Music legend Rod Stewart toasts thrifty Sherlocks
A BAND from the Rotherham-area are making a stand for affordable live music as they prepare for their biggest headline show yet.
Indie rock four-piece The Sherlocks, who grew up in the village of Bolton upon Dearne, will headline an all-day summer festival at Sheffield Steelyard this June.
In a small but striking show of support from one of Britain’s biggest music legends, rock icon Rod Stewart recently sent the band two bottles of his own Wolfie’s blended Scotch whisky as a gift.
The surprise present from the chart-topping star – who launched the whisky brand in 2023 – left the band both amused and grateful.
The timing is a curious contrast.
While one of Britain’s wealthiest rock stars is raising a celebratory dram, The Sherlocks are trying to ensure their fans can still afford to attend a gig.
Seven bands will share one stage across a full day of music, with tickets priced at £35 – a deliberate move by the band to keep the event within reach of ordinary fans.
The group insists it wants the festival, on June 27, to reflect the spirit of live music at its best.
“Live music is supposed to bring people together. Not price people out,” they say.
“We genuinely believe music should be accessible to everyone. Families. Groups of mates. Young fans seeing their first gig. People who work hard all week and just want a proper day out without rinsing their bank account.”
The band acknowledge that soaring ticket prices at major concerts often reflect the realities of huge productions, global demand and resale markets.
But they believe smaller, grassroots events can still offer a different model.
“For us, £35 for a full day with seven live bands feels fair. It feels like something families can actually say yes to.”
The Sherlocks were formed in in 2010.
They built their reputation the hard way, playing countless small venues and pubs across South Yorkshire before breaking through nationally with their debut album Live for the Moment in 2017.
Its title track became a defining anthem for the band and helped propel them into the UK album charts.
Since then they have scored a run of Top 20 albums, toured widely across Britain and Europe and shared stages with major acts including Liam Gallagher and Kings of Leon.
Closer to home they have also appeared on some of South Yorkshire’s best-known stages, including a major outdoor show at Don Valley Bowl in Sheffield, cementing their reputation as one of the region’s most successful modern guitar bands.
The Steelyard festival will be their largest headline event yet and will also showcase rising artists including Tom A. Smith alongside Yorkshire bands Skylights and The Denabys.
For the Bolton upon Dearne group, the real aim is simple – bringing people together through live music.
“We want thousands of you there,” they said.
“Kids on shoulders. Mates who have followed us for years stood next to people seeing us for the first time.
“And we want it to feel possible.
“That is why we have kept it at £35. Because music matters. And it should be for everyone.”