Float Along Festival: Championing local venues and emerging talent in the coolest fashion.
In the midst of struggles faced by independent venues across the UK, Float Along Festival offered a helping hand to Sheffield’s grassroots music scene. By curating a vibrant, genre-spanning lineup playing some of the city’s local spots, the one-day festival not only showcased fresh, exciting talent, but also reinforced the importance of keeping these venues alive. With artists like BBC6’s Artist of the Year Antony Szmierek lending their support, this year’s edition felt like a step in the right direction, showing the unique atmosphere and energy that grassroots venues bring.
Antony Szmierek playing The Leadmill’s Main Stage. Credit: Amelia Garrett
Now in its third year, Float Along Festival has established itself as a must-attend event in Sheffield’s music calendar. With over 30 bands performing across stages in the city’s cultural quarter, the atmosphere was buzzing, filled with music lovers from across the UK and even Europe. Everywhere you looked conversations were sparking among festival-goers who bonded over their shared love for new, genre-spanning music. Whilst celebrating the talent of some of the UK’s most exciting acts, the day also felt like a celebration of Sheffield’s grassroots music scene, with a vibrant sense of community that you could feel at every stage.
The festival used three of Sheffield’s venues during the day—The Leadmill, Corporation, and Sidney + Matilda—all of which hold a significant place in the city’s grassroots music scene. At a time when independent venues across the UK are facing rising financial challenges, festivals like Float Along provide much-needed support, boosting activity and revenues for venues involved. Beyond this economic boost, inner-city festivals like this also help keep these venues relevant by hosting some of the country’s most talked-about emerging artists and attracting industry figures like Steve Lamacq, who led interviews with artists at Float Along. Steve Lamacq himself is a huge advocate for supporting grassroots venues, speaking about the issue whenever he can and being a part of Independent Venue Week, so it felt apt to have him up in Sheffield for the day.
“Float Along not only celebrates the existing musical heritage of Sheffield but also injects fresh energy and innovation into the local scene, while fostering a sense of community. Discovering your new favourite band while supporting independent venues is what drives us in the music industry.”
— Mark Dunn, Float Along Festival Organiser
Local venues are crucial in terms of supporting future talent; providing spaces for emerging musicians to develop their skills and connect with new audiences. According to the Music Venues Trust (MVT), financial pressures forced around 125 venues to pause their live events in 2023, with over half closing permanently. As a result, fewer opportunities would exist for local acts to develop their talent, emphasing the need for support in this area. Float Along highlighted this importance perfectly through their collaboration with BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield, who curated a lineup featuring acts such as Bug Teeth (pictured), Formal Sppeedwear, Honesty, and more.
We caught up with Antony Szmierek, who headlined The Leadmill’s Main Stage this year, to hear his thoughts on this topic. As someone who began his musical journey in small venues across the North and Greater Manchester, Antony has seen firsthand how essential these spaces are for emerging artists. Last year, he was named BBC6 Music's Artist of the Year, a title that shows his journey from performing in local venues to receiving national recognition. Now, as he prepares for the release of his debut album, Service Station At The End Of The Universe, on February 28th, Antony remains deeply connected to the grassroots music scene that supports his growth.
Here’s what he had to say about the role independent venues and promoters play in an artist's career:
“Even before promoters started to take notice, I’d already put on a few gigs myself, curating the lineup at local venues you could hire for a few hundred quid. It was nice not feeling like you had to wait for permission to perform, you know? Now, no matter how big it gets, those independent venues are the ones you crave. A hundred people going mad in a small room is something you just can’t beat.”
Looking back on this year's festival, it’s obvious that this event isn’t just about great music, it’s also about the support it brings to Sheffield’s music scene. With the backing of industry figures like Steve Lamacq and artists like Antony Szmierek, Shame, and more, Float Along embodies the community and creativity that defines grassroots music. We can’t wait to continue supporting it for years to come—keeping the hearts of Sheffield’s venues beating.
