In May 2026, acclaimed Sheffield journalist Daniel Dylan Wray released his debut book, Groovy, Laidback & Nasty: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield. Spanning seven decades and featuring over 150 original interviews, it celebrates the city’s rich musical heritage, from dazzling electronic futurism to pioneering post-punk, via pop, metal, bassline, bleep techno and generation-defining indie rock.
Teaming up with No Bounds, Memory Dance will host an exhibition tied to the book its Chapel Walk gallery, record shop and mini cinema.
In much the same way the book tells the story and history of both bands and dance music in the city, the exhibition will mirror this, focusing on dance music and club culture, as well as a range of bands across multiple genres. It will feature photographs, films, music videos, flyers, posters and ephemera, spanning everything from Warp to Self Esteem via Pulp, The Human League, ABC, Clock DVA, Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkeys and countless other artists, clubs, labels and institutions that feature in the book.
With the exhibition coinciding with the final ever UK show by Cabaret Voltaire taking place in the city, an AV video wall will be installed in the basement mini-cinema in ode to their early and pioneering work in that field, with a rotating selection of films and music videos each week.
Preview event
8 October, 5–8pm
The exhibition will kick off with a special preview evening ahead of No Bounds, taking place at Memory Dance and Gut Level. It will feature an introduction from Wray, a Sheffield special DJ set from Lo Shea, and a Gut Level-curated after party featuring 12V5 and DJ Nerf. Gut Level membership required – from £2 for a year.
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