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Gig Review - SHEAFS with support from Manuka Hive


On Thursday night Sheffield indie group SHEAFS kicked off their debut UK tour with a bolshie gig at Oporto in Leeds.

Kicking the night off was new kids on the block Manuka Hive. A glitzy fusion of gritty riffs, proud harmonies and beefy bass.

After opening with a somewhat lackluster track, they erupted into a gutsy, theatrical song that combined 60s rock with 00s indie.  They need to ditch the first track - it's the weakest in their set and they're capable of packing a far bigger punch.

Their front man was a bit O.T.T. in parts, with some of his facial expressions just  looking odd or as if he was in pain. It was just a little self indulgent and there needed to be more connection with the crowd. However the bromance between the guitarist and bass player; paired with their big, catchy sound; did redeem their set.

Considering they only formed in October, their existing set is admirable, and the weaker elements of their set are just growing pains. There's a lot of potential there and I'm excited to see how the group progress.

Headlining the night was Sheffield guitar rockers SHEAFS. If you like your music loud and raucous with big riffs and even bigger balls - then SHEAFS are most definitely the band for you.

SHEAFS are the quintessential guitar rock group - no frills, just big punchy riffs and tongue and cheek lyrics. Their stage presence is unrivaled, their front man Lawrence Freenstra was able to effortlessly enliven and orchestrate the crowd into a wild rabble.

The night was a frenzy of mosh pits that engulfed the room in a carefree and oh so sweaty atmosphere.



Their set concluded with their stand-out track was 'This is Not a Protest'. Driven by a gritty Arctic Monkeys-esque guitar riff, aggressive vocals and ebullient drums, the song radiates a colossal sound. Yet again, the beauty of the song was its simplicity, it's a no nonsense, bold rock track that really allows the band to indulge in the wild stage presence that makes them so spectacular live. 

By the end of the track, two of the band members were in the crowd and half of the audience was on stage participating in a call-and-response chant of the uber catchy chorus of: "This is not, this is not a protest, the more you want, yeah, the more you get it now".

The night was a brilliant blur of chaotic carnage -  a real "I was there" gig. It's safe to say that SHEAFS are most definitely ones to watch, and if their opening night was anything to go by, they're sure to explode after this tour.



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