expect a banging mix of house music, multi-sensory dancefloor and childfriendly chillout spots and play areas.

Tickets (£8-£10) are available from eventbrite.co.uk

The former home of Oakbrook Road micro pub, The Crafty One, was recently transformed into a cosy new micro bar serving up a carefully curated selection of craft ales, organic wines, spirits and cocktails.

After reopening in March under the old name, new owner Mac McGrath now feels he can finally call the place home, after changing its name to the quirky moniker, The Wonky Labrador.

Mac took over the bar in January this year and quickly enlisted the help of friend and artist Harriet Lucy Designs, who created the fabulous murals that now adorn the previously bare walls.

As well as overhauling the look of the space, Mac paid careful attention to the drinks list, which now features five rotating taps, often including local breweries such as Grizzly Grains, SMOD and Abbeydale, as well as a range of gluten free beers – a market Mac is keen to cater for following a recent coeliac diagnosis.

Once the renovations were complete, Mac had planned to change the name of the bar further down the line, but his hand was forced when an Ilkestonbased micro pub called The Crafty One got in touch to explain the name was copyrighted. Mac immediately knew what he wanted it to change it to and commissioned Megan Littlewood to create a sign, that was then painted by Molly Jones.

Mac explains: “Growing up, my dad had four Labradors. One called Spanner, who had a neck so thick you couldn’t fit a lead on him, Jake and Thistle, who was a chocolate lab, and then we had Meg.She was the sweetest dog, but was attacked as a pup and that harrowing experience just made her a little bit wonky.”

Despite being as newbie to the bar-owning game, Mac has plenty of experience, working in hospitality for the previous 18-years. For the majority of that time he worked for Whitbread, but he also enjoyed a stint in New Zealand, which combined with his Lincolnshire heritage, explains his less-than Yorkshire accent!

“New Zealand definitely had a big impact on me. I’ve got still a couple of friends who live over there, one’s even got his own craft beer bar in Nelson, where I was staying. The craft beer scene over there really kicked off about eight-yearsago and I really loved it.”

When Mac returned to the UK, he continued to work in hospitality, eventually ending up as assistant manager at The Furnace. At this time in his life, he was struggling with his mental health and felt like he was just ‘turning up for work’, rather than putting his all into it.

“Everything was going against me with the corporate hospitality mindset,” explains Mac. “I think I was just sick to the back teeth with it.

“My problem has always been not dealing with things. 15 years ago, I lost my eldest brother and my youngest sister within two weeks of each other.

“I didn’t deal with it. I just made shitty,

flippant comments! But it catches up with you down the line. I’m very honest now, whereas before I used to hide things. I’m in a lot better place than I was even a year ago, when I got let go by The Furnace, quite rightly, because I wasn’t performing my duties. I needed that kick up the arse.

“I booked some time away, to try and rediscover what I loved doing, and I love conversing with people – and then this place came up. I want to share that experience and make that a big part of the bar, so we’ll be running mental health evenings every Monday, where people can come, relax and talk with likeminded people. It’s about breaking down boundaries slowly but surely.”

As well as the mental health evenings, Mac has also planned more traditional Meet the Brewer and Wine Tasting events. Pop in for a pint and find out more.

@thewonkylabrador

SØSTRENE GRENE BRINGS ‘HYGGE’ TO SHEFFIELD

International Danish retail chain, Søstrene Grene, has brought its affordable, Scandiinspired homewares to Sheffield City Centre as part of the Heart of the City development.

Søstrene Grene is the popular lifestyle and interior retailer bringing affordable homewares and ‘Instagrammable’ designs to the UK. All whilst sharing the Danish notion of ‘hygge’ – a special state of contentment, warmth and belonging, the brand encourages shoppers to make time to slow down and enjoy life.

Founded by the Grene family in 1973, who still run the organisation today, Søstrene Grene in not only celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but an incredible expansion across Europe. The chain currently has over 275 stores worldwide, with existing stores throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, the brand has plenty more exciting launches scheduled for this year and beyond, with plans to open 100 stores across the UK by 2030.

Now open in Grosvenor House on Cambridge Street in Sheffield, the new store is part of the Heart of the City regeneration development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and Queensberry, their Strategic Development Partner. Søstrene Grene’s Scandiinspired products with minimalistic designs and affordable price points to reflect the current climate are perfect for first-time buyers, students, budget home renovations and more. The brand is also becoming increasingly popular with interior design content creators, with Søstrene Grene popping up across TikTok feeds and Instagram reels around Europe.

Each store offers a wide, ever-changing assortment of products for home and interior, kitchen, craft and DIY, party items, school and office, as well as toys, accessories and “minihome” products for children.

Sheffield customers can expect monthly product drops, with an updated wide range of homewares, furniture, seasonal decorations, gifting, art supplies, stationery and much more. Just in time for Christmas too – yes, we’re already talking about it – Søstrene Grene

will become the ideal place to purchase aesthetic, low-priced items, including tree decorations, wrapping paper, cards and festive interiors.

The 520 sq. metre unit will also continue the roll out of Søstrene Grene’s latest store concept, ‘Retail for the Senses’, a unique shopping experience designed to invoke the senses. By evolving its trademark labyrinth layout of wooden crates under relaxed, subdued lighting and the soundtrack of classical music, the new store concept helps to create a more interesting and freeflowing journey for customers.

The store is particularly exciting for UK Joint Venture partner, Jonathan Cooper, who calls Sheffield his hometown. Jonathan, who runs Søstrene Grene stores across the North of England, including Manchester, Derby and Chester, has a longstanding history with retail in the area. He’s excited to have prime location within the Heart of the City development and has high hopes for the success of the Sheffield branch. He looks forward to introducing the people of his hometown to the brand and continuing to share the brand’s Danish notion of ‘hygge’ as it continues to expand across the UK.

Søstrene Grene, Sheffield is now open at Grosvenor House on Cambridge Street. To find out more about Søstrene Grene visit: www.sostrenegrene. com or follow them on Instagram: @ sostrenegrene.

SHINING BRIGHT

The team behind Sheffield’s critically acclaimed Bench have announced the upcoming opening of their second venue, The Pearl at Park Hill.

On a mission to open their ‘perfect local’, Jack Wakelin and Tom ‘Ronnie’ Aronica will open the venue this month, a community bar serving up a seasonal, ever-changing cocktail menu, craft beer and natural wine alongside bar snacks.

Located in the iconic Park Hill development, Jack said: “We feel honoured to be taking on a site with such cultural history in the city. Being the largest listed building in Europe, we feel a responsibility to offer something for the community, the city, and beyond.”

We are really proud of the drinks programme at Bench and the opportunity to do something even more drinks-led; harking back to our formative days at Public is a prospect we are super excited about.”

Park Hill, an institution and an indelible part of Sheffield’s skyline, was home to four pubs when it was built to provide modern housing for the workforce of the city’s steelworks.

The Parkway, The Scottish Queen, The Link and The Earl George played a crucial role in forming and sustaining the communities which flourished there in years to follow and the team behind The Pearl take their responsibility seriously as the first drinks-led venue to open on the site since its regeneration by joint venture development partners Urban Splash and Places for People.

The drive to create a local which reflects the history of the building whilst celebrating the here and now of an exciting time for Sheffield as a city extends to the small kitchen. Ronnie aims to push the boundaries of what the classic pub offers: alongside great drinks will be a small choice menu of bar snacks offering perfect ‘drinking food’.

Ronnie explained: “We really want this to be a platform to showcase some of the suppliers we’ve worked with since opening Bench, such as Carlingford oysters, Cinderwood Market Garden and Curing Rebel’s charcuterie. Simple, beautiful ingredients and produce treated well.”

Mark Latham, Regeneration Director at Urban Splash, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming The Pearl to the line-up of businesses at Park Hill. We’ve been working hard with the brilliant Bench team for a long time behind the scenes to turn this dream into a reality.

“The opening of The Pearl marks the longawaited return of a local to Park Hill, adding to the vibrant mix of businesses and facilities already here as the community continues to grow.”

@pearlatparkhill

WE'RE DELIGHTED. THE OPENING OF THE PEARL MARKS THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF A LOCAL TO PARK HILL, ADDING TO THE VIBRANT MIX OF BUSINESSES AND FACILITIES ALREADY HERE AS THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW.

REFLECTING THE NEW KELHAM

The former home of Kelham Island Brewery’s offices and retail shop has been transformed into a sophisticated new cocktail bar offering a range of classic cocktails and pizzas delivered from nearby Craft and Dough.

Dirty Mirror opened on Alma Street over Tramlines weekend, serving up a wide selection of beers, cocktails and wines. The venue also offers a 90-minute bottomless brunch deal on weekends as well as happy hour deals to tempt punters in.

The building has been purchased by Dirty Mirror’s co-owner Danny Skidmore, and the bar will occupy the first floor, with work underway to change the two ground floor units into a hair and beauty salon, plus a Vegas-style wedding experience.

Building surveyor Danny has bought the building from The Fat Cat owner and former Kelham Island Brewery owner, Ed Wickett, who happens to be Danny’s best friend from school.

Lifelong Sheffield resident Danny

has teamed up with another friend and cocktail slinging supremo, Mark Wright, who you might recognise from his time at bar/restaurant The Summer House, to bring their very own cocktail concept to Kelham Island.

Danny told Exposed: “Mark will be the bar manager and is really experienced with cocktails from working with The Summer House and Bank House – he’s really good at what he does.

“We’ve tried to create a speakeasy-type vibe. We want it to look classy, and that’s why we’ve gone for this theme with the dark wood, but also keeping its industrial heritage, with the exposed brickwork. There’s also a modern, quirky feature with the mirrored wall, which obviously ties into the name.

“Music-wise, it’ll be a chilled out house vibe, so nothing too intense. We want it to be a destination place. Somewhere you can sit all afternoon. We’re not going for craft ales and trying to compete with the likes of the The Fat Cat. It’s something different for this area, something that hopefully compliments it.”

The cocktail list features all the classics you would expect, but they will also have a specials board, including seasonal tipples and events-themed cocktails, and Danny tells us they will be able to cater for all tastes if there’s something not on the list that you’ve got a hankering for.

“We’ve put our all into it,” says Danny. “We want to make it work. It’s a moveable feast at the moment, and things might be tweaked as it goes, but we’re committed to making it work.”

@dirtymirror0491

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LIKE A FINE WINE…

For this month’s focus on an independent business, we shine a light on Mitchells Wine Merchants – an integral part of Sheffield’s retail community, whose name has been known in Meadowhead for over 85 years.

The departmental store is run by Frankie Mitchell – the third generation of the family to do so – and her husband James.

The merchants in Yorkshire are highly esteemed and have received numerous awards, including the prestigious Wine Merchant of the Year title on two occasions. Their well-stocked cabinets boast an impressive collection of over 1000 whiskeys from around the globe, ranging from everyday drinking bottles to the most exceptional limited editions and collectibles. In addition to this, their departmental store features an extensive range of

1000+ beers, including craft brews, English bottled ales, and a selection of chilled world beers, with a particular focus on German varieties. Beyond whiskeys and beers, their selection encompasses vodkas, rums, gins, Cognacs, Armagnacs, brandies, cocktails, tequilas, liqueurs, and aperitifs. Mitchells also takes pride in its remarkable assortment of Havana cigars, housed in five exquisite humidors, making them the second-largest specialist retailer of Havanas in the northern region. However, the collection has expanded, and they now offer more than 200 new world cigars from sought-after producers.

Wines and champagnes are prominently featured in the store, with an extensive assortment of over 2500 options from various corners of the world. The store places a strong emphasis on

INDIE PICK: MITCHELLS WINE MERCHANTS

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROSS JARMAN

diversity, regularly refreshing their selection and keeping up with current trends. Catering to those opting for a healthier lifestyle, they’ve witnessed an increasing demand for high-quality nonalcoholic wines, as well as the growing popularity of natural unfiltered and orange wines.

To encourage customers to explore new flavours and expand their palates, the store has 16-bottle Enomatic wine machines that allow people to sample before purchasing. This Mitchells also boasts a specialized tasting room and museum, where they proudly display memorabilia collected over the past 50 years. The tasting room can accommodate up to 35 people, and the store hosts 2-3 tasting events every month. The whisky and cigar tastings are particularly popular, attracting distillers, producers, and ambassadors from both the UK and across the globe.

From its humble beginnings as a small family business, Mitchells has grown to serve a wide customer base, delivering their products locally and nationally. This outreach has made it easier for everyone to enjoy their offerings, bringing the joy of their products straight to customers’ doorsteps.

With an impressive history and a unique range of products, Mitchells has firmly secured its place in Sheffield as one of the city’s longest-serving and most famous independent shops. Hopefully the Mitchell family will continue to bring the finest pleasures in life to the locals of the city for generations to come.

354 Meadowhead, Sheffield S8 7UJ @mitchellswines

MEET THE CHEF: COOKALONG CURRIES

Raheel Mirza, MasterChef contestant, Guinness World Record holder and self-taught cook, is set to be included in a brand-new cookbook celebrating the diverse range of foodie influencers now available online. The Social Kitchen will showcase 20 contributors from across the UK, including Raheel, with each sharing three recipes alongside the story of their personal foodie journey.

Sheffield-based Raheel Mirza, founder of The Cookalong Company, has 20 years’ experience in the corporate world of learning and development, delivering leadership training and coaching and three years ago, took the leap into the world of food.

In March 2020, on the day the first nationwide lockdown was announced, Raheel made his appearance on the BBC’s MasterChef. Later that year he founded The Cookalong Company.

Raheel grew up surrounded by food, however, his interest in learning how to cook delicious dishes from around the world was ignited when he and his wife Nadia started to experiment with all manner of flavours. His Pakistani heritage has heavily influenced his cooking style, celebrating all aspects of South Asian cuisine, and in particular Punjabi cooking, with its fiery flavours and characteristic use of whole spices.

As well as creating recipe packs for traditional dishes, Raheel also hosts live online cookalongs from the comfort of his own kitchen and the participants from their own kitchens. From Sheffield to Rhode Island and Oslo to Lima, this business has truly global reach.

Giving back to the community, promoting wellbeing and supporting charitable causes are all close to Raheel’s heart, so he’s often found hosting cookalongs in support of an array of charities. In February 2021, he appeared alongside his daughter Isla on the BBC’s The One Show to break the Guinness World Record for the most people cooking simultaneously online: they cooked along with over 1000 people from all around the world on a virtual masterclass, and raised vital funds for the NHS Covid-19 charity.

In May 2021, Raheel launched his first cookbook, produced with his daughter Isla, Sugar, Spice & Stockpile – A Taste Pandemic, a collection of recipes from lockdown – and a culmination of a year of hard work. The book combines easy-to-follow recipes with stunning photography, bringing the visual appeal

of his Instagram account to the pages of a hardback book.

Other aspects of his diverse business see him taking part in food festivals, private dining, cooking at corporate events and hosting many charity fundraisers – from Cancer Research UK to The Brain Charity. Bringing people together, promoting good mental health and fostering positivity through food and cooking is what has inspired so many people to connect with Raheel through social media – and beyond.

If you’d be interested in booking Raheel for your ‘in person’ or online corporate experience, find him @ raheelmirzacooking.

MUSIC

DJANGO… UNCHAINED

As the rain pierced through our table’s umbrella in the beer garden of The Fat Cat in Kelham Island, the scene seemed fitting for a band who fuel themselves off of the ‘mundanity and normality of everyday life’. Armed with pints, smokes and a whole lotta anecdotes, Django Jones spoke of whiskey-soaked riffs, theatrical onstage antics, gigs in cemeteries and their busiest schedule to date.

Although there has been some incarnation of Django Jones running since 2018, the current lineup consists of Will Tomlinson (vocals), Ciara Hurding (drums), Isaac Rodgers (bass), Joe O’Grady and Matt Jones, who interchange between rhythm and lead guitar.

“Our early shows were chaotic. We thought we were good, but both ourselves and the audiences were really drunk,” explains Joe.

The original lineup took a hiatus in 2019 and Will spent a year abroad studying in the United States. He returned to Sheffield with only one focus on his mind – to get the band going again. However, the band was in need of some

new members. He found himself working the bar at The Fox and Duck in Broomhill, where he met Ciara, who had previously played drums in several local indie bands. She soon got jamming with the band, who now only needed a bassist to complete the ensemble.

Isaac, who happened to be drinking an alcohol-free beer one night in the pub, got chatting with Will, who told him about his antics as the chaotic conductor of Django Jones and how he never drinks before performing. Will informed him that they were currently looking for a bass player and the rest is history.

“The Fox and Duck made us,” chimes in Ciara.

The current Django Jones lineup, which has been transmitting riotous anthems for just over a year are now a staple act on Sheffield lineups. Drawing influence from artists such as Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes and Avril Lavigne, the band’s sound falls somewhere between punk and blues, with volcanic vocals, gut-punching grooves and ramshackle riffs all trademark features of their enormous sound.

“As a band, we definitely feed off

Will’s energy onstage,” says Ciara. “If he feels that I’m not playing with the right intensity during a set, he’ll turn around and scream into my face! I’m like, ‘Fuck yeah!’”

“Will is the frontman of frontmen,” adds Isaac. Will’s onstage persona, which he likens to acting an alter-ego, like a character from a film, has at times driven Will to states of improvised mania. He can be seen thumping his chest so aggressively that he will finish a gig bruised and beaten.

“We all work around the fact that whenever we play you will probably see Will manically run back and forth onstage,” explains founding member Joe.

There’s a distinct musical kinship

Last month, ahead of a packed Fringe at Tramlines schedule which saw the band tackle eight gigs in one weekend, Sean Johnson caught up with one of Sheffield’s most electrifying musical acts, Django Jones and the Mystery Men.

PHOTOGRAPHY: JACK BARTON & LIA QIN

shared between Will and Ciara, who try to electrify one another with their performances. During a gig at DIY punk venue Hatch, Ciara’s drumming became so intense that the band had to place a breeze block in front of her kit, which Will later tripped over, causing him to fall directly into the kit.

“We feed off of the unpredictability of our live sets” said Will. “We always sound different at every gig we play. There’s constant energy, shouting and bad chat”.

The electrocuting nature of the band’s live performances is best summarised through the wiring of cables, which often occurs when Will’s vocal cable and Joe’s guitar lead become entangled due to the two running the length of the stage.

“I live for those moments, man” Isaac says, rather enthusiastically. “Matt or Joe might break a guitar string, Ciara might snap a sick and we have to sort things out onstage, but that’s energy man, I love it!”.

For this year’s Fringe at Tramlines show, the band have one of the busiest schedule of any local act, where they are currently booked to play eight gigs across three days. They are attempting to beat the record for the most Tramlines shows ever played in one weekend, which is currently held by local legends Drenge, who played nine shows during a previous instalment of the festival.  @djangojonesandthemysterymen

MY LIFE IN MUSIC YARNI

For this month’s trip down musical memory lane, we hear from Sheffield-based

sonic traveller and multi-instrumentalist Yarni.

THE FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT…

The first actual record I bought was ‘V.I.P’ by Jungle Brothers, a re-release from HMV, after my aunt introduced me to them as a child. The first tape was a double-tape release for the 1998 World Cup! I had idea what it was called but it had Sergio Mendes on it!

MY FIRST GIG…

Oasis in Finsbury Park with The Charlatans and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. A minibus load of us went to the gig from Woodhouse and the driver crashed the van, so one of the lads had to hold the door closed all the way back to Sheffield.

THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED…

When I was at school, me and three mates formed a band which would eventually become The Field. We started out by performing covers and I reckon it would have been ‘20th Century Boy’ by T-Rex.

A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN…

Not sure where it came from, but I’ve developed a love of 70s soft rock or “Yacht Rock”, as some call it. With that in mind, I wish I’d written ‘How Long’ by Ace.

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN…

Watching the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels introduced me to so many different genres of music. I bought the soundtrack and started exploring the different artists that featured on there.

From E-Z Rollers to James Brown, via The Stooges, it has it all!

ONE SONG I CAN’T GET

OASIS IN FINSBURY PARK WITH THE CHARLATANS AND BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB. A MINIBUS LOAD OF US WENT TO THE GIG FROM WOODHOUSE AND THE DRIVER CRASHED THE VAN, SO ONE OF THE LADS HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED ALL THE WAY BACK TO SHEFFIELD.

OUT OF MY HEAD AT THE MOMENT…

‘Aaj Shanibar’ by Rupa. I’m not much of a lyric man and I’ve absolutely no idea what she’s singing as it’s in Bengali, but I love it! I recently picked up a 7-inch repress of this on bright pink vinyl. It looks and sounds amazing!

A SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF A SPECIFIC PLACE AND TIME…

I remember coming in the house after doing a spot of gardenhopping with my mates and switching on NME TV. There was this scally walking down the street with a Burberry shirt on and I instantly gravitated towards it. Turns out it was the

video for ‘Let’s Push Things Forward’ by The Streets. I really did think he was pushing the boundaries of music and finding a middle ground between indie kids and UK Garage. That will always be marked as a turning point for me.

Loping hip-hop jungle, airborne house grooves and cerebral dancing aplenty –Albers EP by Yarni is out now on Sound Records.

STREAM/BUY THE NEW EP HERE.

thursday 7 sept 2023

being as an ocean

£16.50, Doors 7:00pm

pigs pigs pigs pigs

thursday 5 oct 2023

pigs pigs pigs

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 6 oct 2023

nation of language

£20, Doors 7:30pm

friday 13 oct 2023

disco wonderland

the abba disco

£8.80/£11, Doors 10:00pm, 18+

musical theatre rave

friday 20 oct 2023

£14.50, Doors 10:00pm, 18+

saturday 21 oct 2023

the bluetones

£25, Doors 6:30pm

wednesday 25 oct 2023

the dust coda

£14, Doors 7:00pm

friday 27 oct 2023

from the jam

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm, 18+

saturday 28 oct 2023

sleeper

£23, Doors 7:30pm

friday 3 nov 2023

flash & the darkniss

£20, Doors 7pm

friday 10 nov 2023

peace

£17.50, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 11 nov 2023

untold

orchestra pres. a history of beyonce

£14/£16, Doors 7:00pm

sunday 12 nov 2023

pale blue eyes

£12.50, Doors 7:30pm

thursday 16 nov 2023

the wonder stuff

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 18 nov 2023

the pigeon Detectives

£20, Doors 6:30pm

sunday 19 nov 2023

skerryvore

£24.00, Doors 7:00pm

wednesday 22 nov 2023

jordan

£17.00, Doors 7:30pm, 16+

saturday 25 nov 2023

smoove & turrell + solar love society

£18, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 30 nov 2023

starsailor

£24.50, Doors 7:00pm

friday 1 dec 2023

the view

£24.00, Doors 6:30pm

saturday 2 dec 2023

definitely oasis vs the complete stone roses

£17.50, Doors 7pm

all shows open to the public (14+ unless stated otherwise) tickets available from foundrysu.com

box office: 0114 222 8777

saturday 16 dec 2023

slade

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm

friday 23 feb 2024

fleetwood bac

£18.50, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 20 apr 2024

daft funk live

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

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

foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk

@foundrysheffield

scan for tickets

Pulp @ Utilita Arena Sheffield

Words: Kate Beer // Photography: Glenn Ashley

Primed the previous weekend by the Showroom’s screening of Pulp: A film about life, death and supermarkets, a film which indulges, in equal part, super-fans, common Sheffield OAPs, band interviews and gig footage, Exposed headed out on a dreary Friday eve to catch a packed tram down to the Utilita Arena.

“Is there something on?” a non-native asks me, clambering for a seat.

It’s been 11 years since Pulp’s homecoming show wrapped up their last tour. This time Sheffield is sandwiched in the middle of the cheekily titled ‘This is what we do for an encore’ and, much like hanging around to catch its namesake’s last few songs (and nearly missing the last tram home), it was certainly worth it.

Giddy with anticipation, the audience and I spy Jarvis rising up to the backdrop of a full moon. The crowd didn’t have long to wait for the Britpop hits that propelled Pulp to household name status; we were abruptly confetti-cannoned into ‘Disco 2000’, which, given that we’re now 23 years after the aforementioned date, felt strangely surreal to be dancing and singing along to with youthful 90s exuberance.

Jarv is a frontman whose theatrics are on an inverse curve graph to his age; he exuded the charm and down-to-earth warmth that is well… all very Sheffield, interspersing intervals with humour and colloquialisms, “We were having it, or ‘avin’ it?”.

A heartfelt dedication was made before ‘Something Changed’ to Pulp’s recently deceased bass guitarist Steve Mackey, which the Elysian Collective string section added an ethereal depth to. They rattled through ‘Pink Gloves’, ‘Weeds’, ‘Feeling Called Love’, ‘This is Hardcore’, ‘Sunrise’, ‘Babies’, ‘Do you Remember the First Time?’, checking off the versatility of their back catalogue replete with lasers, smoke and carefully crafted visuals which nodded back to the single’s videos and lyrics.

Multiple dedications were made to the city that made the songs, even bemoaning that they did, indeed, “fill in the fountain down the road”.

Leaving the biggest hit until last we were teased: “Are we forgetting anything?” as the audience practically begged for ‘Common People’.

The encore also contained the chronological contrast of ‘Razzmatazz’ followed by last tour’s Christmas present ‘After you’.Two hours didn’t feel long enough, but I’m not sure my face could take much more smiling.

It was great to have you back, Jarv. Let’s do it again sometime.

We all had a chuckle in the Exposed office upon hearing that Taylor Swift’s new album was mispressed with a slice of Steel City electronica, introducing a number of Swifites to the decidedly different sounds of the mighty Cabaret Voltaire.

Rather than upbeat pop ditties from the Shake it Off star, fans who bought copies of the special edition orchid marbled vinyl copy of her new album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), were instead treated to a 15-track compilation of rare 80s electronica, including Sheffield’s own Cab Vol.

On Tuesday, Producer, DJ and record label boss Damian Lazarus posted a video sent to him of a Taylor Swift fan on his Instagram account, which showed the fan playing the new record by the pop star, only to be presented with the rave sonics of Herbert, Thunderhead The Word By Eden, Liquid Son and many more.

It would seem that, due to the record company’s blunder, the old-school sounds of Above Boards’ recent compilation, Happy Land: A Compendium Of Electronic Music From The British Isles Vol. 1, have ended up being etched into the grooves of a number of copies of Ms Swift’s latest album.

In the video a confused Taylor Swift fan is heard asking, ‘Who is this?!’ as she plays the spoken word intro to Cabaret Voltaire’s Soul Vine (70 Billion People). “’Speak Now (Not Taylor’s Version),” she laughs, followed by “Please help me”.

How many copies have been mispressed is as of yet unknown.

IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSEORIA!

UNDER THE ARCHES

THE MAGPIE ARC

16 August // £18

A cross-border band out of Sheffield and Edinburgh featuring the award-winning talents of Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr, Findlay Napier, Tom Wright (The Albion Band) and Alex Hunter. Expect a mix of originals, thought-provoking covers plus, perhaps, some reworked traditional songs. There’ll be folk and definitely rock, a bit of country and maybe some blues – a musical mash-up of everything you’d expect from such a line-up. yellowarch.com/events

ROSEHILL

1 September // £8

A five-piece melodic hardcore band hailing from Sheffield, ready to create waves in the music industry far and wide. Expect an energetic, relentless set and keep an ear out for earworms ‘Shed Your Skin and ‘Running Blind’. yellowarch.com/events

IRAINA MANCINI

5 September

A hugely talented singer, songwriter and DJ influenced by 60s/70s soul, French pop and vintage cinema. Iraina stops off at Yellow Arch on her first UK tour in support of debut album ‘Undo The Blue’ – an immersive collection of sweeping strings, lush brass and showstopping vocals.

futuresoundgroup.com

CROCODILES

7 September // £13.50

Formed in 2008 by two life-long friends, Brandon and Charlie, Crocodiles started out in San Diego and have toured across the States with their infectious brand of indie rock/glam punk. Gritty, rough and ready punk mixed with psychedelic soundscapes. fatsoma.com // seetickets. com

ARCTIC NUMPTIES

8 September // £12

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sheffield quartet’s iconic AM album, the premium tribute to Arctic Monkeys, will be performing the album in full, in the very building which once served as the band’s rehearsal space. This special celebratory show will be made up of two parts: the full live play-through of the Monkeys’ fifth studio album, followed by a second set of all the greatest hits from the other six albums. fatsoma.com

WONK UNIT

22 September

Wonk Unit was born on a freezing South London building site in 2005. After spending the 90s wrecking up stages across Europe in the Flying Medallions, Alex started Wonk Unit as his personal diary. Never turning down a gig, the band grew and their uniquely charming and chaotic take on punk rock developed a devoted family of fans across the world. The Wonk Unit sound is hard to box in: Alex has described his influences as ranging from Leatherface to Elton John. fatsoma.com

JUNODREAM

24 September

Dream-rock music about alienation in the 21st century, with songs that fall somewhere in the middle of sad and uplifting. Nostalgic, charming and melodic – catch Junodream playing their own headline show after touring with The Backseat Lovers earlier this year. futuresoundgroup.com

FOR THE FULL EVENTS AND LISTINGS AT YELLOW ARCH, SCAN THE QR CODE:

As the home of alternative live music in the Steel City, Yellow Arch have been busy working on an eclectic gig programme covering everything from jazz and folk rock to DIY punk and facemelting hardcore. We’ve rounded up some of our highlights for the next two months…

MUSIC

DISCOVER OPPORTUNITY

Discover Me UK is a new Sheffield-based talent agency offering Sheffield singersongwriters and duos a month-long residency to showcase their talent, receive invaluable advice, access gamechanging benefits – and what’s more, aside from a £10 entry fee, it’s all completely FREE.

Once selected, each act will receive a host of resources throughout their month of promotion, including a professional recording utilising Discover Me’s state-of-the-art backline; access to world-class musicians and production; a professionally-shot promo video; a live showcase at Sheffield venue Alder Bar; a free subscription to Ableton Music; and workshops on everything from financial management to music production and stage fashion.

Discover Me UK co-founder and visual artist Sarah JosephDasent told Exposed: “We want to provide a platform for the amazing talent we can see all around us in our adopted home of Sheffield. It’s not a competition, and we can’t choose everyone, so we’ll be looking for the best four to begin with.

“Sheffield is ripe for this right now. There are so many amazing musicians and things going on. We want to share in the success and for them to be ambassadors for Discover Me. It’s really exciting.”

Sarah’s partner and acclaimed producer Jason Dasent added: “We’re nervous, but I think that’s good. It helps to drive you on.

“It’s about community building right now. I have two ambitions: I want Discover Me to blow up in Sheffield and go nationwide, but I also want Alder Bar to become the premier entertainment centre in the city.”

With the help of Discover Me’s third team member, Alder Bar’s Joe Spriggs, the project will be funded by sponsors, which so far include heavyweight names like Roland, Nugen Audio and Ableton, ensuring that for the artists who are selected there is never anything to pay, other than a £10 administration fee when they apply.

Applications are now open

to all Sheffield-based musicians, with Hillsborough College students given the chance to apply for free. To apply, musicians are invited to submit a 30-second clip showcasing their talent on the Discover Me website.

Sarah and Jason originally hail from Trinidad, where they ran a recording studio for 20 years and achieved huge success with a similar programme, launching the career of several artists on the Caribbean Island.

The programme began in 2016, when Sarah and Jason realised that young, emerging artists didn’t have the financial backing or necessary contacts to get their songs played on the radio in Trinidad.

To counteract this, Jason found a way to bypass the radio stations by seeking sponsorship to record a song and promo video, which they managed to get played before the beginning of every film nationwide in

Trinidad’s equivalent of the Odeon movie theatres.

Jason, who is visually impaired explained the motivation for the project: “Being blind, I always felt like I had to work three times as hard to prove myself because there isn’t much infrastructure for visually impaired people in Trinidad, but I had opportunities, and a lot of things went my way. I felt like it was my turn to give back in whatever way I could.

“We asked artists to submit because we wanted to pick the best of the best and decided that for the ones who were successful, we would give them heavy promotion for free, for one month, working towards a professional concert.

“We would get played hundreds of times in the movie theatres every day, and what we found is that once radio and TV stations found out what was going on, they began coming

to us.”

In 2019, Jason and Sarah moved to London for Jason to begin a degree. This was just before the pandemic, and when Trinidad closed its borders for what ended up being two-years, they decided to move North to be closer to Jason’s sister, who was already living here in Sheffield.

As before, Jason will oversee the music production side of things, with Sarah predominantly handling the promo and workshops. While business partner Joe will utilise his Sheffield connections and venue, as well as his degree in finance to support each artist.

“It’s a case of using my contacts to try and replicate a Sheffield-specific version of what Jason and Sarah have done before.” says Joe. “I’ve also got a bar, and I’ve got accounting and economics experience, so that’s where I fit in – I’m really excited to get going.”

The model for artists will be much the same as its original Trinidad counterpart, with each new month bringing a new artist into Jason’s studio to record one original song; they will then record a one-minute trailer, which at this stage will be used on social media, hoping to create as much exposure as possible for the culmination of the month – a headline gig at Alder.

During the rest of the month, while promotion is ongoing, each artist will undertake a series of workshops and press.

The first artist to begin the Discover Me journey is 17-yearold Sheffield singer-songwriter Alice Ede, who has already recorded a song and performed her live show at Alder Bar on 29 July.

For more info and to apply, head over to the Discover Me website, and give them a follow @discovermeuk

THE VINYL FRONTIER

After over 10 years of filling dancefloors with the best in Rock n Roll, Northern Soul, Funk, Rhythm & Blues, Ska, 2Tone and more, we caught up with the duo behind Yellow Arch’s flagship night, For the Record.

You guys have been running For the Record for over a decade now. Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how it all started out?

We are Andy and Jay. We’ve been good friends and DJ partners for a long time now. We’re both avid record collectors and have a mutual appreciation for stuff from back in the day: soul, 60s R&B, funk, disco, rock ‘n’ roll and just about every other genre.

The night itself was the reward from winning a couple of DJ competitions at our previous venue. For the first five years we did every Wednesday night, and after constantly pushing the promoter, we got the chance to play the first Saturday of every month, where we stayed for another eight years until Covid hit.

In a nutshell, what’s a typical night all about?

A lot of the music is predominantly 50s, 60s and 70s hits, B sides and album tracks – stuff that someone who consumes their music through a streaming site might not ordinarily hear. We also like to play a lot of new stuff from the likes of Colemine and Original Gravity, modern records but with that 50s and 60s sound. If it’s good enough, it will get played.

You’ve played all around Sheffield over the years but seem to have settled nicely at Yellow Arch recently. What is it about that venue which suits a For the Record party? When Yellow arch offered us the opportunity to take the night down there, it was a nobrainer really. It’s such an iconic venue for music in the city and who wouldn’t want to have a chance to play at such a place every month?

There’s also the support and promotion we get from Russ and Stephen, the managers down there. They made us their flagship DJ night last year, got us a chance to speak to you guys and have had our back from day one. Then there are the punters; it’s always a great crowd, very accepting of what we play, and the dancefloor is packed month in, month out. They certainly know how to party.

Let’s talk records. What’s your go-to tune for filling out the dancefloor?

For Jay, there is only one record that’s always in the box and is a surefire dancefloor filler everytime: the excellent Candi Staton’s ‘Young Hearts Run Free’.

For Andy, it has to be The Crickets’ version of ‘La Bamba’. It always seems to get the crowd up off their seats.

How about an underrated gem?

Jay’s going with a track that was only released in 2022 and is sure to be a biggy in the future: Raye Coles - ‘You’ve Gotta Set Me Free’ on Original Gravity. It’s record that’s so good it’s already on its third release, although Bileo - ‘You Can Win’ is an absolute dancefloor destroyer.

Andy is going for ‘Bertha Lou’ by Tav Falco & Panther Burns – an absolute beauty. There are a couple of excellent new releases coming off the Colemine label, including Lizzie No - ‘Sweeter Than Strychnine’ and Monophonics - ‘Last One Standing’.

What’s the most cherished record in your collection?

For Jay it’s Patti Jo’s – ‘Make Me Believe In You’, a record on the ‘want’ list for years, so it was great to get an original copy a

couple of years ago. Great song.

Andy, on the other hand, would go for his original pressing The Damned’s ‘New Rose’ and just about everything by The Cramps.

What’s on the horizon for FRT – any big shows coming up?

We’ve got a couple of yard parties planned over the next couple of months, including the Yellow Arch Bonfire party and the usual NYE party. Mostly importantly we just want to keep growing the night, and if a chance in the future comes up to play at a major festival, that’d be great.

For the Record takes place at Yellow Arch on the first Saturday of each month (next up is 5th August). Entry is free.

A LOT OF THE MUSIC IS PREDOMINANTLY 50S, 60S AND 70S HITS, B SIDES AND ALBUM TRACKS – STUFF THAT SOMEONE WHO CONSUMES THEIR MUSIC THROUGH A STREAMING SITE MIGHT NOT ORDINARILY HEAR.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE –DEAD RECKONING PART ONE

Tom Cruise’s quest to exhilarate audiences like never before jumps up yet another notch. The motorcycle jump off a cliff may have been widely publicised well before Dead Reckoning Part One’s release, but that doesn’t stop your heart rocketing up your throat and into your mouth when the moment comes. It’s not just that freakishly bold stunt (repeated no less than six times by Cruise) that makes the latest M:I adventure worth watching, however.

The Christopher McQuarrie M:I films have always added a little more in terms of depth, especially where Ethan Hunt is concerned, whilst ramping up the stunts and stakes. Dead Reckoning Part One continues in this endeavour, but not only that, it also takes the franchise to places it hasn’t really explored where consequences and vulnerability are concerned. Whether it’s hanging off a plane, the side of a building, a helicopter, or racing after his enemies on a motorcycle, there’s never been a proper sense that Hunt or his IMF team are in any real danger. Safe albeit thrilling comfort cinema is how one could best summarise the M:Is, but McQuarrie and Cruise have quite effectively stripped away that quality with the latest instalment.

Everyone is on splendid form, and of course we expect no less from Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Rebecca Ferguson, but the real standout is Hayley Atwell as Grace, a thief on the run drawn into escalating danger from which she might not escape, even with Hunt’s aid. Vanessa Kirby returns from Fallout as Alanna, along with Henry Czerny as Kittridge, last seen in the first M:I from 1996. Esai Morales gives a terrifically devilish performance as Gabriel, a cold-blooded killer from Ethan’s past chosen by the rogue AI known as the Entity. As daft as it sounds on paper, it does work. Who goes to an M:I film to care about the plot anyway?

Where does it rank overall? Tough call, but it’s up there. Repeat viewings will likely have to define its position. Certainly, however, it’s one of the most exciting and well-executed blockbusters in recent years.

4.5/5

OPPENHEIMER

Oppenheimer ranks as another superb achievement for the modern blockbuster’s greatest director. The three-hour biopic covers the life of the atomic bomb’s complex and conflicted father from his early twenties through to the last few years of his life, relayed largely through the course of the 1954 AEC security hearing orchestrated by Robert Downey Jr.’s Lewis Strauss.

Christopher Nolan introduces J. Robert Oppenheimer as a man afflicted by a terrible brilliance, a deeply flawed but strongly principled innovator whose left-leaning sympathies would cost him greatly in the years after the Second World War. Cillian Murphy’s impeccably nuanced performance provides an extensive examination of the man, powerfully conveyed through the subtlest of facial manoeuvrings. Nowhere is this more apparent than during the bomb’s successful Trinity Test in New Mexico (itself an unbearably tense and terrifying scene), where the mixture of awe and horrific realisation is fully apparent in a single expression. Befitting Nolan’s fixation with time, the story unfolds through three different timeframes: Strauss’ Senate confirmation hearings, the 1954 AEC hearing, and the events before and after the Trinity Test in New Mexico recounted by key figures involved in the Manhattan Project. Despite switching frequently between these timeframes (also between colour and black & white), Oppenheimer is never the least bit confusing. On the contrary, it is nothing short of illuminating. It offers, too, a condensed but clear outlining of the multiple factors resulting in the decision to drop the bombs on Japan.

The awful realisation of what’s been unleashed upon the world, and Japan in particular, is frankly depicted, but not through the conventional means of wartime footage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is done so purely from Oppenheimer’s perspective: his reaction to the Trinity blast and horrific surrealist visions of the bomb’s appalling effects drives the point home.

It is Murphy who reigns supreme here, and although the impressive cast give it their all, only a handful manage to shine – namely Gary Oldman’s Harry S. Truman, Tom Conti’s Albert Einstein, Josh Hartnett’s Ernest Lawrence and Matt Damon’s Leslie Groves. The one complaint would be the female roles are slightly underwritten, but that’s perhaps a reflection of the depicted era. Florence Pugh’s Jean Tatlock spends a great deal of time nude, which, bar one particularly impactful moment, seems somewhat unnecessary.

Ultimately Oppenheimer is a gripping, informative and powerful biopic, with stupendous sound design, acting and one of the most chilling closing scenes of any film.

4.5/5

FIGHTING FIT

THE GOOD FIGHT CLUB

This four-part documentary series follows a group of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters training at The Underground Gym in South-East London. Rather than being about individual fighters, we soon come to see them as a family, supportive to each other and totally loyal to the affable but tough head coach, Steve. But, however much of a close knit family they are outside the arena, in the cage, they face the battle alone.

In the first episode, we follow Aiden and Thomas ‘The Juggernaut’. The filming doesn’t shy away from the problematic side of the fighters’ lives. Aiden has had body image issues throughout his early teens, but joining the gym family and training at the studio has turned things around for him. But Steve is worried that he holds back and is not aggressive enough. Aiden talks about his problem coming to terms with a sport where the primary aim is hurting people. Thomas is profoundly deaf, meaning he has complete hearing loss. It’s a story not just of overcoming problems, but more about not letting them define you. Even Steve himself talks about how establishing the

Underground has changed his life. He was unemployed, and at an all-time low, he became involved with MMA, totally changed his life around, setting him on the rewarding journey you can join him on in this beautiful series.

FROM THE DIRECTOR JACK RETALLACK

“I was training in Jiu Jitsu as a hobby at Steve›s gym. I helped them out by making a short commercial for them, and became fascinated by the characters I met there. I realised there was a fascinating, multicharacter story I could tell. I filmed off my own bat, with no money at first. I was keen to tell the story of people who have found a community, a sense of belonging in that gym. Lots of gyms say they are a family, but with Team Underground that really is the case. They hang out outside the gym, but importantly, welcome new people. And also there are some very surprising characters too, when you get to know them and their backgrounds.

RIGHT TO FIGHT

Women in boxing is something we accept today without question.

But as with many things we take for granted in 2023, it’s astonishing to realise not only how much of a fight it took to get here, but also how the pioneering women who achieved it have been forgotten. Director and writer Georgina Cammalleri decided that this is a story everyone needs to know. Until the 70s, women who wanted to be boxers in the USA were refused a licence. Then, in 1971, amidst a climate of increasing protest about the treatment of women, the Supreme Court declared that discrimination against women was a violation of the 14th Amendment. In reality, however, little changed – dismantling omnipresent male domination was still a huge fight. Cammalleri had no trouble setting the scene with archive TV interviews with the likes of Mohammed Ali and Joe Fraser, vehemently opposed to women entering boxing. Unfazed, pioneers such as Cathy ‘Cat’ Davis moved to New York, found a manager and started to box other men. In Los Angeles, Marian ‘Lady Tyger’ Trimiar was essentially a tough street fighter, ironically inspired by Mohammed Ali. She made up her mind to train, but no one would admit her to a gym. Pat ‘Liberation’ Pineda

was another frustrated by a life which looked to hold nothing but domestic servitude; driven by childhood trauma, her frustration came out when she started to box. This films documents how change was hampered by allegations of match fixing, outright racism and the inevitable 70s obsession over their love lives and prejudice towards their sexuality.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

GEORGINA CAMMALLERI

“At first, I could not find anything about the history of these women. All I found was a short documentary on YouTube, featuring Cat and her manager Sal. It took forever to track them down, but I eventually got hold of just about everyone I needed to speak with to uncover this story. For the most part, they’d kept this part of their lives hidden from everyone they now know. It’s still relevant today, as it deals with discrimination, racism and resistance by the men who run things to change and to women achieving what they deserve. Noone in women’s boxing today really knows the story of how it became accepted, so I’m really excited to be able to finally tell their story.”

TWO FILMS FEATURED AT THIS YEAR’S SHEFFIELD DOCFEST ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON SKY DOCUMENTARIES AND NOW TV. OUR RESIDENT DOCHEAD MARK PERKINS WAS THERE TO REVIEW THESE TWO HARD-PUNCHING FILMS AND SPOKE TO THE RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS IN THE PROCESS…

THE BIG SUMMER SOCIAL

The summer continues (with healthy lashings of rain), and while August may be traditionally be the quietest month of the social calendar as the students have all returned home, don’t worry, as we still have plenty of queer fun for those of you remaining in the city. First up, have your singing voices at the ready to join in for ‘This Is Me’ and the other anthems in The Greatest Showman Outdoor Cinema Sing-A-Long (Wed 2 Aug) at Sheffield Speedway. While not officially an LGBTQ+ event, The Greatest Showman has amassed a popular LGBTQ+ following with queer individuals from all walks of life responding with fervent ardor to the musical’s theme of acceptance and seeing themselves in the disenfranchised and marginalised folk on the screen.

Next up, get ready for a chaotic drag night from your favourite weirdos as Hatch’s home-brewed drag/cabaret idiots take to the stage for

Carbonara for Five [Sat 5 Aug] at Hatch. At the start of a summer holiday, the Carbonara gang are looking forward to lazy days, but adventure soon comes calling! Will the secret plans be recovered? Who are the strangers in the woods? Why are there gay seagulls EVERYWHERE? Why does this ginger beer taste so exciting? It’s time to join the gang on their wildest adventure yet!

Over at the Rose & Crown, Emma Maezin will be joining forces with General Waste for a special summer bank holiday Drag & Fire Show [Sat 26 Aug] featuring drag, live vocals, fire and circus. You can also join Emma for her Drag Karaoke nights every Thursday at Maggie May’s, Ball Inn [Fri 11/Sat 19 Aug] and Bagshawe Arms [Fri 25 Aug] and Drag Bingo [Wed 9 Aug] and Bottomless Brunch [Sat 27 Aug] at Revolucion de Cuba. There’s more drag over at Malin Bridge Inn from resident favourites DJ Brooke hosting Sassy Saturday [Sat 12 Aug] and Fireball Friday [Fri 25 Aug] and The Electric Blue Show [Sat 26

Aug].

Following the success of their monthly Open Mic night at (the now sadly closed) Dina, Queer Comedy Sheffield head to Theatre Deli for Queermageddon: A Night Of Queer Comedy [Sat 5 Aug] putting on a proper gay bash and showcasing of some of the best comedians they’ve had through our doors for the past year! Expect a night of laughter, music, drag kings, and queer joy all round! They’ll also be having a cheeky little afterparty, with a DJ set provided by the one and only Nightowls (of Sidney and Matilda fame).

There are more opportunites to get involved this month. Planning is now well underway for Queer Fest, a new free community arts festival for Sheffield celebrating the rights and achievements of people in the Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans community. If you would like to get involved then head to Queer Fest Planning Meeting [Mon 21 Aug] at the Showroom Café.

Feel like much of the LGBTQ+ social scene is aimed

towards young people? Check out Zest’s LGBT+ Over 50s Group [Thu 10 Aug] at Weston Park museum led by people from the LGBT community and held in a safe space. No need to book, just drop in. And if you work with young people and want to know whats happening in the LGBTQ+ world currently then join SAYiT’s Working with LGBTQ+ Young People Forum [Wed 9 Aug], a bimonthly online session for professionals supporting LGBTQ+ young people to gain awareness of current issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities.

If you want to meet more LGBTQ+ people, then search for Out Sheffield and The Queer Club – both have Facebook groups organising regular LGBTQ+ social events and meetups and are welcoming to people coming alone so are a great way to make new friends to head to all of the events with. That’s your lot for this month! Make sure to check out the latest event announcements at www.facebook.com/ sheffieldlgbtevents.

Fame, Fashion and Fortune

An intriguing exhibition highlighting the lives of two of the most influential women in the region’s history, including the renowned Bess of Hardwick, will open at Sheffield Cathedral this month. Stepping back in time to the Elizabethan era, ‘Fame, Fashion, and Fortune’ will take centre-stage throughout August, shedding light on the fascinating journeys and clothing of these powerful figures.

Bess of Hardwick, a prominent force in Elizabethan England, who helped to turn Sheffield Manor Lodge into a prison for Mary Queen of Scots will be showcased alongside Lady Arbella Stuart, the esteemed granddaughter of Bess, who was considered a potential successor to Queen Elizabeth I of England.

The ‘Fame, Fashion, and Fortune’ project has received generous support, including nearly £50,000 in funding from the National Lottery. Dedicated teams of volunteers have worked tirelessly to meticulously recreate the splendid costumes once adorned by these influential figures, making them the centrepiece of the exhibition, providing a visual narrative of their individual stories.

Amanda Boler, a driving force behind the project, expressed her team’s enthusiasm and dedication in researching the lives of these extraordinary women and breathing life into their historical wardrobes. “We’ve delved deep into the past, seeking out every detail, to honor the legacy of Bess of Hardwick and Lady Arbella Stuart. Exhibiting ‘Fame, Fashion, and Fortune’ in Sheffield Cathedral is a privilege, and we hope to inspire as many people as possible with the incredible contributions these two women made to society.”

As the ‘Fame, Fashion, and Fortune’ exhibition prepares to open its doors, visitors can look forward to immersing themselves in the narratives of these remarkable women, witnessing the convergence of history, fashion and societal impact. Sheffield Cathedral welcomes all to explore the aweinspiring lives of Bess of Hardwick and Lady Arbella Stuart, who left an indelible mark on the pages of history.

1st – 31st August. Free Entry.

ALSO ON THIS MONTH

From live music by candlelight to vintage makers markets, the historic Sheffield Cathedral has plenty to get involved with this month.

RUFUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD TRAIL

24 July – 1 September // Free

Perfect for keeping the little ones entertained during the holidays! Can you help Rufus the Good Shepard round up all the farmyard animals hidden around the Cathedral? Come and collect your adventurer backpack and download your trail map at sheffieldcathedral.org, or pick one up in the Cathedral.

CANDLELIGHT FEVER - A TRIBUTE TO LUDOVICO EINAUDI

4 August // 6:30pm-7:35 pm // £15-£45

Enjoy a candlelit tribute to Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi in this multi-sensory musical experience at Sheffield Cathedral.

CANDLELIGHT FEVER: THE BEST OF ZELDA

4 August // 8:30pm-9:30 pm // £15-£45

Discover the music of Zelda under the glow of candlelight with a live pianist.

CHAPTERHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

19 August // 7:30pm-9:00 pm

This timeless classic from Jane Austen follows two sisters as they fall in love, experience heartbreak and try to strike a balance between sense and sensibility.

LITTLE HUMMINGBIRD VINTAGE AND MAKERS MARKET

26 August // 10:00am-4:00 pm // Free

Little Hummingbird Events gather a mix of vintage, craft and artisan makers from Sheffield for a free market suitable for all the family.

UNIBRASS BAND CAMP CONCERT

28 August 2023 // 3:00pm-4:00 pm // Free

UniBrass are back with students from across the UK to bring a free concert for all, performing everything from brass band classics to new works, film scores and pop arrangements.

Miss Saigon @ Crucible Theatre

As Miss Saigon’s glorious second act draws to its painful conclusion, out of nowhere, Joanna Ampil (The Engineer), blazes through a hilariously overthe-top version of The American Dream, surrounded by giant, walking hundreddollar bills and clad in full Marilyn Monroe Gentlemen Prefer Blondes regalia. It’s a fabulous scene, and one that garners arguably the biggest ovation of the night, in part due to the outstanding vocal work of Ampil, but also in part that it comes as some welcome comic relief in this otherwise powerful but stark and sincere portrayal of the Boublil and Schönberg musical.

Originally adapted from Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon tells the story of a well-meaning GI (Chris), who during the Vietnam War falls for recently orphaned Kim during a visit with his fellow soldiers to ‘Dreamland’, a brothel run by The Engineer.

They fall in love almost instantly (why does that always happen in musicals?) and he pledges to take her away from the life she clearly loathes by bringing her back to America. But when we next see them three years later, they are no longer together, and we’re left for much of the show to guess what or who has kept them apart.

The show (rather than this Crucible production of it) has come under some scrutiny over the years, in the main due to the way it portrays its Vietnamese characters and their desire to escape their home life for the gold-lined streets of the grand old US of A. So much so that just last week, Manchester International Festival showcased untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play, a show which critiqued the racial stereotyping of the original.

It’s something this production has certainly addressed, if not completely airbrushed, with a diverse cast and production team as well as significant amends to the original script.

What you are left with is a hugely impressive, although rather one-note show that uses the stark Crucible stage as a blank canvas to showcase the outrageous vocal talents of all the cast. Everyone delivers on that front, though special mentions must go to Shane O’Riordan as John, Joanna Ampil as The Engineer (cast for the first time as a woman) and finally a stunning, moving performance of Maybe by Shanay Holmes who plays Ellen, Chris’ wife, as she wrestles with whether she should set him free to rediscover his old flame.

There are strong performances throughout, from both leads (Jessica Lee as Kim and Christian Maynard as Chris) who excel in duet Sun and Moon, as well as from Kim’s eschewed courter, Ethan Le Phong (Thuy). In fact, in terms of vocal talents, I’m struggling to think of a show as strong as this across the whole cast, while the choreography on numbers like The Morning of The Dragon is utterly breathtaking.

An epic, brave re-imagining of the 80s classic, with a hugely talented cast, just one that missed a little sunlight amongst the moonlight.

WISHFUL THINKING

SITE GALLERY // 3 AUG – 10 SEP // FREE

To mark the tenth anniversary of Site Gallery’s youth collective, Society of Explorers, the group have designed this immersive sensory exhibition Wishful Thinking. Through a series of workshops, the Explorers investigated their hopes for a space that feels like a sanctuary for the mind and spirit in the midst of a chaotic world. sitegallery.org

THE HANDLEBARDS: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (OUTDOOR PRODUCTION)

HEELEY PEOPLE’PARK // 30 AUG // PAY AS YOU FEEL

Brought to you by touring actors group The Handlebards, four young lovers find themselves lost in a magical forest, where the Fairy King and Queen are fighting for the possession of a changeling boy. A group of amateur actors head to the same forest to rehearse for a play. Humans and fairies collide and hilarity ensues. handlebards.com

LIFE OF PI

LYCEUM // 29 AUG – 16 SEP // £15-55

Based on the best-selling book by Yann Martel, the five-star hit show comes to the Lyceum. Jaw-dropping visuals and epic puppetry combines for this famous tale: after an epic storm in the Pacific Ocean, Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

HAMLET (THE JAZZ AGE)

UNIVERSITY DRAMA STUDIO // 27-29 AUG // £15

In a daring and innovative reimagining of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, the 1920s come alive in an electrifying adaptation set amidst the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age. Now a charismatic heir to a wealthy industrial empire, Hamlet struggles with existential dilemmas in the face of corruption and betrayal within his family’s empire. Seetickets.com

WE COULD ALL BE PERFECT PLAYHOUSE // 23 SEP – 14 OCT // £15

A teenage girl steps over a barrier and destroys a painting. Another steals a lipstick. Another has her first kiss in the dark. Whilst another walks into a supermarket and starts a republic. A furious and funny new play that explores whether teenage girls will save the world and asks if they should have to.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Words: Phil Turner // Photography: Johann Persson