Live Music Venues in Sheffield, UK
Leadmill, Boardwalk, Grapes, City Hall, Students Union and Arena
There is more to the South Yorkshire indie rock scene than Arctic Monkeys - Little Man Tate, Richard Hawley and Reverend and the Makers have all been fostered there.
Human League and Joe Cocker to Def Leppard and Pulp
In recent years, Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, has become a serious musical hotspot. The city has always had something of a musical pedigree, with artists such as Joe Cocker, the Human League, Def Leppard, Moloko and Pulp originating there, but now Sheffield is punching well above its weight.
Arctic Monkeys and I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
The poster boys of the city’s musical renaissance are Arctic Monkeys. A group of local boys, they began by working up a big local following and then spread the word through the internet. By the time the band got round to releasing its debut album, Whatever You Say I Am That’s What I’m Not, it was huge across the UK. The album, led by smash hit single I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, went on to break all manner of records.
Young bands on the Sheffield music scene
But the success of Arctic Monkeys wasn’t in isolation. A whole crop of young bands have emerged from the Sheffield music scene recently. These include indie rock artists such as The Long Blondes, Reverend and the Makers and Little Man Tate. The old timers, too, have come out fighting. Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley have received much critical acclaim for their recent albums.
Selection of live music venues in Sheffield
That so many acts have appeared from the same city at once isn’t entirely an accident. The music scene has been fostered over the years by a strong selection of live music venues. Many of them could have closed during the years when dance music was king – legendary club Gatecrasher is also from Sheffield, for example – but they didn’t. Most struggled along, providing a stage for young live acts to gain exposure, when they would have been better off sticking on a DJ and serving drinks.
Sheffield Arena to The Leadmill
Of the many Sheffield music venues, the Sheffield Arena is the biggest. This is where big name international acts will play, although it is something of a soulless venue. It is venues for those on the middle tier where Sheffield really excels though. There is a good selection of venues for bands on the way up and other artists with relatively small but loyal followings. The University of Sheffield’s Students Union has two venues, while the City Hall tends to attract older, folksier and jazzier acts. The undisputed king of Sheffield live music venues, however, is the Leadmill on Sheaf Street. Half indie music nightclub and half concert mainstay, the Leadmill has been going for over 25 years and has hosted many of Britain’s biggest bands on their way up to international fame.
Boardwalk and The Grapes
For smaller gigs, there is always the Boardwalk or The Grapes on Trippet Lane. The latter was where Arctic Monkeys played their first gig. No doubt there are plenty of other young bands hoping to follow their path to fame due to play there in future. To not visit any of these fabulous hotbeds of talent whilst visiting Sheffield would be almost criminal…
