St Etienne: 90s stars first big name act to announce gig at Sheffield Electric Studios in old Leadmill site
A well known band has become the first act to announce a show at venue once occupied by The Leadmill.
The building which housed The Leadmill for 45 years is due to re-open in February next year, with a new name and ownership.
It will operate under the name Electric Studios in Sheffield, following a major refit which is transforming the site.
Now, the first gig announcement for the new revamped site has been made, with the venue named on a list of shows by the 90s group St Etienne.
St Etienne were best known for a top 12 hit in 1992, You’re in a Bad Way, and were well known on the alternative scene.
They announced a show at Electric Studios on Saturday, September 19 2026.
Their final studio album ‘International’, was released in September 2025, and they have just announced their final UK tour. The Electric Sheffield date is one of nine shows on a national tour.
Bosses at Electric Studios have issued pictures of how the venue will look when the doors open after a £2 million programme of works to transform the building.
Bosses say it will be a music-first venue and will have increased capacity and accessibility compared to before, and said in a statement this week that a packed schedule and subsidised creative hub will boost the cultural power of Sheffield, enhanced with collaborations and partnerships that give back locally.
It will have an increased capacity with 1,050 for live gigs and 1,450 for club events, and Electric Group said there will be an inclusive and forward-thinking calendar of events including gigs, club nights, following a ‘curated, eclectic programming policy’ designed to bring new audiences in.
They are also installing a new sound system, advanced lighting and production installations, to improve the sound and visual experiences.
The Leadmill first opened in 1980 as an arts venue in the city, and has hosted a succession of big name music stars since then.
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Phil Mills who ran The Leadmill at the site on Leadmill Road until recently, took over in 1994, turning it from a charity into a profit making business.
The building was bought in 2017 by The Electric Group, which runs a number of music venues, and has said the company wants to keep the building as a music venue.
The Leadmill name still lives on, and Mr Mills is running events under its branding at locations around the city.