Exposed Magazine May 2023

MIGRATION MATTERS HEADS UP OUR SHEFF FESTIVAL GUIDE

EXPOSED AWARDS 2023 //

CORBIN SHAW // KAT EATON //

THE1DEVOTION // CHARLOTTE BRANSON // NEW OPENINGS

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

SUNDAY 7th MAY Live@ Leopold Square CORONATION CELEBRATION BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY

Celebrate the King’s Coronation outside in Leopold Square, spend the afternoon & evening, with fabulous live music, dancing and partying!

LANGSETT DANCE ORCHESTRA

The wonderful sounds of brass, vocals and rhythm with this kicking 18-piece big band featuring Niamh Kavanagh on vocals – expect a whole lot of swing, funk and soul alongside a few cheeky modern pop tunes!

SHANE DURRANT

Shane returns al fresco to Leopold Square with those feel-good piano favourites. His piano classics span all eras and decades in his own soulful and unique fashion. Get ready to be entertained by the one-of-a-kind Leeds-based singer/pianist.

PHIL JOHNSON

One of the UK’s most in-demand session drummers steps into the limelight to showcase his vocal and keyboard skills. With a band of Sheffield’s finest, Phil always entertains with a mix of jazz standards, gutsy blues, and pop classics.

SWING COMMANDERS

The Swing Commanders are a stunningly vibrant and versatile group that performs an exciting mix of 1940s classics, boogie-woogie, western swing, 50’s jump jazz and more!

Be amazed at the energetic showmanship, the instrument swapping, the tight arrangements, and vocal blend.

DJ RYAN TAYLOR

PLAYING A HOST OF SWING, JAZZ, FUNK & SOUL CLASSICS

1pm to 3pm 3pm to 4pm 4.00 to 5.30pm 6pm to 8pm 8pm to 10pm 10pm CLOSE Please note that all timings are subject to change on the day.

HEARD about our NEW ‘HAPPY’ offers?

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available until 6.00pm, MONDay TO FRIDAY

Treat yourself to a delicious cocktail or two!

CHOOSE FROM OVER 20 COCKTAILS TAGGED WITH THE 'CUBANA STAR' IN OUR DRINKS MENU FOR ONLY £6.00!

PLUS...

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

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

>> Prosecco - £22.50 per bottle

>> Sangria or Sangria blanca - £22.50 per jug

*DOWNSTAIRS BAR EXTENDED HAPPY OFFER*

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

*only available in the downstairs bar

HAPPY TAPAS!

available until 6.00pm, MONDay TO FRIDAY

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

ANY 2 tapas dishes for £11.95

–– OR ––

£5.00 off

ANY Of our tapas set menus

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

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

24: BEST OF THE FEST

From positively sumptuous celebrations of local scran to mind-nourishing documentary dos, we round up some of the best festivals and events heading to South Yorks this summer.

22: CITY VIEWS

For this month's Sheffield story, we hear from spoken word artist, rapper, podcaster and founder of Slambarz, Dom Heslop AKA The1Devotion.

20:

EXPOSED AWARDS 2023

The good people of Sheffield have spoken; the votes have been totted up and the shortlists are in. Here are the nominees for this year’s celebration of Steel City food, drink, retail, nightlife, culture and events.

34: HILLSBOROUGH ON THE UP

A Hillsborough lad through and through, Exposed’s Ash Birch was perfectly placed to shine a light on some of the best independent businesses in the burgeoning S6 area.

66: KAT EATON

Cardiff-born, Sheffield-raised and now happily back up north after nine years grafting in London, we catch up with musical talent Kat Eaton ahead of a homecoming show at Yellow Arch next month.

76: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: CORBIN SHAW

Ahead of an appearance at this month’s Get Together festival, we caught up with Sheff-born, London-based artist Corbin Shaw to discuss his work deconstructing modern-day masculinity, classism and British subculture.

Nah then.

First of all, thanks for picking up the May issue of Exposed Magazine, a local festival special featuring some of the best events heading your way this summer. Hopefully, we can assist in getting your summer off to a flyer.

We were pretty spoilt for choice when it came to deciding which of the many upcoming soirées to stick on the cover, but in light of the ugly discourse which continues to pervade our politics and media when it comes to discussing migration, cultural identity and the plight of refugees, we thought it was fitting that we gave top billing to the brilliant Migration Matters Festival – a nine-day celebration of sanctuary in the UK’s original City of Sanctuary. Do go check out what’s they’ve got planned this year over on page 24.

From star-studded music and film events to live showcases of spoken verse and mouthwatering food celebrations, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into over the next few months. There are a few newbies on the scene, too, including the Rock N Roll Circus heading to Don Valley and boasting the indomitable Self Esteem as headliner, while over in S8 Heeley & Meersbrook Live brings together a plethora of local talent at venues ranging from pubs and bars to intimate café spaces and record shops.

We’ve got the shortlists confirmed for this year’s Exposed Awards, which you can nosey at over on page 20. Overall, there were around 8,000 votes cast in the six-week window – a new record – and it’s no surprise that our biggest voting numbers to date have returned a solid set of top fives. I look through those lists and genuinely swell with pride at the variety of hardworking independent businesses, events and creatives who combine to make the Steel City a belting place to live. Congrats to all who were nominated, and we’ve now passed the list to our independent judging panel who’ll have the remaining 50% say in who wins on the night.

Speaking of independent businesses, proud S6 resident Ash Birch has put together a nice guide to some of his favourite places in Hillsborough – an area that continues to go from strength to strength and, I’m sure longstanding residents wouldn’t mind me saying, offers so much more nowadays when it comes to eating, supping and shopping in the area.

Elsewhere in the mag, I had the pleasure of chatting with Dom Heslop (AKA The1Devotion) for this month’s City Views article. Dom’s a hugely talented rapper, spoken word artist and podcaster, with a heart of gold, and it was a genuine pleasure penning his Sheffield story on page 16. Do have a read if you get the time.

The rest of it is your usual shebang: new openings, reviews and interviews with local artists, as well as our top picks of gigs and cultural happenings this month.

Finally, I’d like to sign off by congratulating Sheffield United on their return to the Premier League. A stunning effort from the Blades. Just need Sheffield Wednesday to get promoted and we might have two happy sets of fans – for a change!

Catch you next month! JF x @josephfood

GAFFERS

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

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

FINANCE

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

GRAFTERS

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

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

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

Marc Barker (Design dogsbody)

GI’ US A HAND PLZ

Iago Castro Charlon, Olivia Warburton, Charlie Sweeney, Adele Parr, Heather Paterson, Cal Reid, Emma Taylor

THE BUSINESS STUFF

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

The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout Exposed is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific entertainment listings.

THE MUSICAL WILL BEGIN A RUN AT THE WEST END NEXT YEAR, OPENING AT THE GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE IN FEBRUARY.

12

ORIGINAL RICHARD HAWLEY SONGS FEATURE IN THE PRODUCTION, SPANNING THE ARTIST'S SOLO CAREER.

TOUCHING THE SKY

2019

THE YEAR STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE HAD ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE CRUCIBLE THEATRE, BEFORE RETURNING FOR ANOTHER RUN IN 2022.

Standing at the Sky’s Edge, the muchloved Sheffield musical following Park Hill residents, bagged ‘Best New Musical’ at the Olivier Awards last month, with Sheffield singer-songwriter Richard Hawley and Tom Deering (pictured) winning ‘Best Original Score and New Orchestrations’. First commissioned by Sheffield Theatres and Various Productions, it was also announced that the production will be transferring to the West End next year.

PHOTOGRAPHER: JOANNE DAVIDSON

With the original name returned, the historic venue will also go back to hosting regular live gigs and events.

Managing Director Nick Booth spoke about the acquisition and his team’s plans for the future: “The Hallamshire Hotel was historically a key player in Sheffield’s music scene, having hosted some of Sheffield’s biggest bands over the years.

“Having been run as a restaurant for several years, it’s time to rock ‘n’ roll again! We’re working on something big behind the scenes, with major changes planned for both floors and the beer garden.

“Don’t worry, though – we’ll still be paying homage to The Hallamshire’s rich history while taking it to the next level. Stay tuned!”

The venue is soon to sport an impressive assortment of craft beers and beloved local brews at the bar, along with a fresh cocktail menu.

General Manager Will McMahon said: “We’ve scored the perfect spot at The Hallamshire to bring Sheffield a top-notch collection of premium, yet down-toearth cocktails and a great choice of beers and spirits, with our craft selection set to grow further in the coming weeks.

“The Hallamshire’s history, beauty, and location gives us the perfect opportunity to provide Sheffield with a superb venue for all things ‘going out’.

“We’ve seen a real awakening, post-Covid, of the Sheffield grassroots music scene as well as the broader UK touring circuit. We are thrilled at the prospect of working with the brightest and best emerging talents and bringing that offering to the heart of Sheffield.

“That’s not all – we’re also raising the roof with DJs ‘til late, firmly planting our flag as the favourite spot on West Street for music lovers. Plus, we’ve got big plans for the upstairs, which will soon be available for private bookings. If you’re interested in hosting your next event with us, drop us a line via email or on social media – we’d love to hear from you!”

The Hallamshire Hotel officially reopened on Thursday 20 April at 6pm, with live music from Barry Krisp and The Bangers from 8pm.

Follow the bar on Facebook and Instagram (@hallamshire_ hotel), or email the team at info@hallamshirehotel.pub

Last month, the team behind The Washington returned the closed Bloo 88 to its former glory as The Hallamshire Hotel.

UPFRONT hidden gem

Tenaya Wine was created by Sarah Hatton and Virginia Myers, who have transformed a former charity shop on Crookes High Street into a stylish bottle shop and drinking space. Opened last summer and inspired by the West Coast of America, Tenaya combines a casual and relaxed venue with great, honest service that helps anyone find their perfect bottle of wine.

Virginia explains: “We both love California. We love the vibe and the produce. The people are so relaxed, open and friendly, so we want to bring a bit of that lifestyle over here. Sheffield’s a naturally friendly place, so it’s a good fit!”

The name is also a nod to that part of the world and comes from the idyllic Tenaya Canyon, Creek and Lake in Yosemite Valley. As you might expect, the shop offers lots of Californian choices plus wines from around the world, and even a few from the burgeoning English wine scene.

Wines are available to drink in by the glass and there will be a small menu featuring reds, whites, orange, rosé and fizz to choose from. Customers can also buy any bottle from the shop and enjoy it at Tenaya for a small corkage charge, and if that wasn’t tempting enough, the venue is working with Porter Brook Deli to offer accompanying snacks for build-your-own cheese and savoury picnic boards, another nod to Californian wine culture.

Between them, Sarah and Virginia have over 20 years’ experience in the wine industry, having formed a firm friendship while working together at the popular Sheffield wine shop Starmore Boss. Virginia previously managed an independent wine shop and became a winemaker at an independent urban winery in San Francisco. Drawing on all their experience and knowledge, they want Tenaya

to be an accessible, inclusive and fun destination. To this end, the vast selection of wines covers all price points and particularly celebrates femaleproduced wines and sustainable brands.

“We want people to feel welcome and not to feel intimidated,” says Sarah. “You won’t have to know a lot about wine to visit; we can help people to discover something new and find a bottle they absolutely love.” Having experienced some sexism and exclusion themselves in the generally maledominated industry, the owners of Tenaya Wine are forging a new path towards a modern, relaxed and easy way for everyone to discover and enjoy their next favourite glass.

@tenaya_wine

239-241 Crookes

S10 1TF

tenayawine.co.uk

neighbourhood wine shop

An accessible range of wines with a focus on female producers and sustainability.

Tenaya Wine is a wine shop where you can also have a glass of wine from a small, ever-changing chalkboard menu. Any bottle from the shop, or beer/ soft drink is available to drink in-store with a small corkage fee, so there’s a huge range to choose from. The weekly changing menu by the glass means you’ll always have something new to try. There’s also a selection of cheeses, patés, olives selected by Porter Brook Deli, for a table picnic.

I grew up predominantly in Heeley and went to Meersbrook Bank Primary on one of the many hills of Sheff, blessed with great views and greenery. In the late-90s/early-00s, it felt like that area was just constantly full of kids playing out. It sometimes feels like we were the last of the ‘scabs on your knees, making dens’ generation. We were constantly out and about, just needed some Panda Pops and 10p Cola bottles to keep us going.

BY DOMINIC HESLOP (THE1DEVOTION)

My uncle is renowned in that area because he was the caretaker at Meersbrook Bank for decades. A lot of local people went to that school, so they all knew my uncle, Mr Lee, and I remember him once letting us borrow the school kits so me and the lads could have our own team playing on the Millennium Park with matching shirts and shorts. We wore that strip all summer. It was beautiful, man.

It was me, my sister and mum in the house. My mum raised us extremely well, always trying to keep the lights on and keep us balanced. Family was everything; my Uncle Carlton’s house and my grandma’s were like hubs for us and our cousins.

I went to Abbeydale Grange Secondary School and became a sporty, confrontational and opinionated teenager. I’ve always had a speech impediment and I think having speech therapy for thirteen years meant that when I said something I had to make it count. I knew I might have only one chance to speak, so I tried to make things as sharp and articulate as possible.

I met my best friends at that school, and it’s because of them that I am who I am today. Not that we were perfect –we had the mouthy one, the one who likes to scrap, the one who’s a bit more diplomatic – but sending me to Abbeydale Grange was the best decision my mum ever made. I’m in love with language, so English was my favourite subject, as well as Sport, Science and Food Tech. I took to anything creative.

The summer of 2003 was a turning point. I met a chap called Cameron on one of the school inclusion days and he quickly became my best friend. He was a joker with a beautiful smile – charismatic, loud, bubbly. I was probably a bit more shy, a bit quieter and reserved because of my speech. But we just connected. We started making beats on tables in classes, beatboxing, messing around. The big genre back then was grime: Kano, Wiley, Crazy Titch, Skepta, JME, More Fire Crew, Lord of the Mics! Going through school we started getting into a couple of crews where we’d MC, which branched out to other areas around the city where we’d meet other rappers. I was in SBK (Sound Boy Killers), there was NFS (No Fear Soldiers), Thugz, Beat Bandits, TRZ, Scum Fam. All Out Crew, Youth Camp – a plethora of crews making grime, each with between five to ten spitters in there. We were banging tunes out of the phone, spitting bars, clashing with each other. I’ll always remember an event called Word on Road that would happen every October on Carver Street

in what is now Paris nightclub.

So, music became a big thing. My mum thought I was distracted, and by then I was starting to get involved in different things with the people I was meeting outside school; I wasn’t taking stuff seriously, but I was still exceeding in the grades I was being forecast. I was predicted with As and Bs but ended up getting like four A-Cs; I even got kicked out of the English exam for messing about, which meant the result was voided.

My next step was thinking I was a rudeboy, mostly spent hanging around Bramall Lane (Bramz) and getting up to no good at times. I was straight on the streets, on the kerbs with my mates, finding means to survive because it’s not like you’re being given a fiver every day to get to school. The option was going to college to get EMA, which meant you had to be on time, and around that age you find that your needs change: rather than wanting a can of pop or a McDonalds, you want a new tracksuit or a mobile phone. I eventually went to Norton College to do Media Studies; got kicked out. I did a sports scheme at Don Valley Stadium, which was meant to help get you back into college. The main things for me, though, were music and my friends.

I was writing my own rhymes from primary school. Around 2003, my cousin Nehemiah gave me the name Roadrunner D; Cameron’s name was Speedy C, and I remember one of the first tunes we made together called ‘Sheff’. We didn’t have the capacity to properly record things, but we’d use Garage Band on Apple Macs at school. Me and Cameron were nuisances, but I think the school saw we had some creative ability, so they sent us down to Red Tape two days a week, which in turn taught us how to work programmes like Logic Pro and do bits of mastering.

The group of mates started dwindling a bit when we go into our 20s. People took different paths – some in positive ways like uni, others in negative ways like incarceration or sadly even losing their lives. I found myself as one of the few originals left and started asking, what can I do? So, I chose to redirect myself into more creative stuff.

MY MUM RAISED US EXTREMELY WELL, ALWAYS TRYING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND KEEP US BALANCED. FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING; MY UNCLE CARLTON’S HOUSE AND MY GRANDMA’S WERE LIKE HUBS FOR US AND OUR COUSINS.

AS TOLD TO JOSEPH FOOD

Photography: Harry O'Flinn (@hofilms) // Merch: Lewis Wake (@steelcityclo)

A mentor of mine, Vicky Morris, who is an exceptional writer and founder of Hive [young writers project], was an artist in residence at Abbeydale Grange and helped the guys who were rapping to make their writing more poetic without losing its rawness. Vicky has always been nudging me, asking if I’d like to do some workshops with Hive, asking what ideas I had, and just making me realise I couldn’t have one foot in what I was doing at the time, and the other foot in my artistry. It had to be all in.

I just started taking steps. I had the idea for Slambarz in 2017 and Vicky approached Off The Shelf, who agreed to help put on the first event at The Hubs that year. We got about 60 people in there, but I didn’t prepare and get it out there enough. We did it again later that year, getting like 100 people in there this time, so it was growing slowly.

Then Cameron died. I lost my brother in 2019. He had a rare form of cancer, a peripheral malignant nerve sheaf tumour. Even through that, the guy was still bussin’ jokes, exuding humour, still smiling. His aura was so positive, and he saw every day as a blessing. It’s contagious, man. It gave me perspective and the motivation to start writing again, doing a piece on knife crime which did quite well and not long after being interviewed by Exposed for the first time. That validation helped massively.

The next big step was Otis Mensah, Sheffield’s Poet Laureate, contacting me to ask how I felt about doing a half-hour spoken word/rapping slot on the stage he was curating at Tramlines Festival. That was 2020, the first one after lockdown, and doing that made me want to do another Slam-

barz. The latest event we held was at The Leadmill and we had 45 performers and about 300 people in the audience, but we want to keep that progress going with bigger venues and more frequent events. I want to take it back to those Word on Road events when it was rammed and with no beef involved –just good energy and good vibes.

I’d also started my podcast, Daily Devotion, during the lockdown and it put me in a creative mood; in a place where I wanted to spread the good news about what others were doing. It’s like a vlog and I’ve got a list of artists, entrepreneurs and business owners I want to interview. It’s done its own thing organically and it’s all about information and entertainment. We’ve had some amazing interviewees ranging from Alison Cope [anti-violence campaigner], the mum of Depzman, who lost her son in 2013 to knife crime, to speaking with Sheffield footballer Alex Kiwomya. We're just getting started.

From inception mummy told me I could always be a great S2 that’s my block and I’ll always be a Blade Sheff’s gritty, Steel City, yeah, it moulded me this way I envisioned what I’m living; I implore you to do the same…

@the1devotion // @slambarz_cic // @dailydevotionpodcast

You came, you saw, you voted in your thousands!

For the last couple of months, you lovely lot have blown us away with yet another record year of voting. Give yourselves a pat on the back, will yer? With that bit now done and the votes officially closed, it’s over to the judges…

So, what happens next?

Each category below features the top five (in no particular order) with the most votes. We’ll now send the shortlist over to our crack team of Sheffield judges for their consideration and rankings. Their votes will then be added to the public vote (à la Strictly!) and the winners will be revealed at the famous annual bash on 18th May. Sound good?

If you want to join the celebrations, we’ve also got a limited amount of tickets available (£40 seated, £20 standing), email nick@ exposedmagazine.co.uk to book. How blumin’ exciting, eh?

THE SHORTLIST

BEST BAR

SPONSORED BY BIRRA MORETTI

Public

Cubana

Alder

Two Thirds

Heist

BEST NEW BAR

SPONSORED BY CRUZCAMPO

Over the Yardarm

Kelu

Tenaya

Happy’s

Neepsend Social Club

BEST TRADITIONAL PUB

SPONSORED BY GUINNESS

The Broadfield

The Rutland Arms

Fagans

The Grapes

Shakespeare’s

BEST MICRO PUB

Hymn to Ninkasi

The Bear

Boston Arms

Pangolin Craft Beer

Ecclesall Ale Club

BEST RESTAURANT

Sponsored by OEC

Sheffield Cornerstone

Orange Bird

Grazie

5Tara

Domo

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY FENTI

Mavi Ruya

Chop Shop Bar and Grill

Pellizco

Antler

Guyshi

BEST VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

SPONSORED BY PAGO

Church

Chakra Lounge

South Street Kitchen

Pom V|OR|V

BEST SUSTAINABLE BRAND

Hillsborough Refill Hub

Beanies

The Sheffield Honey Company

Unwrapped

The Bare Alternative

BEST CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

SPONSORED BY NAPOLEON’S CASINO

Sheffield Theatres

Kelham Island Museum

Botanical Gardens

Millennium Gallery

Weston Park Museum

BEST TAKEAWAY

Porter Pizza

Rajput

Slap and Pickle

Napoli Centro

Paesani

THE TRAMLINES

AWARD FOR BEST LOCAL EVENT

Woodseats Live Pollen

Peddler

Skyline

In Good Company

OUTDOOR CITY AWARD

SPONSORED BY

OWLERTON STADIUM

Graves Park

Cliffhanger

Heeley City Farm

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival

Whirlow Hall Farm

BEST CAFÉ

SPONSORED BY PAGO

Blend Kitchen

Birdhouse Tea Company

Elm

Chantrey Press

Café Tucci

BEST VINTAGE RETAILER

Glass Onion

Jo Jo’s Rag Parade

Freshman’s

Preloved Kilo

Vulgar

BEST INDEPENDENT SHOP

Annie Jude’s Moonko

Polkadott

House of Luxe

Bear Tree Records

THE HENDERSON’S RELISH MADE IN SHEFFIELD AWARD

Bullion Chocolate

Our Cow Molly

Yorkshire Candle Company

Birdhouse Tea

Frazer’s Coffee

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Saint Mars of the Desert Heist

Abbeydale

Bradfield

Triple Point

BEST LIVE VENUE

SPONSORED BY

BEAVERTOWN NECK OIL

Yellow Arch

Foundry

Delicious Clam

Leadmill

Sidney & Matilda

BEST CLUB

SPONSORED BY GATECRASHER

Apartments

Dempseys

Hope Works

Foundry

Forge Leadmill

BEST FOODHALL/ COURTYARD SPACE

SPONSORED BY CHASE DISTILLERY

Sheffield Plate

Kommune

Cutlery Works

Dyson Place

Haggler’s Corner

BEST UNSIGNED

ACT

Beachcomber

Before Breakfast

Django Jones and the Mystery Men

Shanghai Treason

Cruz

MEET THE JUDGES

Applying their various areas of expertise to the second stage of deciding the winners will be musician Franz Von, artist Zoe Gender, Tramlines

Festival’s Alex Deadman, Radio Sheffield’s Kat Cowan and LGBTQ+ writer Heather Paterson.

SHOUTOUTS TO

Our headline sponsor IPM Group UK, our voting sponsor Cubana and all the team down at Peddler Warehouse for helping to get this show on the road!

From

mouth-watering celebrations of sumptuous Sheffield scran to the city’s biggest annual live music bash, we take a look at some of the finest local festivals heading our way this summer!

MIGRATION MATTERS FESTIVAL // 16-24 JUNE

Acts from around the globe will star at this year’s Migration Matters Festival, an event hailed as a cultural sanctuary amid national antimigrant rhetoric.

The biggest UK festival of its kind, which saw 12,000 people taking part in 2022, returns to Sheffield next month with headliners including world-renowned Kenyan Afro Pop band Sauti Sol, who will bring their soulful rhythms to the Leadmill stage on 23 June.

Elsewhere you can witness an inspirational in conversation event with trailblazing Honey Thalijeh, who was captain of the first all-female Palestinian football team and now works at FIFA, where she will share her journey through facing prejudice to promoting equality through sport.

Other programme highlights include a show by Rinkoo Barpaga, an emerging theatre-maker who is deaf and will sign Made in (India) Britain before it is translated into speech.

More musical kicks will be provided by Sheffield-based artist UDAGAN, combining traditional North Siberian folk with experimental technology for a truly unique sound.

Always participating will be the award-winning Maya Youssef, a Syrian musician known as the ‘Queen of the Quanun’ for her mastery of the 78-stringed Middle Eastern instrument, Always aiming to offer something for all the family, this year at the festival there will be a dedicated strand for children.

Sam Holland, director of the festival now in its eighth year, said: “Programme wise we have

ramped it up this year and are being incredibly ambitious.

“Our lineup truly spans the globe. Given the rhetoric coming from Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the protests against the Illegal Migration Bill, there’s a certain bleakness right now about the country’s migration and refugee situation.

“It feels more essential than ever to have the festival to bring all communities together and so people who don’t feel safe have a cultural sanctuary.”

Migration Matters Festival was founded to celebrate the positive impact migration and refugees have in Sheffield, which is the country’s first City of Sanctuary, and gives unrepresented communities a voice.

It will include more than 60 events spanning the themes of film, art, theatre, dance, walking, cabaret and food. All of these will operate on a pay-as-youfeel basis and performances will be held at Sheffield venues ranging from The Crucible and Yellow Arch Studios to the festival’s new home, Soft Ground on The Moor.

Several events will tell stories from the intimate perspective of migrants or asylum seekers. This will include Birmingham Passage, a performance examining the lives of the Windrush generation who travelled from the Caribbean to help rebuild

post-war Britain – as well as an art exhibition showcasing photography by young sanctuary seekers in Doncaster.

Sam added: “This year we are focusing on communities we feel we haven’t fully represented in the past. One of the main aims is to get young people involved in the migration conversation and sharing their own experiences.

“It’s also crucial for us to talk more about climate as this is going to be the biggest cause of migration in the next century.”

A series of events will be dedicated to climate change, while three diverse guest curators – Taiwanese artist Howl Yuan, Polish artist development coordinator Marta Marsicka and Singaporean Muslim-Malay creative producer Nur Khairiyah Binte Ramli – are to introduce new international influences, ensuring Migration Matters continues to bring a plethora of world views and experiences in an event which continues to hold a stark relevance in the face of various streams of political discourse playing out today.

The full programme and tickets are available at migrationmattersfestival. co.uk. You can follow the festival on socials @migmatfest.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sheffield became the UK's first City of Sanctuary in 2007, recognised for its commitment to provide and welcoming and inclusive environment for refugees and asylum seekers.

TRAMLINES // 21-23 JULY

This one needs no introduction... but we’ll do it anyway! Taking place over three days at Hillsborough Park, the 15th edition of Tramlines Festival features five stages of music, comedy and performance, a family-friendly area packed with quirky things to do, the best festival food around, bespoke craft beer and ale, vintage clothes stores and roaming entertainment.

Big-name artists for this year’s bash include the likes of Richard Ashcroft, Courteeners, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Sugababes, DMA’s The Zutons, plus recently announced additions Professor Green and Ella Henderson.

Elsewhere, the festival’s very own boozer, The Open Arms, is back with a plethora of weird and wonderful acts and DJ sets (Barrioke and a big ABBA party anyone?), plus Speakers Corner showcasing rappers and spoken word artists curated by former Sheffield Poet Laureate Otis Mensah, including a takeover by lyricist competition Slambarz featuring The 1 Devotion and Young Eman, the caressing tones of Aka Kelzz, the emerging talents of poet Tai Ògún, Sheffield’s newest Poet Laureate, Danaë Wellington, and much more.

Final tier tickets for are selling fast. Saturday General Admission and Weekend Payment Plan tickets have completely sold out, with Weekend tickets not far behind.

For those wanting to join Sheffield’s Biggest party, the advice is to move fast! A weekend ticket costs £140 (+ booking fee) while day tickets are available from £60+bf. Head to tramlines.org.uk for more info.

HEELEY & MEERSBOOK

LIVE // 27 MAY

Following its huge success in March, the team behind Woodseats Live will be branching out to Heeley and Meersbrook, putting on a huge day of free music, live comedy, spoken word and other cultural happenings spread over ten stages - including venues such as The Brothers Arms, The Sheaf View, The White Lion, The Crown Inn, Create Coffee, Spinning Discs, Mandala and more.

Organiser and musician Ciaron Elm said: "I‘m very excited to be returning to the areas in which I grew up, to continue creating a diverse and accessible platform and programme of free entry cultural entertainment for the communities of Sheffield!

I genuinely cannot wait to announce the artists we‘ll be working with on this one. It‘s got the potential to be the biggest day that both Heeley and Meersbrook have ever seen!"

Full lineups and time splits will be announced later this month, but you can find some stellar local talent playing: Sam Scherdel, I Set The Sea On Fire, Charlotte Branson, Weekend Recovery, Ryan Taylor, Hydeout and SPAFF are just a small number of Sheffield acts who’ll be taking to the stage.

Also currently confirmed amongst 70+ acts are Londonbased dreamy pop purveyors Wyldest, Nottingamshire singer/ beatboxer/guitarist Warren Ireland and The Velvet Underpants (which we’re told is a secret name for a big act that want to be kept under the radar).

facebook.com/HeeleyMeersbrookLive

Following a three-year absence, family-friendly Sheffield music festival Mosfest returns to Don Valley Bowl next month to celebrate its tenth edition. Renowned for its charity work, affordable ticket prices and drinks, the team have this year put together what they’ve described as their best lineup to date.

Headlining the festival are Sheffield’s own Little Man Tate, with ska legends Bad Manners and Manchester alt-rockers Inspiral Carpets providing stellar support. Also putting in a main stage performance will be popular indie-pop outfit The Lottery Winners, up-and-coming Midlands rockers The Assist and 10-piece reggae partystarters Jungle Lion, plus appearances from Sheff favourites The Rosadocs and upand-coming Walsall outfit The Assist.

The inside stage will be headlined by The Skinner Brothers and Billy Sullivan, plus more South Yorkshire talent in Cruz, Matilda Shakes and The Denabys.

Celebrated as ‘the people’s festival with a heart’, the event has been headlined by the likes of The Selecter, The Pigeon Detectives and Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, while it has also given slots to now-established local bands on their way up such as The Reytons, Sherlocks and Apollo Junction.

Organiser Steve Cowens told Exposed: “After three very tough years we are delighted to be back to celebrate our tenth festival in style. Lockdowns and restrictions meant that we couldn’t organise the festival for two years, and following that I suffered a serious health issue. It was a very tough time for events, hospitality and me personally, but we are back now and I’m delighted.

“I’ve got to say that the three main bands have been brilliant in agreeing to play this year. When I organised a small charity music event in Mosborough to raise money for a lost friend’s son some twelve years ago, I never thought it would grow to what it is today. Our loyal festival attendees make Mosfest what it is: a great family festival in a safe and friendly environment. I’m really proud of this event and its ethics.”

Tickets (£12-£40, free for under-9s) are available online from mosboroughmusicfestival.co.uk. // @ mosboroughmusic

DOCFEST // 14-19 JUNE

Sheffield DocFest celebrates its 30th year in 2023. As the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects, DocFest champions and presents the breadth of documentary form –film, television, immersive and art.

Last month, the festival announced that Paul Sng’s TISH will open this year’s event on 14 June 2023, an intimate portrait of British documentary photographer Tish Murtha, and her daughter’s fight to preserve her legacy.

Following a successful return to in-person delivery last year, the 2023 instalment returns to Sheffield venues including The Crucible Theatre with a series of in-person talks, screenings, and extended Q&As. Joining the speakers line up of public talks and events will be satirist and broadcaster Munya Chawawa, presenting a talk titled Satire in Documentary, supported by Channel 4. He will discuss his unique approach to integrating satire in non-fiction keeping viewers engaged and cleverly informed.

The jam-packed programme of films, talks, Q+As, networking events and exhibitions runs from Wednesday 14 - Monday 19 June and the full programme will be announced Wednesday 10 May, with public tickets on sale on this date. The Festival Pass is available from £180 and provides access to the full festival programme of films, exhibitions, talks, panels, industry sessions and live pitches, networking events and parties. For more info, head to sheffdocfest.com.

SHEFFIELD FOOD

For the last decade, Sheffield Food Festival has drawn tens of thousands of visitors to the city to celebrate food and drink from across the region and beyond.

This year has seen new festival producers, Swans Events, come in to build on the event’s success, working with the local community to deliver the best street food, artisanal produce, drinks, live entertainment, music and more.

The mouthwatering festival will be taking over the city centre during the end of May Bank Holiday weekend, from 26 to 29 May, showcasing over 50 traders, 16 acts, 2 DJs, live cooking showcases and 3 special evening events. The festival – which attracts around 40,000 visitors each year – is a bustling exhibition of Sheffield’s flourishing food and drink scene, and almost 90 per cent of the traders who take part are based in the city region.

There will be four sections to visit: the traditional street food area, the artisan market, the info village and the main stage and bar. The festival will take place across Sheffield’s Peace Gardens, St Paul’s Parade, Millennium Square, Town Hall Square and Pinstone Street with the info village in the Winter Gardens.

Things get cooking on Friday 26 May, 5pm, with Drag Bingo just in the Peace Gardens Village, where the main bar and some food traders will be serving. From 10am-6pm on 27, 28 and 29 May, all traders will be open with live music on the main stage throughout the day, followed by Saturday Night Disco and Sunday Steel City Quiz Night from 6pm in the Peace Gardens Village.

Entry is free. Follow @shefffoodfest for more info.

PHOTO: BEN HARRISON

Healthy & Tasty

On a cold day, there’s no beating an authentic hot pot. This dish consists of a shimmering pot of broth filled with various tasty ingredients like egg noodles, eggs, meats, veggies, tofu and even dumplings.

Always Fresh! Always Home Cooked

We get our produce fresh daily so our specials change often! From seafood to some incredible meats we work with the best suppliers from Sheffield to ensure we keep amazing standards of food.

Address: 3 Rockingham Gate, Sheffield, S1 4JD 73 – 101 Neepsend Ln, Neepsend, Sheffield S3 8AT

Phone: 0114 272 1332

Email: chinaredbookings@gmail.com

Website: www.chinaredsheffield.com

The Moor or Kelham Island?

We have 2 places for you to try our Szechuan food, join us at our Restaurant on the Moor or at our new street food stand at Cutlery Works.

GET TOGETHER // 20 MAY

Get Together will be making it a Sheffield hat-trick this month, returning for their highly anticipated third instalment in the brand new location of Kelham Island.

The festival announced the move to S3 last year, meaning their jampacked programme spanning music, art, nightlife, craft beer and street food will be taking over the area’s various warehouses, breweries and unconventional spaces by teaming up with the best local independent businesses and venues.

Festival organiser Kieran Crosby said: “The original concept for Get Together was planned to happen in Kelham, but we had to rethink when the world turned upside down in 2020. Since then, there’s been an explosion of new independent businesses opening and giving us the opportunity to make the festival bigger and more exciting than ever before. We keep our audience in mind with every decision we make, and we know they’ll love all of the new elements.”

On the music side of things, a characteristically genre-spanning lineup has been announced, headed up by none other than beloved indie darlings Friendly Fires, who’ll be heading to the main stage in Peddler Warehouse to celebrate 15 years of their self-titled debut album which spawned nostalgic hits like ‘Jump in The Pool’, ‘Paris’ and ‘Skeleton Boy’.

They will be joined by 40+ other artists, including a few Sheff favourites on the billing. Alt-pop purveyor Luxury Goods, Sheffield-Welsh pysch-rock quartet Sister Wives and queer-led DIY music collective Gut Level will all be performing on the day. @gettogetherfest

SHEAF POETRY FESTIVAL // 21-28 MAY

For lovers of creative prose and insightful verse, Sheaf Poetry Festival returns to celebrate the best in UK poetry, spoken word and lyrics. The festival will take place in venues across Sheffield and the Peak District, with live-streaming for online audiences and live-captioned events.

Aiming to draw in audiences that might not normally feel that poetry events are for them, there’s a dynamic mixture of activities on offer and a focus on issues that matter to people. There are three main strands to the programme –‘Activism’, ‘Access to the Outdoors’, and ‘Brains and Consciousness’ – and events include poetry walks, workshops, talks, readings and live music.

Festival Director Suzannah Evans said: “We’re so excited to be bringing such a range of poetry events to Sheffield and the Peak District this May. Whether you’re a writer, poetry lover, interested in one of our festival themes, or just want to try something new - we hope you’ll find something for you at Sheaf Poetry Festival.”

The main festival weekend, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May, will take place in the newly-opened Theatre Deli premises on Arley Street, but for the first time there will also be events in some exciting green spaces. On Sunday 21 May the festival comes to National Trust Longshaw Estate, where peak District poet Katharine Towers will be leading an afternoon of activities around ‘The Poetry of Trees’. However, that's just a small teaser from wide list of events.

Single tickets for festival events are priced between £0-£18, with most events having a Pay As You Feel option. @sheafpoetry

ROCK N ROLL CIRCUS // 1-3 SEPTEMBER

A weekend of live music staged in a huge bespoke big top structure, specially built for the three-day event, Rock N Roll Circus have announced South Yorkshire’s finest ‘Self Esteem’, AKA Rebecca Lucy Taylor, as the latest headliner for the event, heading up the Don Valley Bowl stage on Saturday 2nd September.

With more acts to be announced, the lineup –which is being curated by Rebecca herself featuring artists close to her heart – is an all-star diverse line-up that will see Australian indie electro pop band Confidence Man, Drag Race UK break-out star Bimini and the legendary Yorkshire Arctic Monkeys tribute, Arctic Numpties, all join the party.

Headlining Friday will be none other than Noel Gallagher and the High Flying, joined by Happy Mondays, The Cribs, The Joy Formidable and Somebody’s Child. Alongside the music, Rock N Roll Circus will feature fire performers, aerialists, contortionists, stilt walkers and acrobats making for an unforgettable festival atmosphere.

However, things are just getting warmed up! This is very much a three-day event, with a whole host of fresh names to be announced for the Sunday. That lineup will be announced on their socials at some point this month, so keep a close eye on @randrcircus for the latest updates and ticket info.

Day tickets and weekend tickets both available. Full pricing and more info available at rocknrollcircus.co.uk.

WHO’S PLAYING?

As ever, there’s an eclectic selection of musicians on the bill. Here are just a few of our top picks to keep an eye out for…

HENGE

A British electronic crossover rock band formed in Manchester in 2015. They play a type of music they call Cosmic Dross, which is characterized by its use of electronic sounds and effects, as well as its lyrics, which often deal with science fiction, mythology, and other esoteric subjects. HENGE’s live shows are also known for their elaborate costumes and stage props. Not one to be missed live!

The John Otway Band

English singer-songwriter who has built a cult following since the 1970s. He is known for his quirky sense of humor, a self-deprecating personality and catchy songs. His biggest hit was ‘Really Free’ in 1977.

Martin Stephenson & The Daintees

A British rock/folk/pop band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1983. They are known for their eclectic mix of musical styles, their energetic live performances and songwriter Martin Stephenson’s unmatched lyrical skills.

We Are Not Devo

The best Devo tribute band in the UK. Simples.

Stevie Watts Organ Trio feat. Alice Armstrong

The Stevie Watts Organ Trio is a group of highly regarded sidemen who have worked with many big-name artists. They come together to perform their own blend of Hammond soul, funk, blues, and jazz, joined by British-blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Alice Armstrong.

Mik Artistik’s Ego

Trip

Genuinely delightful, funny, frightening and unique – these are a regular favourite at Glastonbury and have achieved an enviable reputation at many of the major UK festivals. In 2020, rock icon Iggy Pop endorsed their song ‘Sweet Leaf of the North’ as his favorite song of the last decade. Praise indeed.

Darnell Cole & The Vibe

Darnell “Big D” Cole is an Independent Rock/ Americana artist. Born in the blues, the soulful music is centered around his electric and captivating guitar playing.

Astrels

Some real Sheff legends in here! Astrels are singer-songwriter Steve Edwards (Cassius, Bob Sinclar), multi-instrumentalist Joe Newman (Reverend & the Makers) and drummer Paolo Mazzoni (TX and The Groove Family). They soynd something like cinematic dystopian pop-rock electronica that grooves with vintage synths, phat beats, soaring vocals and killer hooks.

Ivan Campo

An alternative indie-rock folk band from Manchester, they have released two albums and toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe.

Jazz Hot Six!

From Sheffield (mostly), the ‘Jazz Hot Six’ are some of the UK’s finest musicians playing everything from early (1930s-40s) traditional Gypsy Swing through to the bebop era of the early ‘50s and beyond.

Sarah Jay Hawley

Platinum-winning, internationally renowned singer/songwriter with a career spanning thirty years. Sarah has written and sung on over 80 international releases including Massive Attacks’ platinum-selling album Mezzanine.

Minds Idle

Much-loved indie-pop band from Sheffield who recently sold out The Leadmill. Pop in the sense of Roxy Music rather than Dua Lipa – that’s the idea at least.

Speed For Lovers

Dark pulsing new wave with elements of disco punk, Speed For Lovers are here to make you dance. Expect bangers for ravers old and new.

Freezer

The best-kept secret in 90s indie pop, their much-anticipated first single vanished in a puff of smoke as the record label went bang. However, the rock’n’roll detectives tracked them down all the way to 2022 and put the single out on a limited vinyl release. It sold out in 9 minutes!

Django Jones and the Mystery Men

Highly-rated Sheffield post-punk band drawing inspiration from The White Stripes and Idles. Their songs embrace energy in excess whilst maintaining a forceful rhythm and style.

Oughtibridge Brass Band

Ttraditional British brass band, currently competing in the 4th section of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain and recently awarded first place in the Regional Championships 4th Section.

Time splits and more info will be announced on The Dorothy Pax’s socials closer to the event.

Socials: @the_dorothy_pax // facebook.com/thedorothypax

SPOTLIGHT ON: HILLSBOROUGH

In recent years, Hillsborough has gained a deserved reputation as an ‘up and coming’ area of the city, thanks largely to a host of new businesses opening in the S6 suburb. No longer just a mecca for charity shops and B&M, Ash Birch introduces you to a few of the businesses responsible for the area’s resurgence…

THE ORANGE BIRD ANNE HORNER AND MATTHEW DUGGAN-JONES

AH: Orange Bird opened in November 2020. Right in the middle of lockdown as a takeout to begin with. We weren’t specifically going to be a South African restaurant at first, but one of the weeks in lockdown Matt wanted to do South African food because that’s where he grew up. It went down really well, so we decided that’s what we’d be.

MDJ: The South African theme has given us more direction, especially with the menu. I’ve always been interested in South African food and I loved it when I was growing up. What have been some of the highlights in the time since you opened?

AH: The fact that we got the Observer runner up (Orange Bird scooped runner up in the Best Restaurant North category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2022) meant that more people knew about us, which meant that we could just be what we were. People were then coming from other bits of Sheffield to visit.

You both have vast experience working in venues around the city. Why did you pick Hillsborough to open your own place?

AH: We both live in Hillsborough and we thought then, what we know now, that there was potential for more

here than there was.

MDJ: I’ve always loved the buzz of Hillsborough. It’s always busy. A lot of people were saying we should open in Walkley or Broomhill, but it’s not the quite the same as Hillsborough. It’s a real community.

Has it helped having a spate of new businesses open around you?

AH: Pangolin is just the perfect partner to have. I think we help them and, because people can have a whole night out, they help us. They’re lovely neighbours.

How do you feel about being part of this new community?

AH: Great. I don’t know how much specifically it helps our business, but I think it’s just elevated Hillsborough in people’s minds. The same people who would say to us, ‘Why are you opening in Hillsborough?’ now say to us, ‘Oh yeah, Hillsborough is up and coming, isn’t it?’

MDJ: I don’t think it will be long before someone does something similar to this. Not South African, obviously, but a restaurant serving good food, which will hopefully be good for us as well.

MOLLY’S CAFÉ AND DELI LUCY POPLAWSKI

Molly’s had quite an eventful start to life. Tell us where it all began?

We opened the day before the very first lockdown was announced! We were originally a coffee shop, so we quickly took all the seating out and became grab and go. We were constantly having to adapt and change the business, virtually overnight, just to survive. My idea of having a quiet little café, where I could read a book in a comfy chair, never really came to fruition!

While it must have been difficult, did the business benefit from lockdown?

Obviously, it was a really tough time for everyone, and if we’d not changed our business overnight, we might have gone under before we’d even started; but it did help us in a way. I’ve got photographs from lockdown of queues going almost down to where the tram stop is. We built up really good relationships with customers and that really stuck; they often feel like family to us.

Why did you pick Hillsborough to begin with?

I’m born and bred in Hillsborough and my other half, Pete, is from Poland. I think we have the best of both worlds. We’ve got Pete’s Polish culinary skills, plus my knowledge of Sheffield being a broad Yorkshire girl! Lots of people told us not to open this end of Hillsborough because it’s quiet, but you’ve got to go with your gut instinct. Look at it now, with all the businesses around here.

Would you say you’ve been the catalyst for this area of Hillsborough’s resurgence?

Well, we were the first of the new places to open at this end. Then Orange Bird opened, then Pango and Annie Jude’s, and it’s gone on and on.

How does it feel to be part of such a strong collection of businesses?

It’s lovely. It means so much to us. It does feel like a community vibe. I know, if we’re struggling, or a member of staff down, I can run over and say, ‘Any chance you could just come watch the shop for two minutes?’ - and it works both ways.

How has Hillsborough changed in recent years?

When I was little, I remember the wet fish shop, the greengrocers and little independents. It was always really, really busy. Over the last decade it seemed to recede a little. Then, with people working from home more, they saw that there are things in their local area. I hope it can continue. I don’t think you should be scared of competition; you should embrace it and work together.

ANNIE JUDE’S FAITH NICHOLSON

Give us the lowdown on your business?

We’re a shop in the heart of Hillsborough that sell a wide range of products to cover everybody’s gifting needs. All the stock is either handmade or small business with loads of it actually being made locally, which is absolutely amazing.

How long have you been open?

We’re just coming up to the 18 months mark.

Why did you decide to open your shop?

After Covid, I think everybody was in a place where they wanted to get back out and shop again. I’d spent a lot of that time interacting with other small businesses on social media, who made absolutely beautiful things in their kitchens and living rooms. After unexpectedly coming into some money, following the loss of my mum, I thought why not do something positive with that, like other people had done with their time during Covid. It’s grown from there.

Why did you choose Hillsborough?

I live in Hillsborough, and I absolutely love Hillsborough. I’ve been here for over ten years now. It’s just such a nice place for families. There are wonderful schools, wonderful parks and the people in Hillsborough are absolutely fantastic.

Do you think Hillsborough has changed in recent years?

I think Hillsborough has changed in the last ten years so much, but also not at all! Hillsborough has always been a street full of independent shops. You’ve always had your butchers, your bakers, your cobblers and everything like that. I think it’s just growing to include more and more of the things that people want now. You can go down Hillsborough and get almost everything you need.

What excites you about the new crop of businesses in S6? They’re all very passionate, which is really important, and they all love Hillsborough. Everybody really wants it to be a success.

THE PANGOLIN CRAFT BEER NICK DAVY

Tell us about Pangolin. We’re a craft beer bottle shop and bar. We serve draught and packaged beer alongside a selection of natural wines, a few little cocktails and some mega quality cider as well.

When did you we open?

We opened in April 2021, so we’ve just had our second birthday. Happy birthday! How have the last couple of years been? Absolutely fantastic, to be quite honest! Way in excess of anything we predicted.

Why do you think that is?

Weird as it sounds, opening straight out of Covid kind of gave us a boost. I know it sounds kind of strange, given that it was a very, very scary time for a lot of people; but because people had been locked down, they were really ready to get back out. Also, people who had previously been living in Hillsborough but commuting elsewhere, they were suddenly using what was around them and became more aware of what was here.

Is that one of the reasons you chose to set up in Hillsborough?

Yes, but I’ve lived here for just over ten years now, so I knew the area well. I’d been working up at Walkley Beer Co for about five years and over time more people living in Hillsborough were coming up the hill to use us, so I knew there’d be an audience here. You want your local area to succeed, so I wanted to try and bring something to Hillsborough that people would want.

How does it feel to be part of Hillsborough’s recent resurgence as a destination?

It’s brilliant to be a part of Hillsborough’s business community. It boosts everybody, because you have customers that will use all the different businesses. You’re not so much in competition as the bigger the customer base is, the more custom there is for all of us. It’s a really great area to be in at the moment.

SHOP SMALL SUPPORT LOCAL

We aim to showcase the cra smanship of quality local makers. We only work with partners who are talented and passionate to ensure there is something for everyone at Annie Jude’s.

92 Middlewood Rd, Hillsborough, She eld S6 4HA

www.anniejudes.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON: HILLSBOROUGH THE HILLSBOROUGH REFILL HUB CHANTELLE CRONJE

Tell us about your business?

We’re a low-waste refill store. We provide a service for people to bring their own reusable containers and fill up on food, cupboard essentials and cleaning products. We also offer some reusable household alternatives to plastic-based products.

Why did you choose Hillsborough to open the shop?

Firstly, we live in Hillsborough and we selfishly wanted a refill store on our own doorstep. What we’re trying to do is provide accessible and affordable low-waste living to people and, of course, one of the first things that is required to do that is to make it close to people. Hillsborough was missing a shop like this.

How long have you lived in Hillsborough?

I moved over to the UK from South Africa over six and a half years ago. We originally lived on the other side of the Peaks, just south of Manchester, but then we moved to Sheffield and fell in love with the city. Then we moved to Hillsborough and fell even more in love! That was 2020, actually mid-pandemic.

You must have seen the area change quite a bit in that time. What do you put that down to?

People come in here all the time and say Hillsborough is changing so fast. In fact, someone was saying this morning that it’s great to be able to come down to the High Street and do your refill shopping, your butchery shopping, your grocery shopping, and then get a good cuppa. I think that Sheffield is growing in popularity generally, and a lot of the other neighbourhoods that used to be the more sought-after ones are becoming unaffordable, and people are being driven towards areas like Hillsborough. That’s great!

How does it feel to be part of the burgeoning community of new businesses here?

It feels really exciting. Everyone is just really lovely and supportive. That’s in terms of the customers, but also the other business owners. Everybody shares tips and helps out when you’re in a pinch, so that’s been really lovely. We feel a lot of pride to be in this area.

SPOTLIGHT ON: HILLSBOROUGH ANTLER GRILL AND WINE MEYSAM IRAVANI

Tell us a little about Antler and what you do?

We’re a Persian restaurant, made up of a small team of passionate people focused on delivering great service and unique flavours. We cook the food of my childhood, from my home country of Iran. This not only allows me to introduce people to Persian cuisine, paying homage to those traditions, but also brings back a lot of treasured memories for me. Antler is my home away from home and I've dreamt of opening this place for a long time.

How has the restaurant been received since opening last year?

We serve honest food that truly comes from our hearts and we feel that people really appreciate that. We don’t fake anything, and we are very proud to preserve the original flavours of Iran. It brings us a lot of joy to see that customers are genuinely curious about the original Persian ingredients we use, and the traditions we try to showcase, such as Persian New Year that we celebrated last month.

Why did you choose to open in Hillsborough?

As locals ourselves, we chose to open here because we felt that this area had huge potential, and we saw a few other great places opening here around the same time. We felt that we could be a good addition to S6 by offering something different. We are happy to see other amazing businesses opening here, bringing more and more colour to Hillsborough. We can’t wait to see more.

Why do you think so many new businesses are beginning to thrive in Hillsborough?

It was about time to do something and a lot of people felt the same way! The Hillsborough community here is extremely supportive, which makes is easier to succeed and take that first step and start a business here.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

EnversTurkish Grill

Yuzu in Monkey Club

The Delightful Touch café

Ué Paisá Micro Revolution

The Beekeper

Brass Monkey

Northern Monkey

(DONT FORGET TO GIVE THESE A GO TOO!)

Open Mon-Sat

93 Middlewood Rd, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 4GX

Paesani, meaning “people from the same place” is Crookes’ brand new family-run casual Italian restaurant.

With a wood fired pizza oven for all your pizza cravings & Pucce aka Apulian panini made of pizza dough.

Paesani

257-259 Crookes

Sheffield, S10 1TF

Tel: 0114 3278 241

Email: info@paesanisheffield.com

Paesani

Eat in or Take away

Opening Hours:

Monday - Wednesday: 4 pm-10 pm

Thursday - Saturday: 12 pm-10 pm

Sunday: CLOSED

FROM PUGLIA WITH LOVE

epic sunsets...

Words: Ash Birch

From the beer garden at the Brothers Arms and Meersbrook Park, to the Cholera Monument and the amphitheatre behind the train station, there’s some solid sunsetting to be done round these parts.

And the best way to enhance a late summer evening at the top of Crookes is to combine the view with a takeaway pizza from popular Italian restaurant Paesani.

Found just down the road, on Crookes high Street, Paesani opened in the former home of As Thyme Goes By café in summer 2021 and instantly became a huge hit with locals. Giacinto Di Mola, who co-owns the cosy 20-seater restaurant, tells us that from day

one they had people itching to try their pizza.

“People really love this place,” explains Giacinto. “Its success was fast. From the first day, we had queues around the side of the building. It was like, wow! This is exciting. Paesani is very authentic. We come from Puglia. We bring the love. We bring the atmosphere and we bring people from all around the region to try the food.”

As testament to their fantastic rep, Paesani was ranked first on Trip Advisor for eight months, which no doubt contributed to their quick start. Part of the reason for that prestigious accolade is the high standard of food they serve, as well as the

While Sheffield’s famously hilly terrain can often be the cause of some pretty severe thigh burn, it also affords anyone brave enough to tackle the yomp some pretty

high quality of ingredients they use in its creation. Their simple menu features delicious starters like burrata and parmigiana di melanzane evoking the tastes of their hometown, but the main event here is the pizza.

Made in a Neapolitan style, the dough is lovingly created to their secret recipe, before being proofed for 24-36 hours. The pizzas are then prepared fresh to order, topped with the freshest ingredients, before being cooked in a wood-fired oven and served on ceramic plates all the way from their hometown.

Giacinto tells us that he believes their decision to pick one thing and do it to the best of their ability has stood them in good stead, a belief he shares with his friend and co-owner Vito Vernia, who you may recognise from popular city-centre Italian restaurant Grazie. Giacinto and Vito have a huge amount of shared experience in hospitality, both at home in Puglia and in the UK, where they worked together at Piccolinos.

Utilising this wealth of experience, passion for food, and quality Italian cooking, they aimed to bring something special to Sheffield. “We love Sheffield,”

says Giacinto. “Sheffield gave me my daughter, my first business, my house. We wanted to build something great for the city and the community here, as Crookes is amazing.”

Harnessing that community spirit, Paesani has also partnered with other businesses in the area. Their deal with Two Sheds micro pub, just down the road, allows you to order a Paesani pizza while you sit tight and enjoy a craft beer in the micro pub; while their work with St Timothy’s church sees them host and cater events for them free of charge. They are also taking on more and more outside catering events for weddings, businesses and corporate events.

The future already looks bright for Paesani, but not satisfied with that success, Vito and Giacinto have plans to open a new venture in Grazie’s former home on Leopold Street (Grazie recently moved to a new space just down the street). Plans for the new citycentre concept, called La Bottega, are still being finalised, but watch this space for further details in the coming weeks. It’s going to be exciting!

@paesani_sheffield

INSPIRED BY TRADITIONAL FLAVOURS,

WE OFFER A FRESH, CREATIVE AND ORIGINAL INTERPRETATION OF PUGLIAN CUISINE, IN THE HEART OF SHEFFIELD.

LOCAL, FRESH & AUTHENTIC

We use local independent suppliers as well as typical Southern Italian ingredients to create homemade sauces, authentic desserts and unique Apulian dishes that you won’t find in Italian chains.

9 LEOPOLD STREET, SHEFFIELD, S1 2GY

INFO@GRAZIESHEFFIELD.CO.UK

OPENING HOURS

MON - THURS: 12PM - 9.30PM

FRI - SAT: 12PM - 10PM

SUN - CLOSED

SOUTHERN ITALIAN PASTA LAB

The team behind your favourite Sheffield-made bao buns have opened a new bagel shop on Chesterfield Road – but don’t worry, the baos aren’t going anywhere!

You can find Best Boy Bagel in the former home of Two Doors Down Sandwich Shop, where they operate as a New York-style delicatessen during the day, focusing on beautiful bagels made from scratch, before reopening in the evening to serve up their famous bao buns. A bao-dega, if you will… Deckards moved out of their previous home inside Barrowboy last year, and this marks the first time that owner Dec Stafford has had his very own kitchen.

“It’s a gamble, but it felt like the right time to move from Barrowboy,” Dec told Exposed. “It’s been great working there and building our reputation, but it’s been my goal to have a place to make my own from the start.

“We moved to Sheffield over four years ago and Deckards was welcomed with open arms. The premise here is a bit different, with it being a bagel shop, but we know lots of people are missing the bao, so don’t worry – they’re coming back!

“We’re very humbled with the response we’ve received so far –

252 bagels were sold in the first three days! We have loads of fun plans for the future, so keep an eye out for announcements.”

The main attraction of the place is obviously the bagels, which are made from scratch using fresh dough each day. Toppings like classic bacon, egg and cheese, salt beef and seasonal veggie/vegan options are all on offer throughout the day from 8am–3pm, before they reopen again to start slinging bao from 6pm until late. There will also be plenty of interesting specials on offer (Guinness pork belly and blueberry ketchup, anyone?) to keep your tastebuds well entertained upon visiting. Pop inside the cosy venue and you’ll find a couple of seats available for dining in, as well as a table or two outside, but Best Boy aims to operate mostly as a deli, selling their homemade sauces and spices, including their ever-popular ‘Coriander Hot sauce’, as well as a few other bits and bobs for you to take home. There are even plans to get a few beers on tap to wash down the tasty goods.

Best Boy joins an evergrowing selection of established independents lining Chesterfield Road today, counting the likes of Create Coffee, Baked & Caked, The Tramshed Bar, Mandala Café, The Bhaji Shop and All Carrot, No Stick as their neighbours. So, when you do pop along for your bagel and bao fix, don’t forget there’s plenty going on in the area to make a day out of it!

@bestboybagels

43 Chesterfield Road S3 0RL

TUCCI MAKE IT TWO

The team behind a much-loved Neapolitan café on Surrey Street have revealed exciting plans to open a new second site in 655 Ecclesall Road later this month.

Since opening in January 2022, Caffe Tucci have built a fantastic reputation for authentic, quality Italian coffee and food, and their new Ecclesall Road site promises to further enhance their rep for the latter, thanks to a bigger kitchen and expanded food menu.

The format of the venue will remain the same: similar opening hours, the same great coffee and ‘build your own panini’ menu, but you can expect added food options and more seated space.

Stefano Capasso, who co-owns the café with his brother, Salvatore, told Exposed: “We always planned to have the chance to cook everything from scratch in our own cafe, but we are limited due to the amount of space in our kitchen. When we saw the opportunity to have this place, my imagination flew!”

Stefano tells us that having a bigger kitchen will allow them to expand their menu to include Italian staples like lasagne, meatballs and Neapolitan ragu, as well as halal meats and a whole host of street foods, famous in his hometown of Napoli.

“As soon as I saw the place, I was thinking about all the different options for street foods and desserts.” says Stefano, “For example, we’ll take Parmigiana di melanzane, which is a traditional layered aubergine with tomato and mozzarella, and place it in a panino, with melted smoked cheese and pesto – it’s amazing.

“I have so many ideas, and we’re going to create something that Sheffield has never seen before. I literally can’t wait!” Give them a follow @cafe_tucci_sheffield for the latest updates.

GET DISCOUNTS WITH TRAVELMASTER

Throughout May, TravelMaster are partnering with local businesses in Kelham Island to offer exclusive offers when you show a TravelMaster Smartcard or ticket. Their ExploreSY campaign highlights an area where passengers can explore exciting destinations with their TravelMaster ticket and smartcard, which can then be used to pick up offers in participating venues. This month, they’ve teamed up with a selection of Kelham Island businesses to offer discounts to anyone who shows their TravelMaster card when making a purchase. TravelMaster’s tickets include the CityBus, CityWide, BConnect, DonConnect, RConnect, SYConnect and SYConnect+ covering the different districts and the whole of South Yorkshire. Follo #ExploreSY for more details and sign up here for updates: sytravelmaster.com.

Remember to vote for us in this years Exposed Awards

AWARD WINNING SARDINIAN SOUL FOOD IN THE HEART OF LITTLE KELHAM

CHRISTMAS LUNCH MENU £29.50pp

CHRISTMAS LUNCH MENU £29.50pp

CHRISTMAS DINNER SET MENU £38.50pp

We want you to experience the real Sardinian way of life. Whether you need coffee on the go, lunch with colleagues, after work drinks, feasts with the family, or cocktails at the weekend we serve up Sardinian tradition all day long.

CHRISTMAS DINNER SET MENU £38.50pp

Available all day

Available all day

For parties of 8 or more please email info@ domorestaurant.co.uk or call us on 0114 3221020 (Deposit & pre order from a set menu required).

For parties of 8 or more please email info@ domorestaurant.co.uk or call us on 0114 3221020 (Deposit & pre order from a set menu required).

APERITIVO

Join us from 5pm - 7pm, Monday - Thursday for £7 Italian Aperitivo cocktails!

kelu

Kelu, which is Sardinian for the word “Sky” is an oasis of warmth, mystery and cocktail mastery, where in the space of an evening visitors can enjoy a sense of disconnection from the outside world.

A cocktail bar at the gates of Kelham Island, hidden above street level... Find your way up the steel stair case & prepare to be transported to a Sardinian paradise with a twist of modern indulgence.

EVENING APERITIVO

Cleverly formed dishes & appetisers, designed to transport you to a warm evening on a Sardinian terrace.

Join us Wedensday to Saturday between 5pm & 7pm for aperitivo, where cocktails are 2 for £12 and Sardinian nibbles are on the house.

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE

Kelu is the perfect venue for any occasion with seating for up to 80 guests we can help make your celebration one to remember

Weds - Thurs: 5pm - 11pm Fri - Sat: 5pm - 1am

KELU 294, Shalesmoor, Sheffield S3 8UL @ k_e_l_u

MUSIC: KAT EATON

Now nicely settled back in her hometown, Exposed caught up with blues and soul and blues artist Kat Eaton to talk formative Steel City experiences, coming full circle and an upcoming second album in the works.

Hi Kat, it’s great to have you back in the Steel City. Can you tell us a bit about what prompted the move back up north?

It’s so nice to be back up north. I was worried how everyone would react. I thought people would think we’d abandoned Sheffield for the Big Smoke and they wouldn’t accept my husband Nick and I back again. But I needn’t have worried because we have been accepted back into the community with open arms and Sheffield has changed so much for the better since we left. London was everything you can imagine – fun, exhilarating, challenging, exhausting! But with the recent cost of living crisis we really noticed the atmosphere shifting. It might just be me, but London doesn’t feel as vibrant anymore and it’s lost its allure. Our plan was always to move back up north after we’d make the connections we needed. And that’s just what we did – it only took us nine years! We’ve gone from living in a two-bed flat to a gorgeous house that we own with a huge studio at the end of the garden. It’s a total gamechanger and we feel incredibly grateful to be back. Also, the beer is just SO much better here!

When talking about early influences, you’ve mentioned sneaking into gigs to watch Sheffield Blues legend Frank White when you were younger. What was it about Frank’s music that resonated with you, and have you been inspired by any other Sheffield artists?

Frank’s passion on and off stage

was what I loved about him the most. When he wasn’t on stage writhing whilst wailing out another heartfelt vocal, he’d be talking about music and encouraging us to broaden our minds by listening to all sorts of genres and artists. He brought all of us musicians together and there was always a real community around him. Don’t get me wrong – he was hard work sometimes! But all of us paid our dues playing in The Frank White Band, and we learnt a hell of a lot doing it. Frank got us our first paid gig at The Crown in Totley when we were 17, and he even blagged his bass player Jeremy Meek (who had never met us before and had just come back from touring the world with Joan Armatrading) to play with us. Understandably, Jeremy almost didn’t turn up to play with a bunch of 17-year-olds, but his wife Clare pushed him out the car! Now Jezza’s just recorded bass on our new album, and he’s played on a track that we wrote about Frank called ‘NBT’ (New Barrack Tavern). It felt like a real full circle moment.

What else motivated you to pursue a career in music, and what has the journey been like to get to where you are now?

To be honest, I never really thought I’d be able to make a career in music. I studied Fine Art at uni, so I thought I’d end up doing something with art. Music was everything for Nick, but it was more of a side hustle for me to begin with and I thought it would be a struggle to make ends meet. But when we started making

money just doing what we loved (and I realised being a fine artist was going to be an even bigger struggle!), I started to think this might actually work. When we lived in Sheffield, we were playing the odd headline gig, weddings and functions, but we always said at some point we just wanted to make new music and tour Europe playing our own songs. I’m happy to say that’s what we’re doing now. Being a self-employed musician you’re never safe, but we’re fortunate enough now to just focus on making new music for however long that lasts.

How has your sound evolved and where do you see it heading in the future?

This new record, which Nick and I wrote, and Nick produced, is much more rootsy than the first album. It’s still Soul but slightly more Gospel, Blues. The lyrics are much more revealing and we’re less worried about trying to create something that’ll get on the radio. They’re also mega to play and we are so excited about playing these songs live! I think in the future I’ll go even deeper into Gospel and Blues. That’s where I started out. That’s what I love the most. That’s where I want to end up

. Can you share any insights into the recording process of your second album and how it differs from your debut album, ‘Talk To Me’?

We recorded the whole thing (apart from organ and horns) in the studio at the end of the garden. All in-house – literally! It should really have a name, shouldn’t it?!

The Potting Shed… or The Flower Bed… God, they’re awful! Any better suggestions?! It’s not quite soundproof yet so the neighbours did notice we were recording, but only when Seb played the same drum groove over and over to get the perfect take. Funding the album ourselves, we have to make sure everything is organised so we don’t run over or take advantage of the musicians who are doing it for mates rates. It’s not always as organic as people think making music should be – you can’t always have a full band in a studio trying things out and writing things as you go along! That’s the dream but it’s expensive!

Looking forward, what do you hope to achieve as a musician in the coming years?

We’ve just got new management [Wings – Gregory Porter’s management], so things will hopefully start snowballing soon. I know it’s a cliché, but if I can keep doing what I’m doing now and progressing at the rate I have been I’ll be happy. Of course, I have the usual aspirations: tour the world and have a hit single! But that’s only because I want to use that money and get back in the studio to make more music. The feeling you get when a person tells you that a song you wrote really resonated with them is the best kind of currency – hearing that every few weeks sustains me. I don’t need much.

Finally, what can we expect from your upcoming live show at Yellow Arch on 1st June?

It’s my first full band gig since moving back up north, so it’s gonna be carnage! Expect rip-roaring solos, Frank Whiteinspired gut-wrenching vocals and a lot of laughs either side! We’ll be playing music from my first album and exclusively revealing brand spanking new tracks. Last time we played there we sold it out, so make sure you get your tickets in advance!

Advance tickets for Kat Eaton’s full band performance at Yellow Arch Studios (£15) on 1st June are available at www. kateaton.com/tour

MY LIFE IN MUSIC CHARLOTTE BRANSON

THE FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT…

Paramore’s Brand New Eyes album is one of the first albums I bought. However, I listened to so many albums before that; my mum brought me up on artists like Sinéad O’Connor, Nirvana, ACDC, plus many more. It could be anything from opera to heavy rock.

MY

FIRST GIG…

I started off doing open mic nights. I remember one of the first times I performed live was at a singing competition, aged 15. I then didn’t perform again until I attended an open mic night at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield. I was so nervous, but as soon as I went on stage and started singing, my love for performing grew from there. Over time, my fear has faded and now I just look forward to performing the songs I have written to a crowd of people.

THE FIRST SONG I PERFORMED…

The first song I performed was ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ by James Brown. When I started singing, I fell in love with music from the likes of Etta James, Aretha Franklin and James Brown. Along with learning that song, I learnt ‘At Last’ by Etta James. That song will always be one of my favourite love songs.

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

I have recently discovered a band called Bad Wolves. I’m a rocker at heart and Bad Wolves’ song called ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ is definitely one or my favourites at the moment. That said, I actually can’t get my new song ‘Lucifer’ out of my head! Not only do I love it, but I’ve shot a music video and filmed content for it recently, so I’ve sung it

I ACTUALLY CAN’T GET MY NEW SONG ‘LUCIFER’ OUT OF MY HEAD! NOT ONLY DO I LOVE IT, BUT I’VE SHOT A MUSIC VIDEO AND FILMED CONTENT FOR IT

over and over again to the point where myself and the film crew have had the chorus stuck in our heads for a while.

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

One of the most important people to me is my mum. I remember one day years ago being in the car with her and she played one of her favourite

songs by Clannad, ‘Theme from Harry’s Game’. From then, whenever I hear the song, I always think of one of the most inspirational and incredible people I know: my mum.

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH MUSIC WHEN…

It’s hard to pinpoint a specific time as I was brought up to listening to music daily from when I was born. I do feel Sinéad O’Connor’s Lion and the Cobra album was a big part of my upbringing. The first gig I went to was to AC/DC. I loved seeing the energy live, the crowd bouncing off it. My grandad was an opera singer and I feel he is a big inspiration to me. He died when I was six-weeks-old,

but his spirit and incredible musical talent will always be an inspiration to me.

A SONG I WISH I’D WRITTEN…

Lana Del Rey is a big influence when it comes to songwriting, so I would pick one of her songs. ‘Video Games’ and ‘Born to Die’ by Lana Del Rey are both songs that are lyrically amazing.

Charlotte’s latest single Lucifer is out now, with the official music video to follow soon. Head to the artist's socials below for more.

@charlottebranson

After releasing brand new single ‘Lucifer’ last month, we asked soulful Sheffield singer Charlotte Branson to take us on a stroll down musical memory lane…

friday 5 May 2023

grapefruit (lgbt+ clubnight)

£4, Doors 11:30pm, 18+

thursday 11 may 2023

foundry art club : life drawing, yayoi kusama style

£16.50 (drink included), Doors 7:30pm

tuesday 16 May 2023

french the kid

£12.50, Doors 7pm

friday 19 May 2023

lucy spraggan

£21, Doors 6:30pm

saturday 20 May 2023

frankie beetlestone

£9, Doors 7:30pm

friday 26 May 2023

rhoda dakar & the everly pregnant brothers + trojan explosion dj’s

£15, Doors 7:30pm

tuesday 13 june 2023

squid

‘o monolith’ album launch

£14.50, Doors 7:00pm

pigs pigs pigs pigs

thursday 5 oct 2023

pigs pigs pigs

£17.50, Doors 7:30pm

friday 6 oct 2023

nation of language

£20, Doors 7:30pm

saturday 21 oct 2023

the bluetones

£25, Doors 6:30pm

wednesday 25 oct 2023

the dust coda

£14, Doors 7:00pm

friday 27 oct 2023

from the jam

“all mod cons”

£32.50, Doors 7:00pm

Lorem ipsumdolor sit amet ,consect

friday 3 nov 2023

flash & the darkniss

£20, Doors 7pm

saturday 18 nov 2023

the pigeon Detectives

£20, Doors 6:30pm

saturday 25 nov 2023

smoove & turrell + solar love society

£18, Doors 7:00pm

all shows open to the public (14+ unless stated otherwise) tickets available from foundrysu.com box office: 0114 222 8777

thursday 30 nov 2023

starsailor

£24.50, Doors 7:00pm

friday 1 dec 2023

the view

£24.00, Doors 6:30pm

saturday 2 dec 2023 definitely oasis vs the complete stone roses

£17.50, Doors 7pm

foundry, sheffield students’ union western bank, s10 2tg foundrysu.com - foundry@sheffield.ac.uk @foundrysheffield

THE HOLY TRINITY

We’re in serious *BIG GIG* territory this summer, as three of the Steel City’s most successful musical exports all return for homecoming shows.

Kicking things off in riff-laden fashion are platinum-selling rockers Def Leppard who will be playing Bramall Lane on 22 May, joined on the bill by equally iconic rock royalty in Mötley Crüe.

On 9-10 June, High Green heroes Arctic Monkeys stop off at Hillsborough Park as part of the UK tour for their latest album, The Car, before the legendary Jarvis Cocker returns to Sheffield Arena for PULP’s first set of live shows together since 2012 (supported by a chap who’s pretty popular around these ends, a certain Richard Hawley).

Not too shabby to get festival season rolling, eh?

MUSIC TOP PICKS

PETER DOHERTY

02 Academy Sheffield // 3 May // £35.25

Peter Doherty returns with his first solo acoustic tour in ten years! He will be performing a wide selection of songs from his back catalogue, including classics from The Libertines and Babyshambles era, plus all his solo projects and records. Support comes from up-and-coming singer/songwriter Evan Williams. academymusicgroup.com

BEFORE BREAKFAST EP LAUNCH

Upper Chapel // 4 May // £10-£12

With the stunning Amy May Ellis as support, Before Breakfast bring together choir and strings for the launch of their latest EP. Providing the perfect backdrop for their awe-inspiring live performance will be the Grade-II listed Upper Chapel. Eventbrite.co.uk

JAMES

Sheffield City Hall // 4th May // £40-£98

In celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary, the ‘James Lasted’ tour comes to Sheffield after the announcement of their double album featuring an orchestra and gospel choir, arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell (Elbow / New Order). Featuring new versions of their greatest hits, fan favourites and one completely new track. sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

AZIZA JAYE

Yellow Arch Studios // 19 May // £9

Sheffield-based artist, songwriter and producer Aziza Jaye comes to Yellow Arch studios this month. With influences stemming from her Jamaican roots, she delves into reggae, soul, motown, Afrobeat, house and drum & bass, so you can expect a versatile show from this exciting performer. yellowarch.com

FRANKIE BEETLESTONE

Foundry // 20th May // £9.90

Peddling his engaging brand of indie pop, all self-written and produced from his bedroom in Sheffield, Frankie’s music explores turbulent relationships, heartbreak and the uncertainties, aches, and pleasures of growing up. With an album ‘Tasting the Sky’ released in 2021, and two singles so far this year, there’s plenty of potential for this up-and-coming South Yorks artist. foundry.seetickets.com

SPEED FOR LOVERS

Yellow Arch Studios // 26 May // £10

Speed for Lovers offer what is essentially live dance music; they combine ‘Sheffield Sound’ with Detroit Bass using wonky synths and cymbals that literally have holes in them! Their electronic ‘new wave disco’ sound comes to Yellow Arch this May with two support acts including debuting artist Yarg Armani and My LoFi Heart. yellowarch.com

PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED

This

month, Aaron Jackson has a listen to the Rev's

seventh

studio album, Heatwave in the Cold North.

Reverend and the Makers’ seventh album Heatwave in the Cold North arrives the best part of a year after the lead-off single and well-received follow-ups

‘Problems’ and ‘A Letter To My 21-Year Old Self’ – all of which are included on the album and offer a fair representation of what’s on offer. If the sound is lazy, hazy and sweetened with strings, core Reverend concerns remain: communication, connection, relationships, opportunity, honesty and what happens if those things break down or are missed.

The singles all landed because they’re well-crafted slices of pop. ‘Heatwave in the Cold North’ is guaranteed to get hands in the air (again) at festivals this summer because it nails the feeling of mildly buzzed late-afternoon sunny contentment on a hook you could land a whale on. A paean to friends and others who dump on us without being prepared to offer their own shoulder or ear, ‘Problems’ is a slow jam ear worm cunningly hidden inside a diss track for grown-ups; while

‘A Letter To My 21-Year Old Self’ is an exploration of the idea that youth is wasted on the young: an unspooling snapshot of all that’s been and done in the Reverend’s career to date, he offers his younger self very good advice about how to negotiate what he knows is ahead in the full foreknowledge that his younger self, insulated and inoculated with the bulletproof certainty of youth, wouldn’t listen anyway. For such an upbeat tune, its central vibe is one of regret.

This is more than a smashand-grab of great singles plus whatever was lying around in the ideas book, though. ‘You Don’t Love Me’ comes across as an end-of-the-affair torch song that lays claim to Oasis’s right for ‘Stop Crying Your Heart

Out’ to be played the next time England’s footballers inevitably crash out of a major competition – the male ones, that is. ‘The Exception’ offers a Bossa Nova guitar figure while remaining grounded in core concerns of he said/she said/have you heard/when will you learn? The rhythmic moves, however, are straight out of modern pop and old-school hip-hop, resulting in a sombre meditation on an ongoing situation. By contrast, ‘I Hate It When You Lie’ feels like a South Yorkshire examination of the truth of in vino veritas. Beats from Cypress Hill’s Temples of Boom album cross-pollinate

with the jaunty jazz-pop meets ska-polka stylings every female singer went to following the death of Amy Winehouse when they, with typically sharkminded pop instincts, saw the gap in the market. That shouldn’t be held against it, however, as it’s a genuine earworm with a killer breakdown where 10cc-like stacked vocals punctured by the approaching police sirens that indicate how these things tend to end in domestic situations.

Overall, Heatwave in the Cold North is another welcome instalment in the story of a band that never fails to deliver.

Heatwave in the Cold North is out now. Head to reverendandthemakers.co.uk to get your copy and see details of the Rev’s upcoming acoustic tour with Ed Cosens.

IF THE SOUND IS LAZY, HAZY AND SWEETENED WITH STRINGS, CORE REVEREND CONCERNS REMAIN: COMMUNICATION, CONNECTION, RELATIONSHIPS, OPPORTUNITY, HONESTY AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THOSE THINGS BREAK DOWN OR ARE MISSED

INSPIRAL CARPETS @ LEADMILL

Indie stalwarts Inspiral Carpets returned to Sheffield on Friday 14th April. Tickets were like gold dust, having sold out within 24 hours of release; with new album The Complete Singles renewing interest in the Madchester group’s extensive back catalogue.

Support from Dirty Laces was well-received, warming up an already lively crowd ahead of the main event. The atmosphere continued to build until Inspiral Carpets took to the stage, accompanied by a rousing chorus of trademark ‘moos’ from an already-bouncing audience.

The baggy band, who have been on hiatus since the death of drummer Craig Gill in 2016, opened with singalong fan-favourite ‘Joe’, followed by ‘Generations’. Lead vocalist Stephen Holt looked right at home back on the stage, venturing to the barrier to interact with the appreciative fans on more than one occasion. In fact, the Carpets’ latest line-up – including Oscar Boon, son of keyboardist Clint – seemed touched at the love shown by the Sheffield crowd.

The twenty-song-strong setlist included anthems such as ‘She Comes in the Fall’, ‘This is How It Feels’ and ‘Dragging Me Down’ but it was the tribute to Gill at the start of the encore that will live long in the memory. An initial hush was followed by respectful applause and, as the band launched into ‘Commercial Rain’ on their return to the stage, a sense of togetherness filled the sweat-scented room.

Chants of ‘Boon Army’ rang out as a cover of ? and The Mysterians’ ‘96 Tears’, which the band say influenced their sound, followed by ‘Saturn 5’ from 1994 album Devil Hopping, brought the show to a close.

Inspiral Carpets’ psychedelia/alt-rock hybrid sounds as fresh today as it ever did. Catch them when they return to the city in June to play Don Valley Bowl’s MosFest alongside Bad Manners, Lottery Winners, and Sheffield’s own Little Man Tate.

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FILM BY CAL REID

INFINITY POOL

Brandon Cronenberg’s unsettling science fiction horror features Alexander Skarsgård as a failed novelist James Foster holidaying with his wife in the fictional country of Li Tolqa. After spending the day outside the resort with another couple, the Bauers, an unfortunate accident sees things quickly spiral out of control for James, and the only way out is to have himself duplicated and murdered.

Infinity Pool is a hypnotic and disquieting experience, even for seasoned horror fans. What else would you expect from a Cronenberg? There are hints of body horror here, largely in the offputtingly clinical and low-tech methods of cloning humans, but this is not the film’s central concern. James’ descent following the accident explores the vulnerability of creative vanity, the dangers of wanting to escape

RETRO REVIEW

from the confines of one’s own reality and the loss of one’s soul in the process. To a lesser extent, it’s a damning condemnation of privileged attitudes to lessdeveloped countries, or rather countries perceived as less developed. Mia Goth’s Gabi (by far the most unsettling element in the film) frequently derides the country and its people with near xenophobic venom. Ironic since

Li Tolqa has developed the means to clone people. Masterfully scored by Tim Hecker, and shot with equal brilliance by Karim Hussain, Infinity Pool frequently catches you off guard with graphic violence and sexual content, whilst presenting its themes with chilling subtlety, some of which will doubtlessly haunt you for days after. 5/5

THE DUDE ABIDES: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THE BIG LEBOWSKI

The ultimate cult film recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and was rescreened across the country. What can be said that hasn’t already been said? Obviously, it’s still brilliant after I don’t know how many viewings, but what’s amazing is it still manages to recruit contemporary audiences into its ranks of fans, reams of new people who can hold entire conversations made up of quotes from the film.

What I love most about the film, beyond the genius screenplay and perfect performances by the entire cast, is that it’s essentially a neo-noir, the narrative’s twists and turns navigated by a collection of feckless stereotypes from a bygone American era. The Dude is a hippie, Walter a Vietnam vet and Donny almost seems to have walked off the set of Happy Days. The story itself, by the Coen Brothers’ own admission, was inspired by the works of Raymond Chandler.

When released in 1998, critics

largely dismissed the film as an odd collection of conflicting ideas and styles, the only saving grace being the humour. Its idiosyncratic nature certainly didn’t do it any favours as most viewers at the time didn’t know what to make of it, and for many fans, myself included, it took several rewatches to appreciate

everything completely. The Big Lebowski’s main drawback for first-time viewers is also to its credit. It demands repeat viewings because there is so much there in terms of plot, character development and dialogue it’s impossible to take it all in at first, even if you love it from the word go.

EVIL DEAD RISE

Unlike most horror aficionados, I have never had a great love of the Evil Dead franchise. That’s not to say I don’t like them; quite the contrary, I’m able to understand their significance and agree wholeheartedly with all the praise directed at it. If I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be the original 1981 film, which as most will know, is the purest of the films in terms of straight horror (not counting the 2013 remake). Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness and the TV series Ash vs Evil Dead lean more heavily on comedy and action, even if there’s still plenty of gore.

This probably explains why I found myself really engaging with Evil Dead Rise. Next to The Evil Dead it’s the most full-on horror film of the franchise. Set in a decaying apartment building in L.A., the Book of the

COMING SOON…

FAST X

Vin Diesel is back as Dom Toretto in the tenth instalment in the FF franchise.

THE LITTLE MERMAID

Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in Disney’s liveaction remake of the 1989 classic.

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

Miles Morales returns to our screens facing off against innumerable Spider-People including Oscar Isaac’s Spider-Man 2099!

Dead is found following an earthquake and unleashed upon a struggling family. The change in setting and characters immediately offers something new and, for me at least, made the situation far more dreadful and tense. Like the original, there’s a strong sense of uncertainty about who will get out alive. There’s no Bruce Campbell around to crack wise during dismemberments and give some sense of assurance to the audience. That’s not to say we don’t get some badass moments: there are numerous references to the originals, including shotguns, chainsaws and an excellent inclusion of ‘Come get some!’

The cast are all fantastic, but the standout performance goes to Alyssa Sutherland, whose physical performance as the Deadite mother Ellie is quite extraordinary. Evil Dead Rise should suitably satisfy fans of the franchise and thrill newcomers. 4.5/5

Last month, Mark Perkins was down at The Abbeydale Picture House to see an iconic film charting the rise of British ska music – with some very notable guests also in attendance.

A few people have known and loved the film Dance Craze since it first came out about 40 years ago – and a good slice of them were here tonight. Scratchy prints of the film have survived down the years, alongside homemade VHS copies, but the quality of film we saw tonight was a revelation. Someone managed to track down the original cameraman, and in his attic, he had a pristine copy stashed away, from which this new print has been made.

The film is a compilation of live performances by groups and singers who were at the heart of the ska music revival in the UK in the late 70s and early 80s. It was incredible; I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more effective live music film. The Fly Tower of the Abbeydale Picture House was transformed into a virtual live show, as the audience danced, sang along and greeted each new song as though they were at an actual gig.

All the usual suspects were on screen: The Beat, Madness, Buster Bloodvessel, The Bodysnatchers, Selector and, of course, The Specials. The whole

scene became known as Two Tone music, with most of the bands releasing music on 2Tone Records, founded by one of the luminaries whom we could see on-screen, Jerry Dammers.

But not only was he visible on-screen, but Jerry was also sitting on the row in front of me, as the special guest advertised on the flyers: the ‘Tsar of Ska’, Mr Dammers himself. What set The Specials apart from the other acts was Dammers’ political lyrics. Hits such as ‘Ghost Town’, ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ still resonate down the years from a time when issues of social deprivation and inequality rarely, if ever, featured

in mainstream chart hits.

I’d always associated him with Coventry, as that’s where a lot of these bands all originated from, so I was astonished to hear him say, in his introduction to the film, that he lived in Sheffield from the age of two. He reminisced about watching films in the Abbeydale Picture House, back in the early Sixties, as part of his on-stage introduction to the film. Back in the 70s, Two Tone became about more than the music: it was just as much about opposing racism and challenging expectations and prejudices in the music industry. Until that point, black musicians played jazz, reggae

and soul, while white musicians played rock. These bands dared to have both black and white men and women, playing in the same band and working on music together. Their mixture of reggae and punk represented a break with the past; it was an innovative sound that had never been heard in the charts.

DJ sets from Trojan Explosion warmed the crowd up, and Jerry Dammers played his own DJ set to end the night, as the timeless appeal of this music echoed into the rafters of the cavernous venue. It was a fabulous night, showcasing a film that is a must-see for any self-respecting music-lover.

PHOTOGRAPHER: IAN BECK

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT EUROVISION

Slip into your dancing shoes and dig out those sequins – the Official Eurovision Party (13 May) is coming to Sheffield for a jam-packed day of activities on Devonshire Green, finished off with a screening of all the action live from Liverpool!

The live stage will feature some extremely exciting performances, including a drag spectacular from Jamie Campbell, the inspiration for hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie! The celebration will also play host to Marina Krutь, who came second in the competition to be this year’s Ukrainian entry, and there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Ukrainian culture with a whole host of traditional acts and activities planned.

Also taking place in the city centre this month, we have the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (17 May) hosted by SAYiT, Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ youth charity, at the Winter Gardens featuring a range of community and organisational speakers from across the city standing together against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.

In terms of nightlife, Grapefruit (5 May) returns to Sheffield’s Student Union celebrating all things queer. Expect everything from dance and chart hits to queer anthems and disco, plus loud, proud décor as they transform the floors of Foundry into their very own Grapefruit Disco. Elsewhere CYB3R are also back at FØRGE with their biggest event to date, CYB3RWORLD (19 May) – a queer/trans space hosting a b2b electronic/hyperpop DJ battle featuring DJ Blue Raspberry, DJ Cyberspice, Gnarkill, Jordan Windows, Lindsay Losam, Phoneutrian, Poor Spice and Zaron Mizmeras.

Gigwise, the much-loved Yorkshire folk duo O’Hooley & Tidow (26 May) take to the stage at Sheffield’s glorious Upper Chapel launching their new studio album, Cloudheads, having been

propelled into newfound fame for penning the theme tune to Sally Wainwright’s hit BBC1/HBO drama Gentleman Jack.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Theatre Deli’s new space yet, then head to Queer Folio 2023 (11 May) – a super sassy sharing of exciting new works in progress by a dazzling team of LGBTQ+ artists from across the nation including a sneaky preview of three gorgeous new acts that reconnect Shakespeare’s plays with their queerness after four centuries of far too much straightening out.

Drag Bingo fans will not be disappointed this month with RuPaul’s Drag Race Bingo (12 May) at Forum, Drag Bingo hosted by Bipolar Abdul (17 May) at Hagglers Corner, Tanya Minge’s Drag Queen Bingo (26 May) at Malin Bridge Inn and Emma Maezin’s Drag Bingo (10 May) at Revolucion de Cuba. Malin Bridge Inn will also be hosting The Electric Blue Show (Sat 6 May) and The Aunty Ginger Show (Sat 13 May) and Emma Maezin’s ongoing city takeover also includes Dragoke Thursdays (every Thurs) at Maggie Mays, Drag Karaoke (Fri 19 May) at Bagshawe Arms and Bottomless Brunch (Sat 28 May) at Revolucion de Cuba.

Trans Active Swimming sessions (every Saturday) continue at Heeley Baths, and they have recently added sessions where you can attend with a carer/essential companion who doesn’t have to be a trans or non-binary person which this month take place on the 6 and 20 May. There are also a couple of opportunities for you to get involved in running events this month with planning meetings taking place at Showroom Café for Queer Fest (9 May) and Diversity Fest (28 May)

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

CULTURE

HOME, I’M DARLING @ SHEFFIELD LYCEUM

Home, I’m Darling follows a married couple who adopt a lifestyle modelled on their mutual love of 1950s memorabilia and popular culture which, as becomes quickly apparent, is taking a heavy toll on their relationship.

From a technical viewpoint, the production is highly commendable. The set is designed to represent an idealised (and deliberately inaccurate) representation of a 1950s suburban house. Despite being set in contemporary Britain, the characters’ clothes and their home’s décor represent something more American – clever choices, given they reflect the fantasies of its central couple. The scene changes are inventive and swift, with an excellent selection of musical numbers throughout. The cast, a standout being Diane Keen, gives it their all and maintains the audience’s attention throughout.

Contemporary individuals retreating

into a fantasy version of a bygone era is a well-explored concept, especially over the last several years in cinema, with the likes of Last Night in Soho and Don’t Worry Darling released in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Despite being light in tone, Home, I’m Darling concerns itself with the same central theme: the danger of nostalgia. This is where some of the problems with the script itself come to the forefront. Frequently, it becomes a pitstop of socio-political issues, addressed rather ham-fistedly in the dialogue which only Keen manages to sell through sheer acting ability.

The humour, whilst not ineffective, is not regular enough to label Home, I’m Darling a comedy. Nor is there enough serious content for it to be considered drama. There are several scenes in the second half which tease an uncomfortable, but quite appropriate, trip

into dark territory. However, just when it seems ready to commit, it sharply backs out, which leaves one wondering why it bothers going there at all.

The premise, whilst outlandish, arguably demands a more serious approach. I’d go as far as to say the genre within which the script operates does not suit the story and the themes it brings with it. Characters fleetingly address racial and gender issues prominent during the 1950s. Jessica Ransom’s Judy is childishly ignorant of the realities of that period, concerned more with memories of watching Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and James Stewart as a child, fuelling her fantasy ultimately to her detriment. Beyond having another character shout all this at her whilst she stands rabbit-eyed in the kitchen, there is no further thematic development.

That said, the show is never dull at any point, thanks largely to a stellar cast and the wonderful production design. It all moves along at a steady, enjoyable pace, but sadly feels rather lacking given what could’ve been explored. 3/5

WORDS: CAL REID // PHOTO: JACK MERRIMAN

THINK BIG

The ninth edition of the UK’s biggest non-partisan politics festival is currently in full swing, and there are plenty of intriguing events coming up to engage your brain cells with this month.

The Festival of Debate was launched by Sheffield social enterprise Opus in 2015 to provoke discourse and discussion while combating disillusionment with modern-day politics.

Over 60 events take place across three strands – Democracy, Inequality and Climate – hosted at venues across the city until 26th May. On the schedule you’ll find a plethora of well-known keynote speakers alongside a wide-ranging schedule of community events led by grassroots groups, partners and individual citizens.

Events are free to attend wherever possible and the festival team have made sure ticketed events are as cheap as possible so that as many people as possible can get involved.

This month you’ll be able to see keynotes from the likes of award-winning journalist Gary Younge (4th May), a book launch Q+A with drum‘n’bass veteran General Levy and a talk from writer Kenan Malik.

From capitalism in crisis to identity politics, mental health to intersectional ageing, there’s a huge range of topics still to be covered.

Festival of Debate programmer Joe Kriss said: “With this year’s programme we want to challenge Sheffield to think big – to throw off any constraints to imagining how our city, and the world, could be a better place to live, far beyond the limits of party politics, existing systems and current ways of thinking. This is both complicated and complex – but it’s essential for us to survive and thrive as a species.

The full programme with all this month’s remaining events is live now at festivalofdebate.com

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

Lyceum Theatre // 2–6 May // From £15

Stephen Daldry’s multi award- winning National Theatre production is coming to the Lyceum theatre next may. In this classic thriller when inspector Goole arrives uninvited at the wealthy Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE

Lyceum Theatre // 9–20 May // From £15

From the imagination of Neil Gaiman, bestselling author of Coraline, this is a story of adventure, fantasy, myth and friendship. After returning to a pond near his childhood home a man finds himself transported to his 12th birthday, where his friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean where everything is possible.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

DEAD CATS

Playhouse // 10–11 May // From £11

In this room people lie. The kind of lies that kill people, or worse… Dead Cats is part of Proto-type’s Truth to Power Project: an exploration of power, protest, democracy, privacy and control.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER

Theatre Deli // 13 May // Pay As You Feel

In the quiet village of Ravenswood Bluff a demon walks amongst you, killing by night and disguised in human form by day. Will the good townsfolk put the puzzle together in time to execute the true demon, or will evil overrun this village? Blood on the Clocktower is a tense and engaging social bluffing experience for those who delight in deduction and deception.

theatredeli.co.uk

FAMILY TREE

Playhouse // 23-24 May // From £13

A beautifully poetic drama about race, health, the environment and the incredible legacy of Henrietta Lacks, one of the most influential Black women of modern times and one of most remarkable people in medical history. Fearlessly honest, hilarious, and ultimately transformative, this award-winning play is both a remembrance and a celebration.

sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

KING LEAR’S FOOL’S TALE

Theatre Deli // 13 May //

It was during the recent lock-down period, after viewing, via various internet sites, no fewer that five different productions of Shakespeare’s King Lear, that writer John D Slater felt that might be a fascinating challenge to give the Fool a chance to have his own say. And so John set down to write King Lear’s Fool’s Tale. What does the Fool see that the King Lear doesn’t, or won’t see? The result is a production both humorous and touching. theatredeli.co.uk

CORBIN SHAW

Ahead of his appearance at Get Together Festival this month, Exposed caught up with Sheff-born,

London-based artist Corbin Shaw to discuss his work deconstructing modern-day masculinity, classism and British subculture.

HI CORBIN, CAN WE BEGIN BY ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR UPBRINGING IN SHEFFIELD AND THE EARLY INFLUENCES – EITHER CONSCIOUS OR SUBCONSCIOUS – WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT THERE?

My influences, that’s a big question. I guess I was taught everything about subcultures by my dad at first; he kind of gave me the keys, mainly his record collection and his love of synth pop that had come from Sheffield: Heaven 17, ABC and The Jam are the ones that stick with me. They gave me what youth was to them, and then I guess like any teenager I rebelled against what he thought was cool. I started going to Niche and getting proper into bassline, a scene which influenced how I dressed more than anything. Still to this day, there’s a video from the local youth club owner outside The Adelphi asking what all the people in the queue are wearing. It always stuck with me because I’d watch it and model myself off it. I thought they all looked mint. I wanted to be just like them. The music was impossible to escape; it was in your mates’ brothers’ car, in cars in town, at youth club and in the playground. It was all encompassing and formed so many of us.

I’ve got a deep love of the aesthetics of the music and what surrounds it, what and who was on the covers. Trance music as well, my mum played it in the car. I guess the buzz surrounding Gatecrasher was something that was always going on in the background for me. But yeah, everything surrounding music in Sheffield was what I remember most.

HOW HAS YOUR WORK BUILT UPON THOSE EARLY INFLUENCES AND INTERESTS SINCE?

HOW WOULD YOU SAY IT HAS EVOLVED?  Do you know what, you kind of have your really formative teenage years where you’re so open; it’s your starting point, but I don’t think you ever move out of it. I used to always try move away from it, but then I’ll always come back. It’s weird, it’s kind of like a safe sanctuary. Makes me feel at home.

It’s evolved, I guess, because I’ve got a different perspective. When you can look back you start to see the patterns you didn’t before. All my work is that, though: it comes from experiences. You can

use your past to create work about the present and the future. Everything’s in cycles, isn’t it? It’s just about how you can look at it differently year by year.   It evolves, I think, when you move away, and you fall deeper and deeper in love with what you love. Like being homesick, all the memories become a bit better.

WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH SHEFFIELD TODAY? WHEN YOU RETURN, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO YOU AS A PLACE?  I think, maybe on the whole, Sheffield during a lot of my upbringing felt like it was stuck in the past; but over the last few years, it’s felt like it’s started to move again. It’s becoming itself again, making new history. I’ve always felt like it’s an unrequited love between me and home. Certainly, at points in my life I felt like it didn’t want me, but I still love it deeply. Now I feel like I’ve got this duty to talk about it and tell people how mint it is. I feel protective of it. It’s just as important as Manchester in the north, but we’re so overlooked. Like everyone who moves away, I think we need to tell everyone all about it. We’re spreading the word.

LAST YEAR YOU BECAME AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST, MAKING YOUR FIRST WORKS INDEPENDENT FROM A GALLERY. WHAT SPURRED THIS DECISION AND HOW HAS IT ALLOWED YOU TO GROW?

It was a mix of loads of things really. I’m so grateful for the opportunity that the gallery gave me, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. But at that time, it felt like I needed to stand on my own two feet a bit more. I work with my girlfriend now, so it’s just us two who make the decisions. We can talk through it all and make sure everything I’m putting out is fully authentic. I also feel a massive freedom in making whatever I want, even if it’s not going to make any money. Sometimes, just having a laugh with it is what it’s all about.

AS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR MEDIUMS AND TECHNIQUES FOR SPECIFIC PIECES?

It’s about research. I often look into really niche events or objects and one day have a brainwave

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

about mashing them together somehow. For me, it’s about making sure what I’m making has an element of conversation with the original influence(s) - be that in what the words are, or the fabric used. It’s case by case really.

HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED AND INSPIRED TO WORK DURING CHALLENGING CREATIVE PERIODS?

I think just by keeping up with habits that have always worked. YouTube videos have always been the best for me; there’s nothing like unearthing something from your childhood or coming across that one artist talk that you’ll never find again. Books as well. I’m not much of a reader, but photography books and magazines have always been what I go to. My studio’s full of them, so if I’m ever stuck, I’ll just sit with them for a few ideas. Running as well. If I’m stuck, creatively or in any other way, I’ll run, chatting shite into my notes that most of the time makes no sense to anyone. But occasionally it’ll work, and we’ll have something to go with.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE? DO YOU HAVE A SET ROUTINE WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING OR DOES IT VARY FROM PROJECT TO PROJECT?

Definitely project to project. Like I was saying earlier, it’s not really clear where an idea comes from. I might think of something one month and it’s not until five or six months later, when I’ve hashed it out with mates or my family or seen something else, that anything progresses. I think having loads of cogs turning seems to be my best option: one inspires the other, some get left behind, and a few I’ll make and hope that they go alright.

ARE THERE ANY THEMES THAT YOU’D LIKE TO EXPLORE WITH YOUR WORK MOVING FORWARD?

I guess just more work about the complexity of the simple man, however this might look or sound like in the future. I’m horrified about the influence of people like Andrew Tate and what the likes of him are feeding to young boys. It’s terrifying. I want to understand why this is happening and what we can do to protect the next generation. I always want to make work that’s going to start a conversation.

WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT GET TOGETHER FESTIVAL LATER THIS MONTH. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU’LL BE GETTING UP TO?  Kieran got in touch with me earlier in the year to talk about what we could do together. I resonated so much with him and what he wanted to achieve with the festival. It’s all about the future and the next generation of the city. I’m making a series of banners, flags and posters to go around the site to reflect this, looking forward to the future of the city and celebrating who we are. Can’t wait to see them all up. Me dad still works in Kelham, so it’ll be a right laugh seeing his reaction. Really looking forward to it.