S PRI N . VIBE S H E WWW 2025 NG
FFIELD. COM
Richard Abbey Executive Editor
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THE CHANGING FACE OF THE CITY CENTRE
What a difference 12 months makes. We look at how the city centre has been transformed and what’s still to come
12
MAKING CREATIVITY ACCESSIBLE
Rosie Brennan meets Eleanor Rands, the instigator of a new inclusive arts organisation which gives a platform to lesser heard voices
16
BIRTH OF THE COOL
Often credited as one of the ‘coolest neighbourhoods in the UK’ Kelham Island continues to evolve - and is becoming something of a foodie destination
20
TIME-TRAVELLING WARDROBE
General Store on Ecclesall Road
24
TURNING MEMORIES INTO ART
Artist Holly Clifford discusses her collection that makes memories last a lifetime
PATTERNS OF THE PAST
32 FESTIVAL FEVER
Tramlines may grab the headlines but there’s a whole host of festivals happening in the city this year
36
CAUGHT BY THE BUZZ
The Sherlocks are on the cusp of releasing a new album before heading out on a European tour. And then there’s that prime slot at Tramlines to look forward to...
44
48 COVER STAR
forms the centrepiece of this issue’s vibrant cover
THE CHANGING FACE OF THE CITY CENTRE
What a difference 12 months makes. We look at how the city centre has been transformed and what’s still to come.
Visitors to the McKee Gallery in Leah’s Yard
nyone who has been into the city centre over the last 12 months can’t have failed to notice the transformation that has taken place.
of the City development, it was about this Yards Store, Fjallraven, Savills, Bird & Blend and The Cream Store to name but a few.
And there was more to follow.
The much-talked about about food hall to great fanfare and has already become a focus point for the new development, bringing more people into the area. Leah’s Yard (see more below) then followed in August.
“We’ve seen 12 months of real Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee. “Over 75 per cent of those units are now let and we are in advanced discussion with lots of other businesses and organisations who are keen to move
on its laurels and more projects will be coming to fruition in 2025.
Fargate’s transformation will be complete by the end of February, bringing a ‘grey to green’ feel to the area with for the summer programme that will be announced soon. Also on Fargate, work will be starting on Events Central, a new venue which will be operated by CADS (Creative Arts Development Space), and Thornbridge’s £1million redevelopment of what was the old Yorkshire Bank.
A public consultation in October last year gave us a taste of what could be happening in the old John Lewis building. Developer Urban Splash are currently analysing this consultations and further announcements are expected to be made in the coming months.
“When I knock on people’s doors, which I often do when I’m campaigning, they tell me they want a city centre they can
“We as a council have responded to that by regenerating large swathes of the city
There’s also a big drive to bring 20,000 new homes into the city centre area and the council are working with government
areas as well the space in front of the train station.
the main projects happening this year:
LEAH’S YARD
anticipated features was Leah’s Yard, a Grade II* listed courtyard that was once the home to manufacturers of cutlery, shears, hand tools and die stamps.
The courtyard and surrounding buildings had been closed since 2000 and what lurked behind the hoardings was unknown to many. But now, having reopened in late August, Leah’s Yard has been revealed in all
The restoration has been completely sympathetic, showing the 19th century buildings in all their splendour, and has created a network of independent businesses and workspaces.
books and beer to clothing, chocolate
people to commit to Leah’s Yard and of the City project and support local, independent businesses. The shop is including prints, t-shirts and books. You can also visit Gravel Pit, Bloom, La Biblioteka, Kelham Barber and Mester’s Market, which is also home to The Yard Gallery
forget to stop in at The Chocolate Bar the best hot chocolate in the city.
COLE BROTHERS BUILDING
Following the news that Urban Splash were named as preferred bidder for the former Cole Brothers building in Barker’s Pool, exciting plans have started to surface that will see the building transformed into a mixed-use entertainment, leisure and retail venue.
Bringing this listed building back into the wider city centre and the surrounding Retaining much of the structure, whilst improving the thermal performance and
have a positive impact on climate change.
Chair of the Strategy and Resources, said: “The former Cole Brothers building is an city centre. It’s great that we’re moving forward with Urban Splash to breathe new life back into the building. The exciting proposal from Urban Splash will add to the fantastic regeneration we’re seeing of the City development at West Bar and more.
are creating a city centre that will be a destination for people to come and relax,
The Yard Gallery
Gina O’Connor of Roots and Bloom at Leah’s Yard
Artist impressions of the redeveloped ‘Cole Store’ Images courtesy AHMM Architects
The proposed Castlegate Park
SALVATION ARMY CITADEL
It’s been one of the longest rumbling sagas in light at the end of the tunnel for the Salvation Army Citadel.
ago, the former Salvation Army Citadel building would attract scores of people every
back to life.
Opened in 1894, the building was used by the Salvation Army as their main church venue in the city for more than a century before the charity moved out in 1999. Since then, the Grade II listed building has remained empty.
back to life and what it could be used for in the future.
now been announced including securing the building, conduct inspections and carry out repair work to the shell, core, and structural defects. Work is due to
water-tight, ensure heritage features are preserved, and further deterioration is prevented.
key milestone in securing the future of this historic and important building within the city centre. I’m really looking forward to the work beginning and working with heritage groups, stakeholders and interested parties to ensure a successful
added: t“The former Salvation Army Citadel building is an important part of able to be brought back to life and a suitable use is found. and will carry a substantial cost. That money will be spent on making sure the building can be used moving forward, can be made watertight and safe, and
CASTLEGATE
market site, which was once home to a medieval castle widely regarded as the birthplace of the city, has moved into phase
park starting to take shape.
Following extensive archaeological research at the former Castle Market site, including unearthing evidence of former steel works dating back to the 19th century the project now moves to redeveloping it into the park and events space.
City Council has been working alongside construction company Keltbray with that partnership continuing with the engineering specialists continuing the transformation of the site for phase 2.
Cllr Ben Miskell said: “This is a hugely exciting project which has already grabbed the attention of thousands of people not country. Unearthing the remains of the city’s history has been fascinating but the work to transform the area from an archaeological
Throughout the process, Wessex Archaeology, who have been uncovering the remains of the castle during phase one, will remain on site to ensure those remains are preserved and ready to go on public display once the project has been completed.
Once complete, the Castlegate site will be transformed into a public park area
was demolished in the late 1600s. A 500 people capacity events space will also be created on the site of a former 17th century bowling green, with heritage interpretation boards and public art giving further nods to the site’s historic past.
The River Sheaf, which gives the city it’s name, will also be opened up as part of the phase 2 work making it visible in the city age.
Cllr Miskell added: “Many people who have lived in the city for decades won’t have known that it was once the site of a historic castle, this project will change that. It will also give everyone the chance to see the castle and learn about the history of it, Scots was held prisoner there.
place, a park inside the city, and one that will link in brilliantly with the regeneration work we are carrying out elsewhere, not
The whole project is expected to be completed in early 2026.
The revealed interior of the Citadel
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Making creativity ACCESSIBLE
Rosie Brennan meets Eleanor Rands, the instigator of a new inclusive arts organisation which gives a platform to lesser heard voices.
romising to inject creativity into the heart of the city centre, Arts In The Right Place (AITRP) is a new grassroots organisation and performance
venue, founded by Eleanor Rands, aims to prioritise accessibility and representation in creative spaces by giving an affordable and inclusive platform to local up-and-coming
Having opened in late November, the contemporary arts collective has been two years in the making, and serves as a standout venue for all to enjoy, aiming to become a thriving arts hub in the bustling
exhibitions and markets, regular spoken word, poetry and comedy nights, theatrical
Arts In The Right Place will have a performance venue, with priority given to writers and performers who are part of the collective and underrepresented in the UK, as well as a café, exhibition space for those who have faced barriers in exhibiting in commercial galleries, and a makers shop, selling items made by the AITRP
It aims to establish an inclusive arts space, where disabled and non-disabled artists and performers from different backgrounds and cultures can come together as one community to create and enjoy a range of arts in low-cost studio spaces
Studio spaces suitable for music production, art, crafts and other activities are available from just £50 per week, in addition to performance, rehearsal or
Always having a passion for art, founder Eleanor Rands has been teaching music, art and drama at Burton Street Foundation, a
Her background also includes working for Assist, an asylum seekers organisation for
As a visual artist herself and an advocate for underrepresented voices, Eleanor’s extensive education in creative and cultural industries management equipped her with just the right tools to bring her passion to
“We realised there was quite a few creative people who had either just lost
what made me think I should open an art space and collective,” Eleanor explained, “Let’s have a venue that’s giving a platform
space that could put on small-scale theatre
The founder was motivated strongly by “I’m passionate about genuinely making it
After working with several underrepresented groups, Eleanor decided that accessibility would be at the forefront of AITRP, and the collective is making
initial steps has been installing a largerthan-typical disabled toilet with changing places within it- an adult size changing
with these additional facilities is very rare, which “really limits where they can go and especially so in terms of accessing the
you can do that, or perhaps anywhere in the region, it’s really unusual, but there’s lots of people that require changing places that
are just starting to catch up a little bit more, having accessible performances that are a
learning disabilities aren’t getting a lot of opportunities to put their plan on or to have their art exhibition, it really limits their
Volunteers have played a vital role in bringing this vision to life, with creatives dedicating their time to networking with
others within the industry to create unique Right Place to be a space upon which community can be built, hoping for lasting professional and personal relationships between creatives to thrive, a community shareholding option is even available for people to become more involved with the
She also revealed a particular initiative the collective have in mind to drive the community together, “We’re thinking about putting up a Collaboration Corner, a notice board, and any artists who want to collaborate on any kind of project can put it up asking if anyone else wants to be
Arts In The Right Place is an exciting forward to a more creative and vibrant future and exemplifying the importance of
brilliant feedback from the people who’ve walked through the doors, the families of the artists and the artists themselves have really gained a big lift from their artwork being upon the walls,” Eleanor said, “if you’re interested in arts in any form, you’ll
Visit www.artsintherightplace.com for further information
Eleanor Rands
No passport REQUIRED
visit to Ecclesall Road’s Zaap is an attack on the senses – and that’s before you get to the food. It’s bright, bustling and noisy and delivers on its promise to ‘transport you to the street food markets of Bangkok (with no passport required…)’.
The spacious restaurant, which has become a big hit since it opened in 2022,
open kitchen, packed tables and even a tuk-tuk parked in the corner. It’s a formula that clearly works and we arrived to an already busy restaurant on a midweek evening.
so-familiar dishes that range from snacks and soups to noodles and curries and lots in between.
Singha is one of the most popular beers in Thailand and was the perfect introduction to my evening (£5.50, pint) whilst my wife opted for a Pinot Grigio Rose (£6.60, large glass). For larger groups, Zaap has introduced a Singha Beer Tower (£27) which sees a three-litre vessel
brought to your table complete with beer tap so you can pour away to your heart’s
calls to the bar although it’s worth noting
with the speedy nature of the restaurant.
After munching on some Thai-style prawn crackers (Khow Kreb Tod, £3.50) we tucked into Moo Yang (£7.25), a popular street food dish of marinated pork skewers with sesame seeds, and Hakao (£6.25), a traditional Chinese dim sum dish of steamed prawn dumplings. Both dishes were served with a hoi-sin-style dip.
Our main courses quickly followed, although in traditional street-food style dishes are brought to your table as and when they are ready. A chicken noodle dish of Suki Hang (£12.75) was relatively mild,
of fried glass noodles, vegetables and egg.
My Pad Ga Prao
had more kick and was given a three-chilli rating, although for me it was just on the right side of spicy. The minced pork and
basil was fragrant and tasty whilst the fried egg (£1 supplement) which sat atop the accompanying jasmine rice added an extra dimension.
Zaap doesn’t hold back on dessert and I tucked into a traditional Thai dish of Khow Niew Sang Ka Ya (£5.50), a sweetened sticky rice with slices of Thai custard. Served warm, it was almost rice pudding like whilst the custard added extra texture and sweetness.
My wife sampled two scoops of YeeKwan ice cream (£5.25), on this occasion yuzu and vanilla and was
with a pot of jasmine tea (£1.95).
If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxed meal then perhaps Zaap is not for you.
But if you want fast, fun and dishes full of
Zaap
521-523 Ecclesall Road
Tel: 0114 395 1699
www.zaapthai.co.uk
BIRTH OF THE COOL
Often credited as one of the ‘coolest neighbourhoods in the UK’ Kelham Island continues to evolve - and is becoming something of a foodie destination. Rosie Brennan spoke to Sophie Barber whose popular tours involve a little bit of history as well as some tasty treats.
It was once the beating heart of industry in the city, but once regeneration began, Kelham Island has morphed into something completely different - and that’s been a good thing.
In recent years, it has been named one of the 15 coolest neighbourhoods in the UK by The Telegraph, and has also been singled out for praise by the likes of Time Out Magazines and The Times. So what exactly makes it so special?
Before we delve into the great and the good of the present day, let’s take a look back at its history and the onset of that regeneration, which kicked into gear, albeit
Run-down and largely industrial, the area of Kelham Island, and to some extent
small breweries started to move in, making use of the vast warehouse spaces, proximity to the city centre, and major road networks. Alongside traditional pubs like the Fat Cat and Kelham Island Tavern, it became wellknown for its ale trail as more and more
The greater footfall opened eyes to Kelham’s potential, and after city living apartments started to spring up, other businesses began to be tempted into the area.
It was, however, a slow process. This
transformation didn’t happen overnight, and after a few stagnant years where it seemed very little happened, the last ten years or so have proven to change the area at a much faster rate.
Has there been a particular catalyst? It’s hard to say. I’d suggest it’s not been one thing as such, but a collection, that really kick-started Kelham’s metamorphosis. Even when things seemed to be moving very little, the appetite of city living continued apace with more and more apartments springing up around the area, either in the form of conversions or newbuilds. Residents loved the industrial feel, but wanted more. Then, we slowly started to see a wave of openings that began to transform the area into something more reminiscent of a community.
Peddler Market, which has become a
its permanent home. Yellow Arch Studios, and gig-goers into the area. Krynkl, the quirky shipping container complex, brought independent start-up businesses
Cutlery Works brought more high-quality food hall to open in the city, followed by the likes of Cambridge Street Collective.
“It’s rewarding that you’ve put something together and people love it, I’m pretty proud of the response it’s had. People have said ‘I’ve learnt things about my city that I just didn’t know,’”
One of the major changes that emphasised the community aspect of Kelham Island, was the opening of the huge housing development, Little Kelham.
Around and beyond these dates, there event spaces, and more. Improvements to roads and public footpaths have created an increasingly inclusive area that is easier to navigate.
And there’s much more to come. Work is underway to convert the old Stones Brewery at the bottom of Rutland Road, and there’s constant chatter about more businesses moving into or opening in the area.
Kelham Island still retains that industrial heart, which only adds to its charm. Where steelworks, or a furniture maker next to a chocolate shop?
One recent development from the heart of Kelham, is the expansion of Kelham Island Food tours to the rest of the city.
Tours takes guests on a culinary adventure through the city, stopping off at up to six different independent eats to savour generous small plates and delicious drinks, all while enjoying an easy stroll and factpacked tales from your guide all about
variety of dishes such as pork belly, mini and much more on this guided tour around
Tours, had worked in hospitality marketing for around ten years before setting up the
“I’d always wanted to set up my own business doing something experiential
opportunity in Kelham, because it’s not a traditional high street, it’s a bit different,” she explained. Inspired by Kelham Island’s vibrant food and drink scene, she began with ten tours per month, launching the ‘Taste of Kelham’ experience that summer.
Working with places like Bullion Chocolate and Chop Shop Bar & Grill, the incredible independent scene.
local, and as much as I wanted to run an experiential food business, I’m very keen on supporting local independents, so that’s part of the ethos as well,” Sophie explained.
“Lots of people say ‘I never thought I’d be going on a food tour in my own city, but I’ve
the guides always get great feedback, you become part of the group, it’s really social. It’s rewarding that you’ve put something together and people love it, I’m pretty proud of the response it’s had. People have said ‘I’ve learnt things about my city that I just didn’t know,’” Sophie commented.
The business is now overseeing an expansive rebrand, stretching the culinary city centre, with ‘A Taste of Kelham’ as well as ‘ . Sophie said, “It’s really grown, I decided last year to really give it a push, we expanded to the city centre, because of everything that was happening, like food halls and Leah’s Yard, it felt like a good time to do it, so I been received really well.”
guests on a culinary and historical journey
different venues enjoying four small plates and a special drink-tasting session. Led by one of the knowledgeable guides, the
providing interesting facts along the way.
“I was a bit sad to give up Kelham Island food tours, because it’s been six years, it’s well-known, but there’s still a lot of people that don’t know about the food tours. It’s that challenge of any small, self-employed business, growing and changing, but it is happening, and it’s a fun thing to do. With rolling it out to the city centre, generally people from outside the city might not know Kelham Island, so it just makes more sense from a brand perspective to incorporate different areas,” the owner
neighbourhoods- Sharrow Vale, Crookes and Broom Hill, Nether Edge and Kelham, to a certain degree the city centre’s not been the best option for going out to eat, which
great options in town now.”
And that’s not the only thing that’s new. The company is now providing an opportunity for self-guided tours, providing the perfect opportunity to curate your very own unique foodie adventure through the city. Guided by a user-friendly app ‘Indie Food Tours’ a detailed map to each stop and enjoy
The self-guided tours launched in late in Leeds before the curation of the national IFT app. “With the guided tours, you get the social aspect, because you’re doing it with ten people, which people really enjoy, everyone gets on really well, you also have the guide there who’s really knowledgeable and gives you that insight.
You miss out on that in a self-guided your own time, it’s a different experience. You get a map, a QR code, it tells you what dish you can have, it takes you around the area with history notes. So, from a visitor’s perspective, if you didn’t know anything about the area, using a self-guided app to get to know the city centre of Kelham via food or venues, is quite a nice way to do it,” Sophie explained. The guided and self-guided tours alike can be bought as gift vouchers
showing the price.
With big plans for the future, Sophie revealed that a wine specialist guide will be putting together a wine walk with the company around natural wine spots in town and Sharrow Vale, a tour which is undergoing trials at the moment, and will eventually be open to the public.
“I’m hoping this year it will grow again, last year was my best year. I do have quite a loyal following and I do get quite a bit of repeated business, but I certainly want to go down the route of more private tours like hen parties this year, there’s lots of
the independent small businesses within it,” she said.
Visit
Time-travelling WARDROBE
cclesall Road is a high street home to many unique and independent stores, bars, restaurants and salons, and Jojo’s General Store, also known as small but mighty gem holds an incredible section of vintage menswear, supplying authentic military, workwear, sportswear and contemporary classics to the people of
Jojo Elgarice, runner of the store, has always been passionate about menswear, saying: “I was always interested in clothes and fabrics, a bit of an obsessive over the
livelihood, beginning his journey by opening a little shop in the Forum, renting a space for three years on Devonshire Street, buying and
of eclectic and traditional menswear alike, spanning across a century of fashion trends, Jojo’s is certainly a perfect spot for vintage-
early 1900s up to 1990s and more modern celebrating its ninth anniversary in April wanted a change of scenery moving to the
“It was a bit of a risk because I’d obviously already built up a business in town and then moved to but once he saw the shop front, he felt inspired to make the move
Stepping inside feels like walking into a time-travelling wardrobe, with hundreds of vintage pieces each holding a unique and interesting
“I wanted it to be an old-fashioned
Jojo enjoys menswear from an abundance of historical inspirations and says his personal style is characterised by a fusion
wear old stuff but I don’t wear head-to-toe
“If anyone’s got any random stuff in their attic, something their grandad had in World kids aged from around 16, all the way up
womenswear but I just don’t understand it, I think you’ve got to be passionate about it haven’t you? And I just found menswear
however, seem to be the more modern
probably the later stuff, from the 1980s/90s, like vintage Stone Island, that’s really passionate about it, but I would say it’s
Not only does the store house a wonderfully wide variety of vintage men’s clothing, it also offers a buying service, so anyone and everyone can pass on their
serve a purpose and all have their own unique selling point, mine’s probably a bit more niche, a bit more specialist, but there’s also lots of good classic shops that just sell options compared to some cities, I think it’s
and people would ask me if I was really annoyed by it, but I’ve always thought on holiday you go to an area with all the restaurants, it doesn’t matter if there’s more
Catering to local and international interest alike, Jojo’s General Store also has many
overseas customers, lots in Japan, so I don’t keep absolutely everything in the store, some of the really wacky stuff that those customers like to resell is kept in a storage warehouse, because it’s probably not going to
Hopeful for more growth in the future, Jojo says: “Hopefully the area becomes busier and all the shops are
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Turning into art MEMORIES
Holly Clifford discusses her collection that makes memories last a lifetime. By Rosie
Artist
Brennan.
Art jeweller and designer Holly Clifford creates stunningly unique handmade jewellery to
to otherwise simple and classic pieces, perfect for special occasions, a gift for a loved one or just a treat for yourself.
Currently enjoying creating her work in a spacious studio at Yorkshire Artspace, she has created a ‘Contour Map Collection’, celebrating the personal connections we all hold to creative jewellery and wall pieces.
According to the artist, who lives in Walkley, the collection “focuses on the narrative power of maps; which have the capacity to tell tales of our travels, adventures, and history so well. Maps are both functional and beautiful. I transfer the contour lines from iconic and meaningful locations, and cut their pattern into a sheet of metal before create striking, topographical works of art and jewellery.
“I engrave rivers and bodies of water into the landscapes, as well as adding markers on bespoke maps which pin-point special locations, using silver or gold granules or gemstones. Often customers like to have their map personalised further with engraved details, such as initials, place names and dates, on the reverse of pendants and
Stemming from her love of the outdoors in all its’ forms throughout childhood, Holly says: “I wanted to be in the landscape running up and over its contours, climbing its craggy edges and swimming in its chilly lakes, whilst also
This served as the inspiration for the Contour Map Collection. Having always held a certain fascination for of the village in which she grew up, wishing to place her own memories into the contours. She quickly realised how maps contain life stories, saying “creating objects that can spark memories in others is incredibly
in everything she does, as getting out to the Peaks each week, maintaining a vegan lifestyle and recycling the materials she uses in her art are all equally important factors for prioritising nature and sustainability above all else.
“I feel very lucky to be able to have a job which ties in with my passions outside of you love nature and being outdoors, you should be doing all you can to protect and
She approaches translating vastly personal and often rather emotional aspects into tangible pieces of art by delicately catering to her clients’ wishes. She says: “Memories are made in places; we often tie a lot of meaning to certain locations, forming strong connections with them because of events that happened there.
“Whether it’s the treasured location of a whole life lived, a milestone occasion experienced, or an epic physical challenge completed, every map has a different story to tell. One commission I think demonstrates this was a map for a 70th birthday, stretching from the family home in Buxton-Spa to Win Hill in the Peak
climbed with their daughter and the village in which he married. Each important point was marked with a beautiful gold tuxedo pin, which he had worn to his daughter’s wedding. Being able to transform these precious memories into tangible heirlooms
An incredible amount of detail and hard work goes into the creation of the maps, with Holly ensuring her intricate method is done to perfection. The process for the large-scale wall art and the smaller jewellery pieces begins in the same way, by extracting the elevation data using specialist mapping software.
Holly explains: “If it’s a commissioned map, I generally create templates at two different scales for the customer to choose from. Then, I have a discussion with them to ensure that I create a piece that meets
Constructing the larger maps involves brass sheet with the design cut and then adding on any location markers. Piece-by-
to life as she raises the cut contours into position to show the lay of the landscape, blacken out the brass and brush back the high points on the map to bring a golden
Enveloped into being a creator in the programme connected her to the city’s metalsmithing history, in large part thanks to silversmith Robert Lamb, who lent his skills to the early career makers in the Silver Space at YAS.
where you take precious metal creations to very connected to the city’s silversmithing past and present, making me appreciate even more the areas of the trade that are
With most of her work being
commissions, Holly thoroughly enjoys “creating one-off, highly bespoke pieces she puts it. Aside from the map collection, her other business involves botanicallyinspired art jewellery, which can be seen on hollysuzannaclifford.com
When asked about her future plans, she beams: “To grow and thrive! I would love to create some even larger map installations, in public or commercial settings. There may be something exciting
A WIN A HOLIDAY IN MALTA
s soon as the Christmas festivities
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Competition 1: The prize includes a week’s stay for two people at Village Boutique & Spa to be taken before the end of May 2025 or OctoberDecember 2025. This is on a room only basis in a superior room. Competition 2: The prize includes a week’s stay at the Best View Fortina Luxury Suites to be taken before the end of April 2025 (except Easter week or October-December 2025. This is valid for up to four people.
putter-togetherer
The Ernest Wright team (L-R) with metalworker/visitor Alec Steele on the left: James, Paul, Reid, Sam, Neil and Jonathan
Images © Craig Fleming
“By keeping the business and our craft alive, we’re ensuring you can still see and feel the quality we all took for granted in the past.”
Paul Jacobs
Sam, Ernest Wright’s oldest putter
James, young putter, won Trainee of the Year award at Heritage Crafts Awards 2024
FESTIVAL FEVER
Tramlines may grab the headlines but there’s a whole host of festivals happening in the city this year.
I
ollowing the surprise early lineup announcement at the end of November last year, this year’s Tramlines, which takes place from 25-27
headlining the main stage on Friday as them for the opening of the festival will be Spiritualized, Baxter Dury, Hot Chip
Saturday will see The Reytons taking top spot, a huge milestone for the Rotherham band whose sharp, no-nonsense lyrics and high-energy performances have won them fans far
Franz Ferdinand, Rizzle Kicks, Natasha headlined by Brit-rock giants Kasabian,
Leading up to their electrifying set, the day offers something for everyone with
come so far, and it’s great to see them
We’ve put together a line-up that’s got something for everyone, and we’re buzzing to welcome everyone back to
requested acts in recent years so their headline spot should be nothing short of
like The Leadmill and The Limit before
Their debut at Tramlines marks only the fourth time they have played in the city
t might have a reputation from being a green city and a is also something of a hot-bed for
be appearing alongside the likes of The
headlining Friday, and even more special about,” said Timm Cleasby, Tramlines topping the bill on Saturday is another
a new row of trees in Hillsborough Community Forestry with help from the Tramlines also announced over £30,000 of grants to 36 local causes in the latest round of funding from the Tramlines
The total raised for charity and the festival remains accessible with hundreds of tickets distributed to local residents and through projects like Tickets
NEEPSEND CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
28 February – 1 March
Peddler Market bringing even more recognition to the city’s booming brewing industry with
Get ready to try beers from some of the UK’s most exciting up-andcoming breweries, as well as industry leaders so you can enjoy your favourite pint from breweries you the tastiest street food and a banging
SHEFFIELD FESTIVAL OF THE OUTDOORS
Outdoor City’, and ‘Greenest City in the UK’ throughout the month of
SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL (SHAFF)
21-23 March shaff.co.uk
Bringing the wild outdoors into the
best new adventure, travel and extreme
well as panel discussions with some of
FESTIVAL OF DEBATE
22 April-30 May / Various venues festivalofdebate.com
The Festival of Debate is the largest annual non-partisan politics festival in the UK, taking place every spring
there will also be a wide-ranging schedule of community events led by grassroots groups, partners and I
Kasabian
The Lathums
Hot Chip
Franz Ferdinand
GET TOGETHER FESTIVVAAL
17 May gettogetherr..seetickets.com
anniversary celebration across multiple
Returning to headline after securing the phenomenal English Teacher, alongside BC Camplight, The Moonlandingz, Divorce and supporting talents from Neepsend Social Club and more will be hosting incredible live music as well as
V Food Viillage and The Kelham Beer mile, a unique ale trail that celebrates Kelham’s
FESTIVVAAL SHEFFIELD FOOD
24-26 May
rddens Peace Gar
Drawing in tens of thousands foods, drink and music at one of
main and the community hub the artisan market, area, then the street food with the traditional four key sections to visit, starting exhibition of over 50 traders, , the fest is a bustling each year
CROSSED WIRES FEST
June
The festival is brought to you by some of the most respected names in British
podcasting and live events, hosting the most exciting podcasting talent across three days in some of the city’s most shows, never-before-seen performances and special guests covering the whole
success included names like pod Esteem, Katherine R Ryyan, Greg J
SUMMER IN NASHVIL
8 June
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SHEFFIELD DOCFEST
18- 23 June
Experience the UK’s leading DocFestisoneofthe
DocFest is one of the markets for documentary projects, and premieres some of the most hotly-anticipated documentaries of the year before they hit
Grab a festival pass to enjoy full access to toptalentimmersive
top talent, immersive virtual reality experiences, parties, networking and
SHEFFIELD FESTIVVAAL OF REGGAE
16 August
co.uk
The city centre venue will host three stages featuring the best in reggae,
In addition, the outside courtyard will host amazing
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28-31 August
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CAUGHT BY THE BUZZ
The Sherlocks are on the cusp of releasing a new album before heading out on a European tour. And then there’s that prime slot at Tramlines to look forward to...
It’s been quite the last few months for The Sherlocks. Not only have they supported the likes of Keane and Shed Seven on tour, but they smashed a massive homecoming show at Don Valley acts to be named in the line-up for this year’s Tramlines. They even had their own miniature bottles of Hendo’s posted out in advance of the big reveal.
Of course the Barnsley band are no strangers to the inner city festival after
their Hillsborough Park main stage bow in 2021.
“It feels pretty good, yer know,” said lead singer Kiaran Crook. “We’re actually massive fans of Hendo’s, we love the stuff. Proper Yorkshire tackle, way better than the other stuff we don’t talk about.
“But yeah, we’re looking forward to playing Tramlines, we always had a good time at the festival and it’s been great to see it continue to grow. Long may that continue.”
“Last time we played Tramlines in 2021 main stage, which was a big achievement,” added Trent Jackson. “It was even more lockdown too so the crowd went crazy.”
The Sherlocks originally formed in Bolton Upon Dearne in 2010 with the original lineup of Kiaran and Brendan Crook and Josh and Andy Davidson - two sets of brothers - and released two albums. Their debut, Live for the Moment, was released in 2017 and was quickly followed by, Under Your Sky in 2019.
During this time they supported the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kaiser Chiefs and The Vaccines on tour before Josh and Andy decided to pursue opportunities outside
summer 2021 recording what would be The Sherlocks’ third album - Would I Understand.
A fourth album - People Like Me and You - came in 2023 and as we sit here writing this feature, the band are preparing to release
described as ‘the most thumping, anthemic and in-your-face music of their career so far’. Everything Must Make Sense! hits record store shelves on 21 February and the band have pulled out all the stops. A striking zoetrope vinyl edition, issued by Blood Records, has already almost sold-out but other quality formats include a signed
a green-and-yellow splatter vinyl which is available via select indie stores. Bundles
an A4 album artwork print, a new t-shirt, and black vinyl, CD and cassette formats.
The new long-player was recorded in the Northern Quarter, Manchester, and has already spawned three singles: Man On The Loose, Death Of Me and current single, BONES.
BONES is the sound of The Sherlocks
pounding electro-beats, heavyweight grooves, gritty guitar riffs, radiant synths, piano-andstring atmospherics, and the sort of strident, super-infectious hook that comes across like South Yorkshire’s answer to The Killers.
Kiaran says: “Our third single ‘BONES’ is a monster tune! Proper funky and proper
having fun in the studio, the song’s in a mad tuning, there’s about four bass tracks
whilst recording. But we were having fun, we didn’t want to restrict ourselves whenever it’s sounding good.
out mad ideas by now, when can you? I think the fans are gonna really love this tune when about! It sounds like if Prodigy and Primal Scream had a baby, it’s a MONSTER!”
Asked if they thought their sound had evolved over the years, Brandon said: “Yeah,
and Trent brought a freshness to the band and since then we’ve kicked on. But as long as we all play the instruments and Kiaran is singing, it’ll sound like The Sherlocks.”
“We made a conscious decision to work with different producers on every album,”
producers, which has allowed us to learn so many different techniques over the years.”
Following the release of Everything Must Make Sense!, The Sherlocks will be touring throughout Europe in April before coming to the UK in May where they will be playing Nottingham’s Rock City, Manchester’s Albert Hall and and Leeds Stylus amongst others. Festival dates will then follow.
The Sherlocks play Tramlines on Sunday
The Last Dinner Party, The Lathums and
playing in Europe, but do the crowds differ much from British ones?
“I’m a massive fan of the European crowds, particularly the German ones, they are unbelievable and thankfully over the years we’ve been building a loyal fanbase over there,” said Brandon. “They’re very much into rock music so we always go down a treat with them. We can’t wait to get back there in April.”
And is time on the road as raucous as one imagines?
“It’s eventful to say the least,” beamed make the most of it. I think it takes a couple of hit that sweet spot, you’re laughing really.
“It’s even better when you’ve got a bunch of new songs to throw in there so picking a setlist should be fun. It’s starting to feel like a greatest hits set these days with all the albums to pick from!”
There must be a real buzz though playing close to home?
“Yeah, we love coming back, especially when it’s Tramlines, it’s an amazing festival,” said Kiaran. “Whenever we play buzz. We always plan the setlist to be full of bangers that always go off the most when we
Despite further investigation, The Sherlocks wouldn’t reveal if they’ve got anything special planned for Tramlines but did say ‘wait and see’. No doubt they’ll have a loyal, local crowd hanging onto their every word and have them bouncing all through summer. It should be a set not to be missed.
Everything Must Make Sense! Is released on 21 February on Blood Records. To purchase, visit https://slinky.to/ EverythingMustMakeSense
Dates for your NEW YEAR DIARY
Pete McKee, Got, Got, Got, Got © Pete McKee
PETE MCKEE: THE BOY WITH A LEG NAMED BRIAN
Until 2 November, Weston Park Museum
SPORT: EXHIBITION:
CAZOO WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP
19 April – 5 May, The Crucible www.wst.tv
PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS
22 May Utilita Arena
Snooker at The Crucible
OLLY MURS
GARY BARLOW
KYLIE MINOGUE
SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR
Groovejet (If This Ain?t Love), Take Me
KATY PERRY
MUSIC:
Sophie Ellis Bextor performs at last year’s Tramlines Image © Tramlines / Caroline Faruolo
EVENTS:
SHEFFIELD BEER WEEK RETURNS IN 2025
• Brewery Tours & Tastings:
• Beer & Food Pairings:
• Pub Tours & Walking Trail Events:
• Community Events:
ART IN THE GARDENS
SHEFFIELD COCKTAIL WEEK
30 May- 8 June, Various venues
COMEDY:
GREG DAVIES above
Taskmaster, The Inbetweeners, The Cleaner, Cuckoo,
KAY LIVE
PETER
ROB BECKETT
JIMMY CARR
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
18 February- 1 March, Lyceum
4-8 March, Lyceum
8-12 July,
8-12 April, Lyceum
Johannes Radebe and Dan Partridge star in Kinky Boots Image © Ollie Rosser
New year, NEW YOU
Make it a reality with some simple and easy steps towards improving your wellbeing. If you fancy trying time, hotpod yoga is the latest craze sweeping through
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COVER STAR
025 is quite the milestone year for our cover star, Lisa Maltby, who is marking her 20th
Originally from Otley, West Yorkshire, Here, she tells us a little bit more about
Tell us about your cover. The cover is a reimagining of a print
What’s your background?
creating from a young age, so becoming
various creative roles, mainly in graphic
Heritage plays a big part in your work. Why is that?
work focuses on enhancing engagement through these narratives, establishing a Do you prefer small-scale or large-scale projects?
Malika Favre, because I love artists works of artists like Klaus Voormann,
while being part of a larger creative Meersbrook Park offers stunning views of
You also do some public speaking. What do you talk about, and who do you speak to?
What are you working on at the moment?
What’s been your favourite commission?
prehistoric trail for Chatsworth House
What would be your dream project?
for an institution like The Natural History other cities?
Which other artists do you admire?
How does it rate as a creative place to live and work?
been lucky enough to connect to many
Tell us about your work with Arts Emergency.
young people gain a fair start in the creative
person through their programme for the me to give back while maintaining a clear
JOIN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK
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SHOUTING ABOUT SHEFFIELD
VIBE Sheffield is a website dedicated to Sheffield’s dynamic social scene. With popular features and articles split up into the sections below:
FOOD & DRINK
WATCH, LISTEN, DO MOVERS & MAKERS
At VIBE, our main focus is to shout about Sheffield and we make sure to surround that with as much positivity as possible. After all, if you’re from Sheffield, you’re proud to live in such a great city!
VIBE DIRECTORY
Have you checked out our brand new Sheffield based directory that is now live on our website with the likes of Annie Jude’s, EYEYE Sheffield, Harrison Cameras and Treehouse Board Game Cafe and many more? We're still in the building process so if you are interested in your business being displayed proudly on there, email sam.pegg@rmcmedia.co.uk to find out more.
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