LUCCA MAE HITS SHEFFIELD WITH SOUL, SKA AND SOMETHING SPECIAL
Lucca Mae - Photo by Phill Thorns
Every now and then, I get a recommendation that I always check out—and I had high hopes for this one. The venue was the Backroom at the Greystones in Sheffield, which used to be called the Highcliffe—a grassroots music spot with a capacity of around 150. Notable bands to have played there include Arctic Monkeys, Richard Hawley, and Slow Club.
It was a lovely sunny evening. I’d arranged to have a chat and photoshoot with LUCCA MAE on the balcony of the greenroom before the gig. We talked about her early days singing and writing poetry. Her dad’s eclectic music taste played a big part in her influences—Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin. In her late teens, she left the UK and ended up in Australia, spending three years there playing in an Amy Winehouse tribute band. She’s keen to collaborate with Aussie band The Teskey Brothers—who she highly recommended—as well as Laurie Wright, both of whom I’ll be checking out.
Lucca Mae - Photo by Phill Thorns
Her style pulls from soul, gypsy jazz, blues, ska, and a bit of prog rock. After Australia, she headed to Canada, and following a breakup decided she needed to return to the UK. Now that she’s formed a band, she’s focused, driven, and out to make a name for herself here. She’s currently doing a weekly residency at The Marquis in Covent Garden, recently toured Sweden, and this was the third stop on her UK tour—with four more to go. Another tour is planned for November—keep me in the loop; I’ll be there.
LOU GOLD - Photo by Phill Thorns
First up was singer and songwriter LOU GOLD with her backing band THE ALCHEMISTS (Lou Gold – vocals, Nick Brown – guitar, Ben Stevenson – keys, Max Munday – bass, and Adam Michael Charvet – drums), all local to Sheffield. Lou moved up from London and is now based here. She said her music “blends lyrical storytelling with an indie-folk sound infused with vintage soul production.” She played a 9-song set that was very well received—clearly a lot of fans in the room. Her debut album, A Body of Water, drops on 6th June, and she’s playing at the Samuel West Chapel the next day—a stunning venue that suits her sound perfectly. That’s one for the diary.
Lucca Mae - Photo by Phill Thorns
Lucca took the stage next, starting off solo with four stripped-back songs on guitar. Her warm, rich voice was front and centre. Then the band joined her—ALI BEVAN on drums, NATHAN REYES on lead guitar, and PABLO RANDRIAMARIN on bass—and for the next hour or so, they worked through everything in her back catalog. After the encore, a brilliant cover of A Message to You Rudy, she joked that we’d wrung her dry.
Lucca Mae - Photo by Phill Thorns
The band were exceptional—tight, adaptable, and clearly talented. But Lucca’s voice was the star. Deep, rich, full of soul—like sipping the best red wine. Loads of versatility, great stage presence, and relaxed, easy banter with the crowd, many of whom were clearly long-time fans.
Highlights? A killer version of Oh Well by Fleetwood Mac, showing her prog rock chops, and her latest release, Real Thing, a song about the challenges of long-distance love.
Lucca Mae - Photo by Phill Thorns
I can’t praise her and the band enough—just brilliant from start to finish. Lucca is one to watch: a stunning voice, a real presence, beautiful inside and out, and destined for bigger things. Check her out on YouTube—but trust me, she’s even better live. A must-see.
