Sonic Aid Sheff 2025

Please could you talk to us about how Sonic Aid Sheff started, what sparked the initiative and where do you see it going in the future?

MILO - ‘It started off when we were tasked with planning and putting on a live music event as part of one of our uni modules this term. All three of us shared interest in doing our event for charity and specifically to aid those affected by the conflict in Gaza. We settled on supporting War Child who help children affected by the war by providing emergency aid, education and long term support as our main charity to support Sonic Aid Sheff 2025.’

‘I see Sonic Aid Sheff becoming a yearly live music event, supporting various charities and causes as well as bringing live music back to grassroots venues and creating a supportive community. Even though this started as ‘just a uni assignment’, I feel we’ve all been passionate about this event and its values and continuing that legacy is very important especially in this day and age. And also it’s good fun.’

Picture is leo hc - solo artist, credits to @lola.wainwright

Tell us about the event taking place on the 26th November, what should people know about it?

ALEX - ‘Sonic Aid Sheff is about helping children in crisis zones and giving them support they need to not just survive but to live. We are in support of War Child, they have the reach across the world to help many children in war and who are struggling.

We are being hosted by a lovely local pub called The Dove and Rainbow, they host music nights a few times a month and are very supportive of our event. They want to be apart of this cause and to help where they can.

We have amazing bands playing with support from many different societies and groups that follow our goals of helping children who need it. 

People should know this event is for the people who are in a less fortunate position, it is also to help support local grassroots venues. Keeping music accessible is so important for not only smaller musicians but causes such as ours. Small communities supporting charities and people is so important because it brings people together for a focused cause. The doors open at 7.30pm and the music starts at 8pm. 

We want this event to feel like a community and a place of support. We want it to be a joyful place to be and to show our love for music and our need to help the people.’

Shwlw (Band), credits to @lola.wainwright

What does organising events like this look like? How do you choose the bands?

MATI - ‘This is our first time organising an event like this, so we’re just as clueless as anyone else about it. For me personally, it’s been a lot of emailing and networking and bothering people about our event. 

We chose the line up by looking at the local Sheffield grassroots scene, really. We go to Uni with Poison Dart, and Shwlw is my own band, so that was pretty easy to sort out. We also put out an artist call for local bands just to see if we could catch any fish, and luckily we did! We realise how fortunate we are to have the line up we have, Nap Hotel, Poison Dart and leo hc are all incredible acts and they truly are so professional and easy to work with. Not to mention: they simply sound amazing on stage.

And the venue: The Dove and Rainbow is such a special place to throw our very first Sonic Aid. It’s hidden just near Fargate in the city centre and it’s a lovely live music venue. The sound tech: Lucas is great at what he does and Dawn (the owner) is such a delight. 

It’s been so much fun to work with Milo and Alex, as well (duh).’

How did the three of you meet and realise you all had a similar passion?

ALEX -

We met during our first year of our university degree, and we decided to work together because we get along and our ideas for this module matched. We talked a lot about what we wanted for this event and we found our visions aligned. I found working with Mati and Milo really fun and eye opening. I found that working with these two has allowed me to think more deeply about what I want to do with my career and they have allowed me to be more creative.

MATI - Being that all three of us attend a music college, we naturally have a shared passion for music. This whole project started as a uni assignment, so we all initially just wanted to get a passing grade. But I personally have really enjoyed the process of organising and promoting a live music event, especially with Milo and Alex.

Image is Poison Dart (band), credits to @lola.wainwright

MILO

We all met through uni and we were brought together through this event that was assigned to us as a uni project. We all care a lot about the work that War Child do, and having the opportunity to contribute to their impact has been a really wonderful experience. 

Band is Nap Hotel, photo creds to @lola.wainwright