Live Picks (Nov '18): Hosted by Sam Gregory
After 15 years as a label and, more recently, as the leading DIY space in Sheffield, the Audacious Art Experiment will be winding up its affairs at the end of the year. Don't worry - the Harwood Street space will be reincarnated under a new name, with the same mix of leftfield gigs, oddball club nights and performance art pieces that the Audacious has carved out such a niche for.
"TAAE has pretty much meant life itself over the last 15 years," Luke Twyman told me. "A rapid journey down a meandering river, banked either side by the settlements of friendship, community, identity, inspiration, wonder, anxiety, expression, love, fear, jubilation, exploration, grief and comfort." After a decade and a half the record label, which has its origins in Grimsby, bows out with a two-day party at Picture House Social featuring friends old and new. All good things.
Sat 3 Nov | Picture House Social | Free
Aiming to address line-up inequality, the debut of this all-female festival hits Sheffield with a headline set from She Drew The Gun, plus music from Martha Hill, No Fixed Identity, Dead Naked Hippies and the spectral 3am pop of Loux.
Mon 5 Nov | Crucible | £12 (£9 concessions, £5 under 35s)
The diverse membership of Rafiki Jazz, including refugee musicians, draws together strands of global music from Brazil, India, Pakistan and Senegal into one entrancing whole. They're accompanied by live digital animations from Islamic geometric artist Zarah Hussain.
Fri 9 Nov | Night Kitchen | £16.65
Selector's selector TJ Hertz makes his Night Kitchen debut with a three-hour set for Front & Back. Fresh from releasing the slithering and organic new tune 'Secret Snake' from his new PAN album Cocoon Crush, the Berlin-based DJ is joined by Smithfield regulars Efemme, ES-Q and Ste Roberts.
9-10 Nov | Picture House Social | £16.90 (£11.30 day ticket)
Both a celebration and a swansong, this two-dayer features DUDS, Mutualism resident Clemency and the AV extravaganza of Adrena Adrena on the Friday. Saturday stars Ganglions, Container, Housewives and Hyperstition Duo, a new project from a member of the much-missed Blood Sport.
Fri 9 Nov | Firth Hall | £17.60 (£8.80 concessions)
Supporting educational projects in Gaza, this fundraiser features Palestinian writer, storyteller and singer Reem Kelani with songs about the occupied territories and its diaspora. She's joined by The Commoners choir, led by Bruno Heinen.
Fri 16 Nov | Cafe Totem | £5
Raising money for mental health charity Mind, Macho Music Is Stupid return with trash-thrash surf rock from The Sleazoids and angular pop from Waldo Reset, featuring members of Ganglions. There's also torch songs from The Sweet Nothings and sleepy, shimmering pop from the suitably-named Heavy Lids.
Sat 17 Nov | Yellow Arch | £11
Henge peddle what they call 'cosmic dross', a heady mix of liquid funk and fried psychedelia beamed directly from outer space. Given their claim that "there are no Earth words to describe these sounds", you'll either have to listen to new album Attention Earth! or catch them live to pick up these transmissions.
Wed 28 Nov | Lescar | £9
A double helping of cutting-edge jazz. The duo Skeltr make up for their small size with an array of synths, loops and beats to accompany their fierce sax runs, while hometown boys Bad Brew infuse their jazz with shades of prog rock and the cinematic ambition of bands like Portico Quartet.
Wed 28 Nov | DINA | £6.95
Touring her tenth solo album, Unschuld und Verwüstung, German pianist and producer Morgenstern makes a rare UK visit along with saxophonist Christian Biegai. The founder of the all-female Monika Enterprise will be supported by Birmingham-based duo Earth Is Flat, playing 'dub-influenced electronic world music'.
Thu 29 Nov | Abbeydale Picture House | £18.87
Minimal folk three-piece Lau take to the grandiose surroundings of the Picture House with a new batch of songs created in and inspired by the Shetlands. These include 'Scapa Flow 1919', written for the BBC about the scuttling of the great German fleet off the coast of Orkney.
Fri 30 Nov | Shoulder of Mutton, Bradwell | Free
The parallel Pogues make a triumphant return to the pretty Peaks village of Bradwell. Described by Pogues drummer Andrew Ranken as their best tribute band, the group are on tour from Nottingham and Glasgow to London and Liverpool, so this is your best chance to catch them in a smaller setting.
Sat 1 Dec | The Harley | £17.50
Metal band Malevolence perform their debut album Reign Of Suffering in full for the second time, after a Yellow Arch date sold out instantly. Support from Split Knuckle, Guilt Trip and Resist.
