They are the Sheffield gigs that should go down in our musical history.
Some of them played out in front of tens of thousands of delighted fans, singing along to hits that they knew and loved. Others went by less noticed in front of smaller audiences as bands passed through the city on their way to the big time.
Either way, they remain a talking point for those who were there, as well as many of us who would like to have been.
We have put together a gallery of 16 of Sheffield’s most legendary gigs.
How many of these do you remember? And which shows would you include? Email your favourite gig pictures to [email protected] and we will look to publish them in a future gallery.
We have put together a gallery of 16 of Sheffield’s most legendary gigs.
9. Arctic Monkeys, The Grapes, 2003
Arctic Monkeys played their first ever gig in front of a tiny crowd at The Grapes pub - reportedly for just £27. From there, they’ve since gone on to become some of today’s biggest names. That iconic first gig was on May 13, 2003 at the Grapes on Trippet Lane. Photo: Chris Ethchells
An unknown Stone Roses were the support band for headliners Jack Rubies at The Leadmill in February 1988. Jack Rubies were well known, having appeared on a television show called Famous for 15 Minutes. At the time the Stone Roses were practically unheard of, and arrived on stage with a line up which at that stage did not include the bass player Gary Mounfield. They wore paint splattered shirts, which resembled John Squire’s paintings, and all their instruments had the same Jackson Pollock style paint. Log onto https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/the-stone-roses-live-in-south-yorkshire-do-you-remember-these-four-shows-63094 to read more about early Stone Roses gigs in Sheffield. Photo: Jane Barlow
It was their biggest gig yet when Oasis played Sheffield Area on April 22, 1995. After the first 12 songs of the set, the band left the stage, except Noel, who stayed with only an acoustic guitar, a microphone, and a stool. After playing b-side ‘Take Me Away’, Noel told the 12,000-strong crowd: “I’m gonna play a brand new one - I only wrote it on Tuesday! No one’s heard this before. I haven’t got a title for it yet either.” Months later the song - which turned out to be Don’t Look Back in Anger. Log onto https://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/oasis-released-dont-look-back-in-anger-25-years-ago-today-listen-to-the-first-time-they-ever-played-it-at-sheffield-arena-2546469 to read more on the gig. Photo: Stefan Rousseau
Bringing their Winter 1971 tour to the grounds of Sheffield University, Led Zeppelin played a mammoth three hour set to a packed venue – with tickets to get in only costing £1 for the November 18 show. Photo: PA