More about: Sophie and the GiantsccccccSelf-EsteemDead Slow HootSister WivesLIOFemurOh PapaConor HoustonLife AquaticOtis MensahJackie Moonbather

Too often overlooked for artists in its neighbouring Manchester, Sheffield’s music scene is not one to sleep on, so packed we're surprised we can’t hear tunes blasting across all corners of the peaks. Looking beyond Arctic Monkeys and Pulp, the Sheffield scene is vibrant, exciting and collaborative, run on not just talent, but for a clear love of it.

Stumble into the city on Tramlines weekend and you’ll find bands on every corner - and even in some chip shops - but on any given night year-round, you’re sure to find a gig or an open mic somewhere too. Whether it’s their hometown or adopted city, Sheffield is home to some of the most exciting acts around at the minute. Here are the need-to-knows that you should be paying attention to.

Dead Slow Hoot

Making cinematic anthems, Dead Slow Hoot are both polished and passionate. Their debut No Reunions is packed full of poetic lyrics, storytelling and melancholic beats that climax into movie-soundtrack instrumentals. One to watch for fans of sad boy favourites like The National and Radiohead, Dead Slow Hoot already have their sound so perfected, we can only imagine where they’re going to go from here. Laying different instruments for a musical texture that feels both exciting and nostalgic. For a first listen, dive into 'Below' for something moody, or 'You Belong To No-One (But I Belong To You)' for a catchy, spiralling love song.

LIO

Born in the Netherlands, LIO quickly captivated the Sheffield scene with her hypnotic voice. Combining vulnerability and power, LIO’s sound somehow sits somewhere between Daughter and Florence and the Machine. Infusing gentle singer-songwriter lyricism with a darker alt-pop edge, LIO’s live gigs are intoxicating, with the power of her voice leaving everyone wide eyed and mouth opened. Get hooked in with 'Growing Pains', a fresh take on a heartbreak anthem.

Femur

To see Femur is to fall into a kind of frantic cult-like ceremony. A real lesson in showmanship, able to whip up a crowd into a frenzy like they’re got them under a spell. And to match, their music rides the wave between psych-rock and classic punk, moving from catchy grooves on 'Chunk' to heavier chaos on 'Second Twin'. But even in their breakdowns, Femur never lose their grip, never veering off into ‘too much’ territory or becoming nothing but noise as they hold tight onto perfectionistic precision. Coming from incredible Sheffield musical pedigree, their relative gave their latest single 'Misery Express' a remix, you might have heard of him? Jarvis Cocker?

Oh Papa

Taking you to a whole other side of the spectrum, Oh Papa are creating tunes perfect for your mellow playlist. Infused with a kind of Americana surf vibe, Oh Papa’s music feels optimistic, like a sunny day or a Wes Anderson colour scheme. Passionate about tackling toxic-masculinity within the music industry and fighting against the perception that all bands coming out of Yorkshire have to be a cookie-cutter version of Arctic Monkeys, Oh Papa bring a welcome difference to the scene. Quickly gaining traction with radio play across the BBC and support slots with the likes of Billie Marten, add them to your playlist in time for better spring days. 

Conor Houston

Probably sick of the Bowie comparisons, Conor Houston brings a touch of avant-garde to the scene, inspired by the likes of Scott Walker, Andy Warhol and Stewart Lee. Being a cornerstone in the city’s music scene for years, Conor is now straying into more experimental territory and throwing the rule book away since his earlier releases like 'The Best Strangers In The World'. But behind it all, his work is backed up with incredible technicality and a hefty list of accolades including playing on the Jimmy Kimmel show and touring across Europe and America. Back in Sheffield however, you’ll find Conor performing lyrically unique tracks with instrumental diversity, or sometimes he’ll be putting matches into a bowl of single cream and taking the mick out of local politicians. Rock-star or performance artist: you never quite know what you’ll get with Conor Houston. 

Life Aquatic

While members are currently scattered around the world, it would feel wrong to discuss the Sheffield scene without giving a nod to Life Aquatic, a band able to turn any venue into an underwater disco. With a discography that seems to touch on almost every genre imaginable, L.A.B are simply a gaggle of incredible musicians, all bringing their talents to the table to make music for people to dance to. Never taking itself too seriously but always crafted with skill and precision, their music is silly and cheerful without ever slipping into novelty. Their 2020 release L.A.B.P.D (Or Band On The Hunt), is a perfect example of this: the concept album about a police force on the lookout for Paul McCartney flows from storytelling tracks into big horn-infused climaxes like on 'A Pop Song'. 

Otis Mensah

Appointed Sheffield’s first poet laureate for his work to change the elitism around poetry, Otis Mensah leads the way for spoken word and hip hop in the city. Focusing on masculinity, mental health and racial identity, his work harnesses the political and personal power of vulnerability, putting introspection and emotion over classic beats. With a published book and previous performer slots at Glastonbury, Otis is coming at the arts on the page and in person and gaining traction across the industry. Bringing something total different to a city predominantly known for indie, Otis is spearheading a whole new generation of diverse and wide-ranging sounds in the steel city. 

Self-Esteem

Previously providing vocals, guitar and drums to Slow Club, Self-Esteem is Rebecca Taylor’s experimental pop project. Originally starting out as a half-joke holding the finger up to her insecurities by naming the project Self-Esteem, Rebecca quickly gained confidence and traction, brushing off her fears of being too much and refusing to compromise on her career any longer. Her 2019 debut Compliments Please is beat heavy and dancey, infusing west coast pop and female-focused lyrics with an effortless catchiness that makes you want to move. Now in full control of all creative decisions and focused on making music she loves and would want to listen to, Rebecca is doing something very, very right with a Q Awards nomination for best breakthrough act under her belt and an album two on the way.

Sophie and the Giants

Quickly becoming one of the most exciting bands to come out of their adopted city of Sheffield, Sophie and the Giants first formed at music college, gigging around the Sheffield scene before their 2020 track 'Hypnotized' gained huge attention over in Europe, going triple platinum in Italy and being streamed over 100million times - mad. Backing up Sophie’s powerful voice with a merge of indie inspired guitars and electronic infused drum beats, Sophie and the Giants are fuelled by a sense of excitement and optimism as their recordings seem to capture the vibe of their high energy live performances. 

Sister Wives

Something completely different, Sister Wives' post-punk, psychedelia-tingled sound straddles two languages. Moving between English and Welsh, Sister Wives weave mythology and dreams into lyrics with such hypnotic ease it’s captivating. Setting wailing harmonies over heavy baselines, the four-piece truly are worthy of the term soundscapes as their recent EP seems to capture the mutual epic landscape of Sheffield’s peaks and Wales’ mountains. Adding something so interesting to Sheffield’s darker psyche scene, we’re sure to hear Sister Wives on 6 Music soon.

Jackie Moonbather

If you’re after something ambient to soundtrack your post-Covid afters, Jackie Moonbather is your answer. Somewhere between Tom Misch and Jamie xx, the multi-instrumentalist has been around on the scene for quite some time. As one of the founding members of Blancmange Lounge, a collective working between Sheffield and Manchester and including acts like alongside Rosie PM and Otis that we talked about above, Jackie has a solid reputation of both talent and passion. Making music that fuses new jazz, hip-hop and soul, Jackie Moonbather is another figure helping to redefine what Sheffield sounds like, away from the Alex Turner shaped mould. 

More about: Sophie and the GiantsccccccSelf-EsteemDead Slow HootSister WivesLIOFemurOh PapaConor HoustonLife AquaticOtis MensahJackie Moonbather