St Patrick's Day Live

Event: St Patrick's Day Live (featuring Smiling Ivy, Chronicles of Graham and Nick Robin, Ben Webster )
Description: Gig
Location: 3 Spooner Road, Broomhill, Sheffield, S10 5BL

Address: The South Sea

Another day, another Chronicles of Graham gig.  Again, supporting the fantastic Smiling Ivy, and this time taking to the South Sea in student-central Broomhill on St. patrick's Day, this was surely a night not to be missed.

The night began with Ben Webster, a singer-songwiter on acoustic guitar.  Whilst he got a good reception from the assembled crowd, I felt he suffered somewhat from the early start time.  He ran through a blend of his own songs and some crowd-pleasing covers as well.  Adept on both guitar and harmonica, his folksy-blues/rock sound was the perfect way to start a St. Patrick's Day off.

Nick Robin (left) really impressed me.  Armed with an acoustic guitar, a kick drum and a cymbal, he was able to sound like a whole band on his own.  He ran through his all too short set with panache and humour, as well as just fabulous musicianship.

Chronicles of Graham came to the stage and filled it - literally as well as figuratively.  The round of applause they received just for their soundcheck was something to behold, before they finally launched into first track and all-round crowd pleaser "Spit".  They then rattled through what seemed like a greatest hits collection including "CoG TV Cribs", a funny take-off on MTV's Cribs, "Pick Up Little Teddy", and a bouncy rock/rap song featuring the wonderful Little of lead vocals and "Body in a Binbag", with Coxy's usual fantastic work on guitar generating whoops and admiring looks from the audience as well as the next band due on stage, Smiling Ivy.  "Gimmie da Fing" got everyone moving and swaying and bouncing, whilst "Here Come the" generated the usual skanking up in front of stage by an audience which was now swelling rapidly.  Just as last time at the Redhouse, The Graham finished off with a wonderful cover of "Lodi Dodi" by Snoop Doggy Dogg (AKA "La Di Da Di"), Little Teddy on lead vocals and Coxstardelux taking the ample cover by A Taste of Honey.  As last time, this was a brilliant finale to a great set.

Smiling Ivy were their usual amazing selves.  By the end of Chronicles of Graham, the floor was packed with people ready to watch Smiling Ivy.  I won't pretend to be well-versed on the tracks played by the band, but every one was a crowd pleaser, danceable, loud and fun, just as one would expect from them.  The drummer was, as usual, a failing mass of hair and arms, every inch look like 'Animal' from The Muppets.  The frontman owned the stage, whilst the band as a whole were tight, and clearly having fun, joking around with each other  between songs.  These are certainly a band to enjoy, and one I plan to watch again on April 6th at Penelopes - come join me please!

Lunch at Relish

Event: N/A
Location: Relish
Address: 371-373 Ecclesall Road

Ah, a weekday off.  The whole day to myself.  What could be better than a walk down Ecclesall Road?  A visit to the Spice Market Café, that's what.  Or as it's now been renamed, Relish.

Crispy roast red pepper and feta risotto cakes

Upon entering the café/restaurant, you're hit by how cool the place seems.  Bob Dylan plays on the stereo.  People are just chilling out with a coffee, watching the world go by.  I've no doubt it's far busier in an evening, but after a hurried walk down Ecclesall Road, this was the perfect antidote.

We were offered our seats, and given just the right amount of time to select our drinks - a pint of Jaipur IPA for myself (like all RED/Richard Smith offerings, they serve Thornbridge and a pot of tea (which turned out to be quite generous) for Jen.

Jen had the wrap of smoked salmon shaved cucumber, cream cheese, lemon, capers, red onion, romaine lettuce and black pepper (£9) whilst I plumped for the chickpea and sweet potato burger with halloumi (£10), served on a toasted sesame breakcake with tomato, lettuce, dill pickle and red onion relish.  Both were served with chips (your choice, fries or chunky), homemade ketchup and coleslaw.  The burger was fantastic, and really filling - we didn't need a pud!

Service was swift, efficient but friendly, and the staff didn't feel like anything was a burden, and were happy to help - all members of staff we passed on the way out saying 'goodbye'.  I'd be interested to see how they cope on a bus evening, but during the day, top marks!  Many thanks.

UPDATE - THURSDAY 23rd FEBRUARY

We went back for another lunch.  This time it was busier, as we were nearer to lunch time, at 13:30, adn there were three of us.  We had Crispy roast red pepper and feta risotto cakes with roquette salad, basil niloi and tomato salsa, Salad of smoked chicken with chorizo, little gem lettuce, crispy bacon, blue cheese, walnuts, roasted red peppers with an extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic dressing and a thin tard of aubergine, dried tomatoes and goats cheese with a roquette salad.  All were really nice, however in the first instance, the salad came without the blue cheese or roasted peppers.  However, as soon as we pointed this out, the staff could not have been more helpful or apologetic, and a new meal was brought to our table within 3 minutes.  I also went for a latte this time, instead of the alcoholic beverage, and one of us had a berry smoothie, which at only £3 was phenomenal, and almost a meal in itself.

At only £42 for three meals, a smoothie, two lattes, a tea and an orange juice, Relish still comes highly recommended for quality food, helpful attentive staff and price.