1 January 1970

Exposed Magazine

It’s that time of year again when the city suddenly gets very busy following the summer break, as we welcome back students both old and new. For those of you fresh to the great Steel City, Sheffield’s LBGT+ ‘scene’ of two bars (the long-serving Dempseys and newest addition Queer Junction) and a monthly student night (Proud) may seem a little underwhelming in proportion to a city with a population similar to Manchester. However, dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a host of pop-up nights, DIY events and queer culture all over the city.

This month head to Sheffield’s worst kept secret The Audacious Art Experiment on 8 September for a line-up of queer, feminist, political, post-punk and noisepop with a line-up including ILL, Duck and Tamsin A. At a suggested donations of a fiver on the door and BYOB it’ll also help with not blowing your student loan before freshers week is over! For more frenzied pop-punk in the form of fantastic Babe Punch, head to Maida Vale’s Indie Disco on 20 September then dance the night away to indie classics until 4am.

In keeping with DIY talent, check out ‘A Night of Queer Performance’ at DINA’s newly-opened Cellar on 12 September for a full night o queer performance pieces which sees each artist given a 10-minute slot to try out new work to a live audience. Be the first to see some of our up-and-coming talent or have a go and take to the stage yourself.

On 13 September, two years on from her unexpected departure from the immensely popular music duo Rita Payne, Rhiannon Scutt (one half of Sheffield’s LGBT culture duo Andro and Eve) returns to the Greystones stage. Her recently released, self-published album entitled #9 is a collection of five deeply personal songs recorded live with no rehearsals and musicians who had never met or played together. It’s a bold and curious method of recording and, yes, there are a few moments of uncertainty; a wrong note here, a mistimed one there, but this free and liberal approach shows a confidence in her own songs and the musicans around her. The result is a beautifully imperfect debut release that shows her continued development as a songwriter/lyricist. Welcome back Rhiannon, we’ve missed you.

Offering something a little more chilled out, we have The Treehouse Board Games Café hosting its monthly Rainbow Gamers night on Sunday 16 September (on the third Sunday of every month) welcoming all LBGTIQA+ boardgamers for some laidback social gaming from 6pm onwards.

A Fantastic Woman is playing at Film Unit on 21 September, telling the story of a trans woman, Marina, living in Chile. After the death of her romantic partner, Orlando, an older man she has recently moved in with, she is met with contempt and soon hatred from those who barely know her. This results in her not being welcomed at Orlando’s funeral by his family, and her relationship being treated with suspicion by the authorities upon the investigation into his death. Despite this, Marina remains strong, making this film a fantastic story of strength in the face of adversity, with a powerful message about LGBT rights to back it up.

If Drag is your thing, then don’t miss We Three Queens at the Spiegel Tent as part of Sheffield Uni’s Festival of the Mind on 23 September. Expect an unbeatable evening of adulterous entertainment hosted by Scarlet SoHandsome and featuring performances from Annabelle Lecter and Vivenne Lynsey.

Also, in the latest of a long line of RuPaul’s queens to grace one of our stages, Shangela’s sell-out show ‘Shangela Is Shook’ will be slaying the stage at the Leadmill on 26 September.

Sheffield’s longest-running club night Proud (formerly Climax) returns for its first party of the year on 28 September at the Foundry featuring a designated photo opt-in area, gender neutral facilities, quiet space, free giveaways, candyfloss, popcorn and more.

Last but by no means least, we end the moth with DiversityFest on 30 September at Hagglers Corner, now in their fourth year and with their biggest line-up yet. DiversityFest is a celebration for people of every gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age and ability, featuring over 50 artists performing across three stages including Nic Harding, The Bleeding Obvious, Anna Kissed, Kate Garrett, Carol Robson, Madge Woolard, Eleanor Boot, SAYiT and Braver Than Fiction.

That’s your lot for this month! Until next time, love and rainbow drops…

Sat 8 Sep: ILL/Duck/Tasmin A

The Audacious Art Experiment theaudaciousexperiment.com

Wed 12 Sep: A Night of Queer Performance

The Cellar / DINA thecellaratdina.com

Thu 13 Sep: Rhiannon Scutt

The Greystones rhiannonscutt.com

Sun 16 Sep: Rainbow Gamers

The Treehouse Board Games Café treehousesheffield.com

Thu 20 Sep: Indigo: The Indie Disco – BABE PUNCH

Maida Vale soundcloud.com/babe-punch-1

Fri 21 Sep: A Fantastic Woman