Five years on from its modest beginnings, Get Together has blossomed into one of the city’s most distinctive festivals – blending music, art, beer and community spirit in the heart of Kelham Island. Exposed caught up with founder Kieran Crosby to look back at how it all started, the surreal moments along the way and what’s in store for this year’s birthday edition.
When Kieran Crosby walked down Burton Road and dreamed up the idea of “a bit of a live music all-dayer” with bands playing local spots such as Yellow Arch and Peddler, he never quite imagined it would turn into one of Sheffield’s most exciting and eclectic music festivals. Now, five years later, Get Together is a fixture on the national festival calendar in its own right – a heady mix of live music, art, beer and community spirit rooted in the heart of Kelham Island.
“It was right in the middle of the pandemic, which probably wasn’t the wisest time to launch a festival,” he laughs. “But I’m glad we did, because if we hadn’t gone ahead with that, I don’t see how we’d have got to where we are now.”
The inaugural edition in 2021 was headlined by South Yorkshire’s-own Self Esteem – just as her game-changing single ‘I Do This All The Time’ had landed – alongside acts like Black Honey, Ibibio Sound Machine and Dream Wife. “It was a lot of people’s first chance of getting out of the house after the pandemic,” says Kieran. “The atmosphere – even though it was the first year – was electric and the crowds really went for it.”
There’s a specifically surreal moment from that year that still sticks with him: “Dream Wife brought out their nan on stage – and it wasn’t like little old lady coming to say hello. She had a pint of wine and was shouting about ‘bad bitches!’ It was incredible. Everyone was like, yeah – we’re back, we’re out.”
That kind of unfiltered joy has carried through every edition since.
Whether it’s Confidence Man tearing up the University venue in year two, or English Teacher returning to headline after playing a tiny side room in 2022, Get Together has consistently had a knack for catching the next big thing just before they blow up. “I think that’s down to how we’re always looking for what’s new, what’s interesting – something that’s bubbling,” says Kieran.
There’s no neat box Get Together fits into – and that’s exactly the point. “The biggest thing is not being in one category too much, making sure you’re seeing something different every five minutes. You can go from watching Ibibio Sound Machine to Tim Burgess to someone like Jessica Winter, pure pop. It flips between everything.”
The festival’s moved around a bit – a temporary home at the University served as something of an incubator for the event – but since returning to its spiritual home, it’s thrived in the warehouses, breweries and independent venues that make up Kelham’s creative core.
“There were all these independents and creatives in the area,” Kieran explains. “It was a perfect fit, the community was so supportive and it was like, great – let’s just build it up even more.” What started as a small DIY dream is now drawing artists from across the globe. “We’ve now got international acts asking to play. This year alone, we’ve got bands from Australia and the US. It very much stands on its own two feet.”
As well as the music, the festival has become known for its wider cultural offering – including art installations, food stalls and the ever-popular beer trail. The artist-in-residence slot has become a much-loved tradition, with the likes of Corbin Shaw and Conor Rogers bringing humour and heart to the visual side of the festival.
“Get Together is fundamentally about trying to put a positive spin on how we all see the world,” says Kieran. “We want it to be about literally getting together for a good reason – whether that involves forgetting about things for a while, or taking the piss out of them.”
That sense of community is what holds it all together. “Whether you’re coming for the live music or not, you could still come down, have a great day out and come away wanting to come next year,” he says. “Everyone just totally gets on board. That’s what makes it such a fun atmospere.”
Looking ahead to the fifth birthday edition, Kieran’s keeping a few cards close to his chest. “We’ve got some surprises planned. Some of the things we’ve got lined up, if they come off – and it looks like they will – will be up there with the best memories people have of the festival. The best advice I can give is to follow our WhatsApp on the day.”
What you can expect are stellar performances from the likes of English Teacher, Moonlandingz, Katy J Pearson and BC Camplight, secret sets popping up, art installations from Cold War Steve, spontaneous Q&A sessions, late-night DJs playing through to the early hours and the return of a pop-up record shop and stage curated in homage to the Crow’s Nest at Glastonbury, where Kieran also plays a part.
Five years in, the passion certainly hasn’t dimmed. But what about when it’s all over? “Weirdly, my favourite bit of the whole thing is the day after. Everything starts to come down. If you hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t know what had happened. It’s like this magical feeling – for that one moment, everyone came together and all this amazing stuff happened. That what it’s about for me.”
Get Together takes place on Saturday 17 May. Tickets (£44) are available now from fatsoma.com.
