Website Special Areas

JB Gill launches new Show Business School

Leave a comment

JB Gill, former member of the band JLS today helped launch Sheffield Colleges new Show Business School. Speaking to Sheffield Live!, JB Gill shared his thoughts on who the course might appeal to.

“The course is obviously going to help people who want to be artists, dancers or singers, but it’s also going to be an opportunity for people who don’t want to do that; those who want to manage the artists or want to work on stage in a theatre. There’s so much here for people to tap into”.

Today also marks National NVQ day, an annual celebration of vocational qualifications. Earmarking such qualifications as the one gained through the show business school, Julie Byrne, Principal of Sheffield City College spoke of their importance and where they can lead.

Courses, like this one are absolutely vital to employment growth and lead onto careers or university, and we know that employers value vocational qualifications as much as academic ones”

Gill’s enthusiasm for the course was something which resonated with students as they gathered after the session for a photo call. Queen Uwacu, 22, said “I was really impressed by the fact that JB is giving something back. That’s really important when you’re a celebrity who a lot of young people look up to”.

Aimed at assisting young people interested in breaking into the entertainment industry, the show business school offers a two year course working towards a vocational Extended Diploma equivalent to 3 A-Levels. Modules including event management, music production and public relations will be primarily taught by college business lecturers, but will also feature a number of guest lectures including at least two master classes a year from Gill himself.

JB Gill was on site this afternoon to host an hour-long Q&A session to share his knowledge and insider expertise on what to expect from the entertainment industry,telling themhis own experiences which have led to him claiming Brit and MOBO awards along the way.

Full details regarding course content and entry requirements can be found on the Sheffield College website http://www.sheffcol.ac.uk/

JB Gill speaks to Sheffield Live! Sam Newton

Sheffielders buying shares in local media operation

Leave a comment

SCM_ProgressCommitments of over £40,000 have been made to Sheffield Community Media’s Pioneer and Community Share Offer – taking the investment opportunity for anyone who lives, works, or has interests in Sheffield to own their very own television channel over a quarter of the way towards its target.

And excitement is building about the plans – with comments rolling in from more figures in Sheffield’s business, entertainment, media, social enterprise and community sectors.

Peter Johnson commented “I’m buying shares in Sheffield Community Media because I’ve always been a huge fan of sheffield live radio and if the television channel  is going to be anything like the output of the radio, it’ll be a great service for Sheffield.”

Jodie Marshall, Managing Director of A Mind Apart Theatre Company, said “I would really like to take shares in this project as I believe it’s a great opportunity for Sheffield, and as someone working on the frontline in Sheffield within the arts and working with young people and educating them in this area, I believe it could be a great opportunity for Sheffield to put even more onto the creative map of the UK.”

And Joe Elliott, the lead vocalist of Def Leppard and of the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down ‘n’ Outz, said: “Now watch out for Sheffield Live TV – it’s going to be fantastic – especially for music.”

Readers can become a part owner and can invest from £100 to £20,000, payable by instalments if preferred. Sheffield Community Media aims to pay a modest rate of interest after 3 years. Details here.

Sheffield Community Media Ltd, an organisation set up for community benefit, has been established to support community media development in Sheffield, including the new local digital TV channel that will be launched on Freeview, cable and the internet in 2014.

In May 2012, Ofcom, the communications regulator, advertised local digital TV licences for Sheffield and 20 other ‘pioneer locations’. Sheffield Local Television Ltd, wholly owned by Sheffield Community Media Ltd, was the winning applicant for the Sheffield local TV service.

Launching in 2014, the new television channel Sheffield Live TV will cover Sheffield news; events; music; sports and culture. It will reflect the interests of Sheffield people and communities – and provide a platform for local talent and opportunities for local businesses.

It will be Sheffield’s first digital local TV channel, broadcasting on Freeview channel 8, cable and the internet.

And it will be part of a new cross-platform media partnership – radio, TV, web and mobile – working with existing community radio station Sheffield Live 93.2 FM and a new web and mobile Sheffield news service.

Community Shares are a form of social investment to raise funds for projects of community benefit.

Sheffield Community Media Ltd want Sheffielders to support this groundbreaking project. Their “Pioneer and Community Share Offer” is available at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares

Other figures have already provided their support:

Jill Davies, chief executive of Westfield Health, said “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity that we’re going to get our own local TV in Sheffield. It’ll enable us to keep our fingers on the pulse of all those local important issues.”

Ed Cosens of Sheffield band Reverend and the Makers commented “Sheffield Local Television is an amazing opportunity for the people of Sheffield to do what Sheffield does best – be creative and get inspired. Musically it’s going to be amazing, you’ve got loads of great music programmes on there so I’m excited about that.”

Heather MacDonald, chief executive of The Sheffield College, said “It’s brilliant for Sheffield College and it’s brilliant for Sheffield City.”

Dermot Griffiths of Mercury Taxis said “I’m really looking forward to the launch of Sheffield Live TV….this will be a perfect platform to showcase all the great things about Sheffield.”

Jay Bhayani of Bhayani Bracewell commented “I’m really excited about the launch of Sheffield Live TV. It’s a fantastic way for us to showcase the expertise and talent right on our doorstep in Sheffield.”

The Sheffield Community Media Ltd business plan, published at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares sets out the organisation’s proposals for the development of a digital local television channel for Sheffield as part of a cross-platform community media offer.

Richard Motley, chair of Sheffield Community Media Ltd, said:

“Building on Sheffield’s history of culture, creativity and innovation, our goal is to establish a cross-platform community media service that serves the public interest in local news, information, education and entertainment and encourages local talent and creative expression.”

Steve Buckley, chair of Sheffield Local Television Ltd, said:

“We have a sustainable business model that will create jobs and nurture talent. But we need Sheffielders’ support to make Sheffield Live TV happen.

“The Sheffield Community Media shares prospectus – at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares – explains how to get involved in Sheffield Community Media Ltd and what, together, we can achieve. Please join this exciting new media project – the first of its kind.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: Jamie Veitch: 07904 272 200

Questions about the Pioneer and Community Share Issue: call 0114 281 4082 or email shares@sheffieldlive.org

Sheffield Community Media Ltd is a society for the benefit of the community incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965. Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration No: 31727R. Registered address: 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX

Dementia Awareness Week

1 Comment

Don’t bottle it up: Dementia Awareness Week

By Samuel Newton

This week marks the now annual Dementia Awareness Week, a nationwide campaign fronted by the care charity Alzheimer’s Society, aimed at generating a more thorough understanding of dementia amongst the general public. Under the slogan Don’t bottle it up, the charity is encouraging people to speak to them should they have any worries or reservations that either they or someone close to them may be suffering from dementia.

Dementia, an umbrella term which describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, is catalysed when the brain is damaged by diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. There are currently estimated to be 670,000 sufferers of dementia living in the United Kingdom, while Sheffield is currently home to a figure just in excess of 6,500. Providing quality care to the people suffering from the syndrome, as well as those undiagnosed, is of high importance to Sheffield’s National Health Service.

“The provision of high quality care and support for people with dementia and their carers is a top priority for NHS Sheffield” said Dr Steve Thomas, GP and NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Dementia Portfolio clinical lead.

This care provision offered in Sheffield has recently been highlighted and celebrated in a report produced by NHS England, published in correspondence with Dementia Awareness Week, entitled Dementia Diagnosis and Care in England: Learning from Clinical Commissioning Groups. Within the report, Sheffield was earmarked for the high standard of its dementia training programmes across all care providers including general practitioners, care home staff and the council. Furthermore, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was also commended for its endeavours to ensure all new staff within a dementia-relevant role receive the training necessary to fully understand the condition and its side effects.

As well as those directly suffering from dementia, there are also new streams of support for those who may be caring for someone with dementia, such as the newly launched DementiaCarer.net website, a project jointly funded by both Sheffield City Council and NHS.

“DementiaCarer.net has been designed specifically for carers by carers, with support from ourselves and other project partners”, said Kath Horner, Health Improvement Principal from Sheffield City Council. “It provides practical tips and advice with videos of carers talking about how they cope with everyday tasks such as washing and dressing the person they care for. The carer clips also include useful tips and advice about how to stay positive, active and well – all of which is vital for people providing such important care.”

Dementia Awareness Week, which kicked off last Sunday, runs until Saturday 24th May. Detailed information regarding dementia, its symptoms and side effects can be found on the Sheffield City Council website and NHS webpages.

Residents urged to make their vote count

Leave a comment

By George Torr

Sheffield electors are being reminded to use their vote in this Thursday’s up and coming elections.

Like many other local authorities across England, Sheffield is holding local elections on Thursday (22 May) and electors will also be having their say in the European elections for Yorkshire and Humberside. 

A total of 128 candidates will be standing for election this year across the 28 wards in Sheffield –   a third of the Council seats – plus one additional seat in Walkley following the recent resignation of Cllr Nikki Sharpe. The results will be announced on Friday 23 May and will be available on Sheffield City Council website.

Voting cards

“By now, everyone in Sheffield who’s on the electoral roll should have received a polling card, showing which polling station they need to go to in order to vote,” said John Mothersole, Returning Officer for the local elections in Sheffield.

“All polling stations are open from 7am in the morning until 10pm, so you have all day to go and vote.  You don’t need to take your polling card with you to vote, so don’t worry if you don’t have it with you when you call in, although sometimes it can be helpful to have it with you.

 Postal votes

 “If you have a postal vote and you haven’t already posted it, you can hand it in to any polling station up to 10pm on Thursday.  If you do have a postal vote, then please take responsibility for it.  You need to complete it personally and follow all the instructions.  There is a voluntary code of conduct for handling postal votes, which candidates and agents have signed up to.”

The count for the local elections will be held on Friday 23 May at the English Institute of Sport in Attercliffe.  The European election count will be held on Sunday 25 May and the results will be sent to Leeds, where they will announce the countywide results on Sunday.

Halestorm review

Leave a comment
Halestorm at O2 Academy Sheffield in April. Photo: Ollie Murton

Halestorm at O2 Academy Sheffield in April. Photo: Ollie Murton

The venue was packed, the atmosphere amazing, and as soon as lead singer Lzzy Hale opened her mouth to sing, I knew exactly why it was a sold out show, what a voice! (writes Natz Beard, presenter and producer of Sheffield Live!’s Local Talent Show).

Being only the second show of the tour, the band were full of energy and enthusiasm and by the time they were a few songs into the show this had the crowd buzzing too.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the show was Arejay’s drum solo, after wooing the crowd with a very impressive solo, he then went on to do another, playing with just his hands and another with giant drum sticks. Although impressive, this did seem to drag on just a little too long, he probably could have achieved the same ‘mouth wide open’ wow effect  if he were to shorten it down to one continuous solo instead of three, but then again if you have the ability why not stop the show and show it off?

A huge highlight for me was the band’s cover of  Daft Punk’s song Get Lucky, I am already a huge fan of the twist they have put on this track just from hearing it on Soundcloud previously. Fans of this cover will be happy to know that it is featured on their ReAniMate 2.0 EP, which is now available to buy.

Exclusive interview with rock legend Joe Elliott

Leave a comment
Graham Marshall interviews Joe Elliott

Graham Marshall interviews Joe Elliott

Joe Elliott will need no introduction to many Sheffielders, nor to rock music fans from across the world.

The lead vocalist of Def Leppard and of the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down ‘n’ Outz was in town this weekend, and Sheffield Live! managed to catch up with him for an exclusive interview – which you can hear on tonight’s Spirit of the Wapentake show, on air from 5pm – 7pm.

Joe talked with Spirit of the Wapentake presenter, Graham Marshall, about being back in Sheffield and discussed his projects planned for this year.

And he told Sheffield Live! that he’s looking forward to the launch of Sheffield Live Television.

What next?

Miss Nightingale – Review

Leave a comment

Gemma Crump of Sheffield Live! reviews Matthew Bugg’s Miss Nightingale.

The bewitching musical that is Miss Nightingale will make you laugh, cry and go home with the catchy songs stuck firmly in your head.

Set in war time Britain, a feisty northern singer Maggie Brown (played by the amazingly talented Jill Cardo) and her refugee friend George (played by Harry Waller) struggle to find their big break. They meet Sir Frank Worthington-Blythe (played by Tomm Coles) who agrees to take on the act in his Nightclub under the name ‘Miss Nightingale’. With the saucy costumes and innuendo filled songs, they soon become a hit.

Behind the glamour of the stage the love lives of the characters are in turmoil. Maggie is in love and having a relationship with Tom Fuller (played by Adam Langstaff) a married man who feeds her love stories and yet will never leave his wife. Whereas George and Frank fall in love, however in a time when homosexuality was illegal, they have to hide their love from everyone.

Other supporting characters were also acted with élan, such as the waiter and stage manager (played by Tobias Oliver) and Maggie’s brother Harry Brown (played by the one and only Matthew Bugg). This show deserves to be a huge hit.

The storyline is beautifully put together with songs ranging from hilarious to deeply emotional. The amazingly talented cast not only act but harmonise and play different instruments. The whole show draws you in, keeping you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.

There is no other show like this in the theatres at the moment. A story of friendship, forbidden love and learning to trust again, it is the hidden gem of musicals. My only regret is that I only saw it once.

Sheffielders invited to become media owners of local TV channel

Leave a comment

SCM_CSO_Cover_2People who live, work or have interests in Sheffield have today been invited to become co-owners of an exciting new local media organisation set up to invest in Sheffield’s local digital TV channel and to build a new cross-platform media service for Sheffield.

Sheffield Community Media Ltd, an organisation set up for community benefit, has been established to support community media development in Sheffield, including the new local digital TV channel that will be launched on Freeview, cable and the internet in 2014.

And Sheffield media, music, communications and business figures and the city’s residents are already getting excited about the thrilling plans.

In May 2012, Ofcom, the communications regulator, advertised local digital TV licences for Sheffield and 20 other ‘pioneer locations’. Sheffield Local Television Ltd, wholly owned by Sheffield Community Media Ltd, was the winning applicant for the Sheffield local TV service.

Launching in 2014, the new television channel Sheffield Live TV will cover Sheffield news; events; music; sports and culture. It will reflect the interests of Sheffield people and communities – and provide a platform for local talent and opportunities for local businesses.

It will be Sheffield’s first digital local TV channel, broadcasting on Freeview channel 8, cable and the internet.

And it will be part of a new cross-platform media partnership – radio, TV, web and mobile – working with existing community radio station Sheffield Live 93.2 FM and a new web and mobile Sheffield news service.

Community Shares are a form of social investment to raise funds for projects of community benefit. Sheffield Community Media Ltd want Sheffielders to support this groundbreaking project – and today launched a “Pioneer and Community Share Offer” at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares
Notable figures from Sheffield’s business, media, music, communications and community sectors have already given their support to Sheffield Community Media’s plans.

Jill Davies, chief executive of Westfield Health, said “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity that we’re going to get our own local TV in Sheffield. It’ll enable us to keep our fingers on the pulse of all those local important issues.”

Ed Cosens of Sheffield band Reverend and the Makers commented “Sheffield Local Television is an amazing opportunity for the people of Sheffield to do what Sheffield does best – be creative and get inspired. Musically it’s going to be amazing, you’ve got loads of great music programmes on there so I’m excited about that.”

Heather MacDonald, chief executive of The Sheffield College, said “It’s brilliant for Sheffield College and it’s brilliant for Sheffield City.”

The Sheffield Community Media Ltd business plan, published today at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares sets out the organisation’s proposals for the development of a digital local television channel for Sheffield as part of a cross-platform community media offer.

Richard Motley, chair of Sheffield Community Media Ltd, said:

“Building on Sheffield’s history of culture, creativity and innovation, our goal is to establish a cross-platform community media service that serves the public interest in local news, information, education and entertainment and encourages local talent and creative expression.”

Steve Buckley, chair of Sheffield Local Television Ltd, said:

“We have a sustainable business model that will create jobs and nurture talent. But we need Sheffielders’ support to make Sheffield Live TV happen.

“The Sheffield Community Media shares prospectus – at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares – explains how to get involved in Sheffield Community Media Ltd and what, together, we can achieve. Please join this exciting new media project – the first of its kind.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: Jamie Veitch: 07904 272 200

Questions about the Pioneer and Community Share Issue: call 0114 281 4082 or email shares@sheffieldlive.org

Sheffield Community Media Ltd is a society for the benefit of the community incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965. Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration No: 31727R. Registered address: 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX

Expressions of Interest invited: Commercial Production

Leave a comment

Expressions of interest invited – Television Commercial Production Services for Sheffield Live TV

Sheffield Local Television Ltd wish to appoint one or more experienced production companies to manage and produce television commercials for local advertising clients.

We will require the appointed companies to offer a range of fixed price production options to advertisers, and to be responsible for and manage full delivery (including shooting, editing, and compliance), on time and to budget, of television advertisements from Autumn onwards.

If you are interested in providing Television Commercial Production Services, please read the Selection Criteria below and supply a short (2 pages of A4 max) Expression of Interest outlining how your experience and capabilities meet the criteria.  The deadline for receipt of Expressions of Interest is 31 May 2014.

Selection Criteria

1.1 Production experience – The appointed production company (or companies) must demonstrate that they have effective processes in place for broadcast standard acquisition, post-production and delivery to channel, (potentially including Clearcast approval).

1.2 Operational Capacity – Production companies must demonstrate that they have effective processes in place for the production of the adverts.

1.3 Quality Systems – ensuring that all content meets UK broadcast standards is essential as is ensuring that the overall quality of the TV adverts are high.

1.4 Creativity – Pro-active production suggestions are sought to help produce effective ads that meet the expectations of the clients. We will provide companies with a copy of our brand guidelines for the output if required. Once appointed, the chosen production companies need to respond to SLTV’s requests in a pro-active fashion.

1.5 Costs – The chosen production companies need to offer a range of production options to advertising clients at different price-points. We are interested in your suggestions of a 3 or 4 point menu of options.

1.6 Experience – examples of TV commercials delivered on low budgets and the successful implementation of similar projects will score highly. As part of your response it is essential that you list examples of similar work produced, with links to your showreel or to view these online.

If you are interested in providing Television Commercial Production Services, please supply a short (2 pages of A4 max) Expression of Interest outlining how your experience and capabilities meet the criteria above to advertising@sheffieldlive.org  The deadline for receipt of Expressions of Interest is 31 May 2014.

Hawthorne Heights at Corporation – review

Leave a comment
Hawthorne Heights at Corporation. Photo: Jade Knox

Hawthorne Heights at Corporation. Photo: Jade Knox

It would be a considerable understatement to describe how I felt as ‘excited’, writes Sheffield Live! volunteer Jade Knox, when I heard that this band would be returning to the steel city and performing their astonishing album The Silence in Black and White to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its release.

This experience for me, and presumably most people in the room that night, was wonderfully nostalgic having fallen in love with their music at only thirteen years old.

Hawthorne Heights are a band that spoke to me (and many others) lyrically at a time in most of our lives when we are emotionally astray trying to figure out who it is we are. Many young teens at the time and still today find solace in the rolling chords and bleeding hearts of musicians whose lyrics just seem to ‘make sense’ and speak to you directly.

Naturally, since I had first fallen for this album just under ten years ago my music tastes have grown alongside me, however as soon as these guys started their set it felt as if no time had passed at all.

Lead singer JT Woodruff was the cheeky and charismatic character I had always imagined him to be, commenting that the girls looked good and complimenting the crowd.

It’s always a pleasure to watch a gig in the small room at Corporation for the reason that it is a much more intimate setting. The band also removed the barrier you can often feel when in the presence of somebody you know is (or has once been) a pretty big deal, the gig was so relaxed and this was emphasised further by Woodruff’s invitation to fans to ‘hang out’ with him after the show as he would be just around the back.

It was evident during the gig that Hawthorne Heights have – and still do – mean a great deal to the fans. The room was alive: everyone there was singing their heart out and could join in to each song word perfect.

There is always an element of risk with gigs like this in that there could be an amount of disillusionment when time passes since a band first arrived on the scene or performed their initial material, especially if at one point or another you had held them in such high regard.

Now at twenty-two years old, Hawthorne Heights still pulled on my heartstrings in the same way they had done when I spent hours in my bedroom surrounded by CDs writing down my favourite lyrics. Although slightly more mature aesthetically the band have retained their sound beautifully and I am elated to have seen them live at last.

What next?