Inclusive, explosive, and unforgettable… Don Valley at full tilt.
Once a landscape dominated by dark, satanic steel mills and the thunder of industry, Sheffield’s Don Valley has reinvented itself as a stage for something altogether different. Where smoke once rose from grimy chimneys, the air now reverberates with drumbeats, guitars, and the roar of festival crowds. The Rock N Roll Circus has made its home in this reclaimed ground, the grass amphitheatre offering a natural arena where the city’s industrial ghosts mingle with a new kind of fire and energy.
Across the weekend, three stages, one being the Big Top, hosted over 60 bands who filled the valley with noise and colour, the music matched by the carnival of spectacle: tightrope walkers teetering in the sky, jugglers and acrobats defying gravity, a circus school daring the brave to join in. Around the amphitheatre, stalls brimmed with food and drink, and the whole event pulsed with a sense of tremendous organisation, inclusivity, and celebration. Once a symbol of hard graft and steel, the Don Valley Bowl now carries its rhythm in a different way, one that Sheffield has fully claimed as its own.
The final day of Rock N Roll Circus was stacked. I managed to catch 18 bands, a marathon of music that showed just how much depth this festival has.
Sam Scherdel, often dubbed the South Yorkshire Springsteen, opened strong. The Doncaster singer-songwriter’s gravelly, soulful voice carried weight, and after breaking through with a Glastonbury slot this year, his following was out in force. Lady of Mars, a London-based indie band inspired by late 70s post-punk and new wave, made a big impression early on.
Then Sleeper, fronted by Louise Wener, reminded everyone why they’re still adored. Emerging from the Britpop wave and reforming in 2017, their alt-rock set had the crowd belting out ‘Sale of the Century’ and ‘Nice Guy Eddie’.
Weave, a fresh Sheffield four-piece formed just a year ago, delivered a tight indie/post-punk sound. Tom Littlewood proved himself as a frontman with serious presence — one to watch. Girlband! were another highlight. Nottingham-based and self-described as “a punk band making pop songs,” they were fronted by Georgie and felt like a discovery. With hints of The Cranberries and Nirvana, they were one of my favourites of the day.
The North, an indie punk trio from Leeds, kept the energy bar high. Another Liverpool act, Jamie Webster, brought his folk-infused rock with that natural Scouse charm and connection with the crowd.
Arkayla, Manchester-based and only a year old, showed plenty of promise with their indie rock grit. Then came Matt Felix, one of the most unique acts of the day. Born in France, raised in Bali, now London-based, he brought a creative, theatrical performance that was dramatic and full of storytelling. Quirky, moody, emotional — he’s even been compared to “a more atmospheric Bob Dylan.” I’d say track him down ASAP.
The big hitters started rolling in. Embrace, formed back in 1996, drew one of the day’s loudest singalongs for ‘Gravity’. Their alt-rock power still lands heavy, with shades of Oasis and U2 in their delivery.
Somebody’s Child, Irish songwriter Cian Godfrey, kept things heartfelt and raw.
Sheffield was represented again by Frankie Beetlestone, who mixed raw vocals with polished indie-pop production.
Then Ocean Colour Scene — Britpop legends formed in 1989 — played a storming set with ‘The Day We Caught the Train’ and my personal favourite ‘The Riverboat Song’. Proper nostalgia with a devoted fanbase singing every word.
Freddie Halkon, just 20, already has a fiercely loyal South Yorkshire following. His fresh indie songwriting and heartfelt delivery hit home, with ‘Girl in the Smoking Area’ especially loved by the crowd.
Chanel Yates, out of Manchester, brought a unique blend of country-pop, weaving storytelling that resonated around themes of relationships and growth.
Closing the festival were James, still icons of the Madchester era. Indie-pop anthems like ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Come Home’ had the whole big top moving in unison. Decades on, they’re still cool as hell and the perfect end to a stacked weekend.
Rock N Roll Circus, Sheffield, proved itself across four stacked days as one of the UK’s most unique festival experiences. From the prequel nights with Queens of the Stone Age tearing up the big top, through to the final singalong with James, it was a musical extravaganza that never let up.
The line-ups were loaded with quality and variety. Local talent sat side by side with global names, from Sheffield’s own rising stars like Freak Slug, Bethany Grace, The Denabys, and Precious Pepala, through to heavyweights like Groove Armada, Embrace, Ocean Colour Scene, and Pete Doherty & Carl Barât. Across indie, punk, rock, folk, pop, dance, and even Sheffield’s cheekiest parody outfit Everly Pregnant Brothers, the programming felt like a festival inside a festival, each act adding a new colour to the canvas.
The setting added to the magic — the circus big top isn’t just a gimmick, it’s part of what makes this event different. It’s intimate yet wild, a place where you can watch future stars cutting their teeth before world tours, then turn around and lose your voice singing along to classics like ‘No One Knows’, ‘Gravity’, or ‘Sit Down’.
What really stood out though was the atmosphere. Friendly, inclusive, and buzzing without the edge that sometimes hangs over bigger festivals. People were there for the music, and they got it in spades. Tremendous value for money when you think about the sheer range of acts crammed into one weekend.
If you want a festival that does things its own way, where the bands deliver, the vibe is genuine, and the setting is unforgettable, Rock N Roll Circus is it. Do yourself a favour and lock in next year’s dates: September 4th – 6th, 2026. Save it in your calendar now!
Main Photo Credit / All Photos: PHIL THORNS
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