Wooderson.

Sheffield post-punk four-piece Wooderson only recently released their debut album Let The Man Speak, but have already firmly established their presence in the city. They have impressed with their sound on record, but ultimately shine when in their element on stage, and will continue to do so with tour dates throughout winter. We spoke to guitarist Loic Turkey about recording, DIY music and... George Michael. There are definitely some softer moments on this album compared to your older stuff, like 'Too Many Questions' and 'Mint Condition'. Was this a conscious decision? It was not a conscious decision really, as the intensity of our songs depended on how stoned I was at the time of writing. I have often been described as a gentleman but never a gentle man and I think that sums up my attitude. What sort of bands or artists were you listening to while writing Let The Man Speak? I would always cite George Michael as my main musical influence when writing songs. His bass work is above outstanding and I think the influence really shows, certainly on songs like 'Sleepwalking' and 'Let The Man Speak'. Also his sense of melody is second to none and only Mick Hucknall or Freddie Mercury rival his vocal range. Surprising as it may seem, George Michael has done more for Wooderson than any other band or artist that has ever existed. Did recording in the Audacious Art Space have an impact? The Audacious Art Experiment is our home, not spiritually but quite literally. We spend half our week inside the Audacious Space. We don't particularly enjoy recording but doing it where we felt comfortable made it as fun as can be. There is a microwave and we know where the toilet and local amenities are, which is important for us. It also meant we could record with someone we trusted and who knew exactly how we needed to sound, rather than someone who is happy to take the money, make us sound like something we're not, and not give a toss about anything but his portfolio and a stack of cash. How important do you think collectives like The Audacious Art Experiment are to local music? Without a doubt I believe collectives like The Audacious Art Experiment are paramount to DIY music, locally, nationally and globally. They provide an alternative to the irresponsible spending of money and allow musicians and consumers to realise this and avoid being at the mercy of middlemen who set prices based on profit and beer sales. From a consumer's view, The Audacious Art Experiment means I can watch and hear incredible music for a realistic and entirely fair price. From a performer's view, I can show you what I'm made of without the guilt of ripping off the consumer. Without collectives like The Audacious Art Experiment, I wouldn't even bother picking up my guitar. How would you rate Sheffield for up-and-coming bands? I'm not really sure it's my place to say, as I can't confirm whether it's any better or worse than cities like Leeds, Bradford, London or Stoke. In each city there is a smorgasbord of incredible music amongst hundreds who are maybe not so great. Sheffield is no different and I guess we've just got to be happy that you can see a variation on any night of the week. What bands around Sheffield should people be keeping an eye on? There is one genius in town. His name is Adam John Humphrey and he performs under the name Toucans. He is a 50s throwback of the highest calibre and his music makes me melt like a tin of Roses in a bubble bath. His songs are beautiful. wooderson.bandcamp.com )