The Sheffield Beatles Project 2019
The Sheffield Beatles Project are a phenomenon that seems to be becoming something of a Sheffield institution. Since they first hit the stage to perform Revolver at Tramlines a few years ago, what started off as a one-off show, has taken on a life of its own. That show went down so well, that the logical extension was to cover successive Beatles albums every year as each 50th anniversary came around. And so it is that in 2019 we have arrived at Abbey Road, the band’s last album. The biggest crowd of the day assembled in the Folk Forest on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in anticipation of the show. It would be almost unthinkable that anyone in the audience did not know at least some of the songs, indeed several people near me sang along with every single word, such is the enduring, timeless quality of the music on Abbey Road. It was the Beatles’ final album, and perhaps they band knew they’d never record together again. George Harrison contributed his best ever song, Something, and today’s performance of it was one of many highlights. They even managed to arrange for the sun to come out for Here Comes The Sun. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Octopus’s Garden and the beautiful album finale were all there, but for me the most stunning moment came on the lesser known track, I Want You (She’s So Heavy). It’s the longest track on the album at over 7 minutes, and couldn’t be less like the singalong version of the Beatles some people seeing the film Yesterday might be fooled into thinking they were. The main man behind this project, Ben Eckersley, arranged and conducted the 30+ band of musicians so expertly that this performance was given a life way beyond the recorded version. It was a truly stunning arrangement, and was a tribute to the dedication of the many fine Sheffield musicians involved. And if you missed this, all is not lost. Not only are they performing Abbey Road again in December in the O2, they are planning to add a performance of the entire Let It Be album to the bill. If the crowd reaction is anything to go by, I’m predicting that will not be the last we hear of The Sheffield Beatles Project.
Sensoria Loxley event
Who says Nottingham should claim all the glory? Before Robin Hood took up residence in Sherwood Forest, he was known as Robin Of Loxley, and in case it had escaped anyone’s notice, that makes him from Sheffield. Another of our more contemporary Sheffield legends, those folk behind the Sensoria festival, are backing a growing campaign to re-claim the outlaw as one of our own. Most of us would accept that the definitive screen version of Robin Hood was the epic ‘Adventures of Robin Hood’ where he was played by Errol Flynn. Not surprisingly, given the innovative approach of the Sensoria team, they’ve chosen to screen in Storrs Wood in the beautiful Loxley Valley itself, on August 31st, at 2pm and again at 5:30pm. Olivia De Havilland, who recently reached the age of 103, plays Maid Marion, and their on screen love affair was the very definition of a Golden Age Hollywood romance.
Sensoria are not alone in trying to reinstate the Loxley connection. There are plans for a book, permanent markers of key spots in the area, and in May 2020 there will be an ‘Outlaw’s Picnic’, near his ‘birthplace’. The campaign has the backing of Dr David Clarke, of the Centre for Contemporary Legend, at Sheffield Hallam University, who commented,
“Robin Hood is part of our city’s heritage and the story that he was born at Loxley can be traced back in documentary evidence and oral tradition to the early 17th century. The moniker “Robin of Loxley” has since become part of popular culture. Sheffield could make so much more of its status as the birthplace of one England’s greatest folk heroes. We are working with Sensoria to bring him back home.”
Tickets for the screenings are available from www.hoodmat.eventbrite.co.uk for the 2pm screening and www.hoodlatescreening.eventbrite.co.uk for the 5:30pm screening. There will be a small bar on site and food from Sunshine Pizza.
Mark Perkins' online blog 