Interview with BBC Radio 1's Chris Stark

I caught up with Radio One funny man Chris Stark who told me all about his surreal life, his tips for getting into radio and his praise for Sheffield.

Radio X Chris Moyles Podcast

Here's a podcast I helped assemble for Chris Moyles Breakfast show on Radio X. I took some of the highlights and cut them down to the best bits.

https://www.acast.com/thechrismoylesshowonradioxpodcast/episode-14-the-chris-mas-moyles-festive-podcast

Forge Radio: Just Joshing (February)

Our first week on air! We bring to you new features including Track of the Bleak and The Half News. In our second show we look forward to The Brits and remind ourselves of who's graced The Brits stage over the years.

NME: Hyena and Piano Wire announce details of co-headline tour

Whilst undertaking work experience at NME, I had the opportunity to write up news stories for their website. Here's one about Hyena and Piano Wire's co-headline tour.

My Demo 2014-2015

My demo from 2014-2015 below includes presenting skills, commentary, interviews and fun features. Click and listen!

New Music Mondays: October

Forge Presents... New Music Mondays 19/10/2015 by Forge Radio Music on Mixcloud

Forge Presents...New Music Mondays 12/10/15 by Forge Radio Music on Mixcloud

Forge Presents... New Music Mondays 05/10/2015 by Forge Radio Music on Mixcloud

Slow Club Interview

I caught up with Slow Club and soaked in the sun before their show at Tramlines Festival 2015!

Formation Interview

Check out this cosy interview I did with the lovely chaps from Formation!

Forge TV: Tramlines Highlights

I hooked up with Forge TV and went down to Tramlines to talk to some bands, the public, and have a great weekend in the sunshine (and showers). Take a look below!

The View From The Afternoon - End Of Season

The View From The Afternoon - Rod or Rocky? by Jjshreeve on Mixcloud

The Devonshire Street Demolition Decision

Buildings that survived The Blitz are set to be demolished after Sheffield City Council gave permission for planning to go ahead.

Photo by Shefnews

The work will see 162-170 Devonshire Street knocked down and replaced by a three storey building consisting of 14 apartments, a restaurant and a shop.

The decision comes after a majority vote by councillors to demolish some of Sheffield’s most loved shops. However, there has been great opposition resulting in the biggest protest in the city’s planning history. 

An online petition which gathered over 20,000 signatures was initially set up by Sheffield poet, Jonathan Butcher, who stocks his books at Rare and Racy, which is one of the shops that will be demolished. He said: “The repercussions of this will be immense. The amount of people who come to Sheffield because of its character and what it offers culturally has a massive impact on our reputation and economy.”

The councillors are the ones “to blame” according to Mr Butcher and their decision has come under mass scrutiny as local band, Drenge, have labelled Sheffield City Council as “one of the most spineless city councils in the UK”. 

Deputy council leader, Leigh Bramall, has responded to these criticisms and said: “Perhaps they don’t fully appreciate Planning Law. I too feel disappointed that we do not have sufficient control to protect buildings in the manner we would like.”

Planning Law refers to the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which often takes the decision out of local councils hands and acts in favour of the developer. The NPPF was created in 2012 following the Coalition’s Localism Act in 2011 with the aim to make regional planning much simpler and more accessible.

Primesite Ltd’s application adheres to the NPPF as they state that the new buildings will retain the original character of those before them. Furthermore, planning officers have recommended that the plans should go ahead. Were the councillors to go against their decision and it went to an appeal, it would cost them excessive amounts money. 

This meant that a majority of seven councillors voted in favour of the demolition, with three voting against and one abstention. 

Sheffield Central Labour MP, Paul Blomfield, who is currently campaigning in the run up to the local election, has expressed similar frustration as fellow Labour party member, Leigh Bramall. 

Mr Blomfield has laid out how his party would tackle planning issues differently if elected into parliament on May 7th. He said: “What Labour will do is give councils more powers to intervene and to stop decisions like this so that they have a greater opportunity to shape the communities in the way that local people want. We would give council’s more power to establish use class orders.”

These ‘use classes’ apply when buildings are categorised depending on their use by The Town and Country Planning Order 1987. In relation to this scenario it states that shops (A1 use class) can be changed to restaurants (A3 use class) without the need for planning permission. Increased council powers on use class orders may allow situations like these to be prevented in the future. 

Sheffield Civic Trust have stated that the proposed restaurant or cafe unit undermines the Devonshire Quarter Action Plan, which suggests that the shops should be preserved to maintain Devonshire Street’s quirky character.

However, The Green Party’s Jillian Creasy, who is also standing for Parliament for Sheffield Central in May, is disgruntled by the decision but admits: “The Devonshire Quarter Action Plan is not strong enough guidance to trump the national guidance.”

She also said: “I think this is important because it’s a historical thing, wanting to retain those buildings that have some sort of architectural interest.” Sheffield Civic Trust have supported this view in that the trio of buildings ‘form part of the broader setting of the adjacent Grade II listed Wharncliffe Fireclay Works and adjoining showroom.’

However, despite the historical values of the surrounding buildings, the current shop buildings are not listed. The council could have undergone ‘spot-listing’ in a last ditch attempt to prevent the demolition, but this would only cover the building for six months whilst awaiting on a permanent decision. Mrs Creasy states that getting the buildings listed “might have made a difference.”

Whilst councillors and the public mull over how they could’ve prevented what seems an unstoppable decision from occurring, Jonathan Butcher says he will continue to challenge the decision with fellow opposers who are ‘aiming for a Judicial Review.’

Meanwhile, the shop owners of 162-170 Devonshire Street consider their future. The oldest of the shops, Rare and Racy, has been there since 1969 but the owner, Alan Capes, has refused to comment on the matter as he has a lease with the landlord for another two years. Either side of him, Natural Bed Company and Syd and Mallory’s Emporium will also wave goodbye to the area once deemed Sheffield’s ‘independent quarter’.

Syd and Mallory’s Emporium have displayed letters of opposition from the public in their shop window. Owner, Lucy Jo Newell, said she first heard about the plans to demolish her shop through social media. “We were annoyed and shocked. We thought this was the best location we’d ever get in Sheffield and thought we’d be here forever but then that changed.”

Stuart Haxton, a security officer at Meadowhall, understood the change and said: “The whole principle of business is that the weak ones go and the strong survive, that’s cruel but that’s what it is.” 

Primesite’s agents, Coda Planning, have claimed that buildings are in a state of ‘disrepair’, echoed by the council. However, David Jenkins, 60, said: “The council’s argument is that they’re beyond repair but do we believe our politicians?” This is view is supported by The Hallamshire Historic Buildings Society who state that the building is in ‘generally adequate condition’ due to repairs undergone in the 1980s and thus Coda Planning’s argument is not valid.

For now the decision remains to demolish the current buildings. Development will begin on the area no later than the expiration of 3 years from the decision date to comply with the Town and Country Planning Act. 

@JJShreeve

The View From The Afternoon March & April

The View From The Afternoon - 9th March by Jjshreeve on Mixcloud

The View From The Afternoon - Animal Songs by Jjshreeve on Mixcloud

The View From The Afternoon - 13th April by Jjshreeve on Mixcloud

The View From The Afternoon - 20th April by Jjshreeve on Mixcloud

The View From The Afternoon - 2nd March

This week there's some big new tracks from the likes of Blur, Drenge and Everything Everything as well as man of the hour, Jack Garratt! Keep listening for my new feature too called 'Birthday Beats', celebrating albums that mark a special birthday in 2015. This week it's Bloc Party's 'Silent Alarm'.

(@JJShreeve)

The View From The Afternoon - 23rd February

Listen below for more fun and games in the form of #TakeItOrShreeveIt along with new music from a new band, Blaenavon.

(@JJShreeve)

The View From The Afternoon - Back On Air!

This week, new tracks from The Prodigy, Slaves, Swim Deep and The Bohicas along with a new feature called #TakeItOrShreeveIt. Listen below!

(@JJShreeve)

Interview with Blaenavon

Blaenavon have become renowned as the band who doesn't release music. Almost eighteen months since their last release, the KOSO EP, they say things are about to change.

With a handful of festivals on the horizon, a debut album nearing completion and school left to one side, the trio are finally making use of their musical abilities. Tonight at The Leadmill in Sheffield they support Dry The River on an intimate UK tour but unlike some support acts, they leave the crowd wanting more of them rather than the headline band.

Live they are one of the tightest units around and fit snuggingly amongst the likes ofDry The River themselves and The Maccabees. 'Denim Patches' brews slowly, with Ben Gregory's vocals wavering like latter's frontman, Orlando Weeks. Other crowd favourite, 'Into The Night' shifts through picky riffs and drummer Harris McMillan turns tribal on the drums.

The crowd are treated to a taste of new tracks to come with thicker bass lines and strings that ring more like synths in what sounds like older influences from The Cure. 'Swans' is the highlight though, and despite it being first played before the band had even accomplished puberty, it's lullaby opening is a throwback to The Maccabees 'Toothpaste Kisses'. It's a wailing love song and far too mature for their youthful souls but a sure sign that their album to come could be a dark horse to say the least.

I had the chance to talk to the band just moments before they went on stage and they revealed more information about the album, their thoughts on the Brits and misleading song names.

Listen below:


By Josh Shreeve (@JJShreeve)

Interview - Slaves - NME Awards Tour

The NME Awards creep up on you each year and you have to fumble to think of deserved winners of the glamorous 'middle finger' award. Unlike some of the winners, which you won't remember in years to come, the NME Awards Show provides some of the finest new talents around to tour the UK around the month of February.

Slaves backstage before their gig in Norwich last year (photo by Cal Beasley).

Traditionally including four acts, although tonight The Amazing Snakeheads have pulled out, the first slot is sacred and held by the likes of Coldplay, Florence and the Machine and the Kaiser Chiefs. This year it's the turn of Slaves to kick off the 2015 NME Awards Tour at The Leadmill in Sheffield, but first they must decipher which is the best flavour of Monster Munch and after settling on pickled onion, they sit down for a chat. Listen to what they had to say through stuffed mouthfuls of stinkin' crisps.

Interview by Josh Shreeve (@JJShreeve)

Slaves Release 'Feed The Mantaray' Video

Slaves have released the surreal video for their latest single, 'Feed The Mantaray'.

The pair, who are currently on the NME Awards Tour, have released their most eccentric video yet, which features, naturally, a giant mantaray chasing them on a sea bed of pick 'n' mix. The track comes of their debut album, 'Are You Satisfied?', which is due for release on June 1st. 

You can watch the video for 'Feed The Mantaray' below:

(@JJShreeve)

Live Review - Slaves - NME Awards Tour 2015 - The Leadmill, Sheffield

You’ve got to give it to Slaves. Not only have they managed to make it to the first night of the tour, when other band on the bill, The Amazing Snakeheads have just dropped out, but they’ve come prepared. They claim they don’t have pre-show plans but armed with a fridge full of ham sandwiches and clenching packets of monster munch, they’re ready for war. 

A giant mantaray lurks behind Slaves as they open the NME Awards Tour 2015.

It’s down to them to get the NME Awards Tour 2015 kicked off with ‘White Knuckle Ride’, the catalyst for the first spews of beer. In between erratic marching, vocalist and stand alone drummer, Isaac Holman, asks the audience what their favourite type of biscuit is but there’s little time to answer as he scrunches his face up once more and batters the skins whilst Laurie Vincent shouts, ‘anyone for a garibaldi?’

Not taking themselves too seriously could be the key to success. Holman is shy yet mischievous off stage, but once in front of a crowd it’s his chance to confront everything that’s ever pissed him off, including ‘Debbie’ in ‘Where’s Your Car Debbie?’, which he says is of a story of searching for her car with a Sasquatch in hot pursuit. When joined in by Vincent’s vocals, there’s shards of The Clash flying about, but the duo claim they’re not trying to sound like anyone, although not even the most acute hearing can draw comparisons to anything from Sex Pistols punk to American garage rock. 

The street poetry tales continue from a shirtless Holman, who turns the ‘Yorkshire’ chants into ‘Feed The Mantaray’ when a roadie joins them onstage dressed as a giant mantaray. It’s all of a sudden turned very Shooting Stars as if Vic Reeves is shredding guitar as Bob Mortimer spits ludicrous venom. The light hearted story telling turns ferocious and politically charged in ‘The Hunter’, as opening lines, ‘the people are freezing and the water is warm, and the ice caps are melting what will happen when they’re gone?’ gather momentum and there’s a riot building in front of Vincent who peers through the mist. Moments later Holman finds himself amongst this mass as he leaps in during the breakdown of ‘Hey’, using them as a human towel to dry every beed of sweat he’s exuded over a short but savage set.

(@JJShreeve)

Zane Lowe Set To Leave BBC Radio 1; How Will They Cope?

The news came out on Sunday that Zane Lowe, Radio 1 DJ and all-round music know-it-all, would be packing his bags and leaving BBC studios in March.

It was no coincidence that in 2003, two phenomenons came out of New Zealand; the Lord of The Rings films featuring the Kiwi's green pastures, and the other a sprightly DJ setting off on his own adventure between the XFM and BBC Radio 1 studios. Twelve years later, after a barrage of sirens and loops of twenty different nationalities pronounce 'Zane Lowe', before each song, and the man has announced that he will leave the BBC studios. The next chapter of his career lies in The States at Apple headquarters, and who can blame him. But what's going to happen to the holy grail of Radio 1; that 7pm-9pm Mondays-Thursdays slot?

The mixing desk is big to fill, but already Radio 1 bosses have found someone willing enough to see if the headphones fits. Annie Mac is no stranger to the radio game, and her shows often sound as if they could be replicated within a live festival capacity, which she often does. She's been at the station for almost as long as Lowe himself and has a firm grasp of what it takes to put together engaging shows and can chat to some of the biggest musicians out there without a starstruck gaze.

Return of the Mac... to a new time slot.

There's probably few other options the heads at Radio 1 thought of, so Mac is a reassuring choice. However, with all her expertise in the field of electronic dance music, which she already presents at 7pm on a Friday, you can't help but feel this could be a bit limiting when tuning into her first show on 9th March where you're greeted with a soothing voice and the intro to Route 94 instead of an ecstatic Lowe drilling Metallica to your core whilst whizzing onomatopoeic words over the airways.

The point is that Zane Lowe has built more than just the foundations for many acts and much of the music the nation, let alone other nations listen to today. Yes, he has his favourites; Enter Shikari often get more than their fair share of the pie but the enthusiasm that oozes from the New Zealander's twangs towards a largely versatile amount of music is unrivalled. It's whether genres such as rock, which is only just resurfacing due to the success of bands such as Royal Blood, also championed by Lowe, will continue to get the coverage they deserve amongst the dance and R'n'B scenes which have thrived for the past decade or so under Radio 1.

For all his annoying twists and fizzes, it's hard to name someone with quite so much enthusiasm and knowledge of the past, present and future of music. He's been capable of capturing some exclusive interviews with people such as Jay-Z and Chris Martin, right through to giving some of the smallest names a go on his show. Annie Mac is likely to mould the two hour slot in a way which probably reflects more on Lowe than herself, but will she still keep features such as 'hottest record in the world' and 'next hype'? Most probably not, but so long as Lowe passes on the baton of versatility and all things future, Mac should settle into the big chair soon enough. The question for everyone right now though is, Mr Lowe, which song shall you choose to play you out one last time?

(@JJShreeve)