Situated in a former flour mill to the south east of the city centre, The Leadmill is Sheffield’s longest running music venue, dating back to 1980. As well as comedy, film and club nights, it showcases a really diverse mix of live music acts, and is cherished among the local music scene. Unfortunately the venue’s future is currently under threat, due to the landlords attempting to evict them. We have everything crossed that the current outcry across the music industry helps towards thwarting that attempt, because this would be a massive loss to the city.

The flagship outlet of Thornbridge Brewery, The Greystones is a spacious, traditional, half-timbered community pub. Its backroom, however is an intimate room for live music, and it punches above its weight (and size) to welcome names such as Duanne Eddy, Chastity Brown and Richard Hawley (himself a local) over the years.

You’ll always find a warm welcome at The Harley, a venue that introduced audiences to soon-to-be-huge acts such as Arctic Monkeys and The xx. This 200-capacity bar and venue shut down  in 2019 and for a while there, it felt like it was all over. But the Glossop Road nightspot made a swift comeback under the direction of new management — in fact, the building’s owners. Live music’s still a big part of The Harley’s offer, and regular DJ sets, too, thanks to its 4am license for Fridays and Saturdays.

Bungalows and Bears is one of the main players on Sheffield’s eclectic music scene, having been a staple for good food, good drink and good music for over a decade. Housed in an Old Fire Station, this unique building has seen all manner of events, with a previous guest-list featuring everything from Swedish rappers to world renowned DJ Talent on its small stage. The drinks are cheap, the burgers are banging and you’ll always find something great in the listings. What more could you want?

Sidney and Matilda, a former paper factory, is now one of Sheffield’s most exciting gig venues, multi-disciplinary arts project spaces and social clubs, hosting its own programme of installations, workshops, screenings, music nights and more. Since opening in 2018, the venue has shined new neon red light on an abandoned industrial district located in the city, where it strives to create an environment for events that thrive in intimate settings, hosting anything from the local scenes to the unconventional.

Part of the wider Sheffield Theatres complex, the Crucible’s 400-seater Studio hosts regular musical performances – often towards the classical end of the spectrum. Each May, its 25-concert-strong Sheffield Chamber Music Festival offers intimate performances by ensembles and soloists, including the resident Ensemble 360, to enjoy in-the-round.