From the born-and-bred to those who’ve arrived from another continent, we asked a number of people living here to reflect on and write about their relationship with Sheffield.
The email came through on Christmas Eve of 2015. I had been offered a place at The University of Sheffield to study journalism. Itching to escape the echoing silence of the Cumbrian countryside, Sheffield could have been any city with a modicum of buzz about it. Three years later I am now awaiting the next step. (Un)employment is on the horizon, the strange hat has been thrown and the overpriced cape returned and I have had time to reflect on my time in the Steel City. Sheffield is more than just alive I’ve learned, but thriving – an environment any student is blessed to enter.
While you’re a fresher mistakes will be made. Club promoters lurk on every corner and are ready to pounce. Like many before me I became the unwitting gazelle on the plains of West Street, struck in jugular with the promise of cheap booze and free entry. Lesson one of Sheffield nightlife: a wristband for all clubs on Carver Street is just a bracelet of regret and bad decisions.
Everyone has their preference for a Sheffield night out, however, and I found my solace throwing out moves at The Leadmill. With a rich history of incredible bands gracing the venue it is an oasis for music fans like myself to gather and enjoy the talent passing through town.
As my passion for music developed so did my awareness of the incredible scene residing in the city. While the Monkeys will forever remain idols here, the constant association does get a bit bananas. You have your bustling indie bands for sure, but Sheffield is home to so much more. The whole sonic spectrum can be found flourishing in pubs, bars and clubs right across the city.
What’s more there is a certain spirit up here to celebrate and showcase homegrown talent. From Tramlines to Doc/Fest and the ever increasing number of markets and festivals – there is always a stage for anyone and everyone to show off what they got.
People love to stage their opinions too, and they are not modest in delivering it. During my degree I was expected to approach people on the street for quotes and opinions on stories. For a shy, skinny 18-year-old who got the sweats just booking a doctor’s appointment this was bloody daunting initially. But the willingness and genuine desire to chat and discuss from the locals I discovered is absolutely golden and not common in bustling cities. Being given honest opinions from members of the public on any given topic has proven incredibly beneficial throughout my degree. And now I can approach people with ease, (despite the occasional “mardy bum”).
Wherever my job hunting as a graduate takes me I will always be grateful to you, Sheffield. The city of steel which has forged not only my career prospects but cemented my appetite for new music and built up the confidence of a naive teenager entering the weird world of media and journalism.
By William J. Fisher.
