The One With All The Yoga

It occurs more to me as I get older (yes that does sound old) just how important it is to take care of yourself. Taking care of the mind and body is just as important as doing all the other things that you enjoy and that make you feel good.

Admittedly, I haven't really been into sport and fitness since I took dance and athletics at school - which was many moons ago! This year, I was determined to find a sport or fitness class that I could enjoy and call my own. Something that would make me want to get up, work hard and sweat it out.

A few weeks ago, a very lovely lady friend of mine asked me if I'd like to join a yoga class with her and I said yes. From everything I had heard and read before joining, Yoga seemed like the perfect class for me. A spiritual practice that is good for both physical and mental health. A place where I could keep fit, increase flexibility and clear my headspace. 

Looking around for classes was daunting - there are so many classses, teachers and different styles of yoga. In the end we opted for a class at R1se Yoga (located in the Krynkyl building at Kelham Island) and we found a block booking deal on Wowcher meaning our first four lessons cost just £17. Even better!

R1se offers a range of classes including Chill, Flex and Power yoga and each class is offered in hot or cold setting. Our first session was an evening Flex class with Rosie. I wasn't sure what to expect at first but everyone was really friendly and just before the session, Rosie invited us into the studio to answer any questions and chat about what we would be covering in the class. 

The class was quite busy and was filled with people who had different levels of experience. Being a total beginner, there were points when it was quite hard to keep up or hold the positions Rosie was demonstrating. Pigeons and Scorpions and various Dogs. We then found out that the classes ran in programmes and we had joined in the fifth week! Talk about jumping in at the deep end! But in most cases, there is an easier alternative move and all throughout we were encouraged to do our best and not push ourselves too much or cause discomfort. Rosie is lovely and welcomes questions and feedback at the end, which is really good. With the classes being quite large there isn't always time for indivisible feedback but if there is something you are struggling with, I'm sure Rosie would be happy to chat about it before/after the session.

The classes run for 45 minutes but it really does feel much longer, especially when you're holding a difficult pose and wobbling from side to side. Or maybe that was just me...

The warm down was one of my favourite parts of the routine. There was something so peaceful about  sitting cross legged, back straight, eyes closed, taking in the music and concentrating on breathing. I felt stretched and flexed and challenged. I felt good.

All those upward dogs and downward dogs had my core aching for three days. I mean, I've never met a dog I didn't get on with straight away! But for the rest of the week I felt good about my body and I was eager to book the next session. 

If you're looking for a yoga class, I would recommend R1se yoga as a great starting point. Their classes run daily, everything you need is provided, the atmosphere is lovely and there are a selection of tasty herbal teas for you to try after your session, which is perfect way to warm down whilst having a chat.

I'm already looking forward to next Monday and just hope that my body will (forgive) thank me for it in the long run. I'll let you know how I get on.

Speak soon,

TSN x

The One Where We Were VIP's

Sheffield boasts a number of cinemas, from chain theatres like Vue and Odeon, to independent artsy theatres like Showroom and Curzon.

Now I am a fan of our independent cinemas but naturally a smaller cinema means that there are fewer viewings and fewer films to choose from. Cineworld is an all rounder and although it isn't unique to Sheffield, it's still a place that I enjoy visiting with friends or family for a casual outing.

The lovely staff at Cineworld invited me along their Galentines Day event to try out the VIP service. So I went along to see what all the fuss was about...

Galentines Day is a day for celebrating female friendships and is celebrated on February 13th, the day before Valentines Day. I'd never actually heard of the holiday before but I was definitely on board and recruited one of my best friends to come with me.

To celebrate Cineworld were hosting a special VIP screening of Fifty Shades Freed and they had invited local writers and bloggers (and their gal pals) to attend. 

We were greeted by a member of staff who escorted us into the VIP area and took us on a tour around the lounge. The room was very swanky, the floor sparkled, the dining tables were neatly lined and there were plenty of plush armchairs to sink into. 

Along one side of the room was a self-serve buffet, inclusive of the VIP ticket price. The food was comfort food at its best; Pizza, Mac n' Cheese, Stew. I do think that there could have been more of a varied menu but there was definitely plenty to go around.

Soft drinks and hot drinks were also inclusive but there was also a bar, for those who fancied spicing up their cinema trip. And my favourite part, the snacks! If stuffing your face with a free buffet wasn't enough, there is also a popcorn vendor and a nachos stand. Perfect for grabbing just as you go in.

The seats were ah-mazing! Soft leather reclining seats with room to hold all your snacks and drinks. Chandler and Joey eat your heart out. The capacity of the screen was smaller too, which meant that there were no (or certainly fewer) talkers and rustlers interrupting the film. 

The film itself wasn't my cup of tea and I hadn't seen the two previous films so I had no idea what was going on. My friend, who had seen the others in the series, seemed to enjoy it though.

Personally, I think that £30 is a bit on the pricey side for a regular day out but for a special occasion, a monthly treat or if there is a film that you and your loved ones are really excited about, then I would recommend going VIP. And you do get your money's worth if you are making a night of it.

My first Galentines Day was a lovely one, it was nice to dedicate some time to a good friend doing something a little bit different. Thank you to the lovely staff at Cineworld for inviting us along. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Galentines/Valentines Day. Sending all the love.

Speak soon,

TSN x

The One Where It All Began

One of my favourite spots in Sheffield. No filter necessary.

Hello and welcome to The Sheffield Native. A brand new post for a brand new blog.

Writing the first blog post is a little bit like the first day of starting a new job. It's daunting, it's scary but hopefully by the end we'll all have made it out alive and consider coming back again. Or something to that effect.

The aim of this blog is simple - to shout about all things Sheffield. From the yummiest street food to the coziest pubs, from true vintage treasure troves to the best dog-walking jaunts, from local music to local businesses, hopefully you will find something to inspire you here. Consider this an insider's guide if you will.

Now, of course I don't know everything there is to know about Sheffield but that's all part of the fun! Finding new places and sharing them with you lovely lot. And for those of you who already know Sheffield pretty well, I'll be writing posts on other things too. Recipes, playlists, reviews, interviews...

There are thousands upon thousands of blogs just like this. So, why am I even bothering you may ask? Well...I love writing and after years of studying how to write for magazines and newspapers and all that jazz, I kind of just want to write for me. To write because I enjoy writing and because I have something to say - not just because there's a deadline looming and it looks good on my cv. Heavy, I know. 

So in short, this blog is simply a place for me to write to my hearts content and hopefully some of you will join me on this blogging journey. I know that this won't be everyone's cup of tea but fingers crossed, eh?

Speak soon,
TSN x

The One When I Interviewed Joe Carnall Jnr

JoeCarnall Jnr is something of a household name in Sheffield. After performing and recording as part of Milburn, Reverend & The Makers and The Book Club, it's not very hard to see why.

When it comes to Christmas, the Joe Carnall Jnr & Friends shin-dig is something that provokes more excitement than Father Christmas himself. I caught up with Joe head of his performance at the O2 Academy to chat about this year's bash, his plans for 2016 and his love for Wham. Well, sort of...

TSN: Now, Joe, you are and have been a part of your fair share of bands in Sheffield. How did it all start out for you?

JCJ: This probably goes back to when I was about six years old. Me and my brother joined a football team, we met a couple of lads there and we played on the same football team for years. Then when we were around thirteen we decided that we’d start a band and called ourselves Milburn.

TSN: So you were friends first?

JCJ: Yeah, it was just a case of us all growing up together and being good mates, even after the band split up. We're still really close to this day. But we were all just as rubbish as each other at playing instruments and stuff.

TSN: This year you played Tramlines festival and you performed your solo material. Do you still get nervous putting out a new record?

JCJ: It's strange. I've been singing since I was about fourteen so I don't get nervous about playing in front of people at all. It is different when it's your own stuff. I've always written with bands and you sort of share the burden. This time, it's all on my head. But I don't get nervous anymore, I've passed that stage. It's more excited than nervous now, which is quite sadly really because nerves can be good for you.

TSN: How is it different performing solo as opposed to being part of a band?

JCJ: Well, I've not done loads of gigs yet. Luckily, we've got ten gigs lined up this month which is our first proper tour. We did a couple of support shows for The Enemy, which has been good. I love playing to people who don't know who I am because there’s no expectation. It's the true test of your material. 

TSN: What do you think of Sheffield’s current music scene?

JCJ: I don't really know an awful lot about it. I think you've gotta be a certain age to know all the new bands. You hear about ‘em but I think I'm out of the loop a little bit. I do like a band called Liberty Ship. They've worked with us (Rev and The Makers) before. Really nice lads.

TSN: If you could have written any Christmas song, which would it have been and why?

JCJ: Absolutely great question. I think it would be Last Christmas by Wham. It's gotta be. If you take the word Christmas out of it and replace it with any other word, it could be a hit any time of the year. 

TSN: Easter?

JCJ: Yeah, Last Easter has a ring to it. I just think it's a brilliant song. You can play it on guitar, on the piano, you can sing it...

TSN: Speaking of Christmas, you put on a show every Christmas called Joe Carnall Jnr and Friends. What can people expect from this year's performance?

JCJ: It's bigger...again. I keep pushing myself, which is a bit annoying, but it's the best way to be. The stage is bigger, the room is bigger and there'll be more guests. Liberty Ship will be supporting, it's always nice to get a Sheffield band on first. I mean, why not? It's their crowd too. I'm gonna try and get more people to come along and hopefully some people from outside Sheffield will come too. Let's spread the love a little bit.

(He won’t tell us who else will be making an appearance though…spoil sport.)

TSN: What’s in store for 2016?

JCJ: We should definitely have a record out next year. I just need to finish recording some bits. We've got a label in mind and we're talking about what we're gonna do and when we should do it. I'm gonna see how it goes really. You've just got to put something out there and see what comes back. 

TSN: And finally, if you had your own chat show, which three guests would you invite and why?

JCJ: I'd have Ernest Hemingway, he's a geezer and he loves a drink. Well he's actually a bit of a misogynist but... I bet he's got some good stories to tell. I'd have to have a footballer. Probably Maradona because he's crackers. Then someone who would add some dynamic to it like Bjork. 

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published in print for H Magazine. I thought you still might like to read it. **

The One When I Interviewed Bang Bang Romeo

The past 12 months have been a whirlwind for Bang Bang Romeo. From releasing a new single, shooting a music video in the desert and smashing the festival circuit! I caught up with guitarist Joel Phillips, to see what all the fuss was about…

TSN: So first of all, tell us where your band name came from...

J: I believe the name came from a hazy night in a Sheffield Tapas bar. Bang Bang Romeo creates imagery of love and violence – romantic but brutal. We try to do the same with our song-writing and performance so we feel it fits and gives off the right impression.

TSN: How would you describe your sound?

J: We've had some flattering reviews of late. "A hard edged Fleetwood Mac" was really flattering from Chris Kimsey, who we massively respect. He has worked with The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin so coming from him, makes it mean more. What makes us stand out is that we aren't trying to fit in or sound a certain way, we have just stuck to our guns and our influences have come through to make a sound we all love, learning from the greats without just being an imitation.

TSN: If you could create the soundtrack to any film - which film would it be?

J: The new Tarantino film The Hateful Eight is on the way and we are all huge fans of the films and their soundtracks. That would be the absolute dream. BBC Introducing also commented that some of our tracks sound a bit Bond-esque. It would be awesome also to have a crack at something as iconic as a Bond theme tune. The old ones like Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever are just phenomenal.

TSN: What is your song writing process?

J: Usually the ideas will come from Ross, he is the main songwriter. He will usually bring the bare bones of a song to practice, then we all add our input and it will come out sounding completely different three hours later. It feels really good at the moment because we’re all on exactly the same page; we know exactly what we want it to sound like.

TSN: The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for you .Tell us, what has been the main highlight for you since starting out?

J: Our latest single Johannesburg was play-listed by XFM, who have been amazing and supportive. We flew out to Spain and shot the video in the deserts of Almeria, which was an amazing experience. Topping it all off, playing Isle Of Wight was an absolute dream. We were even picked out as highlight of the Festival by The Mirror, alongside Fleetwood Mac and Blur! We were absolutely stunned; it felt amazing to be put up on that pedestal with two of our favourite acts. We have to keep pinching ourselves.

TSN: Speaking of highlights. You recently played Isle of Wight Festival and Tramlines here in Sheffield. How were the two festivals different?

J: Isle of Wight is a festival steeped in history and heritage so it was such an honour to be asked to play. We were an unknown to most people, so when the tent started filling as we played, we knew it was purely because of what people were seeing and hearing. Tramlines is the complete opposite. It’s home turf for us, with lots of friendly faces and a great vibe. We did three shows this year - a nice sweaty intimate affair at Frog and Parrot, a set on the big stage on Devonshire Green and on the Tramlines busker tram. The whole weekend is great, Sheffield comes alive with music! We are so grateful to how everyone locally has got behind us this year.

TSN: So, what is next for Bang Bang Romeo?

J: We've just started working with an agent thanks to the amazing summer we’ve had and there's lots of exciting things going off that we aren't actually allowed to talk about yet. We are really excited about how things are developing.

TSN: And finally, if you were a chat show host and you could pick the brains of ANY three musicians, past or present, who would you choose?

J: That would have to be Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Jimmy Page. All for the same reasons too. Absolute genius's who were pioneering and all are massive influences on the way we sound. It would be amazing to get an insight into that genius! Imagine those three passing a guitar around? Mind blowing.

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published for print by H Magazine. I thought you still might like to read it. **

The One When I Interviewed Childhood

Childhood has been working the underground festival circuit for the past few years. Since then they’ve been on the radar of every decent radio show host, including our very own Jarvis Cocker!

Kicking off the UK tour – their debut album Lacuna is out now – I managed to catch up with Ben and Leo ahead of their show at the legendary Leadmill. Join us as we talk smashing tea-cups, getting nervous and the reason behind that all-important band name.

TSN: First of all, explain the band name...

B: It stemmed from a drunken idea I had one night. We both went to the University of Nottingham and I was trying to convince Leo to be in a band with me. We didn’t have any songs but I knew I wanted to be in a band called Childhood. It was a fun way to start really.

TSN: Congratulations on your debut album Lacuna. How is this different to some of your previous low-fi stuff?

L: It’s very different I guess. We worked for a long time with a record producer in a real recording studio.

B: But we still kept the spirit of rough and ready recordings, just done in a more professional and knowledgeable way.

L: And it was more experimental.

B: We opened up mentally, in this crazy elaborate studio where we felt we could make a racket.

TSN: It seems you had a lot of creative control in making the album.

B: Definitely. We did a lot of things we could have done at home – smashing bottles, tapping on tea cups and just making weird noises out of furniture. Dan was an integral part of finding different angles and different ways we could record stuff.

TSN: You’re playing Sheffield tonight. What can we expect from your performance?

B: It’s hard to say really.

L: We haven’t played for a while, but it should be an energetic and thrilling experience.

B: Yeah we have!

L: Not in the UK.

B: Oh yeah… I like this wall here {the dressing room has a wall covered in music magazine cuttings}. It’s quite intriguing…look at that, a Reading Festival weekend ticket for £20!

TSN: So what do you enjoy most about live performances?

B: I think we all enjoy it but we all take something different from it. I personally prefer being in the studio, because I like making songs. It sounds like I don’t enjoy it but I do, obviously. I love giving it my all.

L: There’s nothing better than when a crowd is giving back. If you are giving your all, they do give back. Hopefully, we’ll see some of that tonight.

B: With live shows, it’s more unpredictable and that is part of the excitement but for me, it’s quite daunting. At least with studio sessions, you know what you are getting.

TSN: You’ve been doing this a while now, do you still get nervous?

B: I always get nervous.

L: Yeah! Especially when it comes to big gigs. We’re playing Brixton Academy with Johnny Marr in a few weeks, that’s quite nerve racking.

B: I find it hard to distinguish the difference being nervous and being excited. They kind of intertwine. I think not being nervous is kind of arrogant…

TSN: So what if things hadn’t worked out – what if Leo hadn’t said yeah on that drunken night?

B: I would probably do something basic like bar work. That’s what I was doing when I left Uni anyway. If I wasn’t in a band I’d probably try and set up my own label. Something quite pure and musical.

L: I’d like to think I’d be doing the same. I’ve never had a proper job. This is the first job, if you can call it that, that I’ve had in my life.

TSN: Childhood has been compared to the likes of Savages and the Stone Roses. Where do your influences come from?

B: We just listen to a lot of bands together. Leo introduced me to more modern guitar music. We’ve never tried to make a certain sound or be like a certain band.

L: We just wanted to recreate the feeling we got from listening to that music, in our own music.

B: Yeah, we have a lot of shared interests, from 80’s and 90’s pop music to modern guitar music and classic songwriting musicians. But we try to take a new scope on it.

TSN: If you could have written any song what would it be?

B: I don’t know. That’s a good question – I think it would probably be Hello it’s Me by Tom London.

L: Pure Shores by All Saints. Maybe I could re-imagine it.

B: That’s a good shout! 

TSN: And finally, if you hosted your own panel show who would be your three dream guests?

B: Wait! I know, Richard Pryor and Bjork. Who else would I have? Paul Kaye as...Paul Kaye.

TSN: Right guys, thank you for speaking with me. Best of luck with your performance tonight!

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published in print for H Magazine. I thought you still might like to read it. **