Electric Group launches Sheffield music venue, Electric Studios

Independent live music venue company, Electric Group, has announced the launch of Electric Studios on Sheffield’s Leadmill Road. Details of its £2m transformation and ambitions for live and club music programming include upgraded interiors, eclectic bookings, local partnerships, and a subsidised creative hub opening in Spring 2026.

The Sheffield base will host increased capacity with 1,050 for live gigs and 1,450 for club events. It joins an established Electric Group portfolio of premier live music venues, including 1,500-capacity Electric Brixton, 1,150-capacity Electric Bristol, and 1,750-capacity NX Newcastle.

With bookings helmed by Electric Group Head of Music Mike Weller, Electric Studios is collaborating with national and independent promoters, music labels, and brands in creating an inclusive and forward-thinking calendar of events, including gigs, club nights, and more, following a curated, eclectic programming policy designed to bring new audiences to this historic cultural space.

A new d&b audiotechnik PA system, paired with advanced lighting and production installations, will ensure world-class sound and visual experiences for artists and audiences alike.

Taking in feedback from locals and industry, the refurbishment is significant, with upgrades including a redesigned venue layout with all-new bars, improved stage sightlines, and increased capacity. With a focus on improving the customer experience, there will be improved flow around the building, supported by all-new customer staircases and, with all-new toilets and cloakroom on the first floor and full DDA compliance for accessibility. Also, there will be enhanced backstage facilities for touring artists.

With a focus on reconnecting with Sheffield’s vibrant music community, Electric Studios Sheffield marks a new era for the city’s cultural landscape, reviving a space that played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s cultural identity and deep creative roots.

Among its commitment to fostering the local creative ecosystem and nurturing developing talent and emerging creatives, Electric Studios is set to house a collaborative workspace including a rehearsal room, communal area and kitchen for Sheffield’s next generation of musicians, DJs, and artists.

The refurbishment will reimagine the building’s second and third floors, which were previously a hub for Sheffield’s creative community in the ‘80s; their restoration will reactivate them for the first time in decades.

Electric Studios aims to become Sheffield’s go-to destination for gigs, club nights, and creative collaboration, reconnecting the building with its 1980s legacy as a cornerstone of the city’s artistic life.

Alan Deadman, music promoter from Sheffield, Founder of Tramlines Festival and original member of the Leadmill Arts Cooperative, commented: “There’s a cyclical thing. Just as the Leadmill venue was a very powerful stimulus in 1980 in the morale of the creative community, the Electric Studios will do that again.”

Mike Weller, Head of Music for Electric Group, said: “This is one of the most exciting projects I’ve been involved in, bolstered by the positivity and support from local bands, DJs, and promoters.

“The Electric Studios Sheffield music programme is built on our demonstrable passion and success in delivering an eclectic mix of live music, club, and wider events across our venues. I hope to collaborate with the best in the business, from local and up-and-coming future stars, to established and international teams and artists, in the mission to make this venue a must-book and must-attend destination for promoters, producers, performers and music fans.”

Dominic Madden, Co-Founder of Electric Group added: “Sheffield is a special city, and with the plans for Electric Studios, we are committed to a programme of substantial investment, refurbishment and curation for it to thrive - with a modern vision that respects the cultural significance of the building and history of the existing venue while putting the artist and fan experience front and centre of our plans.

“Having discussed the ethos of the original Leadmill cooperative with the founders of the Leadmill Arts Cooperative, the one thing that resonated with me was their demonstrable success in providing opportunity to young people at the time. We can now step up and provide support to young creative Sheffielders at the start of their journey. Work here so far is creating over 100 jobs, as it is being finalised for opening next Spring when we look forward to welcoming music lovers to the latest addition to the Electric circuit of special music venues.”

The launch of Electric Studios coincides with the celebration of domestic music on the world stage, as trade body UK Music releases its This Is Music 2025 annual report in November 2025. The analysis notes that the UK Music industry contributed a record £8bn (GVA) to the UK economy in 2024, with UK music industry full-time equivalent employment rising to a record high of 220k.

Within this, the report recognises challenges including a slowing growth rate, lengthening artist/creator development cycle (stating ‘it is taking longer for artists to reach a breakthrough moment’) and a threat to the grassroots ecosystem, including touring venues and creative spaces.

The Electric Studios complex and programmes provide solutions to these challenges by investing in keeping the venue open and upgrading it, investing in the talent pipeline, including subsidised facilities for developing performers and creatives, and contributing to the economy.

The annual report from trade body LIVE (Live music Industry Venues and Entertainment) from September 2025 spotlights ‘another record year for live music’ with one gig every 137 seconds across the UK as spend reaches £6.7bn. Independent live music venues are hailed as a key part of the experience economy in British cities, making a significant contribution.

Packing in cultural and economic impact, the revival of this Sheffield music hub is a positive story bucking a trend as demonstrated by Night Time Economy Market Monitor x NTIA research reporting ‘800 closures in Britain’s late-night venues reaching an all-time high, marking 26% of businesses lost since 2020’.