Sheffield’s Corporation played host to Nick Parker, Headsticks and Shanghai Treason in a night of singalongs, political bite and high-octane Celtic energy. (2/5/2025)
There’s something about Corporation that just feels right for a night of raw, heartfelt music. Tucked away on Milton Street, the building started life as a cutlery factory and later a warehouse before being reborn as one of Sheffield’s most beloved live venues. Over the years, it’s hosted everyone from Bring Me The Horizon to Alkaline Trio, and it’s still proudly flying the flag for Sheffield’s strong musical heritage—think Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, and Def Leppard. It’s a city with music running through its veins, and Friday night was another example of that spirit in full force.
Opening the night was the ever-likeable Nick Parker, stepping up solo with his trusty acoustic guitar and a warm presence that immediately drew the early crowd in. With a strong fanbase already gathered down the front, singing every word back to him, Nick delivered a thoughtful set that hit all the right notes. ‘Departures’ kicked things off beautifully, setting the tone for what followed. One standout was ‘Es Tut Mir Leid’, a bittersweet tune that got people dancing, arms around each other, in that way only a live gig can make happen.
Next up, Headsticks brought a noticeable shift in energy, blasting onto the stage with the punchy opener ‘Cold Grey English Skies’. Frontman Andrew Tranter – equal parts firebrand and friendly face – commanded the crowd with ease, a mix of righteous anger and charm that had people singing like it mattered. I caught up with Andrew and the rest of the band before their set – Stephen Dunn (guitar), Tom Carter (bass), and Nick Bayes (drums) – for a quick chat and a mini photoshoot to go alongside the Punktuation review of their upcoming album ‘The Best Thing on TV‘, which hits pre-order on June 1st.
The latest track off the album, ‘The God Song’ was aired and landed hard, while long-time favourites like ‘Tyger Tyger’ and ‘Naked’ had the front row – many of whom Andrew seemed to know by name – fired up and fully locked in. They wrapped up with the anthemic ‘Peace and Quiet’, sending fists into the air and leaving the stage to huge cheers. This was my fourth time watching Headsticks and they genuinely get better each time, can’t wait to catch them in August at Rebellion Festival.
Closing the night were local heroes Shanghai Treason, a five-piece who’ve been making serious waves since forming in 2019. Their sound – banjo-fuelled, flat cap-wearing, Celtic-tinged punk – felt right at home in Corporation’s gritty walls. Fronted by the magnetic Sam Christie, the band wasted no time launching into the stomping ‘Bones’, the opening track from their excellent third album ‘Sonder‘, released in February. The rest of the gang – Tom Hardy (banjo), Joel Hughes (bassist), Tom Jackson (guitar/vocals), and Alex (drums) – brought pure energy.
I had a great chat with Joel earlier in the night – turns out he also runs the bar over at Yellow Arch, another cracking Sheffield venue. The whole set was a blast: fast, loud, smile-inducing and totally their own. For a first-timer like me, it was an eye-opener – refreshing and genuinely exciting. Definitely one to look out for and again another one that I’ll be on the look out for at Rebellion!
Three bands, three different flavours, and a crowd that never stopped moving. It was one of those nights that reminded you why small venue gigs matter. Honest, loud, and absolutely full of life. Get out there and support them before it’s too late!
Main Photo (Shanghai Treason) Credit / All Photos: PHIL THORNS
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