Of Sheaf & Feld, summit happening at Parkwood and great theatre news
A midweek round up of what's (hopefully) appearing in a newsletter near you shortly
First of all, a massive thanks to everyone who has subscribed to the Looking Up Sheffield newsletter. I’m aiming to bring you a fresh interview a fortnight looking at the city from different perspectives, be they folkloric or futuristic. We’ve got exciting interviews on the horizon, so here’s a little taster.
Jim Ghedi on Wasteland and Sheaf & Feld
Crookes-born musician Jim Ghedi releases his new album imminently and is embarking on a short tour including Sidney & Matilda next month. A brutal departure from the instrumental guitar stylings of his collabaration with Toby Hay, the new record goes deep into the soil and roots of the city and beyond. His last solo record, In The Furrows A Common Place contained a poem, Sheaf & Feld, and Jim has now expanded this into a Valkyrie-esque song that plunders a rich topography. Not sure entirely what it’s got to do with Sheffield beyond its title referencing the city’s beginnings, but it’s probably got everything to do with Sheffield. We’re hoping to speak to Jim soon, but in the meantime, here’s the single.
I’ve joined a running group called Sheffield Business Runners. The idea being that by not working, and, in fact, networking, with Sheffield creatives, I’ll get more stories to bring you. It paid dividends straight off when I got talking to Pete and he told me about a bunch of OG ski village snowboarders working up at Parkwood to resurrect a skiing slope or two at Sheffield’s Country Park in The City. If titles alone can galvanise a campaign, then Sheffield’s Missing Summit will do the job - a short film about the plan set to premiere at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival next month. Again, I’ll be speaking to the film-makers. I’ve already featured the soon-to-go-live Parkwood Springs park run and the idea that this neglected haven could soon be a sporting destination fills me with joy.
Monty Got A New Deal
As a Hillsborough based newsletter, we’ve been following the rise of Rivelin Co with interest. Chief exec Linda Bloomfield is clearly in demand in Sheffield’s under pressure charity sector, but has got plenty of tales to tell as she prepares for a conference exploring the future of the sector as funding gets squeezed. She’s also been involved in the renovation and expansion of the lovely Montgomery Theatre so she’ll be telling us about that too. Watch this space.
National Folklore Survey and the Mary Queen Of Scots story
Our inaugural newsletter was with David Clarke and he tells us that his national folklore survey, the biggest in 50 years and an indication of what the people of Sheffield truly believe, is now live. I’ve announced this 457 years and a day since Mary Queen of Scots was first handed over to jailer George Talbot for 15 years of mercurial castle hopping and bathing in white wine. Not sure if the new Castlegate park will go in for such literal detail this year, but it’s a tempting prospect.
And, finally, a thank you
Some subscribers have got in touch offering up ideas of content. As such I’m hoping to speak to the indefatigable Terry Howard on the latest edition of his Moorland Walk book soon. Here’s a guest blog I wrote for fellow friend of the earth David Bocking some time back.