Steel Paws Festival 2026

Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield

Saturday, October 3

Rock raising money for The Sheffield Cats Shelter in a busy venue with a belting line-up. Steel Paws Festival started Spooky Season in style, raising money for lil kittie cats and the spirits of live music fans. Spirits. D’ya get it? I am sooooo sorry.

KinStrife

Resplendent in red and black, with chuggy grungey riffs, a mellow stage presence and manic, emotive lyrics, KinStrife kick off the day with a confident mix of songs old and new. With a set going from slow to shouty in split seconds, the band can get the crowd moving with driving guitars and heart hammering drums, or bring Steel Paws to an almost standstill in the space of a song. Closer ‘Make Me’ is a chance for the crowd to get involved in shouting back the chorus of what is fast becoming KinStrife’s signature song.

Old Glory & The Black Riviera

Bluesy licks, big tunes which are served as soon as the set starts and right through til its end, Old Glory get the whole room dancing. Or nodding along at any rate. With their solid beats, blending big soulful and whiskey-soaked vocals, this band stand on stage with headliner presence. Slide guitar-tastic ‘Dollar’ is a complete lose yourself banger. Last song ‘Where Did I Go Wrong?’ has a rumbling Guns N’ Roses style intro fitting for a song well on its way to hitting 2 million Spotify streams. ‘You’ve either had a lot to drink by 3.15pm or you’re being very kind to us,’ is the band’s response to the big, enthusiastic crowd they’ve got in the room. Alcohol consumption’s irrelevany boys. We just recognise good music when we hear it.

The Darker My Horizon

Hurling out head-banging rock with British heavy metal roots to a room including a fair few people already in The Darker My Horizon merch gets this set off to a flying, ferocious start. Epic tunes of neck-breaking heft, a heavy ballad (‘In The End’), a lil glam with Metallica-esque groove injected (‘Still Alive’) give Steel Paws something to remember. Old school rock may be (as its name cleverly suggests), old, but it’s not facing extinction with these guys on the bill.

Baranovich

Fast rockin’ from the stage straight into your heart, here comes Baranovich’s speedy, demonic battle ready, call to arms of a set. Including one of our fave song titles ever - ‘Scene of the Crime’, atmospheric guitar solos and a vocal range that’s got a touch of stadium style about it, it’s no surprise to see the mic stand aloft swiftly followed by the actual microphone in the crowd for a singalong no one can – or wants to – say no to. Baranovich treat Steel Paws to a Molotov cocktail of high rolling and low down dirty tunes.

The Soul Revival

The Soul Revival are a band whose star is rising faster than the cost of living. And rightly so. Tonight the band once again prove not only their worth, but also that the size of the stage you plonk them on is irrelevant. Because you just know they’re gonna give an obscenely good performance fuelled by huge tunes, high energy and hair flying everywhere (Karl and Andy we’re looking at you). And Steel Paws gets all of this. TSR are worth the price of admission alone. Thankfully sounding much better than it looks thanks to lead singer Ste’s moves is self-styled dad dance opportunity of a song, the chunky and catchy ‘Kick Me To The Dirt’. Yer girl’s seen this band more times than her tiny mind can remember, but it’s still not enough.

Liberty Slaves

Rock and roll doesn’t come much dirtier than Liberty Slaves. Slinging short sharp shocks of songs left right and centre, the guitars are cutting as the razors it sounds like frontman Ryan has been drinking. ‘Scream for me Sheffield!’ he demands, and the fine city, well, the Sidney & Matilda, obliges. Liberty Slaves are business at its most risky. And that’s why we love them.

Hellfader

Tonight we have Hellfader minus one member. And answers on a postcard as to what they sound like on full power, because dear God they sound louder than the fresh hell of fireworks that scares all living creatures on November 5. But a bazillion times better. These are skull-crushing songs that come with little breathing space but pulverising amounts of power and Richter Scale measuring screaming that are gonna be banging around your head until November. 2027. Did we mention these boys are loud…

FangSlinger

The wildest the west has to offer come to the Steel Paws stage with all theatrical and musical guns blazing. And under a fine selection of hats too. FangSlinger have spun their own little web of feral mixed with fantasy, and everyone is welcome into their world. Tonight their performance is electric. The band are constantly moving around the stage, putting on a proper show and bringing their undead redneck rock n roll to life. It’s a set full of their faster tunes so they guys and gal cram a lot into their thirty minutes. The crowd know the drill during ‘Bare Your Teeth’ and shout the title back loud without being asked. ‘Bloodsucker Blues’ and coming single ‘Undead Redneck Rock N’ Roll’ are our last two chances to dance macabre with FangSlinger, and you’re damn right Steel Paws make the most of it.

This House We Built

They have the songs, the voices and a lead singer forgoing trousers in favour of, erm, what the hell are you wearing Scott? A rug? A Golden Retriever? Dodgy choice of legwear but banging set, however. There’s funk (‘Fairweather Friend’), anthems (‘Rain’, ‘Coming Home To You’), bouncy and jumpy (‘Nobody’s Fool’), drums thumpy and bass pumpy (‘Walk The Line’) and their ever-popular cover of ‘You’re The Voice’ which erupts into a euphoric singalong with pretty much all of the Sidney & Matilda joining in. This House We Built are unstoppable.

Gorilla Riot

I don’t have a review of Gorilla Riot for you – my bad. But I do have something better… These awesome photos by the amazing Nick Ashton. Enjoy! Go check him out at nickashtonphotography.co.uk