Related
Interviews
Interview
Nicky Crewe talks to Steve J Allen about his new album 'Contrast', his influences and approaches to life and music and moving from Sheffield to the other side of the world,
Interview
Nicky Crewe speaks to Sheffield-based ‘psychedelic electronic’ trio Surreal Appeal about their debut album, ‘Gently Deranged’.
Little Man Tate
Interview
Recently reformed Sheffield indie rockers Little Man Tate are due to play their first gigs in eleven years in September. Ahead of the two sold out hometown shows, lead singer Jon Windle chats candidly to Denzil Watson about the group’s split and reformation.
Andy Whitehouse
Interview
The last time we spoke to Sheffield singer-songwriter Andy Whitehouse, he was playing to select audiences in pub snugs. Now, he’s taken the idea one step further and set up residence in a caravan on the coast. Fiona Hutchings caught up with him to find out more about his one-to-one project.
Andy Whitehouse
Interview
From being pursued by hordes of excited schoolgirls to playing to audiences of one, singer songwriter Andy Whitehouse has had a varied career. Fiona Hutchings chats to this well respected Sheffield musician about the personal experiences of his music.
Batman's Treaty
Interview
Denzil Watson, the front man with long-serving Sheffield punk pop group RepoMen, talks to John Clarkson about forming Batman's Treaty, his first new band in twenty-five years.
Robberie
Interview
Sheffield three-piece Robberie speak to Malcolm Carter about their debut album,‘Beneath Your City: As You Dream’, and original blend of indie-pop
Comsat Angels
Interview
Denzil Watson speaks to Stephen Fellows, the frontman from Sheffield-based 80's post-punk group the Comsat Angels, about the reissue of four of their albums in double CD editions
Repomen
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Denzil Watson, the front man with durable Sheffield indie act RepoMen about 'Occasional Sensations', which is a documentary film about them, and their recent album, ‘I’m Only Doing This Because I Like Your Robot’
Laurel Canyons
Interview
Owen Peters talks to rising Sheffield band Laurel Canyons at a gig at The Lexington in London about touring and their versatile new EP, 'Now We're Re-Building'
One Thousand Violins
Interview
Anthony Strutt chats to John Wood, the original front man with 80's Sheffield-based indie pop band and C86 act One Thousand Violins, about his former group
Mike Hughes
Interview
Harry Sherriff talks to Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Mike Hughes about supporting Miles Kane and his forthcoming debut album
Richard Hawley
Interview
Much acclaimed singer-songwriter Richard Hawley speaks to Denzil Watson about his recent ‘Standing at the Sky's Edge’, and the influence of his native Sheffield on his music
John Reilly
Interview
Malcolm Carter talks to Sheffield-based singer-songwriter John Reilly about his acclaimed band Boy on a Dolphin and his just released solo album, 'Zebulon'
RepoMen
Interview
Denzil Watson, the frontman with Sheffield indie act RepoMen, speaks to John Clarkson about their new compilation album, ‘Occasional Sensations: A Retrospective Long Player’
Jon Windle
Interview
The former front man with much acclaimed Sheffield band Little Man Tate, Jon Windle retired from making music last year, but is now back with his debut solo album. He talks to Denzil Watson about why he had decided to return to the limelight
Heaven 17
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Glenn Gregory, the vocalist with influential Sheffield electronic group Heaven 17, about their plans to tour with their debut album 'Penthouse and Pavement' for the first time three decades on after its original release
Rolo Tomassi
Interview
Paul Waller speaks to keyboardist and effects man James Spence from Sheffield hardcore band about his group's soon-to-be-released second album, 'Cosmology', and the strong childhood friendships that cement his band
Remedy
Interview
Peter Allison at a gig at the Casbah in Sheffield speaks to classic-sounding rock band Remedy about their recent debut EP and their experience and reaction to playing what was their first headlining tour
Rolo Tomassi
Interview
Rising young Sheffield-based hardcore band, Rolo Tomassi, recently toured with Gallows. Adrian Huggins talks to them at a gig in Newcastle about it and also their second album which will come out later in the year
Profiles
Live 55
Nicky Crewe experiences all the excitement of Ash Gray and the Burners’ latest album, 'LIVE 55', which, out in December, was recorded live at The Dorothy Pax in Sheffield.
Take It to the Limit 10th Anniversary Edition
Nicky Crewe reads this rollicking tale of The Limit, the legendary Sheffield club.
Music Matters
Profile
Nicky Crewe examines how the music community in her home city of Sheffield is coping with the challenges presented by the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
Richard Hawley
Standing At The Sky’s Edge
Nicky Crewe finds Richard Hawley and Chris Bush create a love song to Sheffield with a universal message that will make you reconsider what a stage musical can be.
Comsat Angels
Profile
Brooding post-punk 80's and early 90's Sheffield act the Comsat Angels are in the process of having their back catalogue reissued by the Renascent label. Denzil Watson profiles the three latest re-releases, demos and rarities album, 'To Before' and latter releases, 'My Mind's Eye and 'The Glamour'
Sheffield Phonographic Corporation
Interview
7' trashy garage rock label, Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation has had a lot of acclaim and press since releasing it debut single at the beginning of the year. John Clarkson talks to co-owner, Tiffin, about its rise.
Live
The Grand, Clitheroe, 14/10/2023
Dixie Ernill enjoys a vibrant set from Sheffield indie rock act Little Man Tate on their first national tour in thirteen years.
Leadmill, Sheffield, 26/11/2022
Fiona Hutchings finds that The Sheffield Leadmill packed out qt the final gig of the Lightning Seeds' recent tour but the music worth the discomfort.
Cafe #9, Sheffield, 11/6/2022
Tamsin Elliott released her debut solo album at the end of June. Nicky Crewe at the Café #9 in Sheffield discovers that her music is a spellbinding blend of her influences and her talents as a musician and composer.
Cafe #9, Sheffield, 5/7/2022
Nicky Crewe at Cafe #9 in Sheffield watches Melbourne’s The Weeping Willows bring their dark folk songs and close harmonies on tour to promote their third album.
(With El Heneghan and Lovell). Greystones, Sheffield, 22/4/2022
Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Rhiannon Scutt has simultaneously released three new EPs entitled ‘'Facets'. At a launch gig at Greystones in Sheffield, Nicky Crewe finds that they show just how much she is capable of as songwriter and a performer. They are a fantastic introduction to her work and a celebration of her style.
02 Academy, Sheffield
Denzil Watson watches indie guitar act Little Man Tate make a triumphant return after a twelve year absence across two nights at the Sheffield O2 Arena.
Great British Venue and Beyond
4
For the fourth and final part of this four part series, in which our writers and photographers reflect upon great venues, Amanda J Window, Andrew Twambley and Denzil Watson bring things up-to-date with their memories of the Night and Day Cafe and O2 Ritz in Manchester and the Sheffield Leadmill.
Alasdair Roberts
Regather, Sheffield, 26/10/2019
Nicky Crewe caught a magical evening in Sheffield as Alasdair Roberts performed solo to promote his latest album, 'The Fiery Margin'.
Patrick Duff
Greystones, Sheffield, 24/3/2019
Denzil Watson witnesses a raw and intimate Sheffield gig by former Strangelove frontman Patrick Duff.
Alex Rex
Bishop's House, Sheffield, 14/4/2019
At an intimate and ancient venue in Sheffield Nicky Crewe watches Alex Neilson as he ‘ditches bitterness to take us straight to regret’ with his dark and powerful music. He also gives us the magic formula for the cure for depression, raising spirits in more ways than one.
Deacon Blue
City Hall, Sheffield, 11/12/2018
NIcky Crewe watches Deacon Blue celebrate thirty years of fantastic music on their recent tour and give an excited Sheffield audience a night to remember.
Wave Pictures
PIcture House Social, Sheffield, 24/6/2018
Helen Tipping watches acclaimed indie act the Wave Pictures work their magic at a show in Sheffield.
Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita
Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield. 15/5/2018
Nicky Crewe watches harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita play a haunting set in Sheffield to promote their second album ‘Soar’, which takes its inspiration from the flight of the osprey, a bird recently reintroduced to Finch’s native Wales.
Live on Mars
City Hall, Sheffield, 4/6/2017
Nicky Crewe at City Hall in Sheffield revisits the life and work of David Bowie’s early career through the amazing stage show that is Live on Mars
Shahe Marden
TalkingGigs, The Hubs, Sheffield, 22/3/2017
In an evening of conversation and music at a TalkingGigs show in Sheffield, guest reviewer Celia Mather watches Qawwali musicians Shahe Marden play a spellbinding set
Rab Noakes
Greystones, Sheffield, 15/3/2017
Nicky Crewe at the Greystones in Sheffield watches folk legend Rab Noakes play an intimate and distinctive set on what he has named his 70/50 tour, which celebrates him both turning seventy in May and also that it will be fifty years since his first paid gig
Aurelio Martinez
TalkingGigs, The Hubs, Sheffield, 2/2/2017
Nicky Crewe at a TalkingGigs show at The Hubs in Sheffield discovers what it's like to become part of the Garifuna nation, thanks to the wonderful music of its ambassador Aurelio Martinez.
Lewis and Leigh
Cafe 9, Sheffield, 11/2/2017
Nicky Crewe watches rising Americana stars Lewis and Leigh play a magical set at a sold out gig in the tiny Cafe 9 in Sheffield
Robyn Hitchcock
Greystones, Sheffield, 30/10/2016
Nicky Crewe enjoys a fascinating evening with former Soft Boys frontman Robyn Hitchcock at a TalkingGigs show at the Greystones in Sheffield which combined conversation and performance
Souad Massi
Merlin Theatre, Sheffield, 11/9/2016
Nicky Crewe reviews Algerian singer-songwriter Souad Massi at her Talking Gig in Sheffield's Merlin Theatre.
Albums
John Peel Sessions 29.09.85 and 02.12.86
Dixie Ernill examines the release on 10” vinyl of two Peel Sessions from 1985 and 1988 by under-rated Sheffield C86/indiepop band One Thousand Violins.
The Disappointed Chair
Nicky Crewe examines the not-to-be-missed latest album from Sheffield’s Big Eyes Family, which was first released in the Covid chaos of November 2020.
Features
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
John Clarkson writes about his ten favourite songs by ReopMen, who were Sheffield's longest-serving indie band.
Comment
Small venues pack a big punch when it comes to supporting live music. They are important for audiences and essential for musicians. Nicky Crewe examines one of the best, Cafe No. 9 in Nether Edge in Sheffield.
A Life in Music
When chatting with a longstanding fellow writer for her 'A Life in Music' column, in which she talks to a different Pennyblack writer about the impact on music on their lives, Cila Warncke discovers that Denzil Watson doubled as a gigging musician in Sheffield and Lincolnshire.
Help the Witch
Under the Radar
In the latest 'Under The Radar', Keith How reviews the musical companion to a collection of spooky folk stories, and a power trio from Sheffield by way of Joshua Tree.
Pulp
Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
In our series, in which our writers write about ten songs that made them love a favourite band or artist, Cila Warncke writes about her favourite songs by Sheffield indie pop iconoclasts Pulp.
Cobalt Chapel
Under the Radar
In his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out under-rated artists and labels, Keith How examines Sheffield/London-based duo Cobalt Chapel's self-titled debut album, which is an uniquely inventive psychedelic folk classic.
Jim Ghedi
Under the Radar
In his 'Under the Radar' column, in which he searches out often under-rated musicians, Keith How examines Sheffield-based instrumental musician Jim Ghedi's new release, 'A Hymn for Ancient Land'.
Sonido Polifonico
Under the Radar
In his new column 'Under the Radar', in which he will examining lesser known artists and labels, Keith How investigates Sonido Polifonico, a Sheffield micro label with a taste for the unusual and unknown
Gig of a Lifetime
65 Days of Static, Foundry, Sheffield, January 2014
In our 'Gig of Our Lifetime' column, Adrian Huggins writes of attending a home city gig earlier this year of instrumental post-rockers 65 Days of Static at The Foundry in Sheffield
Gig of a Lifetime
Mark Morriss, Lantern Theatre, Sheffield, 2012
In our 'Gig of a Lifetime' series Fiona Hutchings writes of attending her first gig after suffering a brain aneurysm which was an intimate solo show by Bluetones' front man Mark Morriss at The Lantern Theatre in Sheffield
Arctic Monkeys
Profile
Sheffield teenage indie guitar heroes Arctic Monkeys have recently reached the top of the singles chart with their second single and are being hyped as the next big thing. Jon Rogers sees potential, but pleas also for caution
Cabaret Voltaire
Doublevision Presents Cabaret Voltaire
First released in 1982, 'Doublevision Presents Cabaret Voltaire' was one of indiedom's first long form videos. Transferred to DVD, Anthony Strutt explains why the Sheffield art rockers' film proves to be "not for the light hearted and very hard work"
Photography
Stranglers
Photoscapes
Denzil Watson photographs the Stranglers at a show at the Sheffield Academy on their latest tour in which they performed their seminal 'Black and White' album in its entirety