5. DIY Shows

Poster from The Birds Nest, Deptford.
Made using architectural mapping techniques.

Poster from Bishops' House, Sheffield.
Made using Photoshop collage.

Another aspect of the Goldsmiths programme that drew my attention was ‘Research through Musical Performance’, a practice I’ve been informally undertaking since graduating in 2017. My connection to Sheffield’s music scene was forged as a student, playing a handful of gigs with my band at the time ‘Outdoor Scene’. It was encouraging to discover independent DIY spaces hosting live music events for the sake of the music rather than just for profit. This contrasted with the ‘pay-to-play’ type gigs I’d experienced in Birmingham where the artists would normally lose out in the cut of ticket sales.

After university ended I continued to perform solo under the name ‘Outdoor Scene’, learning to use a loop pedal to build layers upon my melodic performance. From here I began to gig in other cities, with London and Glasgow providing new and memorable experiences. Back at home in Sheffield I started organising shows of my own, often in unusual spaces - from a 14th Century Bishop’s House to a local bicycle shop.