For its seventh iteration No Bounds is proving that there are no bounds to what it can deliver. Continuing in a long lineage of church-cum-club transformations that have historically been part of global rave-culture, the Sheffield-based festival is repurposing it’s own places of worship as make-shift rave venues. Expect a takeover of Sheffield Cathedral, with sets from the likes of Tara Clerkin Trio, before jumping over to Hope Works to hear from Grammy Award-winner and Fred Again-collaborator Flowdan, whose sonic landscapes blur the lines between grime, drum and base and hip hop.
Flowdan is joined by 96 Back – the Sheffield-born DJ whose blend of IDM, pop and grime has seen him play Colour Factory, The Cause and Southbank Warehouse – and rapper Iceboy Violet, who reunites with Nueen to perform their album, You Said You’d Hold My Hand Through The Fire. Not to mention an appearance from Manuka Honey, whose stint as Resident DJ on BBC Radio 1 and her radical take of Latin American and Caribbean influences seen her sultry tracks grace venues from The Netherlands to Berlin.
But No Bounds is offering more than three days of trance-inducing techno in repurposed churches (though, I admit, that does sound quite fun). Bringing attention to the creative scene in South Yorkshire, No Bounds is partnering with The Beatriarchy – a collective supporting BIPOC, queer, trans and femme creatives – and the Oram Awards – a platform celebrating women and gender non-conforming artists – to deliver classes on DJing and improvisation with Maeve AKA Quieting, DJ Loveable and Domes FM.
There’s something for the art girlies, too, who can look forward to AR experiences – (AppeaR), a new project delivered by Rotherham Music Hub focuses on hyperlocal stories and places – a six-hour sleep performance where you can watch electrical impulses from Zaron Mizmeras’ brain transform into sound and light, and an installation from renowned artist Tom J Newell.
Here, we caught up with Manuka Honey, Iceboy Violet and 96 Back to discuss their sounds, the Sheffield music scene and what we can expect from their No Bounds sets.
Photography by James Ward
96 Back
Who is 96Back?
I’m just a guy trying to break my laptop haha.
Three words to describe your sound?
Funny. Sweet. Sad.
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
I cannot stress enough the importance of just being about.
What can we expect from your No Bounds set?
I’ve just announced my new album on SVBKVLT and will be debuting its new live set! Will be entirely new music, seeing if people hate it I guess!
What’s your favourite thing about Sheffield’s music scene?
Ever-evolving history I’d say.
