Abbeydale Live arrives on Saturday 26 April 2025, bringing over 50 live acts to 14 venues along Abbeydale Road. The free one-day festival will transform the area into a vibrant showcase of music, independence and community collaboration.
Born from the energy of local traders, artists and neighbours, Abbeydale Live has its roots in shared challenges and a desire to see the area thrive. The event is produced by the Abbeydale Traders Association, which formed in 2022 after a series of break-ins hit small businesses along the road. What started as mutual support has since grown into something much bigger – helped by a successful bid to the Economic Recovery Fund and the creation of the Independent Abbeydale brand.
This year’s festival builds on the success of Independent Abbeydale’s 2024 pilot autumn event, with an even wider mix of live music, performances and activities. Pubs, cafés, bars and bottle shops will all host something different – and it’s all completely free. The line-up features acts such as the Langsett Dance Orchestra, University of Sheffield Big Band, Montuno and emerging performers from WaterBear Music College. The full artist line-up will be released closer to the time.
Nicole Jewitt, Chair of the Abbeydale Traders Association and owner of Coles Corner, said: “This festival has come out of people getting organised. We’ve always had the talent, the venues, the ideas – Abbeydale Live just connects the dots. It’s about keeping things local, lifting each other up, and showing that a street like ours has a truly unique offering and needs celebrating!”
Overseeing the festival’s production is Tim Foulerton-Walker, a seasoned programmer and event coordinator with deep roots in Sheffield’s cultural scene. Tim runs The Big Swing – the city’s longest-running weekly live jazz night – and brings experience from festivals including Tramlines, No Bounds and Signals, as well as national events such as Glastonbury, Boomtown and Eden Festival. His involvement ensures Abbeydale Live has the organisational backbone to match its grassroots energy.
Alongside the live venues, a Buskers Corner by the Greek Village will add a street performance element to the day, with pop-up sets dotted around shopfronts and side streets. Hybrid Studios will also showcase artists selected through their Arts Council-funded mentoring programme, giving emerging local talent a platform to share new work.
Families are catered for too, with Broadfield Park transformed into a kids’ area hosted by Everyone Active (formerly Sheffield City Trust). Entertainment will include appearances by crowd favourite Benoit the Magician, plus activities for all ages throughout the day.
The festival also marks the final phase of the Traders Association’s Economic Recovery Fund-supported project. But with momentum building, this feels more like a beginning than an end. The recent acquisition of the historic Abbeydale Picture House by festival partners True North Brew Co signals exciting times ahead, with long-term plans to restore it as a cultural hub for the area.
Abbeydale Live is completely free and open to all. Whether you live nearby, work in the area, or just fancy a day exploring Sheffield’s independent heart, you’re invited to walk the street, meet new faces and discover something unexpected. More details on socials: Instagram @Independent_Abbeydale
