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Scene and Herd
EVENT OF THE WEEK w/c 12th January 2026
The 90s renaissance rolls on as two Sheffield cult favourites of the era, Freezer and The Seaside, finally share a bill for the first time on Friday 16th January at Sidney & Matilda.
Back in the 90s both bands were packing out Sheffield venues - even headlining the Leadmill - and attracting serious industry attention, before disappearing just as greatness beckoned.
Freezer returned in 2022 and now, more than 30 years on, both bands are back, armed with long-awaited debut albums released in 2025.
Freezer’s Ætherical Heavy Method has already been praised as a cosmic, psych-rock journey, and their live shows are once again winning a reputation for rich, kaleidoscopic intensity. Sheff Herd reviewed Freezer's performance earlier in 2025 and, trust us – you don’t want to miss them.
The Seaside have finally delivered the album fans dreamed of in 1993: Coastal Walks, a lush, melodic follow-up to their NME- and Melody Maker-lauded single Idolise, and a reminder of why their gigs were once such charged, chaotic affairs.
This show promises a rare reunion of the Sheffield indie tribe – old faces, new memories, and possibly a few familiar names in the crowd. With rumours that this may be The Seaside’s only live appearance, it’s a genuinely one-off event.
Support the artists by purchasing your advance tickets here
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Herd the Word
EVENT OF THE WEEK w/c 12th January 2026
On Wednesday 14th January, Turner Prize–winning artist Mark Wallinger comes to the Millennium Gallery for a special evening of conversation, film and audience questions, offering a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the UK’s most influential contemporary artists.
Wallinger’s career spans more than four decades and encompasses sculpture, film, painting and major public commissions. His work consistently interrogates power, belief, identity and protest, often through familiar symbols drawn from religion, sport, transport and civic life. From Ecce Homo - the first work to occupy Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth - to State Britain, which won the Turner Prize in 2007, and later landmark works such as Writ in Water at Runnymede, Wallinger has reshaped how contemporary art operates in public space.
He will be joined in conversation by Sacha Craddock, a highly respected art critic and curator, former columnist for The Times and The Guardian, long-time chair of Bloomberg New Contemporaries, and an experienced judge of major prizes including the Turner Prize.
The conversation will explore the ideas and social questions that have shaped Wallinger’s practice, with particular focus on his moving-image work. The evening includes screenings of Angel (1997), Threshold to the Kingdom (2000) and The End (2006), alongside discussion of their making, influences and ongoing relevance.
The talk forms part of the programme accompanying New Horizons: Growing Sheffield’s Art Collection, which continues at the Millennium Gallery until Sunday 25th January. The talk is at 6-7:30pm and booking is recommended here
Images by Luise Krumbein and Isabelle Young
JANUARY 2026
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Your guide to the month ahead.
Check out our weekly event recommendations every Monday.
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Sheffield Sports
Sheffield’s January sports calendar is led by the European Figure Skating Championships, taking place from 13th–18th January at Utilita Arena Sheffield. The event brings Europe’s top skaters to the city for a full programme of men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dance competition, alongside a closing gala. A city-centre fan zone with skating activities and live coverage helps extend the atmosphere beyond the arena.
Later in the month, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre hosts the Aquatics GB Diving International from 30th January–1st February. The competition features elite British and international divers competing on the 3 m springboard and 10 m platform, making it a key early-season meet and a showcase of high-level aquatic sport in the city.
January concludes with the Sheffield Powerlifting Championships on 31st January at Sheffield City Hall. Athletes from across the UK compete in squat, bench press and deadlift disciplines, rounding off the month with a celebration of strength sport and adding a contrasting edge to Sheffield’s varied winter sports programme.
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Footprints Jazz Festival
The Footprints Jazz Festival takes place at Peddler Warehouse in Sheffield on Saturday 31st January, running from 7:30 pm to late.
The festival features a mix of live performances and DJ sets, creating a vibrant, all-night celebration of jazz and experimental music in an intimate warehouse setting.
Headlining the event is corto.alto, a Glaswegian project blending live jazz with electronic textures, alongside Plantfood, a six-piece band from Leeds known for energetic, rhythm-driven jazz influenced by spiritual and modern styles. Sheffield’s own Juliana Day opens the night with inventive wind and electronic performances.
The evening is rounded out by DJ sets from Nonna Fab, Kacper Pieta, and Linga Sound, adding danceable, experimental sounds between live sets.
Tickets are currently on their second release, so fans are encouraged to secure them early to avoid missing out. This festival is a standout highlight of Sheffield’s winter music scene, showcasing regional talent alongside innovative jazz acts.
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Theatre in Sheffield
January is shaping up to be an exciting month for theatre in Sheffield, with a mix of powerful new plays, classic adaptations, family pantomimes, and inventive productions lighting up stages across the city. Here are some of our picks for the month:
Kubulaya: Away From Home is on at the Playhouse on Wednesday 14th January (7 pm). This powerful new play follows a family in Sheffield as old ties are tested and truths come to light over the course of one dramatic evening, blending storytelling with music and cultural insight (full Sheff Herd preview coming soon).
At the Lyceum Theatre, To Kill a Mockingbird runs from 27th January into early February, bringing an acclaimed stage adaptation of the classic novel to Sheffield with a focus on justice, community and character‑driven drama.
Superb local company Forge Light Theatre brings Quiet in the Wings, to The Lantern Theatre in Nether Edge on Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th, and Saturday 31st January. Set backstage on the opening night of a West End-style production, the farcical whodunnit follows understudy‑turned-detective Sebastian Paris as he solves the mystery of a missing star amidst chaotic melodrama (full Sheff Herd preview coming soon).
Finally, family audiences will enjoy Rapunzel, presented by Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Company, at The Montgomery Theatre from 28th January to 1st February. This lively pantomime is packed with humour, audience interaction, and festive fun for all ages.
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Sheffield Heritage Fair
The Sheffield Heritage Fair is a weekend celebration of the city’s history and community heritage, taking place at the Millennium Gallery on Saturday 24th January and Sunday 25th January 11am–4pm.
The event brings together more than 40 local heritage groups, offering visitors the chance to explore Sheffield’s past through stalls, displays and conversations with the people who help preserve the city’s stories.
Family-friendly and informal, the fair welcomes drop-in visitors throughout the day, with entry by a small suggested donation to support local heritage work.