Voting has now closed
He’s producing Tony Christie’s new album in a Sheffield studio with Sheffield musicians and producers and all the songs are written by Sheffield artists. Guess who Richard Hawley is rooting for...
“For a city of just over half a million people, Sheffield's prolific record of producing artists and setting the tone for British pop music means that you should look no further than Yorkshire to find the Most Musical City.
In the post punk era of the early 80's, nowhere in the world embraced the new opportunities offered by synthesizers more than the Steel City. The New Romantics were led by the electro-pop coming out of Sheffield by the Cabaret Voltaire, ABC, Heaven 17 and most famously, The Human League.
The City's reputation for innovation and something a little bit different was reinforced during the following decade, both by Warp records, clubs such as Gatecrasher and by Pulp, a quintessential Sheffield band. Led by Jarvis Cocker, the band were local favourites for many years, but had not experienced wider success at a time when Grunge ruled the world. Yet, with 'Common People' and a headline slot at Glastonbury, Pulp were responsible for two of the defining moments of the Britpop era.
Ten years later and again Sheffield is again the heartbeat of British music thanks to the unstoppable phenomenon that is the Arctic Monkeys. Twenty-five years on and a 'Sheffield scene' is emerging again with mates of the Monkeys including Reverend and the Makers, Milburn and The Longpigs.
Of course, there's more to Sheffield than just pop. Concert pianist Mark Gasser, The Lindsay String Quartet and Ensemble 360 are all from the city and one of Britain's most famous faces of classical music, Lesley Garrett hails from down the road in Doncaster. Heavy metal legends Def Leppard and Moloko, who kept the city's electro-pop heritage alive, are two other acts which emerged from Sheffield's plethora of rehearsal rooms, recording studios and live venues. Babybird and Olive both produced memorable number ones in the 90’s and Dave Berry’s ‘The Crying Game’ remains a classic. And after his ‘…Amarillo’ led revival there’s no forgetting Tony Christie.
Its ten years since Pulp's 'misfits' became chart-toppers. Vote for Sheffield and the underdog can have its day again.
