We’re back again with our rundown of some of the best gigs taking place in our city for the month and wow… Now festival season has all but ended, we have some bangers to look forward to Sheffield. Of course, festival season is not totally over with Sheffield’s own multi-genre, multi-venue Float Along Festival back for its sophomore edition on the 23rd of this month – headlined by the incredible The Murder Capital – keep your eyes peeled for a full preview soon. Anyway, here’s the gigs we recommend seeing to scratch that live music itch this month.
Public Image Ltd. @ The Leadmill, Friday 8th
Our first pick, due to the lateness of this one, sees us in the pit at The Leadmill for punk-rock outfit Public Image Ltd. This one marks the seminal band’s first outing on the iconic Leadmill stage and promises to be one that goes down in Leadmill folklore. Public Image Ltd. are of course fronted by the godfather of punk rock, John Lydon, and sit comfortably as a touchstone for the post-punk revival currently being seen in UK music. With 45 years of material to draw from PIL promise an eclectic night of punk, new wave, avant-funk, and everything in between. Tickets are still available here.
Lightning Threads @ The Leadmill, Saturday 9th
Our first local highlight this month, besides the brilliance that was on display at the BBC Introducing Stage at Rock n Roll Circus, is Sheffield Blues rock trio Lightning Threads, playing their biggest gig to date with a headline show at The Leadmill. A distinctly un-Sheffield sounding band, being heavily inspired by American blues rock, marrying this with their Yorkshire roots, they are a refreshing and exceptional new addition to the Sheffield scene. The show at The Leadmill will also launch the band’s debut album Off That Lonely Road, released the very same day. They will be supported by a fellow Sheffielders in singer-songwriter/band Buffalo Ghost alongside TC and The Hoodoo Shakers. If you fancy The Black Keys with a Yorkshire twist, this one is for you. Get your tickets here.
Dead Pony @ Sidney & Matilda, Wednesday 13th
Back for another go after their storming Tramlines set, female-fronted Dead Pony are packing up their punky riffs and punchy vocals for their first ever UK tour, stopping off at Sidney & Matilda. Their jam-packed festival schedule this summer has earned the band a plethora of fans across the country, nowhere more than here as Sheffielders at Tramlines 2023 went crazy for the Scottish quartet’s electrifying live performances and grungy punk rock anthems. Dead Pony are riding a wave right to the very top with a setlist already jam packed full of anthems, so get on board with them before they get there! Tickets here.
Minds Idle @ Yellow Arch Studios, Tuesday 19th
Our next local icon to watch is the excellent Minds Idle. On what is sure to be a bittersweet night, the band have announced that this will be their last Sheffield show before 3 of the lads move south to London and part with drummer Ben. They will be ably supported by fellow Sheffield band Flat Stanley, providing some huge riffs to get you in the mood. While it promises to be emotional, it also promises to be euphoric. Minds Idle have a catalogue of undefinable bangers to play, each drawing from a different inspiration and each highlighting the band’s excellence in a different way. Their latest work is a luscious remaster of their single 'Harry', a tender ballad to dedicate to your best mate, or scream in their face on the 19th, whichever you prefer. A true showcase of the brilliance and creativity Sheffield artists have to offer, Minds Idle will always be one of our favourites. Get tickets here before they're gone!
Blondes @ Record Junkee, Tuesday 19th
We caught Blondes a few months ago on their last journey this way, in support of Courting at Sidney & Matilda. Since then they have returned as the support for Inhaler's fantastic album release show at The Leadmill and now the Liverpool based band are coming back for their own headline show at Record Junkee to celebrate their second EP, In Separation. They have already captured many imaginations with their own unique brand of indie pop, dripping in nostalgic undertones. Their single Coming of Age is particularly stunning, having gained popularity and virality as part of a tiktok trend, the band have built on this success, crafting dreamy indie bangers by the bucketload. If you’re a fan of brand new 80s leaning indie, this one is for you. Tickets here.
Lovejoy @ O2 Academy, Wednesday 20th
Lovejoy don’t need much of an introduction these days, they are one of the hottest bands around now, with their punchy indie rock that impresses itself upon you as soon as you hear it. With a discography of just 3 EPs at the time of writing, the impression that they have already made cannot be understated. They recently headlined the Festival Republic stage at Reading and Leeds, joining the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, The Wombats and Maxïmo Park to have done so. Led by YouTube and Twitch star Wilbur Soot, the fourpiece boast a huge following, so tickets may be hard to come by, but if you can get one, do not turn it down! Try your luck here.
System Exclusive @ Sidney & Matilda, Thursday 21st
Husband and wife synth duo System Exclusive, all the way from Pasadena, California are our next pick as part of Sidney & Matilda’s exceptional live music offering this month. We recently caught up with the duo for an interview to see how much they’re looking forward to their visit to sunny Sheffield, which you can check out here. The pair recount their knowledge of the city’s music scene through listening to Jarvis Cocker’s autobiography in the car while on tour. With their style blending funk and punk to provide some 80s style bangers, we’re even more excited to catch them after learning this. Tickets available here.
The Underground Sound Society @ Sidney & Matilda, Saturday 30th
You've got one hell of a choice ahead of you on this day, with 3 incredible gigs all happening across the city. First up, we have one of our own in The Underground Sound Society, who are going to be bringing their debut EP launch party to Sidney & Matilda. If you haven’t listened to it yet, the To The Dogs EP is a genre-bending dose of dark indie-pop energy and easy-listening goodness, the scope of songs on it is truly staggering. Having already smashed a set at the BBC Introducing stage at Rock n Roll Circus to begin the month, the show is sure to offer more of the same. This is really not a band you want to be missing out on. Tickets can be grabbed here.
The Hoosiers @ The Leadmill, Saturday 30th
Indie pop trailblazers are back in earnest, with new music for the first time since 2015, and they’re bringing a tour to Sheffield to celebrate. Of course, they are probably still best known for their fantastic and timeless 2007 debut The Trick To Life, but the duo are no strangers to crafting pop bangers and delivering nostalgia in spades. While everybody knows 'Goodbye Mr. A' and 'Worried About Ray', they are more than just those hits with four albums packed with so many unheralded tunes. With a new album just around the corner, their newer material follows along the same lines with a distinctly modern twist. But to be honest, those two major hit singles are reason enough to get yourself down to The Leadmill for a premier night of indie pop. Get tickets here.
The Reytons @ Utilita Sheffield Arena, Saturday 30th
Quite possibly the biggest standalone gig of the month, both in terms of size and what it means for the city, another one of South Yorkshire’s own will be blowing the roof off of a venue. This time it is the highly rated and highly anticipated The Reytons, taking centre stage at Sheffield Arena, by far their biggest show to date. The quartet have charmed the nation with their two highly successful albums, the second of which (What's Rock and Roll) reached number one in the UK charts. Their infectious energy, both in the studio and on stage, has drawn comparisons to giants like Arctic Monkeys and the similarities are inescapable at points. It’s indie music with mass appeal, propelled by grassroots support, and it is going to go off. Tickets are just about still available here.
And there you have it, a quick roundup of our most anticipated musical hits of this month, it is by no means an exhaustive list, you’ll have to get out there to the venues for those. As was the case with last month, we’ve created a little playlist showcasing all the good tunes you’ll be able to catch live in the Steel City this month, not limited to just these 10, and it will be updated with any fresh Sheffield bangers to be released too. Check it out here and happy gigging!
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