The Leadmill has been a fixture of Sheffield’s (and Britain’s) alternative music scene for decades, but now it faces an uncertain future. You see, the ownership of the Leadmill building changed hands in 2017, and this new ownership – Electric Group – won’t be renewing the tenancy of the management / promotion team who’ve run the Leadmill music venue for the last forty years.
Instead they promise a continuation of music, but under different people. Both sides, and their supporters, have been arguing on social media this weekend. It got heated, ‘extermination’ was used.
Here's the Leadmill music event’s post:
Please keep your kind messages of support coming and continue to share your reasons why #WeCantLoseLeadmill pic.twitter.com/ElLwX1Wtll
— The Leadmill (@Leadmill) April 1, 2022
The CEO of Electric then explained:
I’ll be making a statement regarding @Leadmill shortly. For avoidance of doubt, we are music people, we spend our lives running independent music venues and the Leadmill will continue to operate as a special music venue. The management may change but the song stays the same.
— Dominic Madden (@DominicMadden) April 1, 2022
While their Head of Music, Mike Weller, explained regarding new investment: “There was never any question of us closing the Leadmill, despite all the social media chat… The refurb will make the room better equipped to accommodate the modern wants of live music and club nights, for audiences and performers. We want to ensure the Leadmill’s future is as exciting as its history.”
Under a different team, of course.
