2024 was a big year for The Octagon Centre, so we spoke to Nick Hopwood (Head of Performance Venues) to reflect on the previous year’s goings-on, as well as look ahead to even more gig-going and big shows already lined up for 2025…
Hi Nick. 2024 has been quite the year at The Octagon. How do you feel filling the need for a mid-size venue in the city has gone?
We’ve been building the capabilities of the venue and the team for a few years now, as we’ve been keen to get The Octagon back on the scene as it was in the mid-90s. Things started to take off post-Covid, as promoters were looking to secure venues for an expected surge in demand for live events. We were ready to fill that gap [left by the ongoing closure of Sheffield’s O2], and it’s been great to have played a part in keeping the tours rolling into Sheffield. Otherwise, they could have been lost.
Has the return of The Octagon as a major force on the city’s live scene meant that more touring bands have thought twice about skipping over Sheffield in the last year then?
Yes, I think so. Our capacity of 1,800 for a standing music gig works well for mid-scale touring, and some promoters have taken a risk in routing certain shows to Sheffield they may not have otherwise, had there been a risk of not selling out a larger venue. The space feels great with as few as 1,000 fans in and never too cramped when sold out. It’s quite unique in that regard, and the artists seem to love it.
Do you feel like you’ve achieved your aim of supporting Sheffield’s independent music scene this year?
We’ve loved the local shows we’ve hosted, with home gigs from While She Sleeps, Little Man Tate, and Rosadocs, as well as regular December slots with Sheffield Beatles Project and The Everly Pregnant Brothers. There’s always a particular atmosphere at these shows, as they bring the true Sheffield music lovers, which is great to see.
Looking back on the previous year, what have been some of your highlights or favourite moments from 2024?
The Courteeners gig was a highlight – it sold out in four minutes! Some other favourites of mine were Ocean Colour Scene, who did an amazing set and sounded as tight as they did in the Moseley Shoals days. Being from Manchester myself, it was good to see Happy Mondays supported by Inspiral Carpets and Stereo MCs. The Last Dinner Party were sublime, and I have to say, Confidence Man was a lot of fun.
It’s not just about the gigs either, as Performance Venues also run the diary at the University Drama Studio and Firth Hall. How have those venues fared in 2024?
The other venues have been really busy too. We host our curated music programme in Firth Hall, which balances really well with the more commercial offer in The Octagon. That programme presents a mix of folk, classical, world music, and electro-acoustic, as well as our student ensembles, so it’s quite eclectic. We like to think we’re becoming Sheffield’s very own Barbican Centre!
Looking ahead to 2025, what is the plan for the venues?
We’re expecting The Octagon to be even busier next year, as the diary is already starting to look pretty full. We’re hoping to do some work on updating and rebranding the Drama Studio too. It does so much more than just theatre shows now, so we’d like to reflect that in how we present the spaces.
What gigs and shows are you particularly looking forward to next year?
All of the team would give you a different answer to that one! Supergrass and The K’s will be great. I’m looking forward to Public Service Broadcasting and Postmodern Jukebox. We’ve got a lot lined up for 2025 that haven’t confirmed yet, but we’ll be announcing those next year, so there are some great gigs in the pipeline.
Get it in the diary
- 21st Century Tennessee – 28th Feb
- You Me at Six – 3rd March
- Celebrating Celine – 13th March
- Taylor Mania! – 16th March
- The Lathums – 18th March
- The Mary Wallopers – 20th March
- Public Service Broadcasting – 26th March
- Andy & The Oddsocks – 4th April
- Post Modern Jukebox – 30th April
- This Is Elvis – 1st May
- Supergrass – 12th May
- Lucy Worsley – 15th May
- Spell Songs – 16th May
- Brian Bilston & Henry Normal – 24th May
- Chris Hadfield – 17th June
- Saxon – 8th Nov
Tickets for all shows are available at: performancevenues.group.shef.ac.uk
