"You either lean into it – bleak, grimy, industrial surroundings – or you go, fuck that, give me some glamour" @danieldylanwray.bsky.social's new book is a love letter to Sheffield's musical history, and the oddballs and one-offs who charted their own course. ✍️ @waynehoyle.bsky.social #Sheffield

COMPETITION TIME. I’ve come to the end of a bunch of merch and various bits, so doing a little giveaway bundle. Signed hardback, companion fanzine, badge (last one), tote bag (last one), and beer mat. Like and share and I’ll pick a winner at random and post out (UK only). @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social

I am very very much here for Arab Strap's disco-metal era. Absolute ripper.

The Quietus is 90% funded by subscribers, and we need another 500 this spring to help us fight the AI-pocalypse – with this in mind, there's a huge sale on our top tier subscriptions. If you like what we do, here's how you can help: thequietus.com/opinion-and-...

Massive thank you to the 350+ who packed into the legendary Crookes Social Club last night to celebrate @danieldylanwray.bsky.social and his book on Sheffield’s music history, Groovy, Laidback and Nasty. What a brilliant night it was 🙏

30 years since its release on 6th May 1996, @traceythorn.bsky.social and Ben Watt's ninth album as Everything But The Girl is still as liable to warm up dancefloors as it is bring a tear to your eye Here, @danieldylanwray.bsky.social tells its story djmag.com/how-everythi...

It’s publication week for Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, @danieldylanwray.bsky.social's Sheffield music history Still time to grab tickets for one of the launch events... SHEFFIELD tomorrow! LONDON Mon 11 @thesociallondon.bsky.social BRIGHTON Fri 22 @resident-music.com geni.us/GroovyLaidba...

Curated this week’s portal for tQ with a Sheffield theme. Expect articles on Orgreave, Warp, Threads, Derek Bailey, RHK and more. Ahead of my book which is out TOMORROW.

As lots of big indie labels hit milestones this year, I wanted to have a really open and frank conversation - including facts and figures - about what it’s currently like to run one in this climate. Lots of fascinating insights. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/m...

Very happy to have an extract from my forthcoming book in today’s Guardian.They’ve ran with the early days of Arctic Monkeys - featuring tribal scenes, cattiness, bloody riots and the preposterous “New Yorkshire” movement. Out May 7 via @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

I would have never listened to this if it weren’t for Andrew’s rec, as not got a lot of time for Albarn. But a very weird, funny, unguarded - stoned? - and at times insufferable interview. A kind that you rarely comes across these days. Buxton v good at prodding how ridiculous he’s being too.

One of my fav Prince stories – which I tried to do an article on but couldn't get off the ground – is when he played at a college for Deaf people. 1984, height of Purple Rain fame, selling out arenas etc, but he popped in to do this show. Here he is saying "I love you” in sign language to the crowd.

Brilliant first event for @danieldylanwray.bsky.social and Groovy, Laidback and Nasty last night, with big thanks to the Heath Bookshop, host Lias Saoudi and all who came along. And it’s just the start… geni.us/GroovyLaidba...

Happy to announce the companion fanzine to my upcoming book. Features 25 + new stories from Cabaret Voltaire, Pulp, Clock DVA, I Monster etc about their musical memories in Sheffield. From post-punk supergroups to Russian enema artists via recording Phil Oakey in the bog. @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social

As someone who (begrudgingly) turned the camera on themselves on insta this week for promo, I wanted to speak with artists - musicians, comics, writers, actors, gamers - to see how they are feeling about the pressures of making short form video content. www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...

I’ve checked out of BS a bit so apologies for just being promo guy BUT I have a book to promote. (out May 7). Had some lovely quotes come in from early readers, so huge thanks to @luketurner.bsky.social, @simonreynolds.bsky.social, @adellestripe.bsky.social, @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social.

17 April: BIRMINGHAM with Lias Saoudi 7 May: SHEFFIELD with @elizabethalker.bsky.social 11 May: LONDON @thesociallondon.bsky.social with Ben Beaumont-Thomas 22 May: BRIGHTON @resident-music.com with Stephen Mallinder Plus some incredible DJs joining in Sheffield and London. See you there!

To celebrate his book on Sheffield’s immense music history, @danieldylanwray.bsky.social is heading out on tour - with some very special guests joining him along the way… Find all ticket and pre-order links at geni.us/GroovyLaidba...

Really like the new solo album from Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor that's out today. It's a risky move but right at the centre of the album is a country-dub-techno drum machine cover of The Rolling Stones' Wild Horses and it kinda hits. alexistaylor.bandcamp.com/track/wild-h...

Apologies in advance for all in the insufferable promo over the coming months but I do have a book to promote. First little tour announced today. More dates and cities to come. Link to all tickets and pre orders here. 💅🏼 geni.us/GroovyLaidba...

Loved doing this piece. Some amazing work being done to document, preserve and celebrate a properly incredible yet overlooked bit of UK music history. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/m...

Here’s @danieldylanwray.bsky.social with an early copy of his book Groovy, Laidback & Nasty. With over 150 original interviews, it's the first ever truly definitive history of Sheffield music and the city’s incredible array of artists, movements and moments. Out 7 May: geni.us/GroovyLaidba...

Shot in the summer of 1998, Mischa Haller’s Not Going Home photobook is a window into the UK post-night out landscape 📸 @danieldylanwray.bsky.social spoke to Haller about some of the collection’s standout photos djmag.com/features/not...

This is taken from a feature i've got on Threads in the latest issue of @empiremagazine.bsky.social, which is out today.

Thanks Luke! Big fan of Dark Entries and was a real pleasure to write this one and speak to such lovely people for it.

Magnificent documentary by writer (and one time New York taxi driver) Michael Goldfarb, about Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, 70s New York and the transformed city of today www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Keen to delve into the extensive back catalogue of a solo artist? Maybe try Dave Welder, the secret alias of film director Ben Wheatley who has knocked out nearly 30 albums in the last year. Cloak unveiled, I had a chat with him about it for the first time. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...

Corbin Shaw has been working with flags for years, taking objects often seen as symbols of belligerent nationalism and subverting them with humour, emotion and vulnerability. After a year in which flags have dominated our discourse, how does he feel about them today? ✍️ @danieldylanwray.bsky.social

Had my lunch at a proper proper old school boozer today. Pint of local ale, sandwich and crisps: £5.40. 🤌🏻

Always a joy to be blasted by My Bloody Valentine. Last night was also a tribute to Mani and for @thequietus.com I dug into the idea of extreme noise as a vehicle for calm and tranquility. thequietus.com/quietus-revi...

Also put together a bit of an accompanying playlist for the book. 30 tracks is peanuts in the grand scheme of things to reflect 60+ years, and a few bits also not on Spotify, but hopefully a nice taster and one that I may expand upon a bit over the coming months.

Didn’t get chance to properly post yesterday, as a bit full on, but I have written a book. On the history of music in Sheffield. Out in May via the excellent @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social. Pre-order available now and full PR spiel here. Thanks for the love so far www.thebookseller.com/rights/white...

An incredible effort from @danieldylanwray.bsky.social on this. 150+ interviews, covering nearly 70 years, this is THE book on one of THE great cities for music. Very proud to be Dan's publisher 👊 #SHEFFIELD

Brilliantly researched and spanning almost seven decades, GROOVY, LAIDBACK AND NASTY features over 150 new interviews with the likes of Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Self Esteem, The Human League, Toddla T, Def Leppard, ABC and Cabaret Voltaire – along with countless others.

This - finally - is the definitive musical history Sheffield so richly deserves. GROOVY, LAIDBACK AND NASTY is @danieldylanwray.bsky.social's authoritative and hugely entertaining story of the city, told through its independent artists, scenes and spirit. Coming May 2026 geni.us/GroovyLaidba...

Please read, listen, and share widely. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Andrew absolutely coming up with the goods here!

Big up Ben Wheatley, who has been creating and building a giant YouTube playlist of all the various BBC Arena documentaries from back in the day. It’s now featuring over 100 films. Loads of gold in here. youtube.com/playlist?lis...

On Saturday, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson played together as Cabaret Voltaire for the first time in 44 years. I was genuinely knocked out by it. Was an outrageously good show that felt like a real privilege to witness. Reviewed for @thequietus.com. thequietus.com/quietus-revi...

I like articles that plunge into world's so unknown, alien, confusing and eye-opening, to me, that it feels like you're genuinely speaking a different language / living on a different planet. This very engaging and utterly depressing piece manages to tick all those boxes. harpers.org/archive/2025...

As a founder member of Cabaret Voltaire, you might think nothing could match Chris Watson’s first act. However, he went on to become one of the best sound recordists in the world, travelling the globe with David Attenborough and working on hit shows like Chernobyl. ✍️ @danieldylanwray.bsky.social

I’ve managed to squeeze in a fair bit of niche music into the pages of the Guardian over the years, but especially chuffed with getting to cover the waltzer sound system wars of Hull Fair. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

Did you know that we have two world-leading environmental investigative journalists living in Sheffield? Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor, a married couple, made their names reporting on wildlife crime in Africa and now front hit podcasts such as Buried and Boy Wasted. ✍️ @danieldylanwray.bsky.social

Tales From A Hard City is a remarkable, v v funny and overlooked documentary. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, I look at how it's a useful accompanying document to tracing the origins of another Sheffield landmark turning 30 this month: Pulp's Different Class. thequietus.com/culture/film...

“It’s become this indelible thing for Sheffield people now. It’s in the city’s blood.” Love Threads? If so, you’ll definitely enjoy this piece by @danieldylanwray.bsky.social about new doc Survivors: The Spectre of Threads ahead of its world premiere at the Sheffield Film Festival next weekend.

A quick update on #JDTwitch -- a new separate fund to raise money for care for others at the hospice he is at has been started by the family, with some of the Crowdfunder proceeds helping to start things there. Full details are here -- JD continues to want to give back to others.

there's almost nobody in This Thing Of Ours who doesn't owe something to Keith in one way or another, so let's all chip in a few quid when he needs it most... very glad to hear he's comfortable at last

I love the documentary American Movie very deeply. I wrote the latest entry in the my feelgood movie series on it about how inspiring I find the purity and heart of it on top of the lols. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ju...

It's here! The Quietus Albums of the Year So Far 2025. What's at Number One? How many have you heard? buff.ly/h3osP6p @normanrecords.com