Rock N Roll Circus established itself as a fantastic addition to the Sheffield events landscape in 2023, upon it's arrival from a successful debut in Newcastle the year prior. Huge artists like Self Esteem and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds descended on Don Valley Bowl for a festival like no other. Now returning in 2024, the Circus looked to go bigger and better and truly establish itself as a must-see event of the Summer, and we would say they've absolutely achieved that through carefully curated lineups, spearheaded by some of the best Sheffield artists around.
Rather unusually, this year's festival ran from Thursday to Saturday and with gates opening at 4pm on the two weekdays and no acts before 5pm, it provided a unique way for attendees to wind down after work. What strikes you when you enter the festival grounds is the relatively compact nature of the festival, with all 3 stages relatively close to each other you really feel like you can get to see every artist you would want to across the weekend, a feat which is unattainable at almost every other festival we have been to.
Thursday - Matt Codd
We had to kick off our weekend under the big top and on the theme of winding down after work, the first act of the whole festival for us was the timeless Gilbert O'Sullivan. With his iconic haircut and minimal setup, O'Sullivan was a beautiful way to start Rock N Roll Circus 2024. Just him, his piano and a guitar, he brought familiar hits spanning his decorated 50+ year career with the first huge singalong of the evening coming during the classic 'Alone Again (Naturally)'.
Because of the compact nature of the festival, set clashes were not an issue at all and we found it easy to catch artists on Stage 2 and the BBC Music Introducing Stage within the same set. We did exactly that after Gilbert O'Sullivan with Sonni Mills on the BBC Introducing Stage and Big Special on Stage 2, two vastly different vibes but two equally exciting artists. Big Special are a raucous double act from Birmingham who perform with the supreme confidence and swagger of a much more seasoned band, with a fierce, infectious energy that is hard not to be swept up by. In contradiction, Sonni Mills has a special presence with her jazzy lounge music style. She proclaimed that the set was the first gig the band had played together, which adds to how impressive a performance it was. Tight, captivating and complete with an Arctic Monkeys cover for good measure, Mills is one to watch before next festival season.
Back under The Big Top, Scouse indie staples The Coral treated a burgeoning crowd to a healthy dose of 2000s nostalgia. One of a number of bands from the period that have developed into perfect festival acts, they were joined on stage by Charlie Salt on bass guitar from Blossoms. Salt fir right in considering he had minimal time to rehearse with the band and The Coral treated us to all the hits from their 22 year career. Three more massive singalongs were brought on during 'Pass It On', 'In The Morning' and of course the standout 'Dreaming Of You'.
Following on The Big Top, The Divine Comedy are perhaps the perfect artist to have perform before Richard Hawley. Not many can match the charisma, charm and wit of Sheffield's favourite troubador but Neil Hannon sure does come close. In a set that started late and had multiple technical issues to contend with, Hannon and the band were exceptional and a real stand out for us. Similar to Hawley, with a career that began in the early 1990s, it's hard to distil the hundreds of songs down into an hour (well, 50 minutes by the time the difficulties were sorted), but we couldn't imagine them picking out a much better setlist for a packed tent. Much like their music, their stage presence is grandiose yet intimate, you felt more like you were front row at a pub gig rather than a festival main stage, a testament to The Divine Comedy's ability to transport you into whichever story they weave and to Hannon's captivating performance also.
The waiting around The Big Top stage for the main acts was made much more fun than usual by a vast array of incredibly talented circus performers. As we waited towards the end of the day we were treated to some daredevil performances in the form of a High Wire walk directly above the growing anticipation of the crowd. This was followed in between The Divine Comedy and Richard Hawley by a ridiculously fun Aerial Show either side of the main stage, complete with tricks and flips and an incredibly impressive display of not getting tangled up in the ropes that they swung from.
Of course, all this was just in preparation for the main event, and as soon as Richard Hawley emerged onto the stage, you knew you were in for a special close to the day. Hawley commands attention on stage with supreme confidence and dry Sheffield wit, oh and his incredible discography and musicality too of course. Cinematic, indulgent and unlike any artist I've seen live, Hawley feels every part of his music and that comes across in his performance. He is able to bring out every possible emotion within his adoring crowd, offering up euphoric highs during 'Looking For Somebody To Find Me' to being teary-eyed during 'Open Up Your Door' and generating the biggest party for 'Tonight The Streets Are Ours'
The performance is further enhanced by the window dressing and staging too. The backdrop projects Moore Street substation as it is on his latest album In This City They Call You Love, Mirrorballs dance light across the tent during heart wrenching performances of 'Coles Corner' and his ballad to Sheffield, 'People'. Then there is a "Welcome To Sheffield" sign that got possibly the biggest cheer of the day, which is impressive considering the wondrous performances we've been treated to throughout. It was the type of performance you could have watched for hours, but unfortunately it had to come to a rousing conclusion, along with the first day of the Circus.
Friday - Charlotte Sometimes
Day two of the festival brought the pop and dance vibes to the Rock N Roll Circus.
The day for us kicked off with a comedy magic show by a unicycle-riding jester magician who had the crowd roaring with laughter, especially when he showcased his “magic balls.” The stylish, almost ‘Beetlejuice’-esque circus performers brought a unique flair to the festival—from the fire dancers by the Introducing Stage to an aerial show between acts in the Big Top, the day was filled with circus spectacle. For those itching to join in, the Brightside-based ‘Greentops Circus Skills’ offered a chance to try plate spinning, hula hooping, and juggling, which became even more entertaining (and challenging) as the night progressed!
A fantastic array of local vendors catered to every palate over the whole weekend (with a lot of vegan and gluten free options too), from Greek gryos to crepes and burritos. There was also representation from our beloved local culinary hero, Henderson’s Relish with their stall supplying all things Hendos - from bucket hats to crisps and keyrings. And in the VIP section (tickets could be upgraded for a fee), pastry super giant Greggs was giving away pizzas, bum bags and bucket hats which the festivalgoers were all over!
Musically, the day struck a perfect balance between big names and local talent. London artist Issey Cross kicked off the Big Top stage with her track ‘Used to This,’ and, alongside a DJ and MC, kept the energy high, especially during the crowd favourite ‘Energy in my Town.’
Local talent shone brightly too on the BBC Introducing Stage, with Sheffield songwriter April Ess lighting it up her sharp lyrics and energetic performance, backed by DJ Big Angie (known for her hit collaboration on ‘It’s Over Now’). Leicestershire’s Rainbow Frog Biscuits brought a refreshing folk vibe to this stage in the perfect early evening slot while people were enjoying their food. And headlining Stage 2 was Doncaster-born ADMT who is clearly destined for more fame, with his soulful blend of R&B and pop, even delivering a crowd-pleasing cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘How Will I Know.’
But The Big Top remained the main attraction throughout the day, with powerhouse acts like London’s DJ and producer Joel Corry, fresh from his Ibiza Rocks residency, who had the tent jumping to his collaborations complete with smoke machine visuals. Following him, Irish singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot celebrated his 27th birthday with a set of heartfelt ballads, adding a touch of variety before the grand finale.
Closing out the night was Becky Hill who, despite battling illness for ten days, delivered a stellar performance. If this was Becky on a bad night, seeing her at full strength must be a truly spectacular experience. Her showmanship and powerful vocals, backed by three exceptional singers, provided the perfect ending to an unforgettable second day.
Saturday - Curtis Fairest
Seven years since the last time they graced the Don Valley Bowl, hometown heroes Milburn return with a star studded line-up to close out Rock and Roll Circus 2024.
The sun was shining over Don Valley with people basking in it on the hill overlooking the festival. The atmosphere was buzzing as new festival favourites, The K’s, stepped on to The Big Top stage to kick off our Saturday. The K’s have spent the summer on a very long festival circuit with visits to Mallorca and Paris before making their way back to the UK for Glastonbury. You could feel the energy of the crowd take off as the band jumped into some of their biggest songs. ‘Chancer’ and ‘Hometown’ were incredibly well received along with 'Hoping Maybe' which even kicked off with a small snippet of ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ as an introduction. The band finished off the set with their smash hit 'Sarajevo' to a rapturous reception.
Luckily, we got a chance to see an amazing set from local up and comer Harriet Rose, who played some unreleased music and even did an incredible cover of 'Heavyweight Champion of the World' by Reverend and the Makers.We also got the opportunity to meet Sheffield artist Luke Horton who also had a stall at Rock N Roll Circus this weekend, displaying a vibrant range of pieces that drew in festival-goers with his Milburn inspired pieces and festival wear.
After a bit of food and some shopping, it was time to see British music legend Pete Doherty. Doherty played an amazing set featuring songs from Babyshambles and The Libertines. Like many of the people in the crowd, Doherty seemed to have the Oasis fever which lead to him doing a brilliant cover of ‘Bring It On Down.’ This was before finishing his set with the iconic The Libertines song ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun.’ Next up was local band, The Rosadocs, who drew in a good crowd until the rain sadly started to pour towards the close of their set, at which point some decided to head back into the Big Top to watch the high wire performance before the next artist took to the stage.
We managed to get a good space to watch Nottingham-born Jake Bugg who has built himself a huge fan base over his last thirteen years in music. The set featured mainly songs from his 2012 self-titled album, with crowd favourites ‘Two Fingers’ and ‘Lightning Bolt’ coming towards the latter part of his set. He finished off the set with ‘All I Need,’ getting people in the party mood before the headliner that followed.
The headliner for the second stage was Bedroom High Club, an incredibly exciting band from Barnsley. After the successful release of ‘Above the Belt’ in 2023, this band have been destined for greatness with them playing festival sets around the UK for years, including opening the main stage on the Friday of this year’s Tramlines Festival. We would highly recommend seeing these boys before their inevitable shoot to stardom.
It was time for the main attraction though, Milburn. The intro video built excitement more as ‘Superstylin’ by Groove Armada echoed around the Big Top. As the signature bassline of ‘Well Well Well’ kicked in, the crowd went off. It was clear that everyone was here for one reason and one reason only. Joe Carnall was on fine form from start to finish and seeing him live is something that everyone that gets the chance should do. From his Milburn shows to his recent revival of Good Cop Bad Cop, and even to his annual Christmas shows, the man never fails to impress and long may it continue.
The band played many hits from the 2006 album Well Well Well. The second song on the setlist was ‘Showroom’ and it showed that the crowd were in great spirits, ready for a night to remember. Crowd favourites ‘What About Next Time’ and ‘Send in the Boys’ are just a few of the tracks which showed that the band’s music is timeless and is always going to be successful when played live. Multiple songs from the 2007 album These Are the Facts were played with drummer Joe Green also getting the chance to play an incredible drum solo during the song ‘Summertime.’
The set also featured a good amount of songs from their 2017 revival album, Time. ‘Midnight Control’ and ‘In the City’ came early in the set list. ‘All Love and Hate’ came later on along with ‘Take Me Home.’ They also threw in a cover of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cowboy Song’ to please the crowd.
With the set nearing its end, the band left the stage before Joe returned to the stage with an acoustic guitar in hand. Fans that had attended a Milburn gig in the past knew this could only mean one thing. The crowd joined in for a huge sing-along of ‘Roll Out the Barrel.’ At previous shows, Joe has confessed this is the song he used to judge if it’s been a good gig or not. I think it’s safe to say this one was a gig to remember.
The headliners closed off the festival playing ‘What You Could’ve Done.’ Hopefully this isn’t the last we see of Milburn but with the hints coming from stage that this could be their final show, it leads us to believe that those who’ve attended may have witnessed something even more special. As the set closed and the band left the stage you could see fans were extremely happy with the show they’d just watched. The fact the band had finished and left the stage didn’t stop the crowd from singing their own rendition of ‘Roll Out the Barrel’ on the tram back to Sheffield.
Rock N Roll Circus has become a hugely welcome addition to the Sheffield events calendar and this year's edition has only served to further cement the fact that the Circus is here to stay in Sheffield. This news was confirmed shortly after the festival closed with the festival announcing that it will return Thursday 28th August until Sunday 31st August 2025. You can subscribe to their mailing list to be the first to hear updates on next year's festival via the Rock N Roll Circus website. We can't wait to see what they have planned because, in all honesty, it's going to take a lot to top the weekend they provided this year!
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