Exposed Magazine March 24

RAISING A GLASS

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SHEFFIELD BEER WEEK WITH HOP HIDEOUT’S JULES GRAY

EXPOSED AWARDS 2024 // FESTIVAL OF THE OUTDOORS // I MONSTER // AMADORA // HARRIET ROSE// ASHLEY HOLMES

WEDNESDAY

THE BIG SWING IS AN EXCITING NIGHT OF UPBEAT JAZZ AND SWING FROM 8pm IN THE CUBANA DOWNSTAIRS LOUNGE BAR.

“A raucous mix of live music and dancing that everyone can’t help getting involved in!”

THE DIZZY CLUB

Sheffield’s most loved, long standing swing band. Their music often crosses the genre divide simply because they are so interesting musically. Influences of Hot Club, 40’s swing, Blue note Soul and Sinatra often with Latin rhythms gives them an edge.

JJ’s COCKTAIL CLUB

A swing dance with a twist - JJ’s Cocktail Club will have you swinging to the sounds of pop music throughout the ages. Fronted by ‘Big Swing’ regular, Jenny Chamberlain Smith is joined by her toe-tapping band playing a collection of specially arranged hits - nothing is off-limits!

LOUIS LOUIS LOUIS

Playing classic Swing, Jump-Jive, Ska and red-hot Rhythm & Blues, Louis Louis Louis are guaranteed to get your feet tapping and your legs flapping! Thumping slap bass, honking saxophone, raucous four-part vocal harmonies and a driving piano boogie. Playing the hits of Louis Prima, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Toots & The Maytals, Joe Turner, Louis Jordan and more!

TESSA SMITH

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

PA S RES TA URANT

24: HOPPY DAYS

Jules Gray, the founder of Hop Hideout and Sheffield Beer Week, shares her story with Exposed’s Joe Food for this month’s hop-heavy cover feature, discussing a challenging journey into the beer industry and her involvement in shaping Sheffield’s craft beer landscape for more than a decade.

11: EVERY VOTE COUNTS

Right then, we’re just a couple of months away from the return of our annual do bigging up the best of Sheffield independents and it’s time to have your say! Get the full lowdown on this year’s Exposed Awards and how you can get involved.

29: THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Sheffield is a place where nature and culture regularly intertwines, where people and peaks unite to revel in the joys of ‘The Outdoor City’. Taking place this month, The Festival of the Outdoors brings together a whole host of events and activities celebrating nature and adventure on our doorstep.

40: MONSTER MASH

Steel City electronic duo I Monster were best known for their iconic track ‘Daydream in Blue’. However, despite not releasing any new music in almost eight years, a surprising twist of fate has seen them very much back on the scene and gearing up for a large European tour. Mark Perkins went to find out what’s gone off…

68: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

For this month’s natter with a local creative, we shine a light on the wonderful work of Amadora – a Sheffield-based artist who makes bold and colourful mixed media pieces.

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

Olivia Warburton, Heather Paterson, Mark Perkins, Rosie Knapp, Ruby Watson, Tabitha Wilson

THE BUSINESS STUFF

Exposed is published monthly by

Blind Mice Media Ltd

Unit 1b, 2 Kelham square

Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD

The

Sheffield, we’re just a couple of months away from our annual do bigging up the very best of the city – and voting is now open!

Sponsored by the IPM Group, the Exposed Awards 2024 will be returning with its usual promise of live entertainment, delicious food and drink, late-night party venues and all the usual bells and whistles that make it such a popular night out.

But we’ll be turning things up a notch by combining the event with Exposed Magazine’s 20th anniversary celebration. Yep, you heard right – little old us have reached the big two-zero!

WHEN IS IT?

You can expect the usual big night craic taking place at 92 Burton Road on Thursday 9 May promoting the best of the local scene spanning food, drink, culture, fashion, music and beyond – with all winners on the night chosen by you lovely lot and our group of local judges.

HOW TO VOTE

Simply by scanning the QR code on this page, mi owd. Please note that voting will remain open until midApril. Once the votes are counted, we’ll announce the shortlist for each category.

MORE ABOUT THE NIGHT

Following a superb debut, Chris Arnold will return

on host duties and we’ll have some of Sheffield’s finest handing out awards throughout the night. Tickets are £40+VAT (£20 standing), which includes entry to the event, drinks on arrival and food from some of the city’s finest street food traders – as well as plenty of live entertainment to get you in the party mood.

A VERY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

Last year, we had some of the superb cast from the award-winning Standing at the Sky’s Edge closing out the event in style. It’s a tough one to top, but we’ve pulled out all the stops once again and have another big end-of-night performance in the works…

ON A LATE’UN?

The fabled awards afterparties will take place at top-notch neighbouring venues Neepsend Social and Factory Floor. It might be worth booking the next day off work... don’t say we didn’t warn you!

THE HAWLEY SPIRIT

Sheffield songsmith Richard Hawley has announced a new album, In This City They Call You Love, which will be released on 31 May 2024.

The album’s opening track, ‘Two For His Heels’, was released towards the end of last month and in typical Hawley fashion is a sparse, atmospheric and cinematic offering.

The rest of the record is made up of 11 tracks, many of which can be described as ‘vintage Hawley’, and the album’s title is taken from the song ‘People’, a song written about Sheffield’s proud industrial past and the enduring determination of its citizens.

Speaking about the new material, Hawley said: “I’ve made three albums where I had the title before I’d even begun to record, where I had an agenda.

“One was Truelove’s Gutter. Another was Standing At The Sky’s Edge when I wanted to turn everything up and make the music a lot more aggressive, and then this one.

“I wanted it to be multicoloured in a way, focusing on the voice and what voices can do together. I deliberately only played a handful of guitar solos to keep it focused on voices, the song and space…”

In This City They Call You Love is available to pre-order now at richardhawley.co.uk

PARK HILL ENTERS FINAL PHASE

Last month, the partners responsible for the ongoing transformation of Park Hill hosted a public consultation allowing the local community to give feedback on plans for the next phase of homes and development.

Property regeneration company Urban Splash and UK social enterprise Places for People have redeveloped the building over the past decade, creating 455 new homes, accommodation for 356 students and more than 50,000 sq ft of workspace.

The proposed fifth phase offers more new green spaces, as well as 105 new homes – a percentage of which will meet affordable housing criteria.

Plans for the ground floor include 2,000 sq ft of commercial space providing a platform for independent businesses, adding to the already growing Park Hill ecosystem – which is already home to South Street Kitchen, The Pearl, Bench la Cave and the Grace Owen Nursery.

Steve Thomas, development manager for Park Hill told Exposed: “As we move through the final chapters of Park Hill we are delighted to expand on our vision.

“For almost two decades we have nurtured this community, creating something that Sheffield can be proud of. We are confident that these new plans will further contribute to the area’s cultural and economic vitality.”

The news follows the partners’ application for the fourth phase of Park Hill in 2023. Subject to planning conditions, proposals were approved for 125 apartments – 20 per cent of which will be affordable – with work set to start on-site this spring. urbansplash.co.uk

CADS announce closure of Abbeydale Picture House

On 22 February last month, local arts charity CADS announced the closure of the Abbeydale Picture House, a building of significant historical and cultural importance to the city. This announcement included the immediate closure of the venue, including the iconic Grade II listed auditorium which has remained inoperable due to extensive damage to the ceiling.

Despite concerted efforts to sustain operations, the ‘Speakeasy Bar’ and ‘Fly Tower’ venues that have been functional within the premises will also close, as they have proven unsustainable against the backdrop of the overall costs required to run the building effectively.

However, it’s important to note that The Picture House Social is a separate business entity operating within the Abbeydale Picture House

complex and will remain fully open and operational.

The Abbeydale Picture House has been a beacon of arts and culture, operated by CADS under a 25-year lease, of which only 7 years have been completed. The journey to restore and revitalise the building faced a major setback two years ago with the discovery of an unsafe ceiling, significantly impairing the use of the main auditorium and escalating the financial strain on the charity. Despite exploring multiple avenues for funding and support with considerable support from Sheffield City Council and including bids to the Community Ownership Fund and consultations with notable organisations such as the Music Venues Trust, The National Trust, and The Theatres Trust, the necessary resources to secure and repair the building have remained elusive.

CADS remains dedicated to its mission of supporting arts and culture in Sheffield and will continue to explore new avenues to contribute to the city’s vibrant community.

Steve Rimmer, CADS board director and founder, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported the charity’s vision over the years:

“The decision to close the Abbeydale Picture House has not been made lightly. Throughout this journey, we have faced

numerous challenges in our quest to preserve this significant piece of Sheffield’s heritage. It is with deep regret that we must pause our operations at this location. However, it’s important to emphasise that CADS is not leaving; our tenancy agreement remains firmly in place, and with it, our hope and determination to one day reopen the building. We are committed to continuing our mission of restoring the Abbeydale Picture House for future generations, ensuring its legacy and the cultural enrichment it brings to Sheffield; however, we can’t afford to selffund a loss-making venue at this time. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Sheffield community, our supporters, and partners who have stood by us. This chapter may be pausing, but our commitment to Sheffield’s arts and cultural landscape is as strong as ever.”

cads-online.co.uk

A PLACE WITH HEART

The potentially game-changing Heart of the City development is well on its way. With a series of exciting venues including a mixeduse food hall, creative hub for indie businesses and plenty of new retail spots and modern workspaces in the works, it’s hoped that this project could change the face of the city centre for years to come.

As you can see in these latest images from Vox Multimedia, Leah’s Yard – previously a Victorian-era workshop – is beginning to take shape. Still keeping the rustic structure and traditional feel intact, the developers have created an innovative space for independent retailers to allow their imagination to run wild.

Also pictured is an updated look at Cambridge Street Collective. The building is expected to run more than 24 kitchens, serving up a diversity of cuisines. You can see the rooftop bar and balcony area, which hopes to provide the perfect spot for some al fresco drinking and dining.

The neighbouring Bethel Chapel –formerly a Methodist church dating back to the 1800s – is set to become a live performance venue that doubles up as a café home for music, comedy and additional live performances, for night time owls and even a café for the daytime crowd.

So when will these state-of-the-art developments be completed? Word on the street is this summer, with phased openings throughout. For more information, head to heartofsheffield.co.uk.

DOING THEIR BIT BURTON STREET FOUNDATION

IN OUR MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT ON ORGANISATIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SHEFFIELD, EXPOSED’S ELLIE ASHTON CHATS WITH LEXY WEBSTER OF BURTON STREET FOUNDATION. AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT SOCIETY, BURTON STREET SERVES AS A CRUCIAL LOCAL HUB, HOSTING BUSINESSES AND CHARITIES WHILE ALSO OFFERING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF LIFE-CHANGING DISABILITY SERVICES.

Originally Langsett Road School, Burton Street faced demolition in 1995 but was saved by community leader, Jim Taylor, forming the Burton Street Foundation. Now a bustling community hub, it serves around 2,500 people weekly, hosting numerous events and activities. Providing disability services to 250 clients and housing 14 local businesses along with 35 charities and community groups, Burton Street maintains four buildings and delivers services across three sites, including the largest indoor community space in the area. Mostly based in Hillsborough, these sites include rooms for arts and crafts, music, sports and much more.

Who uses Burton Street Foundation?

Burton Street Foundation serves primarily as a community centre as well as a leading provider of disability day services in Sheffield. We have a really good reputation for our disability services; I’d heard about it long before working here just because of the quality of care it provides. We also have a lot of social enterprise businesses that work from our site as well, so it’s a community hub too.

I’ve heard a bit about the Art Skills and Articulate Sessions that Burton Street provides, and how that recently has helped your client, Adnarn, to create ‘Solo’, his upcoming exhibition. Could you tell me a little bit more about these sessions?

These sessions are designed around the pillars of wellbeing from the NHS, focusing on physical, emotional and social wellbeing. All of our sessions have targets to help all of our clients in exploring independence and advocacy in their own way. This could be anything like doing a catwalk fashion show for fun and learning to put the garments together. We also have a radio group where they interview people – for example, we’ve had Human League’s Phil Oakey in the past. Our YouTube is full

of the different video editing they’ve done.

I’ve looked at the YouTube channel. It’s always being updated with interesting bits and bobs!

Yeah, I’m always getting awesome videos in my inbox, where clients have edited themselves doing all kinds of stuff. They are so creative! Creativity is really what underpins our pillars – it’s at the heart of everything we do – and that really comes into play when you look at our tagline: ‘Everyone has a part to play’.

And how are these activities tailored to meet the diverse needs of your clients?

Adult activities fall within the following departments: Building Independence, Promoting Independence, Focused Support, Individual Support, and Complex Needs. So, when somebody comes to us, we will assess which team is the right team for them and we can focus on how they want to thrive. We also have a children and young person service, which operates in the school holidays and Saturdays during term time.

Can you talk us through some of the positive impacts this support can have?

As we’ve mentioned, Adnarn’s ‘Solo’ show is a perfect example. Just by being given complete creative freedom, and having people to encourage and support him, he has been able to completely develop his own art style to the point where he can now do a solo show. There’s also a story about another one of our clients, Craig. We’d taken Craig to one of our events –we’d had a pop-up cinema to celebrate another one of our guys going to the Special Olympics – and on the way out of the event they went down to the train station Craig said, “I’ve never been on a train” and we were like “What? Craig’s never been on a train!” From that moment, his support workers made it their mission to take Craig on this big day out. Bit by bit they took him on little trips all through the

countryside until one day in summer, his support workers took him on a big trip to Cleethorpes. He absolutely loved it; he was in his element!

I saw Burton Street Did a ‘Bowie Night’ a few of months back – which I’m sure was very fun. How do you come up with these nights?

This particular event was created by a guy named Isaac. He really wanted to do a Bowie Night, so I met with him and showed him how to use Eventbrite; we helped to get catering and provided marketing support as well. Usually with these events, support workers come to me with an idea that they think the clients will love and I will be determined to make it happen. That’s all we are – a facilitator. It’s their idea, their dream, their vision, and we just help that come to life.

Are there any upcoming events that you are excited about?

Yes! A big one for us is 'Burton’s Got Talent’, which we put on every year in our Bamford Park building. People from all over the community gather to see the great level of talent we have here. There’s everything from dancing, singing, magic acts, drag acts – all sorts! We also have the Christmas fair every year, which is the biggest fundraiser we do. All of the money raised goes back into Burton Street.

What other organisations do you collaborate with?

We have strong ties with Sheffield’s social enterprise sector, and we’ll soon be hosting a luncheon chat with our Managing Director to discuss the experiences of running a social enterprise. Additionally, we work closely with the council and also partner with a charity abroad. This charity is MToTo Junior School in Uganda, which interestingly is led by the guy who essentially saved Burton Street’s building in the 1990’s, Jim Taylor. We also work with a lot of different community centres in Sheffield including the Medina Mosque.

Finally, what is the most rewarding thing about working with The Burton Street Foundation?

I’ve never worked somewhere where I can feel such a connection with all my colleagues as well as clients. I don’t do any client-facing work and every single one of them knows me, they all come to see me regularly and it’s an amazing feeling. It’s definitely got a vibe about it that’s completely different to anywhere else I’ve been. It’s not a workplace, it’s a community. burtonstreet.org.uk

THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARITY

You can help us to change lives in 2024

Phoebe Marriott, Events Fundraising Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity

Throughout 2023, we had hundreds of people from across the country take on challenges to raise vital funds for Sheffield Children’s.

Of those, we had countless inspiring stories shared with us by our fundraisers. As an Events Fundraising Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, it’s always amazing to meet people who want to give back as a personal thanks for providing care to their loved ones. From running through our beloved city at the Sheffield 10K to trekking over 25 miles over the Yorkshire Three Peaks, I’m always blown away by the commitment of our supporters.

SKYDIVE

And nothing says commitment more than jumping 15,000ft from the sky! Our exhilarating skydives will make a comeback in 2024, with events taking place in July and September. This jump is the highest tandem skydive in the UK and the views

across the Yorkshire countryside are just incredible. Having completed it myself last year, it was an unforgettable experience and a great way to support Sheffield Children’s. You can sign up yourself at tchc.org.uk/ Skydive.

YORKSHIRE THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

I’ve been privileged enough to meet some of the bravest people I’ve ever come across in children who are battling illnesses at Sheffield Children’s. When speaking with their parents, I’ve found that the people who you turn to in times of difficulty are often those who rally together in giving back to Sheffield Children’s.

Six-year-old Esmée was treated on Sheffield Children’s Intensive Care Unit as her kidneys failed in December 2022. Having received a phone call from her school as she was unwell, the last place Esmée’s parents expected her to be

less than a week later was in a hospital bed. Soon after, Esmée was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition and is now thriving on her lifesaving medication.

Family and friends of Esmée’s set their sights on giving back to Sheffield Children’s in 2023. A team of nine people took part in our Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge as a thank you for Esmée’s care, raising an incredible £10,600 for The Children’s Hospital Charity!

Many of our supporters choose to take on a challenge as a team – especially our muchloved Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, which will take place on 20th July this year You can sign up for this event at tchc.org. uk/YorkshireThreePeaks.

DRAGON BOAT RACE

Our brand new Dragon Boat Race will take team building to the next level as we encourage all hands on deck for our teams of 17 racing across the lake to

beat other teams along the way. Taking place on 2nd June at Manvers Lake in Rotherham, it’s a fun and competitive event for work colleagues, friends, and family. Registration for this event has just opened and we’ve had some fabulous teams sign up already - we cannot wait to see you all there! If you’d like to sign up, you can visit tchc.org. uk/DragonBoatRace.

GREAT NORTH RUN

We like to offer something for everyone, so if you’re looking for a little less competition, why not take on one of many running events for Team Theo? We’ve got some incredible routes on our roster this year, including the Great North Run and Sheffield Half Marathon.

The world’s largest half marathon, the Great North Run, is taking place in Newcastle on 8th September this year. This iconic race will see 60,000 runners begin the route in Newcastle, finishing in South

Shields. Each year, we have runners from across the world travel to Newcastle for this unmissable event.

Last year, South Yorkshire mum, Jaga Natsagdorj, took on the Great North Run as a thank-you for the care of her son, Albert. Jaga signed up for the challenge as she’d witnessed first-hand how Sheffield Children’s cared for children in far worse conditions than her little boy whilst he was undergoing treatment. Jaga’s commitment was so inspiring as she hadn’t been a regular runner before signing up for this huge feat, where she managed to raise over £1,000 and cross the finish line with her husband and children cheering her along. As one of the most sought-after running spots each year, the Great North Run is not to be missed. The run is so popular that there are only charity places left! We have a limited number available, so head to tchc.org.uk/ GreatNorthRun to get yours.

SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON

If you’re looking for a halfmarathon closer to home, there is always the Sheffield Half Marathon on the 7th April! Director of Bravand, Ross Musgrove, recently signed up for the Sheffield Half Marathon, dedicating his fundraising to Sheffield Children’s as a thank-you for the care he and his sister received growing up in Sheffield. Being a father himself now, it’s these personal connections that have kept him motivated to raise vital funds, even when training gets tough.

If you sign up with Team Theo, you also get to enjoy additional perks! We recently partnered with Firehouse Fitness to bring you discounts, and free gym sessions to help with your training – how amazing is that?! Visit tchc.org. uk/SheffieldHalfMarathon to find out more.

I can’t wait to meet more supporters at these events and learn even more about how the Charity can help Sheffield Children’s to change lives. We’ve got plenty more events you can get involved with on our website at tchc.org.uk/events.

We’re fundraising £2million towards a new National Centre for Child Health Technology

The National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT) will be a place to develop world-leading research and build new technologies to solve the biggest challenges in children’s healthcare, located at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Run by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the NCCHT will bring together children, clinicians, inventors and engineers under the same roof, with a focus on preventing and managing health conditions, particularly the biggest health challenges of our time: obesity, mental health problems, disabilities and cancer.

The Children’s Hospital Charity is raising £2million towards the £22million build, and we can’t do this without the help of our amazing supporters.

To donate or learn more, visit tchc.org.uk/nccht.

UPFRONT

hidden gem: isabella's

The welcoming family feel at the heart of Isabella's is evident straightaway, from the smiling portrait of owner Steve’s daughter (the restaurant’s namesake) greeting you at the entrance to the menu listing chef Salvatore’s exquisite pasta dishes made with recipes passed down by his Sicilian grandmother. It's a warm place ran by passionate people.

Hanging chandeliers and plush seating give the space a touch of elegance, while the service strikes a perfect balance between relaxed and attentive. Food-wise, the homemade arancini, seafood tagliatelle and lasagna bianca (made with an interesting twist) are popular choices from a menu of Italian classics covering all the bases.

Don’t just take our word for it – the reviews speak for themselves. Across various platforms, the five stars have flowed in, with diners repeatedly praising the authentic dishes, dedicated service and convivial atmosphere.

“I’ve been involved with family-run Italian businesses for over 30 years now,” Steve tells Exposed. “We wanted to create a classy but cosy venue which focused on fresh, homemade Italian food – with a few Sicilian twists from our talented chefs – and offered a welcoming space for people to enjoy good cocktails and wine. We pride ourselves on what we do and believe that the small touches and extra efforts we put in make the food and service go a long way.”

On the upper level, you’ll find an atmospheric

dining space with exposed brick, twinkling lights and a refined ambience. For a more casual experience in the evening, the downstairs bar and lounge area is perfect for taking a seat, ordering one of their signature cocktails (the Rose Cobblers are excellent) and watching the world go by in Kelham Island – especially in the warmer months when the heated terrace comes into its own.

“I’ve been in hospitality since I was 18,” says chef Salvatore, who grew up in the Sicilian town of Catania. “I’ve worked in big Italian restaurants and a number of chains, but Steve gave me the opportunity to be creative with the menu here and put my own touch on it. I was able to make dishes taught to me by my parents and grandmother, so I’m often paying homage to them through the menu. Family’s at the heart of everything here.”

While Salvatore has many of the pasta dishes covered, his old friend from Catania, Giuseppe, also works at Isabella's as the restaurant's dedicated pizza chef. Working with speciality dough and a deep-seated passion for authentic Italian pizza, he kneads and fires up some of the most mouth-watering creations you're likely to find among these seven hills.

A true hidden gem situated in one of the city’s busiest foodie districts, if you’re looking for a memorable dining experience that embodies the heart of Italian hospitality and cuisine, Isabella’s offers the perfect taste of la dolce vita

Location 17 Alma Street, S3 8RY (look for the Little Kelham sign)

Contact @isabellaskelham // isabellaskelham.com // 0114 3222 600

Opening times

Weds & Thurs: 16.0022.30

Fri & Sat: 12.00-23.00 Sun: 12.00-22.00

INDIE PICK INDIE PICK Ning’s Thai

Independent Sheffield are all about championing the local legends that make our city special. This month, they are shining the light on Ning’s Thai – a no-frills, family-owned Thai eatery in the heart of Sheffield.

Hello! Tell us a little about Ning’s Thai and how it all began?

Ayup! Well, Ning’s Thai started as a dream between me and the missus, Ning, obviously. We both love proper Thai grub, and Sheffield was missing a bit of that authentic flavour. We started off operating as a vendor in OHM Food Hall and after a lot of grafting, we decided to open up our own little spot right in the city centre and haven’t looked back since!

What can visitors expect from your venue?

A warm welcome and a proper feast, that’s what! We’ve got a menu packed with traditional Thai dishes that’ll transport you to the streets of Nakhon Sawan (where Ning is from). We want folks to experience the real deal when it comes to Thai food. None of that anglicised nonsense and no shortcuts, just like how Ning’s family used to do it back in Thailand. We’re all about that homemade authentic taste.

What makes you special?

Well, apart from Ning’s mad skills in the kitchen, it’s the heart we put into every dish. It’s like visiting your fave Thai auntie in the heart of Sheffield. Oh, and we make sure our ingredients are fresh. From the crisp veggies to the aromatic herbs, everything’s as fresh as a breeze in the Peaks.

What are your best-selling dishes?

At the moment, it’s got to be our new traffic light curry! You get a taster of our red, yellow and green Thai curry and it comes with two servings of heart-shaped rice so you can share with somebody – or not! We don’t judge here. Our regulars also can’t get enough of our mixed starter platter, papaya salads and noodle soups.

Are there any interesting customer stories or experiences you can share with us?

We’ve had this lovely couple who celebrated their first date here, and now they come back every year for their anniversary. It’s moments like these that make us feel like we’re part of something special.

What’s next in the pipeline?

More special dishes and we’re rolling

out some new drinks that you can take away. And with the weather getting a bit warmer soon, we’ll be introducing some icy delights to sip on a sunny Sheffield day.

What do you love about Sheffield?

Sheffield’s got a proper sense of community, and the support we’ve had from locals is unreal. It means the world to us. Ning misses home, but it’s like having a massive extended family right here. So, if you’re after a taste of Thailand and a bit of Sheffield warmth, swing by Ning’s Thai. We’ll have a Thai brew waiting for you!

From humble beginnings as an Abbeydale Road pop-up and with an imminent move to the exciting Leah’s Yard development on the cards, Hop Hideout’s Jules Gray reflects on her hoppy journey into the heart of Sheffield’s beer scene.

WORDS: JOE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC BARKER

The fabled 2016 ‘Sheffield Beer Report’, now being updated for re-launch at this year’s Sheffield Beer Week, presented a wide range of data which posited the theory that the Steel City could stake a claim to be both ‘real ale capital of the world’ and ‘the birthplace of the UK craft beer revolution’.

A grand claim, perhaps, but the snapshot guide to the region’s beer industry certainly made for compelling reading as it highlighted the many independent businesses, events and dedicated individuals supporting a vibrant, ever-evolving scene.

As founder of Hop Hideout, Indie Beer Feast and Sheffield Beer Week, there aren’t many who’ve committed as much time and effort to putting the city on the beer map as Jules Gray. This month marks the ten-year celebration of Sheffield Beer Week, providing the perfect opportunity for Exposed to delve into the story of how Jules became one of the most prominent advocates for Sheffield’s beer scene.

Hailing from County Durham, Jules had her first job pulling pints of Brew XI, Guinness and – cue a subtle hint of foreshadowing – Stones Bitter for punters in a local WMC with a male-only bar area. She later came to Sheffield to study Media & Communications at Hallam University in 1999, spending the majority of her time on the Psalter Lane Art College campus, handily located a stone's throw from famed traditional pubs like The Lescar and The Porter Cottage.

“I was into beer as in I liked it, but it wasn’t something I instantly saw a career in – more of a typical student experience of drinking beer in the Students Union, West Street pubs, going to gigs,” reflects Jules. “We did spend time at places like the old Beer Engine on Cemetery Road, The Lescar, which was much more spit and sawdust at the time, and of course, The Porter Cottage, where I may have

been barred by Mandy at some point! However, if you asked me back then, at eighteen years old, what I most wanted to be, I think I would’ve said a presenter for MTV!”

Clearly, music was the first love before beer and brews could get a significant look-in. Amidst frequent trips to The Leadmill, Corporation and the upstairs gig room at The Grapes, Jules took a job at Forever Changes record shop on Ecclesall Road. Developing a deep interest in the DnB and UK hip-hop scene, she speaks fondly of iconic clubnights such as NY Sushi and frequent visits to The Tuesday Club (“I think I still hold membership card number one!”). Following university, she worked in clothing distribution for a skate store in Leeds before a stint at the iconic Fat City Records in Manchester – the heart of the city’s funk, soul and hip-hop scene.

“That felt like my dream job, like I’d peaked,” she admits. “That said, the dayto-day duties were essentially packaging records into mail orders for eight hours a day. You met some interesting people through it and got tickets to some amazing gigs, though. Rio Ferdinand was a regular customer at the shop, and I remember going to see Snoop Dogg with him once. That was an experience.”

Even while fully immersed in the Manchester music community and rubbing shoulders with hip-hop-loving centre-backs, pubs still played a quietly influential role in the backdrop of Jules’ life. Places like The Marble Arch in Ancoats and North Bar in Leeds were key players in introducing her to quality cask and keg offerings from independent breweries in the UK and abroad, helping to lay a foundation of lasting appreciation for good craft beer made for the right reasons.

It’s interesting how sliding doors moments in life are often presented

in such ordinary form, and that allimportant break into the beer industry itself came in what she laughingly calls “very old-school fashion”: a job ad in the local paper. Initially working in technical support for the multi-national brewing company Molson Coors, Jules received training in cellar management and operations, gleaning further insights into the journey of beer from brewery to glass before moving into other areas of work for the brewery.

“It wasn’t until I began working at a big brewery that I saw the big supply chain that exists behind beer, all of these interesting careers and jobs and avenues into the industry,” she says. “I spent seven or eight years there, moving into sales after technical support, then moving into procurement, logistics, forecasting and software systems – it was really challenging but a very well-rounded experience.”

Despite this, the atmosphere often faced at work did not make for a conducive environment to move further forward in her career. “I learned a huge amount, but there were a lot of tensions in the company towards the end. I wanted to be a brewer, that was the end goal, and I got so close to it by working in beer planning, but I ended up leaving after seven years or so because it was a very stressful environment.

“I spent a lot of time getting shouted at by a lot of people, so I think that at least helped me to develop a thick skin. You get told that you can’t do a lot of things, not being given certain opportunities or feeling patronised, and I think a lot of that was due to me being a woman in a very male-dominated space. The statistics back it up – you can see how many women turn to entrepreneurship and setting up their own businesses because they feel that they’re not taken seriously enough in the workplace.”

Disillusioned by the big beer companies, Jules had been nurturing an interest in micro-breweries and independent craft beer for some time. While living in Birmingham, she became active in organising events for the local CAMRA branch and put on a wellreceived beer festival inspired by resident rock legends Black Sabbath. The dots were beginning to join and during a trip to a European beer bloggers conference in Scotland, a conversation with Zak Avery, the founder of Beer Paradise and co-founder of Beer-Ritz shop in Leeds, led to an interesting question: “Why don’t you set up your own beer shop?’”

Back in Sheffield and with this in mind, a unit for rent on the corner of Abbeydale Road offered an unmissable chance to make her mark. “I didn’t want to open an out-and-out bar because I didn’t want to work the unsocial hours, so Hop Hideout had more of a retail focus while also offering the opportunity to have a drink inside – the first place in Sheffield to do that, and I’m pretty sure it would’ve been the only beer shop in the UK at the time doing the drink-in model.”

Beginning life as a pop-up, Hop Hideout opened in November 2013, later moving into a nearby café space and cementing itself as a favourite amongst other recently arrived independent beer havens such the revamped Broadfield pub and Picture House Social. The shop quickly became a key player in the city’s burgeoning craft beer landscape, proudly displaying the offerings of local breweries, while also curating a vast collection of beers from the UK and around the world. This popularity eventually saw the shop move to a larger space within the Grade-II listed Kommune foodhall in 2019.

Jules organised the inaugural Sheffield Beer Week in 2015. Initially a smallscale celebration spread across around 20 events and a smattering of venues, it has since grown into a citywide beery celebration involving up to 40 venues hosting a diverse range of activities such as the two-day Indie Beer Feast festival, plus a wide range of tastings, tap takeovers, brewery tours and Q+As with industry experts. “I was finding that everyone was talking about Manchester and Leeds when it came to beer and not enough people seemed to know about what a great scene we had in Sheffield. Sheffield Beer Week was all about changing that, bringing the community and championing what’s good about the city and its really incredible beer offering.”

‘Championing’ is an apt term; it’s at the heart of everthing that Jules does. Whether it’s promoting the work of

POUR-FECT SELECTION

Hop Hideout offers a wide selection of over 200 chilled beers, which can be browsed, enjoyed there are and then, or taken away, with the added bonus of four fresh rotating draught taps. There is a special focus on wild ales, funky beers, natural wines and farmhouse ciders.

marginalised groups in the beer industry through events and writing, to making collaborative beers that tell the story of activists who helped provide free access to the Peak District (keep an eye out for a brew honouring environmentalist Ethel Haythornthwaite at this year’s Beer Week), an ethos of independence, community and heritage underpins it all.

After over a decade in the game, Hop Hideout has remained at the forefront of the city’s ever-growing beer community and she feels confident that the scene is robust enough to withstand the rising cost pressures facing it. “It’s difficult to run an independent business at the best of times, so you can imagine what it’s like now! However, I think you’re pretty much guaranteed that you’re going to sell good beer in Sheffield. There’s a positive community spirit around beer and in the independent businesses that produce and sell it. That doesn’t mean places haven’t been closing, but this city is good at adapting. It has become much more of a foodie city now, which goes hand-inhand with the beer scene, and you can see the diversification in what the local breweries are producing. In 2013, there wasn’t many Sheffield breweries doing bottles or cans, and today most if not all breweries do it. There’s a much wider range of beer styles being made across the region; there’s still plenty of amazing cask and pale ale coming from the city, but you can now get amazing sours, IPAs, Belgian-style beers, European-style beers. The breadth and standard of beer has increased across the board.”

It’s clear from speaking to Jules that Sheffield’s beer and food offering has evolved significantly since Hop Hideout started out, in no small thanks to independent businesses such as her own

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

constantly striving to spread the good word through a self-proclaimed “labour of beery love”. In an industry where trends and shifts are regularly in motion, she explains that it’s important to remain a step ahead of the curve – especially when interesting new opportunities arise. As such, Hop Hideout will be celebrating passing the 10 years in business mark by opening a fresh chapter with a hugely exciting move to Leah’s Yard.

The renovated Grade II* listed building, currently scheduled for a summer 2024 opening, will contain a handpicked selection of independent traders and local businesses and is being touted as one of jewels of the city’s Heart of the City regeneration project. With household names like Pete McKee already announcing their tenancy at the venue, Jules felt like it was an opportunity too good to miss.

“I’m hugely excited to be a part of the Leah Yard’s community, and as a small business owner, I’m filled with positivity on this project and its surroundings for the city,” she says when asked about the move. “There’s such great support in Sheffield for independents, and ultimately, we’re hugely thankful to our regulars and new customers who support and shop with Hop Hideout every week. If people give us a follow on socials, we’ll have more details about the move coming soon!”

Sheffield Beer Week runs 4-10 March at a number of venues across Sheffield. Head to sheffieldbeerweek.co.uk for the full list of events.

@hophideout // @sheffbeerweek

To celebrate this month’s IWD, Jules took some time to pay tribute to inspirational women in the beer industry – both in Sheffield and further afield.

“Sheffield Beer Week has always supported women in beer. International Women’s Day falls during the week and events over the years have seen us collaborate with Rachel Auty at Women on Tap, beer and food photographer Nicci Peet and freelance beer writer Emma Inch. We’ve also hosted tastings with inclusive beer group Ladies That Beer.

This year, we’ll be celebrating the launch of Dr Christina’s Wade’s book The Devil’s in the Draught Lines, which takes a look at 1,000 years of women in Britain’s Beer History (and you might see familiar face in there!) with a tap takeover from Queer Brewing, founded by Lily Waite (who provided her photography skills for the book). There will also be a special beer dedicated to Ethel Haythornthwaite, a pioneer for national parks whose dedication to the cause led to the founding of the Peak District National Park in 1951.

There are inspirational women here in Sheffield working in all parts of the industry. These include Fay at Thornbridge, Liz at Acorn (previously GM at Sheffield Tap), Martha at St Mars of the Desert, Scarlett at Triple Point Brewery, Lucienne at Heist Brewery, Sue and Laura at Abbeydale Brewery and Helen-Fay at Lost Industry Brewing.

That’s just to name a few! There are so many women that inspire me across a range of industries, but it’s amazing to see the growth of women in the beer industry and the positivity it’s bringing.”

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The Festival of the Outdoors returns to the Steel City this month, bringing with it a wide programme of events and activities.

WHAT IS IT?

The festival holds a range of events across Sheffield, from huge international sporting competitions to smaller community gatherings.

You can expect everything from film festivals to notoriously tricky bouldering problems, guided walks and outdoor markets.

WHEN IS IT?

The festival will take place across March in locations all over Sheffield with events spanning from the very beginning of the month, all the way through to the end.

THE HEADLINERS

The Climbing Works International Festival

16-17 March

Climbers from as far as Japan and the USA will flock to Sheffield to tackle challenges set by Percy Bishton (one of the most prestigious route setters). The event is completely open for anyone to enter and there will also be a fun fancy dress competition.

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival

15-16 March

Back for its 18th year running, ShAFF are returning to Sheffield Cathedral to show the best new adventure, travel and extreme sports films from around the world in addition to a great range of panel talks and an all-day screening of an immersive Adventure Bites loop in the Cathedral’s Crypt.

The festival will also have live choral music, Sunshine Pizza Oven serving delicious food and a selection of exhibitors outside the Cathedral.

Pollen Market X FOTO

17 March

Pollen Market is returning as part of the festival for their first market of 2024 along the Grey to Green corridor in Castlegate.

The event celebrates all things plants and flowers with market traders, arts, crafts and a tasty selection of street food vendors.

Sheffield Beer Week

4-10 March

The 2024 edition of the week-long festival will be their 10th anniversary and will see unique beerbased events spread over multiple Sheffield venues as bars, pubs and restaurants join forces with local, national and international breweries.

Park Hill Uprise - Urban Hill Climb

23 March

The second edition of Park Hill Uprise brings the action back to the cobbles as it incorporates a short course and challenging climbs.

A great place to watch the riders is from the cobbled V below Park Hill, as this creates the two Cobbled Climbs.

This year welcomes the new Cargo Bike Challenge team event where 1 rider and 3 loaders race against the clock to be the fastest finishers.

EXPOSED’S TOP SHOUTS

Strange Sheffield Ghost Walks: Darkest Night

1 March

Meet author Adrian Finney at Tudor Square for a 90 minute circular route of chilling ghost stories, local legends and dark laughter as you unravel the secrets of Sheffield’s oldest standing residential building, and hear one of the most famous ghost stories in history.

Skateboard Jam at Castlegate

17 March

The jam will feature DJs and an MC from 13:0014:30 and throughout the day there will be ‘have a go coaching sessions’ including free board and equipment hire for anyone who wants to skate.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

2-31 March

Join DC Outdoors for an urban paddle boarding experience at Sheffield’s Victoria Quays. Once comfortable on the boards, you’ll go on a journey along the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal.

Talk on Ethel Haythornthwaite and Higger Tor Walk

8 March

As part of International Women’s Day and 100 years of CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire, the National Trust are hosting a talk on environmental campaigner Ethel Haythornthwaite’s life and work followed by a guided walk up Higger Tor.

For more festival information, head to welcometosheffield.co.uk.

BACK TO THE ROOTS

Nearly 200 years since its first arrival, The Foresters pub has been restored to the city centre in its original home on Rockingham Street.

Originally opened in 1828, the pub has been reinstated by the team behind award-winning watering holes Public and Picture House Social, reopening its historic doors last month on 15th February.

The venue has been lovingly restored with a new colour scheme, upholstered seating for cosy local vibes, new drinks menus including Public-inspired cocktail offerings and a ‘pub grub’ food menu.

The venue’s co-owner James O’Hara told Exposed: “We basically wanted to make a local for the city centre, with really good pub grub and drinks –everything from a top pint of Guinness and local cask ales to a few choice cocktails and a nice wine selection.”

The team have also delved into the pub’s history to inspire the renovations. James explained: “To draw on the history of The Foresters from 1828 has been a real privilege and there were so many great stories in the archives.

WE BASICALLY WANTED TO MAKE A LOCAL FOR THE CITY CENTRE, WITH REALLY GOOD PUB GRUB AND DRINKS

“We were totally unaware, for example, that 100 years ago the shop next door was an oyster seller, so that’s why we’ve got oysters on the menu!

“We hope that The Foresters can be a place that the people of Sheffield pop into and feel relaxed, meet their pals, have a few drinks and eat some proper scran.

“That’s what pubs are for, and we’re chuffed to be able to add another in the city we love.”

For more details, head over to @ theforesterssheffield.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB NICHOLSON // PEDALO

Bakers Yard heads to Little Kelham

Work has begun to transform a vacant unit in Kelham Island’s eco-friendly Little Kelham development into a new independent, 30-seater café and bakery focusing on fresh bakes, speciality coffee and ethically sourced provisions.

Bakers Yard Bakery is set to open this spring, in the unit next door to Isabella’s restaurant, and will offer an ever-changing selection of seasonal bakes and speciality coffee, as well as a bakery focused food menu of savoury pies, salads and sandwiches, utilising their homemade breads.

Readers may already have had the pleasure of sampling some of their sweet treats, which have been available in some of the best cafes in the city since the Bakers Yard owners started their wholesale operation, Nourriture Bespoke, about a year ago.

What began as a side-gig, baking delicious canelé and cookies for Mow’s café, quickly grew to the point where owners Sam Lindsay and Becca Crofts’ bakes were in such demand, they were able to leave their jobs and go full-time, baking from home for cafes across the city.

The couple, who between them have more than three-decades of experience baking and working in kitchens, feel that the time is now right to showcase their skills in their very own café.

Sam said: “Once we left our jobs, we were doing everything from home, but we outgrew the house very quickly!”

Becca added: “We were doing personalised bakes for nine cafes. The dining room had three fridges, there were mixers everywhere, and you couldn’t move for Tupperware. It was it was fun to test the products and all of the cafes have been really supportive, but it was time to take the plunge.

Bakers Yard Bakery is set to open this spring, and for further updates and a look at some of their mouth watering bakes, chuck them a follow on socials.

@bakersyardbakery

BRING ‘EM TO THE GREEK

Since summer last year, The Greek Grill House has been serving up homemade Greek classics of moussaka, lamb kleftiko and gyros, as well as Greek desserts like baklava and galaktoboureko, using ingredients imported direct from the owners’ native Greece.

Created by husband-and-wife team Anna and Roni Souloti, who moved to Sheffield from Athens eight years ago, the family-run restaurant is a slice of home for the couple who have combined their respective experience in hospitality to offer authentic Greek cuisine on Barber Road, Crookes.

Anna, who has experience working in cafes, focuses on the coffees and front of house, while chef Roni uses his vast experience in the kitchen and as a butcher to bring together the flavours he loves.

“My husband loves what he does,” says Anna. “He’s a butcher and chef by trade, so he loves to make food.

“I used to work in a coffee shop in Broomhill, so we wanted to combine what we specialise in, and create a place serving great food, coffee, and Greek wines and beers.”

The couple moved to England with their son, who is now 17 and also works part-time in the restaurant, due to the ongoing recession and financial instability in Greece.

“We wanted to move because we saw the opportunity for a better life here,” says Anna. “At that time, in Athens, wages were very low, and they still are, so

we moved here and I love it.

“I love Sheffield. I love the people. I love how people talk to each other, even if they don’t know you. I still live in the same house as when I moved here, and when I first came here, people hugged me. There’s a lovely community around me.”

As they have found their feet in their new venture, the restaurant has begun to take shape. Anna said: “In the beginning it was difficult, but now people really love us.

“When people come and try us, they love the food. The main thing is getting people to come in, because once they do, they’ll come back.

“The food is authentic and is what we would eat back home, even down to the home-made desserts, which everyone always praises.”

As well as the food, the drinks are also authentically Greek, with traditional Greek wine, Retsina, on offer alongside Greek beers and Ouzo.

“Back home, all the taverns offer you Retsina, it’s the house wine. Over here, many Greek restaurants are bring your own alcohol, so we’re unique in that we have a license.

“We are family-run, and I think people like that about us.”

The Greek Grill House is open six days a week, whether you’re looking for food on the go, or the full sitdown restaurant service. For more details or to book, head to their socials @the_greek_grill_house.

Celebrating local

City centre fine dining establishment Silversmith’s have launched an exquisite-sounding 4-Course Tasting Menu that’s all about celebrating local produce.

The new menu is designed to take diners on a culinary journey through local flavours with each course meticulously sourced, from the origin of the ingredients to the plates they serve them on - commissioned from local Sheffield ceramist, Pots by Prince.

The scallops used in their first course, for example, are hand dived and bathed in dripping from Wortley Wagyu before searing on hot coals and finished with wild foraged herbs from Bello Wild Food, making every bite packed full of flavour.

Launching the new menu, Silversmith’s said: “In our constant endeavour to bring innovative and memorable dining experiences to our patrons, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our exclusive 4-course tasting menu. This new offering is a testament to our commitment to culinary excellence and our ethos of supporting local farmers and producers.

“Our new tasting menu is a carefully curated journey that highlights the best of what our local countryside has to offer. Each course has been thoughtfully designed to showcase the freshest, seasonal ingredients sourced directly from local farms and producers. This not only ensures the highest quality and flavour but also supports our community and reduces our carbon footprint.

“Guests can look forward to an extraordinary dining

experience that combines traditional techniques with modern culinary innovations. Our talented chefs have poured their passion and expertise into creating a menu that is both exciting and comforting, offering a symphony of flavours that promise to delight the senses.”

The Tasting Menu is 4 courses for just £39 per person and is available every Saturday from 5:15pm with a vegan set menu also available. The Menu will change every 4 weeks and also includes homemade bread on arrival and an intermission course.

Book your table here: www.silversmithsrestaurant. co.uk/book or scan the QR code

• COFFEE • BREAKFAST • LUNCH • OUTDOOR PLAY • DOG FRIENDLY • AFTERNOON TEA •

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

Open Monday - Sunday 9am - 5pm Reservations available via our website!

We are a friendly, welcoming space to shop and drink a wide range of wines with a focus on female producers and sustainability. Wines by the glass change weekly so there is always something exciting to try!

239-241 Crookes

Sheffield

S10 1TF

hello@tenayawine.co.uk

Roast now being served in Assembly 12pm – 7pm

Assembly is our late night, neighbourhood Bar & Bistro Providing a superb dining experience for all occasions, putting a modern twist on traditional British dining.

Open Wednesday to Friday 4pm til late Saturday & Sunday 12pm til late.

BAR LOUNGE • COCKTAILS • TAP ROOM MODERN BRITISH DINING • EVENT HIRE

Sunday

TOAST OF THE TOWN

After bagging Best Newcomer at the Drinks Retailing Awards last month, Exposed caught up with Tenaya Wine’s Virginia Myers to hear about why this slice of California in Crookes has been turning heads in Sheffield and further afield.

First of all, congrats on the big win! How did it all come about? Thank you! We applied for the awards last year. It’s quite a rigorous process involving a lot of forms and pictures, but through doing that, we were listed as finalists. The next step is they send a mystery shopper to experience the service and feel of the place – we still don’t know who it was – and there’s also a fairly long interview involved. We definitely had to work for it!

Sounds like it! And how did it feel when your name was announced on the night?

Amazing. The awards were held in London at The Dorchester and the finalists from our category were sat together on a table. It was nice just to be a finalist, of course, but to actually win the award was really exciting. It’s particularly good because when you’re your own boss you don’t necessarily get much feedback, so we now know we’re doing something right.

Sheffield hasn’t had too much nationwide attention with regards to its wine offering, so it’s nice to maybe get the word out there that there are places for great wine here.

You’ve certainly built up a stellar reputation here in Sheffield. What do you think it is that has helped Tenaya Wines stand out?

I think a big part of it is how we’ve created a very welcoming wine space. We try to ensure that it’s not an intimidating experience for customers, where it doesn’t matter how much you know about wines. Everything’s clearly labelled, and we’ve got a decent range between classic wines to a good selection of natural wines – and everything in between those. We like to think that it’s not too overwhelming for the customer.

Of course, giving people a drinkin option also helps because they can sample the wines by the glass.

You’ve been open for around 18 months now. How have you settled into the community up at Crookes?

It’s been great. The attachment that people here have to local independents – not just in Crookes but across the city as a whole – has been a massive thing for us. People are very up for supporting businesses like ours, so we’ve got a lovely customer base who we feel like we’ve got a great relationship with.

We’ve also got a strong relationship with other independents in the area. For example, Tom at No Name will provide us with his menu each week and we’ll recommend wine pairings in the shop for people to buy and take over to the restaurant.

Now that you’ve recovered from the awards celebrations,

what’s on the agenda for the remainder of the year?

We’re going to continue with the Wine Club, with the first one beginning in March and then running quarterly. It’s a subscription service where you can get three or six bottles of wine, which we’ll curate around a certain theme, so the upcoming selection will be Spring-related. We do pick-up events when the wines are ready to collect, and you also get a tote bag or t-shirt when you join, plus 5% discount in the shop throughout the subscription. It’s a fun way to keep people connected to the shop.

Crookes Festival is coming up in May, where we’ll be doing a 'Wine Walk'. People will be able to get a glass from us and go visit the other independent shops and businesses. There’ll be plenty of other bits going on that weekend, so it’s something we’re really looking forward to.

We’ve recently been on the hunt at tastings for a selection of new wines specifically chosen for

the spring months, so keep an eye out for those arriving on the shelves soon.

Tasty. You do regular themed nights at the shop too?

Yeah, every month we’ll have wine and cheese tasting on a particular theme. Next month it’s a Spanish theme, and then in April, we have the Loire Valley. These are an ongoing collaboration with Porter Brook Deli on Sharrow Vale Road.

We’ve also got a ceramics workshop coming up soon. We want to make sure we’ve got a good range of events going on, not things that are learning just about wine but a range of crafts – and, of course, you can enjoy a glass of wine while you do it!

Follow @tenaya_wine or head to tenayawine. co.uk for the latest news on events and additions to the shop’s range of wines – curated with a focus on female producers and sustainability.

Innovative and creative casual fine dining in the heart of Ranmoor

We offer a seven course blind tasting menu from seasonal local ingredients and an ever changing menu with wine pairings to complement our dishes.

376 Fulwood Rd, Sheffield S10 3GD

west10sheffield.co.uk

YOU CROISS-AN’T RESIST!

Since its opening last month, Division Street foodie spot La Croissanteria has repeatedly gone viral for their enticing croissants stuffed with a number of interesting fillings, ranging from fish fingers to doner kebab – and even wagyu beef!

A member of the awardwinning Cawa family which specialises in baked goods and artisanal coffee, there are two La Croissanterias now in the Steel City – one in Meadowhall and the other on Division Street. However, the city centre venue boasts an additional mezzanine level and a wider selection of tables making it the perfect dine-in spot.

“These aren’t just ordinary croissants,” Deon Jacobs, Cawa’s Business Development Manager told Exposed. “There are plenty of coffee places and cafes on this stretch of road, so we knew we needed something to stand out.”

In a move which has been both praised by thousands of online foodies and criticised by some French cuisine purists, La Croissanteria has been filling their flaky pastries with spicy

zinger chicken, lamb donner meat, Lebanese falafel, and wagyu beef sourced by local company Wortley Wagyu.  Their best-selling fish finger croissant ruffled more than a few feathers on the other side of the English Channel after it was discovered by a French

journalist, but customers in Sheffield have been queuing up and down the street to get their hands on one.

For those who prefer a more traditional option, a classic ham and cheese croissant is available. Sweet tooths are also catered to with a variety of sweet fillings,

including Nutella and a special Eton Mess-inspired creation. With excellent artisanal coffee, and a range of treats from cronuts to salted brownies, there’s plenty on offer to get stuck into!

“We cater to all tastes, but more and more people are coming in to try out the more wacky fillings,” adds Deon. “We’ve had people see the videos go viral online and head straight down to try it for themselves, sometimes trying five different flavours in one sitting! It’s all about trying something you’ve probably never tried before.”

La Croissenteria is open 8am-6pm at 23 Division Street. Give them a follow on socials @ cawacroissanteria to see what all the fuss is about!

Frazer’s Coffee, #propercoffee

Now open. Visit our new shop with its on-site roastery and seating for up to 60 people.

203 Arundel street Sheffield, S1 4RE

We also offer subscriptions

How It Works

• All of our subscription coffees are 5% off our usual prices

• FREE UK delivery

• Enter code FRAZER23 at the checkout and you’ll get your first subscription bag of coffee at half price!*

*Applicable to coffee subscription orders only

Tel: 07885445315 / Email: frazerscoffeeroasters@gmail.com / Website: www.frazerscoffeeroasters.co.uk

Filled croissants and Artisan coffee

Discover a symphony of flavours at La Croissanteria, where every bite is a journey into culinary excellence. Delight in our halal-certified filled croissants, featuring savoury options like Chicken Tikka, Lamb Donner and Wagyu Marbled Beef, or indulge in sweet sensations like Nutella with whipped cream and strawberries, and the delectable Eton Mess croissant. Paired with our artisan coffee, La Croissanteria is your haven for gourmet delights, meticulously crafted with you in mind.

MEADOWHALL

Established in 2016, Unit started out as a creative independent restaurant catering for families and students in Sheffield.

We have since grown from strength to strength, cooking up irresistible meals our customers love. The Unit brand is a pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry that aims to transform the comfort food experience.

Over the years, we have refined and streamlined every aspect of our brand, from funky store designs to creative menu items, with a relaxed and accessible approach to service.

Email Us: info@unitsheffield.com

Us: 0114 4381532 Visit us: 88 Headford Street, Sheffield, S3 7WB

MUSIC

MONSTER BEATS

Dean: Around that time, the technology became cheap enough to make music at home. You could buy a sampler for £300 and you were away. I had a couple of analogue synths and the music was mainly based around samples. Jarrod even started sampling easy-listening LPs. We got an Arts Council grant which gave us enough money to put out our first album, These Are Our Children, on CD. But we never cleared the rights to any of the music we used. We pressed up about 500 but had to give them away because we couldn’t sell them officially. One track was an early proto version of ‘Daydream [In Blue]’, using the same sample, but without the vocoder section. A guy from Warner Brothers, Jonathan Dickins, who is now Adele’s manager, heard it and called us. He liked the album, told us he really loved the Daydream track and added that we should re-work it.

WORDS: MARK PERKINS

The music scene in 2024 is an unpredictable beast.

Ask your average Sheffield music fan to name some local bands, and after the usual suspects of Hawley, Jarvis and the Human League are declared, it could be be some time until someone mentions I Monster. Yet Dean Honer and Jarrod Gosling have been making music together for over 20 years now, creating innovative electronic synth-pop which often turns up in all manner of films and TV shows.

Despite not releasing any new material since around 2016, I Monster are about to embark on a hugely exciting 16-date European tour, including venues in Berlin, Budapest, Paris, Istanbul – and Sheffield, of course. All this follows on from a totally unexpected worldwide surge in interest in their music from the most unlikely of sources. I called into their Nether Edge studio to find out more.

Before we get into the recent fortunes of I Monster, can we get a brief history 101 of the band? As I know it, you’ve been working as I Monster in

Sheffield since the late-90s?

Jarrod: We first met in about 1991. I’m from Stocksbridge and was at college up at Norton, doing an art course. I was in Sheffield Music Library, back when they still let you borrow vinyl, and in walked Dean. Someone introduced us, we got talking, and realised we were both listening to the same type of music. I’m from a metal background, but in the early-90s I was getting into the indie scene, and in particular the stuff they were playing at the Leadmill on the weekend. In the middle of all the indie tunes, they’d play a block of bleepy techno stuff for about 40 minutes, then some hip-hop, then back to The Smiths. It was my introduction to music by Sweet Exorcist, LFO, Tricky Disco and all those early Warp releases. Dean was listening to the same stuff and was starting up a studio in town, so he asked me if I wanted to come down and make some tunes. I’d started making music using midi and samples and I bought myself an Atari ST computer, so I had a basic setup at home. At Dean’s studio, we just started banging out tunes.

Jarrod: It started getting played on BBC Radio 1, after Nemone picked it up and started playing it on her show, so it all kicked off from there. Rough Trade stocked it, sold out, and rang us up late one night for some more copies of the single. After that, there were a few labels interested and we got signed up.

Dean: It went into the charts, but we didn’t have an album’s worth of tracks to follow it with. We spent a year recording some more tracks for our first official album release in 2003, called Neveroddoreven

Jarrod: We couldn’t do the traditional thing of a single, followed by an album, followed by more singles, so we lost a lot of traction and when we finally released the album it didn’t sell very well. We had tracks which we thought were good pop singles, tracks like ‘Who Is She?’, but the record company got cold feet.

What were your next steps?

Dean: We did some touring off the back of the album. We were popular in France and Switzerland and in our live band we had Marianne and Fred from another local band, The Lovers. We did a few more singles on

the Instant Karma label, but then we left. We released the Dense Swarm Of Ancient Stars album in 2009 as a self-release.

Jarrod: There were some good potential singles on that album, but we didn’t really promote it as well as we should have, and we didn’t do any more live performances. We’d always had other projects that we were involved in running alongside I Monster, and we went our separate ways to work on our own projects for a time. We made the Bright Sparks album in 2016, which was very conceptual, not really meant for radio and was the last proper I Monster album of new material.

Which leads us to a fairly recent out-of-the-blue comeback for I Monster. Could you tell us a bit about what’s happened there?

Jarrod: A couple of years ago, something very strange happened, which we just couldn’t understand. Seemingly out of nowhere, ‘Who Is She?’ from the Neveroddoreven album started being played on Spotify. Up until then, Daydream was still our most played song, but monthly plays of ‘Who Is She?’ kept on growing and growing. We knew it wasn’t on any adverts or TV shows, so we couldn’t understand where it was coming from. After some digging, we found out that TikTok users were uploading clips and using the track as background music. As it spread around TikTok the numbers just snowballed. All this activity led to people going to Spotify to hear the original. Around 18 months ago it was getting around nearly one-million plays a day. Some of the biggest TikTokers in the world were using it – Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Charli D’Amelio – all of these people I’ve never heard of. But of course my kids knew them all. It’s now been played over 125 million times.

Dean: People started getting in touch asking if we’d thought about doing some gigs. With the Spotify analytics we can see who is listening and where they live. The agents can look at it and put you where the listeners are. We’re playing in Istanbul as apparently it’s really big there, and tickets are

MUSIC

selling really well. We’re playing a large venue, and we’ve sold half the tickets already. We’ve got a new band, which will look very different from the last time we played live – there’s no drummer for a start, and it’s going to be a lot more electronic. There are visuals for every track by Katie Mason, who I worked with in [International] Teachers Of Pop, and Jarrod and I will be doing electronics and vocoders. There are two vocalists, Jenny Green and Hannah Hu. Jenny’s from The Raincoats, and also plays guitar and violin. Hannah toured with the Specials and Primal Scream. Now also seemed like a good time to re-release Neveroddoreven, as it came out 20 years ago, so there’s a vinyl copy, plus some unreleased and rare stuff coming out at the end of March. We’re calling it the Who Are They Tour. When we’ve played some live dates we’re

planning to finish a new album, which we’ve already started planning for.

Do you think you do have a big Sheffield audience? It's almost like you're unsung heroes in a sense.

Dean: I don’t really know. We were never even a one-hit wonder. Daydream wasn’t really a massive hit. We were supposed to be going on Top of the Pops, wearing the fly masks we’d had made, and it would have sold really well. But the week we were due to go on, we missed out on being on the show by one chart place. It was in the Top 30 for months, but never went higher than number 20. It just kept selling and selling. People know the track, but don’t know who did it, and also don’t know that I Monster are from Sheffield. We’ve never actually played as I Monster in Sheffield. In fact,

WE’LL BE PLAYING TO KIDS WHO WEREN’T EVEN BORN WHEN ‘DAYDREAM’ CAME OUT. ONE OF OUR WORRIES IS THAT OUR NEW FANBASE OF TIKTOK-ADDICTED GIRLS WILL HAVE TO LIE ABOUT THEIR AGE TO GET INTO THE GIGS.

we’ve only ever done three UK gigs, one in Manchester and two in London. Other than that, we’ve only ever played in Europe. Jarrod: It’s odd really that we’ve never really had to do anything to get the success we’ve had. We just put out the music. We were lucky that Daydream got picked up, and the TikTok thing has just happened without any involvement from us. We’ll be playing to kids who weren’t even born when Daydream came out. One of our worries is that our new fanbase of TikTok-addicted girls will have to lie about their age to get into the gigs!

I Monster play Sheffield City Hall on 24 April. Tickets and more info on their upcoming tour available from linktr.ee/ imonstermusic

FRIDAY 26TH JULY

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB

THE CHARLATANS - SOFT PLAY - SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR - MILES KANE

THE VIEW - DYLAN JOHN THOMAS - THE MYSTERINES - CORELLA

BEEN STELLAR - COACH PARTY - BEDROOM HIGH CLUB

MATILDA SHAKES - CAMERON HAYES - MARY IN THE JUNKYARD - MITCH SANTIAGO

HARRIET ROSE - ABS

SATURDAY 27TH JULY

TOM GRENNAN

HOLLY HUMBERSTONE - THE SNUTS - ANNIE MAC - PEACE

SPRINTS - JAZZY - NIEVE ELLA - ENGLISH TEACHER - COCO

CUCAMARAS - OTIS MENSAH - CITY PARKING - FRANZ VON - KDOT

MICA SEFIA - RUMBI TAURO - JXK - DJ KYLA C

EVERLY PREGNANT BROTHERS - THE LEADMILL STUDIO ORCHESTRA THE

SUNDAY 28TH JULY

EXAMPLE - YARD ACT - MAXIMO PARK

THE MAGIC GANG - ANTONY SZMIEREK - FLOWEROVLOVE - NEWDAD

WILLIE J HEALEY - 86TVS - FOLLY GROUP - LIME GARDEN

PHILIPPA ZAWE - CREEPING JEAN - STATIC LIVES

MY LIFE IN MUSIC

HARRIET ROSE

With a headline hometown show at The Leadmill coming up this month, we grabbed five with the local songwriting talent to hear about her musical journey so far…

THE FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT…

Avril Lavigne’s Let Go – a huge inspiration to me growing up. I started out in a punk band and styled everything around her, I just wasn’t anywhere near as cool.

MY FIRST GIG…

The first proper gig I remember was going to see Johnny Marr in Newcastle. My love for The Smiths has been passed down from my Dad and he took me to this show and dragged me right down to the front. It was definitely a first to remember.

THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED…

Had to think hard about this one, but I’m pretty sure it was ‘You’ve Got The Love’ by Florence and the Machine.

A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN…

With the exception of the entire Taylor Swift catalogue, a song I’m listening to loads at the moment is ‘History of Man’ by Maisie Peters. I absolutely adore her writing, but there are some lines in this song that as a woman just hit home and I wish I’d had the brains to write it.

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN…

I REALLY STARTED TO APPRECIATE SONGWRITING WHEN I WAS AROUND 10 YEARS OLD AND REALISED IT WAS LITERALLY JUST STORIES AND POEMS PUT TO MUSIC.

I’ve always had a love of music since starting out in theatre at a young age. But I really started to appreciate songwriting when I was around 10 years old and realised it was literally just stories and poems put to music. It gave me a chance to get all my emotions out when, more often than not, I wouldn’t know what to say.

ONE SONG THAT I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY HEAD AT THE MINUTE…

I can’t pick just one because I loop songs until I literally can’t stand them anymore. My top three right now are ‘Anonymous in Los Feliz’ by The Vaccines, ‘Run Away To Mars’ by TALK and ‘Never Need Me’ by Rachel Chinouriri.

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

Fontaines D.C. – ‘A Hero’s Death’ was my anthem for last summer. Every time I hear it now I get excited for sunny days on the beach with the people who mean the most to me.

@harrietrosemusic

Harriet Rose plays The Leadmill on 30 March. Tickets (£10) are available from leadmill.co.uk.

MUSIC

CELEBRATING MUSIC UP NORTH

Some Sheffield favourites have been shortlisted at the first-ever Northern Music Awards, taking place across the Pennines next month.

The inaugural Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards, supported by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, are set to celebrate the vibrant music scene of the North of England. Taking place on April 23, 2024, at Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall, the event will feature an line-up including Courteeners’ Liam Fray, Lisa Stansfield, The K’s, and English Teacher.

Steel City’s own Bring Me The Horizon have been shortlisted for Band of the Year, with annual events Get Together and TramLines also in the running for Festival of the Year.

The awards aim to recognize both established northern icons and emerging

talents, while also fundraising for Nordoff and Robbins’ vision of opening a state-of-the-art music therapy centre in Greater Manchester.

The ceremony will feature performances from various nominees and award categories including Band of the Year, Best Newcomer, Breakthrough Act of the Year, and DJ of the Year. Notable nominees include Courteeners, Sam Fender, Blossoms, and Melanie C, who will receive the Special Recognition Award.

The awards will rotate annually across different Northern cities, celebrating the region’s rich musical heritage. The event will also unveil a specially commissioned award designed by artist Thomas Wolski, emphasising the power of music and human connection.

Supported by Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham, and various industry partners, including Ticketmaster and Live Nation, the awards underscore the importance of music therapy across the region. With a judging panel comprising of industry heavyweights, the event promises to be a significant celebration of Northern music culture.

Find out more at nordoff-robbins.org.uk/northernmusic-awards/

COWBOYY

YELLOW ARCH // 8 MARCH // £10

THE best “experimental noise rock sort of thing” kids COWBOYY are returning to Yellow Arch for their first Sheffield headline. Joining the South Coast shredders will be Notts jazz-punk quintet OTALA, Pompey grindcore outfit SCAB and your next favourite Sheff band HARD AS NAILS.

YELLOWARCH.COM

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN

CITY HALL // 19 MARCH // £32£58

One of most influential British bands in modern history head out on a major UK tour, celebrating the songs that have brought the group twenty top 20 hits and nine top 20 albums so far in over 40 years.

SHEFFIELDCITYHALL.CO.UK

SAM LEE

CROOKES SOCIAL CLUB // 20 MARCH // £14

Lee’s latest album Songdreaming represents the latest stage in the development of the artist’s music, from its roots in traditional folk song to a new way of imagining and performing these old songs, making them relevant for a modern audience.

FIXR.CO

THOMAS TRUAX

GREYSTONES // 27 MARCH // £13

One of the most imaginative characters on the pop music fringe, Truax been travelling the world since the year 2000 performing with his ever evolving “band” of bizarre, self made Harry Partch-esque instruments. He crafts rich, poetically evocative songs about insects, trees, technology and a lifelong obsession with things lunar.

MYGREYSTONES.CO.UK

HARRIET JONES

LEADMILL // 30 MARCH // £10

Extraordinary local songwriting talent Harriet Rose has had one hell of a 2023 (supporting the likes of Pete Doherty, Jon McClure, Lottery Winners and Sherlocks, to name just a few). The artist kicks this year off with a bang as she gears up for her biggest headline show to date.

LEADMILL.CO.UK

THE VACCINES @ OCTAGON CENTRE

WORDS: LAURA MILLS PHOTOS: JACOB FLANNERY

Mondays can often bring about a sense of dread and woe to the majority of us, but this week one band transported us to a place filled with joy through a night of marvellous music.

Arriving at the Octagon Centre for the first time, there is a clear sense of excitement in the air as the crowd eagerly wait for The Vaccines to grace the stage.

As the tension rises, so does the atmosphere as the lights lower and we finally catch a glimpse of one of indie’s most renowned frontmen, Justin HaywardYoung.

The Vaccines kick off one of their final sets of this tour with ‘Love to Walk Away’ followed by launching into one of their oldest and dearest songs ‘Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)’.

Working through the setlist the band treated us to old favourites and more recent classics including ‘I Can’t Quit’, ‘Post Break-Up Sex’ and ‘Your Love Is My Favourite Band’.

Hayward-Young has a sense of authority and an ingrained air of confidence, strutting up and down the stage wearing a white shirt and eyes covered by dark shades.

Likewise, the band are showcasing their range tonight switching up between gruelling riffs and a clashing beat of the drums to chords which are much more stripped back, creating a slightly more melancholic sound while connecting the entire band.

The crowd lap up each song coming thick and fast, singing along with the band while swigging back their pints, arm in arm with their nearest and dearest.

Launching into ‘Headphones Baby’, arguably one of my favourite songs ever, the fans continue to charge on with the electric ambience as they belt out: “Headphones baby / Headphones baby / And I wanna die together like we’re movie stars” along with Justin.

More iconic tracks hurtle our way through ‘Handsome’, ‘Teenage Icon’ and ‘If You Wanna’, finishing off a flawless Steel City set with ‘All My Friends Are Falling In Love’ with Justin exiting before finally closing the set on ‘Nørgaard’.

LADYHAWKE @ YELLOW ARCH

WORDS: NICK HARLAND

It’s probably fair to say that Ladyhawke’s career has been more eventful than most. Her 2008 selftitled debut album led to her being proclaimed as ‘the next big thing in pop’ by The Independent - but Ladyhawke’s career didn’t continue on the trajectory that many thought it would. The name of her second record - Anxiety - tells you all you need to know about her struggles in the subsequent years. Her output slowed, and a growing alcohol dependency almost stopped her career entirely. “I was wallowing in my own shit and I was drinking too much, and I felt so bad. I felt the worst hangover coupled with depression and aching and felt horrible. Bloated and disgusting like a pig,” she would later say.

But after overcoming even more dramas in the intervening years - postnatal depression, a fatal shooting yards from her LA apartment, and a brush with cancer - Ladyhawke is finally back in the room. Tonight, she’s sporting a ‘VHS’ baseball cap, which may well be a subtle nod to the 80s influences that have always pervaded her work. Her stage name is borrowed from a 1985 film of the same name, whilst her synth-tinged debut album (which she’s playing in full tonight) instantly set her apart from her so-called ‘indie landfill’ contemporaries.

Even better, she finally seems happy and confident enough to revisit those bittersweet early years in full. “I’ve been blown away by the reaction on tour,” she says in one of her rare interactions with the sold-out Yellow Arch crowd.

Set opener ‘Magic’ is an instant reminder that her heavyweight debut still packs a punch. Backed by insistent synths and Stranger Things-esque bass lines, it feels like a weight off her shoulders to be playing this record again. And it’s easy to forget just how strong that early material was. ‘My Delirium’ has become an indie disco staple, ‘Paris is Burning’ rages with an irrepressible groove, whilst ‘Dusk Till Dawn’ is yet another earworm - of which there are many - on the record.

It may be overly simplistic to say her work is heavily influenced by the 80s, but then again, these nods to the era just keep coming. Her pièce de résistance on the merch stand tonight is a Ladyhawke Gameboy cartridge, which certainly tops a tote bag in my unofficial music merch rankings.

By the time ecstatic closer ‘Embrace’ winds down, the equally ecstatic crowd is serenading her off-stage. When you see the look of delirium on Ladyhawke’s face as she exits, you can’t help but feel anything but happiness for her. Let’s just hope the next decade is a little more drama-free than the last.

sunday 3 mar 2024

raver tots

£12.00/14.00, Doors 3:00pm

saturday 9 mar 2024

vittorio angelone who do you think you are? i am!

£17.00, Doors 6:30pm

saturday 16 mar 2024 phonetics & vibrations pres. bcuc

bantu continua uhuru consciousness

£17 / £14 (conc), Doors 7:30pm

sunday 17 mar 2024

bingo lingo

st paddy‘s day

£6/8/10, Doors 6:00pm, 18+

friday 22 mar 2024

the longest johns

£18.50, Doors 7:30pm

sunday 25 mar 2024

the k’s

£16.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 5 april 2024

the madisons

£12, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 6 apr 2024

one night in nashville

£22.00, Doors 7:30pm

tuesday 9 apr 2024

kid kapichi

£16.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 12 apr 2024

absnt mind

£5.00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 13 apr 2024

pulp’d vs blur2

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 18 apr 2024

luisa omielan

£16.00, Doors 7:00pm, 18+

friday 19 apr 2024

the academic

£18.00, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 20 apr 2024

daft funk live

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

wednesday 24 apr 2024

michael aldag

£15.00, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 27 apr 2024

eleanor conway talk dirty to me

£12.00/14.00/16.00, Doors 7:30pm, 18+

saturday 27 apr 2024

sam scherdel

£10.00, Doors 7:30pm

thursday 2 may 2024

cody pennington

£23.00, Doors 7:00pm

friday 3 may 2024

abba inferno

£12, Doors 8:00pm, 18+

saturday 4 may 2024 moving pictures (a tribute to the music of rush)

£18, Doors 7:00pm

saturday 11 may 2024

a certain ratio

£25, Doors 7:00pm

monday 13 may 2024

the feeling

£27.50, Doors 7:00pm

friday 15 may 2024

english teacher

£14, Doors 7:30pm

wednesday 5 jun 2024

jake lambert: the sunshine kid

£11.00, Doors 8:00pm

thursday 27 jun 2024

belgrave house band pres. amy winehouse’s back to black

£16.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 13 sept 2024

big country

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm

friday 11 oct 2024

from the jam

£35.00, Doors 7:00pm

thursday 14 nov 2024

kneecap

£20.00, Doors 7:30pm

friday 15 nov 2024

craig charles

funk & soul house party

£20/22/24, Doors 7:00pm, 18+ all

box office: 0114 222 8777

foundry,

2tg foundrysu.com -

@foundrysheffield

scan for tickets

ADVENTURE TIME

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival returns for its 18th year this month, showcasing the best in adventure cinema between 15-16 March 2024. This adrenaline-fuelling film festival is a headline feature of The Festival of the Outdoors, a month-long event celebrating Sheffield’s unique position as ‘The Outdoor City’.

ShAFF invites attendees to dive into a world of thrilling stories and breathtaking cinematography that will take you around the world from the comfort of Sheffield’s impressive cathedral space.

With a key emphasis on representation, ShaFF will be showcasing 32 films over 7 sessions including climbing and mountain themed showings, adventure bites (shorts) and Sheffield-made films. With various ticket options catering to different interests and age groups available, everyone will be able to find their perfect adventure on the big screen. Although there will not be any official winners from industry judges this year, the public are being encouraged to vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ Award.

Alongside the seven film sessions comprising the best handpicked films from the last year, attendees can mingle

with adventure sports athletes and filmmakers, attend a range of insightful talks, experience live choral music, and explore a range of exhibitions from sponsors such as Patagonia and Rab.

Elsewhere, the Sheffield Clothing Repair stall will also offer a great opportunity to cheaply fix outdoor equipment with an emphasis on sustainability and is always a hit with the many attendees.

Festival Organiser Mathew Heason told Exposed: “ShAFF has run a number of events in Sheffield Cathedral and we’re very excited to move the festival there this year. The Cathedral is a unique space with an outstanding immersive atmosphere, and we can’t wait for the public to join us for the 19th edition of the festival.”

For tickets and more info, visit shaff.co.uk and follow @ sheffieldadventure on socials.

“ALONGSIDE THE SEVEN FILM SESSIONS COMPRISING THE BEST HANDPICKED FILMS FROM THE LAST YEAR, ATTENDEES CAN MINGLE WITH ADVENTURE SPORTS ATHLETES AND FILMMAKERS, ATTEND A RANGE OF INSIGHTFUL TALKS, EXPERIENCE LIVE CHORAL MUSIC, AND EXPLORE A RANGE OF EXHIBITIONS

SIX

BOOKINGS@THEGREATESCAPEGAME.CO.UK +44 (0) 330 088 3032

THE GREAT ESCAPE GAME

EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF MYSTERY AND EXCITEMENT WITH THE GREAT ESCAPE GAME, SHEFFIELD’S PREMIER ESCAPE ROOM

FILM-SET-QUALITY ESCAPE ROOMS | ENJOY COCKTAILS, BEER AND SHOTS PLAY RETRO CONSOLE AND BOARD GAMES WITH YOUR SQUAD

THE GREAT ESCAPE GAME, ST JAMES HOUSE, VICAR LANE, SHEFFIELD, S1 2EX

THE GREAT ESCAPE GAME (LEEDS) ATLAS HOUSE, 31 KING STREET, LEEDS, LS1 2HL ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM, ARMOURIES DRIVE, LEEDS, LS10 1LT

READY, SET … ACTION!

Exposed’s Ruby Watson reviews a selection of films on show at this year’s ShAFF, including some local offerings as part of the ‘Made in Sheffield’ strand.

40 YEARS OF BOLE HILLS

“You only need to go to the end of the road to find some magic.”

The film showcases the BMX tracks at Bole Hills from their construction, to demise and then their resurrection. Much of the film focuses on the nostalgia and sense of community that the tracks created, bringing people together through BMX. It captured the hazy feeling of childhood fun extremely well and as you watch the interviewees reminisce, you can feel the impact the tracks had on them and the memories that were made there. It was a really thoughtful and well-puttogether insight into a genuine Sheffield institution, a wonderful celebration of a place that has become part of the landscape of the city.

MEER

The film takes you through a slow journey of both the human and natural history of Meersbrook accompanied by a soundtrack by musician Liz Hanks. The shots of natural green spaces with protruding flats illustrate Sheffield’s contrasting spaces in a thought provoking way, demonstrating how urban and green can exist together, side by side. Many of the shots invite the audience in, compelling them to learn more about the green spaces, playing up to their dark and mysterious nature.

NOW I FEEL ALIVE

“I was awake. Finally awake.”

A compelling and touching narrative about Kathleen’s journey with sea water swimming, a popular pastime that has taken the North East by storm over recent years. Kathleen talks about how sea swimming has pulled her from her darkest moments as she struggles with severe hypomobility, fibromyalgia, fatigue and lipedema. While seawater swimming has not cured Katheen’s pain, she now knows she can live with it, and do things for herself. Anya Bryan has put this video together in a truly evocative way,

illustrating Kathleen’s new found freedom and the lease of life she has found through sea swimming.

DARK PEAK FELL RUNNERS

This love letter to the Peak District shows its audience a glimpse into a crazy sport with even crazier people. Run-ins with hypothermia and mountain rescue aren’t enough to put this outlandish community off from what they love, they’re truly made of different stuff. This look into fell running shows how hardcore the sport is, and highlights the maverick characters that it attracts. The shots were breathtakingly beautiful showing the Peak District through all seasons, but also demonstrating how harsh conditions can be for fell runners.

FREYA

Freya’s film is captivating in not only its picturesque shots but also in the narrative she tells in her own voice. Here is where she conveys the way she uses mountain climbing to conquer fears in life, by putting one foot in front of the other. Good advice for anyone to take.

LIGHT BEAMS FOR HELENA

“The scuba dives to look around. The freediver dives to look inside.”

In this gorgeously rich film, Helena appears mermaid-like, at one with the water she dives in. The film is calm, the water is flat, and Helena speaks about how she has become intoxicated by the sense of relief freediving gives her. Her story and journey with her own mental health is inspiring and to see her push the boundaries of her skills and apply these to dry land is wonderful, showing us all that growth is possible and that “life is worth it”.

For a comprehensive schedule of all the films showing at this year's ShAFF, head to shaff.co.uk.

SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL

FRIDAY 15TH AND SATURDAY 16TH MARCH

@SHEFFIELD CATHEDRAL!

PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS AND TICKETS WWW.SHAFF.CO.UK

CALL 07803332800 OR DM ON INSTAGRAM (@1511 CONCIERGE) FOR A QUOTE.

engage closely with the audience and build in movement to help story tell the big events.

After her explosive show in November, Pink’s longestrunning impersonator Kyla Porter returns to the Malin Bridge Inn for Almost P!nk (Sat 23 Mar), a stunning evening of all things Pink! Her incredibly accurate vocal technique, energy and style has been captivating audiences worldwide and this is an event you don’t want to miss! This month’s entertainment also includes Malin Bridge regulars Tanya Minge for Drag Queen Bingo (Fri 15 Mar) and DJ Brooke’s Sassy Saturday (Sat 16 Mar). And if you have every fancied sashaying your way across their stage yourself, then now is your chance as Electric Blue hosts the first of Sheffield Drag Idol Heats (Fri 22 Mar).

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

LGBTQ+ issues have been prominent in the media in recent years and many of us have attended LGBTQ+ awareness trainings and worked to make our services, events and spaces more inclusive and accessible for LGBTQ+ people. However, we frequently talk about the LGBTQ+ community, as if all LGBTQ+ people have a single similar experience, failing to recognise the diversity of our communities, or the specific experiences, needs and barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people with other intersecting marginalised identities.

Building on their previous See the Spectrums and Faith and Sexualities conferences, this month SAYiT will be hosting the Intersections conference (Tue 12 Mar) at Victoria Hall

bringing together professionals, academics and community members to discuss these issues, looking at the impact of being a minority within a minority and the unique needs faced by people with intersecting marginalised identities. There will be a range of speakers and workshops discussing the intersections of LGBTQ+ and disability, faith, class, race and family/parenting. The event will be BSL interpreted and a vegetarian buffet lunch will be served.

SAYiT will also be providing another opportunity to learn more about LGBTQ+ communities with their interactive online LGBTQ+ Awareness Training (Wed 27 Mar) open to anyone interested in learning the difference between sexuality, sex and gender, the UK laws that protect us, LGBTQ+

language and terminology, how LGBTQ+ people experience the world, and how to identify further support.

Later this year, we will see the return of Diversity Fest – a free, annual community arts festival for people of every gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age and ability celebrating diversity through music, dance, spoken word, film and art. If this is something you would like to get involved in, head to Diversity Fest 2024 Planning Meeting (Sun 10 Mar) at the Showroom Café Bar to meet the team and find out more.

Over at the Drama Studio, queer-friendly theatre society The Company will be staging the final two nights of their latest production, Julius Caesar (Fri 1-Sat 2 Mar). This production will use ‘found’ costume and props,

If Drag Bingo is your thing then you are in luck this month with two instalments of Emma Maezin and Ditzy O’Darlin’s Big Drag Bingo at Sheffield United (Sat 9 Mar) and Dinnington’s Lyric Theatre (Sat 30 Mar). Top comedian Danny Deegan, assisted by the glamorous drag queen Granny Fanny and DJ Jim Slipp, will be hosting Bingo Revolution (Sat 9 Mar) at Crookes Club and Slags and Drags are bringing their Wonka themed world of booze-filled world of fun and games Slags and Drags Does Wonka Bingo (Sat 16 Mar) to the Bagshawe Arms.

And last but by no means least we have two big queer club nights at Forge Warehouse with He.She. They (Fri 15 Mar) with a line-up of DJs and performers including I. Jordan, Colecta, Rubes Daisy Darkerz, Just Blakey, KiT, Lizza B, Barb D’Wyer, Bipolar Abdul, Devon Nxthaniel, Jasmine Clark, King Confuza and Marvy Mucus and Cyb3rworld:2000. Then on Friday 29 March we have a night of hyperpop, breakbeat, nightcore, VGM, and other high-bpm zonkers from Jordan Windows, Arty, Lindsay Losam, Zaron Mizmeras, Gnarkill, Phoneutrian, and DJ Blue Raspberry.

Find more announcements at facebook.com/sheffieldlgbtevents.

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Ahead of his upcoming April tour, Rosie Knapp chatted with comedian Lloyd Griffiths about his latest show, which explores the journey of turning 40 and undergoing a ‘renaissance’ – or rather, a mid-life crisis containing everything from hair transplants to half-marathons.

Hi Lloyd, how’s 2024 been treating you?

It’s been good, thanks. I started previewing my show at the end of the year, so I have carried that on through January. I’ve just been cracking on with it all really.

On that note, it’s four weeks until you tour Baroque and Roll across the UK. How are you feeling about this?

Basically, it’ll be three months of driving up and down the country. But I do feel prepared. You write these jokes and come up with the ideas about a year in advance, and then three months or so in is where the show becomes fully formed. That’s when you start to think about it properly. I have really enjoyed getting it to this point and I’m excited to get it out there. I love my job; it’s a very nice thing to perform to crowds. I’m itching to get out there.

Apparently, the show explores an ‘impending mid-life crisis’ after hitting a milestone in your life. Can you shed a bit more light on this?

I turned 40 in October and this tour is about me having a re-birth – or a little renaissance, as I’m calling it. I’ve been on this big weight loss journey, having various different minor cosmetic procedures – laser hair removal, hair transplants, things like that – and I’m just talking about embracing life as you hit 40 and taking advantage of things that might make you happier really. It’s just a number, isn’t it?

Absolutely. What else are you hoping audiences take away from it?

That it’s funny! I know that sounds like a cliché, but it’s funny… and hopefully relatable. There’s a few little silly songs in there, too. I’m a classic trained singer and I do like to put some music in there. Last year, I sung a few tunes about big moments in my life – like turning up to the shop and forgetting your bag for life. This year will be based more about this fabled mid-life crisis. But ultimately, it’s just a little tubby man trying to do anything to make you laugh.

You’ve been described as a ‘breath of fresh air’ but also a ‘useful idiot’. How do you feel about this?

The ‘useful idiot’ was actually a review from The Guardian and I quite liked it. It’s nice to use the nice reviews, but I do like the silly little ones. One from a few years ago said ‘voice of an angel, body of a trucker’. I think he was trying to be insulting, but I ended up calling my show that. I did contemplate calling this show ‘useful idiot’; it’s a nice back handed compliment, I think...

You’ll be heading to The Leadmill next month, a real bastion of live music and comedy in the city. Are you familiar with the venue?

I love Leadmill. As a child, I would go to Sheffield a lot – as being from Grimsby the city’s only an hour away. I used to ski for Sheffield Sharks in the skiing village, before it randomly burnt down… twice. But I used to go to the Leadmill as a punter too. It’s nice performing your own show there thinking “I have some stories about this place”. I can’t wait.

Lloyd Griffiths performs at the Leadmill on 11th April. Tickets (£17) and more info available from leadmill.co.uk.

CULTURE

Skylarking

Skylarking is an exhibition and events programme by Sheffieldbased artist, DJ and broadcaster Ashley Holmes, commissioned by Arts Catalyst as part of 'The Mouth' – two exhibitions that unearth cavities, portals and openings in the landscape through image and sound.

WORDS: TABITHA WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES MULKEEN

The launch event at Soft Ground on the Moor on 21 February allowed visitors to view the work, which amplifies the sounds of the architecture of caves, hills and public spaces in the city, whilst referring to the influence of pioneering producers such as King Tubby and Lee Scratch Perry in dub, ‘Devil Mix’ productions in grime and experimental studio techniques of popular black music in the 21st century.

In attendance at the opening was Sheffield’s Lord Mayor Colin Ross, alongside Ashley himself and some of the artists who collaborated on the project, including Wemmy Ogunyankin, Bel Odawa, Seigfried Komidashi, Joseph June Bond and Akeem Balogun.

Speaking to Akeem, he told of the experience recording the story with fellow artists.

“We travelled to Speedwell Cavern, and there was a beautiful moment where

Komidashi played the saxophone in the cave. It was special – a highlight of the entire project for me.”

The work felt personal, yet relatable to a wider audience – it was clear that attendees at the launch event were connecting with the various installations.

I sat down with Ashley following launch night to learn more.

What inspired you to create Skylarking?

The honest answer to that is a whole host of things that work in different ways.

There are a lot of musical references, with the main one being the title of the exhibition, which is borrowed from the title of an album by an artist called Horace Andy released on Studio One Records in the early 1970s.

The lead track from that album is called Skylarking. It’s something that people come back to a lot when they’re referencing a particular era of Studio One as a record label and the reggae music genre as well.

It’s something that I’ve been thinking about quite a lot and this idea of the history of reggae music that retold different experiences – or different observations – of the environment or the landscape, and different ways of imagining what that might be, and how people might interpret that.

Skylarking is the first point of interest where it really offers inspiration. It’s something that I’ve been coming back to in a few different previous exhibitions and projects. Just thinking about this idea of reggae music, and the history of not just music, but history of black music that had been this form of storytelling, or documenting in an oral history kind of way.

A lot of the words come from that and thinking about how some of these ideas are connected to some of the other research that I’m doing that surrounds race and the environment, and where and how we can think about the connections between Afro-diasporic identity within the context of Britain, and the idea of the inner city and the countryside or the rural landscape and how you can reinterpret these existing pieces of work and existing music and think about them in a more contemporary setting.

When did you begin working on the project?

Probably around June to July time, and then around August I started collecting different materials and really trying to

pin down a little bit more what it would be.

In October, I was making a few site visits and field trips with some of the collaborators, and some of the recording processes and writing processes started to happen.

It was around 6 to 7 months altogether.

What stood out to you during the collaborative process?

Bringing lots of different practices and lots of different people together that are working in lots of different ways. That’s something that was quite fun to do, and a little bit challenging. I wanted to make sure that everybody felt supported or felt like there was a space for them to be able to test things out and have the confidence and trust to be able to do that without necessarily having to deliver and make things straight away.

Collaborators could really sit down and figure out and discuss what the potential of that space could be. It was something I wanted to focus on and emphasise as much as the stuff that’s in the exhibition itself; the work is equally in the development of the project and

SKYLARKING IS THE FIRST POINT OF INTEREST WHERE IT REALLY OFFERS INSPIRATION. IT’S SOMETHING THAT I’VE BEEN COMING BACK TO IN A FEW DIFFERENT PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS AND PROJECTS.

the working process of how it all comes together.

Trying to work around that as well as the actual things that are produced is quite challenging, but also really enjoyable as part of the process.

Was putting on the exhibition in Sheffield important to you?

I think it’s a really important part of the work and part of the project. I moved to Sheffield in 2009 as a student and studied at the art school and then I’ve worked in different capacities and in lots of different ways.

I’ve worked with different

organisations around the city as well, specifically with Arts Catalyst that works in a few different kinds of projects, and residencies that have organically developed into the invitation to produce the work for the exhibition. So it’s felt really nice to be able to work in that kind of way.

I’m also a resident on UK Mondo Radio that’s been running in the city for a little while. It’s an online community station that are doing lots of really brilliant programming, music and creative events, as well as broadcasting a few days a week on there, from their studio down in Kelham Island.

It’s nice to have an event to be able to kind of join some of those dots and cross paths with people from different places. Bar one or two people, all of our collaborators are Sheffield-based as well.

Skylarking will run until the 18th May at Soft Ground on the Moor.

The Mouth continues at the Millennium Gallery with Ways of Water by Matterlurgy which runs until the 12th May.

CULTURE

THE CRUCIBLE

An enduring masterpiece set during the Salem Witch Trials, Arthur Miller’s iconic play is coming the Sheffield Theatres this month. Exposed caught up with Rose Shalloo (playing Abigail Williams) and Simon Manyonda (John Proctor) to discuss their return to the Steel City and their experiences of ‘getting personal’ with characters far from their comfort zone.

Simon, how have you found stepping into John Proctor’s shoes?

SM: I was certainly aware of the play and the name John Proctor for all the obvious reasons, but I had not studied The Crucible or seen the movie so I had no real connection to either. I feel that playing John Proctor is really allowing me to dive deep and use every part of myself as a creative actor to express this character. Anthony Lau’s production is really similar to my aesthetic and process as a theatre maker, so I feel that this collaboration will produce a fresh take on the truth of this fantastic character and play.

Abigail is obviously a complex, antagonistic character – did you find preparing for this role harder than roles you’ve taken on previously?

RS: I’m really enjoying playing Abigail; it’s really interesting to play a dark, complex character. It’s my first time playing a bit of a baddie, and I’m loving it!

Abigail’s character is a teenager – was this challenging when considering how you would portray her on stage?

RS: It’s very interesting playing a teenager. To go back into that young mind-set is quite strange, and you can’t

help but think back to your own teenage life and the things you used to get caught up in. I’m not sure I would accuse people of witchcraft though; Abigail is definitely an extreme person!

Simon, you previously performed as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet at the Crucible Theatre in 2015. Are you looking forward to returning to Sheffield?

SM: I am looking forward to returning to Sheffield – I love this city and this theatre creates brilliant productions so I hope to contribute to that legacy.

Have you performed in Sheffield before, Rose, or will this be a new experience for you?

RS: Yes, I performed in Sheffield last year at the Lyceum. I was touring with The Way Old Friends Do directed by Mark Gatiss. It was a camp comedy, so very different to The Crucible!

With the play being based on real people and real events, did this change how you approached your performance? Did you have this is mind during the rehearsal process?

SM: I watched a documentary on Arthur Miller and learned that the play was not only an allegory for McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials but for his own affair with Marilyn Monroe. This became my anchor because I wanted to understand the human folly at the heart of the play. I was able to understand John’s motivations from the position of the complexities of the human condition.

The Crucible will be showing at The Crucible Theatre 2nd–30th March. Tickets and more info available here at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

PILLOW TALK

Created and performed by Sheffield-based writer Eleanor May Blackburn, Exposed’s Ruby Watson discovers the story behind Does My Fanny Look Big in This? – a touring show tackling sex education, validating sexual anxiety and exploring sexual trauma while answering the questions you’ve always been a little too embarrassed to ask.

Exploring the sexual world through spoken word, uncomfortable noises, an inflatable sex doll, (bad) singing, anxiety and a limerick, the idea for the autobiographical show came to Eleanor after she covered a sex education class at school where the pupils “just wanted someone to talk to and be open with them.”

Does My Fanny Look Big in This? is presented in the form of schoolchildren asking their teacher a range of potentially awkward questions about sex. Eleanor answers their questions as honestly as she can, but she also addresses the audience with added details she wouldn’t want to tell the children.

When asked what she wished she had been taught in sex education in school, Eleanor told Exposed: “I think if people in

school had just let me ask questions and be honest with me that would have been so much better.”

“The whole takeaway from my show is asking questions, and it is about sharing the answers with each other to the questions that you might have about sex. I think asking the questions in the first place is the most important part, so people can actually start insightful discussions around sex.”

This is Eleanor’s second solo show to date, written originally for a scratch night called Ladies of Liberty by Liberty Rep Theatre Company in Manchester in 2020. With support from Sheffield Theatre’s Bank Cohort in 2023, Eleanor developed this into a full-length piece because she felt there was more to be said about sex anxiety and sex education.

Eleanor explained further: “There is talk of sexual trauma and a particular experience of mine in the show, and I think this is another reason we need to talk about sex as much as we can: to make survivors of sexual harassment, abuse and trauma feel like they can speak out about it if they want to and to understand that they did nothing wrong.”

“To normalise sex conversations and what sex actually means from a young age is to help survivors know that what happened to them is wrong, but they are not the ones to blame.”

As a performer, she is no stranger to using comedy as a way to discuss tough

subjects, with her first solo play, Subdural Hematoma, being about her experience of a brain injury and stroke.

Eleanor said of the show: “It was tricky because people didn’t know whether they could laugh because I was talking about pooing myself in hospital and stuff and it was really making people question if they can laugh at all.

“I think humour and comedy are such a great route into these important and difficult topics because it’s so much more approachable if people are laughing.”

Does My Fanny Look Big in This? has headlined Leeds Poetry Festival, performed two dates at Sheffield Theatre Deli and received multiple 4-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe praising it’s boldness and honesty.

Reflecting on how her hometown has helped in cultivating her success so far, Eleanor said: “I love the North and northern heritage and Sheffield as a city is so creatively diverse and the art scene in Sheffield is wonderful. I’m a supported artist here at Sheffield Theatres and it’s just so amazing to be in that environment.”

@eleanormay_actor

Does My Fanny Look Big in This? continues it UK tour with dates at The Blue Orange Theatre Birmingham (1st March), The Holbeck Warehouse Leeds (6th April) and Catford Mews London (9th May).

CULTURE

2:22 A GHOST STORY @ LYCEUM THEATRE

WORDS: PHIL TURNER PHOTO: JOHAN PERSSON

Jay McGuinness steals the limelight in this well-crafted spookfest with a twist…

2:22 A Ghost Story has not only garnered success in London’s West End since its debut in 2021 but has also provided a platform for renowned musicians to showcase their serious acting chops. Initially led by Lily Allen as the main character, the role has seen subsequent versions from the likes of Cheryl Cole and Frankie Bridge. The current UK tour features Jay McGuinness from The Wanted, known for his memorable dance moves on Strictly Come Dancing, stepping into the shoes of Ben, originally portrayed by Jake Wood, another Strictly alumnus.

The play unfolds as a darkly comedic four-hander, revolving around the jittery new mother Jenny (portrayed by Fiona Wade from Emmerdale), her unsympathetic husband Sam (played by George Rainsford from Casualty), and their dinner guests for the evening – Sam’s old university friend Lauren (Hollyoaks’ Vera Chok) and her working-class builder boyfriend Ben.

Jenny, not-so-fresh from spending four anxious nights alone in their newly refurbished house while Sam enjoys a getaway, becomes convinced of ghostly occurrences in her daughter’s room at the same time each night. In a bid to unravel the mystery, the foursome decides to navigate the night, fuelled by drinks, all while the ominous digital clock above the living room door counts down.

The single-stage set is simple yet well-designed, with the baby’s supposedly haunted room remaining unseen, connected only through the sounds of the baby monitor. It’s a well-written, compact drama which rattles along to deadline hour skilfully, dropping enough nuggets to keep the audience unsure if this really is a ghost story or just a complex thriller. The intertwining relationships add depth, making viewers equally invested in the characters’ marital struggles as in the supernatural events.

The cast generally deliver strong performances, with occasional crescendos that, while slightly grating, do not overshadow their overall skill. McGuinness stands out as the most personable, charming the audience with his portrayal of a working-class success story and displaying impeccable comic timing.

The play concludes with an excellent and unexpected twist, while a second viewing would I’m sure highlight the breadcrumbs writer Danny Robins has craftily laid throughout.

Overall, 2:22 A Ghost Story is unlike anything I’ve seen at the theatre for a long time and will keep ghost story fans on edge until its clever conclusion.

THE CRUCIBLE

CRUCIBLE // 2-30 MARCH // £15-£37

When a group of young girls are discovered dancing and chanting in the forest, they are accused of witchcraft. With the threat of execution hanging over them, the girls draw the people of the town into a world of secrets, lies and manipulation where the only goal is self-preservation. Arthur Miller’s enduring masterpiece based on the events of the infamous Salem witch trials is directed by Anthony Lau(Miss Saigon, Anna Karenina).

SHEFFIELDTHEATRES.CO.UK

THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS

LYCEUM // 5-9 MARCH // £28 - £15

Described as an ‘unexpected and hilarious adventure – with a twist’, The Boy at the Back of the Class follows a new student who has been forced to flee his ‘war-torn’ country. Noticing the boys lack of participation in the class, the classmates pull together the ‘greatest idea in the world’ to unite the family. Heart and humour are expected in this performance, so… bring your tissues!

SHEFFIELDTHEATRES.CO.UK

MUSCLEBOUND BY ROSY CARRICK

THEATRE DELI // 14 MARCH // £14

Musclebound explores Rosy Carrick’s past fantasies in which the musclebound heroes of movies like Conan and He-Man are publicly tortured and humiliated by their male antagonists. Now the newly single mum, Carrick finds herself in conversations with her own daughter and is forced to confront the niggling suspicion that something about her sexual past has never felt quite right.

THEATREDELI.CO.UK

WE’RE NOT GOING BACK

THEATRE DELI // 25 MARCH // £10-£12

We’re Not Going Back is about the 1984/85 miners’ strike… more or less. But in this hard-hitting musical comedy there are no miners. Instead, we follow the fortunes of three sisters in a pit village, hit hard by the Government’s war against the miners and determined to set up a branch of Women Against Pit Closures.

THEATREDELI.CO.UK

BLOODY MARY: LIVE!

THEATRE DELI // 27 MARCH // £15

Teen Queen Mary Tudor is on a mission to rehabilitate her so called ‘bloody’ image. This one woman show deals with divorced parents, sibling rivalries and religious purges through hilarious stand-up and queenanger. You may even leave the theatre feeling a little empathetic for poor Bloody Mary.

THEATREDELI.CO.UK

AMADORA

Can you tell us about your background and the start of your artistic journey?

I have loved art throughout my whole life, even at school. But it wasn’t until the lockdown in 2020 that I started again. I knew that I wanted to do something creative, but I wasn’t really sure of what that was. So, in that lockdown I began sketching again, mainly just objects around the house. I started with drawing musicians and then posting them on Instagram for a bit of fun, and it went on from there really. People began messaging me asking if the pieces were for sale. I thought I could start off with the prints, but then more people began messaging me for commissioned pieces.

It's interesting how lockdown managed to bring out so many people's creative side. Yes, definitely. I didn’t really have the time to create art before with other jobs. I thought I’d always come back to it at some point, but

during the lockdown I was able to sit and say to myself, ‘Right? What is something that I actually really love doing?’ Lockdown was a very strange and difficult time, of course. But it did make me think about what it was that I wanted to do.

Acrylic, spray and oil paints are the main mediums in your mixedmedia pieces. How do you decide what to use?

They’re all pretty much mixed. Unless I’m doing a detailed realism commission piece, which would be purely acrylic most of the time. With my abstract work I have a feeling of the colours I would like, but they are all mixed. I like the different layers and details that all the mediums can use.

Where does the main creative inspiration for your work come from?

I’ll say my main inspiration is colour. I find it fascinating, how it makes you feel when you

have a certain piece of art on the wall in your room. A lot of it is self-expression, and if I’m feeling a certain type of way I might be drawn to certain colours. I just love to explore, and always try and make my art uplifting, colourful and bright. Energy is important to me as well – whether it’s my inner light energy or if it’s the vibrant city life around me.

I have such a busy mind, so it’s important for me to express it in that way. I like being able to create pieces that people can relate to and they can see it through the piece, and who knows? It might help to uplift their space.

Realism and abstract are the main forms you work with and there’s obviously quite a contrast between the

two. Do you enjoy this challenge?

Yeah, I do. I’ve always been torn between the two. I often think to myself, ‘Oh, just pick one.’ But I love the contrast of it: I enjoy being able to do expressive and free abstract art, then being able to create a realism piece that is detailed and it tells more of a story to the viewer. Right now, I’m trying to merge them with abstract portraits, which I’m really enjoying too.

Are there any artists that inspire you?

There are lots of artists who inspire me, but I’d say the main artist is Sophie Tea. I absolutely love her work and what it stands for. Her art is so colourful with a mix of abstract and realism in there as well.

Finally, do you have any big upcoming plans for 2024?

Yes, I have the commission pieces that I do, but I am starting a new collection with abstract portraits. I also love capturing little memories of different places from around Sheffield, and it’s so lovely to hear when people have their own memories inspired by those pieces. My plan is to start more Sheffield scenes, as I really enjoy capturing the city and its energy. More than anything, this year I really want to just go to more art fairs, exhibitions and meet people.

Interview: Rosie Knapp

See more of Amadora's work at @amadora.art // amadoraart.com

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