Groovy, Laidback and Nasty: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield
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Availability:In StockContributor:Daniel Dylan WrayTheme:Chronological Period/20th Century, Cultural Region/BritishPublish date:8/4/2026Pages:416
From dazzling electronic futurism to pioneering post-punk, via pop, metal, bassline, bleep techno and generation-defining indie rock, Sheffield has long been a crucible for world-leading music. Some artists have excelled on the fringes, others have achieved global success, but all remain connected through a fervently independent ethos. In Sheffield, creativity flourished in the face of isolation, economic decline and bleak political circumstances, resulting in some of Britain's most groundbreaking and singular music. But the region's ingrained humility and dogged stoicism means it has never been documented or celebrated to the level of more hubristic cities. In Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, acclaimed Sheffield journalist Daniel Dylan Wray sets out to remedy this, telling the story of the city's DIY spirit and the musical visionaries and innovators who helped build its inimitable legacy. Exhaustively researched and spanning almost seven decades, it features over 150 interviews with the likes of Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Self Esteem and Richard Hawley, along with countless others. Both a compelling cultural study and an unapologetic love letter to the city, this - finally - is the definitive musical history Sheffield so richly deserves.
Daniel Dylan Wray is a music and culture writer who lives in Sheffield. Primarily writing for the Guardian, he has also written for outlets including the BBC, Pitchfork, The Independent, The Times, New Statesman, Uncut, Time Out, The Quietus, Mixmag, Sheffield Tribune and countless others. Groovy, Laidback and Nasty is his first book.
Publisher: White Rabbit
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