4,808
Followers
1,071
Following
309
Posts
N/A
Reels
N/A
Highlights
7/5
Photos/Videos in last 12
Bio
Music and culture writer. Debut book - Groovy, Laidback & Nasty: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield - out now via @whiterabbitbks.
-
Avg likes
-
Avg comments
-
Engagement
0.2/wk
Posting
Likes and comments are still being collected for this account. Check back shortly.
#sheffield#cabaretvoltaire#music#electronicmusic#sheffieldinspires#pulp#arcticmonkeys#selfesteem#southyorkshire#noboundsfestival
Recent posts
PUBLICATION DAY is finally here. Very happy to say that as of today my debut book, Groovy, Laidback & Nasty: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield, is out. Been a huge undertaking to do this book, and can only hope I’ve in some way done the city justice. Enormous thanks to my editor @t.n.o.b.l.e, who was been incredible throughout. To @leebrackstone10 for believing in the book in the first place and all the support. And to all the team at @whiterabbitbks and @orionbooks for their brilliant work. Big up my agent @lewinsohnliterary. And also huge thanks to my wife @tashbright for all the support and encouragement - and also it’s our wedding anniversary today, so happy anniversary darling. Big love to all the early readers of the book who have said kind things - @msmirandasawyer @malmallinder @simonreynoldswriter @adellestripe and @luke_a_turner. And lastly, thanks to all the people of Sheffield who have made such consistently brilliant and unique music over the last half a century or so, a book like this doesn’t exist without you all. Please come celebrate at some of the upcoming launch events tonight at @crookessocialclub, Monday in London at @thesociallondon, sat 16th at @gettogetherfest and 22nd at @residentbrighton. Tickets for all in my bio. Plus more festival dates to be announced soon. Xxxxx
07 May 2026
This - finally - is the definitive musical history Sheffield so richly deserves.
Announcing GROOVY, LAIDBACK AND NASTY: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield, an authoritative and hugely entertaining cultural history of the city told through its independent artists, scenes and spirit, coming May 2026 from Daniel Dylan Wray (@ddywray)
From dazzling electronic futurism to pioneering post-punk, via pop, metal, bassline, bleep techno and generation-defining indie rock, Sheffield has long been a crucible for world-leading music. Some artists have excelled on the fringes, others have achieved global success, but all remain connected through a fervently independent ethos. But the region’s ingrained humility and dogged stoicism means it has never been documented or celebrated to the level of more hubristic cities.
Now Daniel Dylan Wray remedies this, telling the story of the city’s DIY spirit and the musical visionaries and innovators who helped build its inimitable legacy. Exhaustively researched and spanning almost seven decades, it features over 150 new interviews with the likes of Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), The Human League, ABC and Cabaret Voltaire – along with countless others.
Pre-order link in bio - including signed copies from independent retailers, plus a bonus fanzine featuring Daniel’s essential Sheffield playlist and new contributions from select artists interviewed in the book.
Music: ‘Testone’ by Sweet Exorcist
#sheffield #pulp #arcticmonkeys #selfesteem #southyorkshire #cabaretvoltaire
20 Nov 2025
Big big thanks to @roughtrade for including my book in their annual best Books of the Year list. It’s a huge honour and slightly surreal to be sat amongst a list with so many huge names, bonafide stars and music legends, not to mention the other writers I respect and admire.
To celebrate, we have re-printed 100 copies of the very very sold out accompanying fanzine that came with the first edition of the book. Available via Rough Trade only while stocks last.
I’ll save the Christmas push for when I inevitability have to degrade myself on camera in a Santa hat next month but it may make a great present etc.
Thanks again @roughtrade - big love!
03 Nov 2026
We took down the Groovy, Laidback & Nasty exhibition at @memorydance today after our four week run. Despite only being open for half days for 3/4 days a week, it’s had well over 2,000 people swing by, which for such a tiny spot is excellent going. So big thanks to everyone who popped by.
Also. Lots of other thank you’s to make.
First and foremost to @noboundsfestivaluk who funded and commissioned it. Thrilled to have launched this as part of the festival.
Huge thanks to Alex at @memorydance for manning the shop and curating fresh video in the basement cinema every week. It’s been a lot of graft and massively appreciated. He’s doing wonderful things for the city.
To @ghoulaudiovisual for the ace video wall installation.
Huge thanks to the numerous people who provided prints, posters, flyers, tickets, t-shirts and various other ephemera. Wouldn’t have been possible with your generosity:
@doitthissen
@original_solid_state_sheffield
Pete Hill
The late Barbara Wasiack (courtesy of Jose Snook)
@lauramerrillphotos
@nickbax
@chrismsaunders
@plewsy_photography
@jamwinstan
If I have forgotten to tag anyone please forgive me / tell me!
And lastly. Thanks to all the musicians, bands, artists, DJs, producers, promoters and people who have contributed to such a rich history in Sheffield. The exhibition may have been named after my book but there’s no book without all those people, so similarly there would be no exhibition without them, so thanks again.
02 Nov 2026
There was a packed room for @ddywray at Sheffield’s @offtheshelffestival last night to hear him talk about his book Groovy, Laidback and Nasty. Many thanks to @terrilwhite for excellent chairing as ever, as they discussed just some of the artists, scenes, stories and moments that have shaped and defined the city’s vast music legacy. Thanks also to @labiblioteka for the book sales, and everyone who picked up a copy for Dan to sign.
And if you’re in the city or passing through over the next few weeks, the @memorydance exhibition based around the book is on until 4 November, showcasing an incredible array of photography, video, flyers, artwork and memorabilia from the last few decades. It’s right in the city centre, free entry, and well worth a visit if you can make it.
17 Oct 2026
Groovy, Laidback & Nasty the exhibition is go! We’re only in a little place but have crammed the space after days up a ladder and grafting. Loads of rare bits featured, huge video wall programmed with hours of vids - lots to get stuck into. Here for the next month. This could not be made possible without the generous input of LOADS of people.
First up, @noboundsfestivaluk for commissioning it. @memorydance for housing it and all the beautiful people of sheff who shared their archives, work, and collections.
@pete.hill.927543
@doitthissen
@original_solid_state_sheffield
Barbara Wasiak
@lauramerrillphotos
@jamwinstan
@chrismsaunders
@plewsy_photography
@nickbax
@sheffarchives
Martin Bedford
Featured:
@cabaretvoltaireband, @humanleaguehq, @clockdvaofficial, @jarvisbransoncocker, @welovepulp, @warprecords , @thedesignersrepublic, @kabal_sheffeel, @toddlat, @deliciousclamstagram, @richardhawley, @selfesteemselfesteem and many many many more.
08 Oct 2026
Sheffield is a global pioneer of electronic music, and @cabaretvoltaireband were the catalyst! ⚡️🎶💪
Our new documentary, ‘From the Ground Up’ is now available to watch online. 👀
Created by @jordancarroll_film as part of ‘Sheffield Inspires’ and featuring artists and innovators from across the city’s music scene - the film explores how a city know for doing things differently helped shaped sounds that influenced the world.
This snippet features the legendary Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire, reflecting on how it all started.
Big thanks also to music journalist Daniel Dylan Wray, who helps narrate the story throughout.
▶️ Watch the 11-minute documentary on YouTube - head to the link in our bio and stories.
And standby for more clips over the next couple of days…
#sheffield #music #electronicmusic #sheffieldinspires #cabaretvoltaire
30 Sep 2026
No Bounds x Memory Dance x Daniel Dylan Wray: Groovy, Laidback & Nasty -
A History of Independent Music in Sheffield [An Exhibition]
Oct 8 - Nov 4
SHEFFIELD MUSIC VIDEO TELEVISION
WELCOME TO THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE
In the Memory Dance basement - prepare your senses. 10 hours of rare visual-noise and confusion will be presented on a @ghoulaudiovisual video wall for your pleasure.
Each week of the show run there will be a new loop to sit in front of. Free entry. Rolling whenever the venue is open.
Expect Poly experiments. Gig footage across 5 decades. Video abstractions. VHS magazine shows. Rave. Industrial. Pop. CRT nightmares. Noughties guitar bands. Rare documentaries. Animations. Wyrd fictions. All mangled together and thrown in a room. All from Sheffield.
GROOVY, LAIDBACK & NASTY - SHEFFIELD MUSIC TELEVISION
Opens October 8th
@noboundsfestivaluk @ddywray
28 Sep 2026
No Bounds x Memory Dance x Daniel Dylan Wray: Groovy, Laidback & Nasty - A History of Independent Music in Sheffield [An Exhibition] Oct 8 - Nov 4
In May 2026, acclaimed Sheffield journalist Daniel Dylan Wray released his debut book, Groovy, Laidback & Nasty: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield. Spanning seven decades and featuring over 150 original interviews, it celebrates the city’s rich musical heritage, from dazzling electronic futurism to pioneering post-punk, via pop, metal, bassline, bleep techno and generation-defining indie rock.
Teaming up with No Bounds and Memory Dance, they will collaboratively present an exhibition tied to the book at the latter’s new Chapel Walk gallery, record shop and mini cinema.
In much the same way the book tells the story and history of both bands and dance music in the city, the exhibition will mirror this, focusing on dance music and club culture, as well as a range of bands across multiple genres. It will feature a range of photographs, films, music videos, flyers, posters and ephemera, spanning everything from Warp to Self Esteem via Pulp, The Human League, ABC, Clock DVA, Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkeys and countless other artists, clubs, labels and institutions that feature in the book. With the exhibition coinciding with the final ever UK show by Cabaret Voltaire taking place in the city, an AV video wall will be installed in the basement mini-cinema in ode to their early and pioneering work in that field, with a rotating selection of films and music videos each week.
The exhibition will kick off with a special preview event ahead of No Bounds on the evening of Oct 8th, taking place at Memory Dance and Gut Level. It will feature an introduction from Wray, a Sheffield special DJ set from Lo Shea, and a Gut Level-curated after party featuring 12V5 and DJ Nerf.
⚠️ FREE ENTRY TO BOTH THE EXHIBITION & THE LAUNCH PARTY ⚠️
#NoBoundsFestival #SheffieldMusic #SheffieldMusicHistory #ClubCulture #MusicExhibition
24 Sep 2026
Synth-pop. Bleep techno. Bassline. Sheffield is a global pioneer of electronic music. ⚡️🔊
From the innovators who have shaped scenes to sounds heard around the world, our city’s influence continues to ripple far beyond South Yorkshire.
As part of Sheffield Inspires, we’ve been working with filmmaker @jordancarroll_film to explore that story, speaking to some of the people who have been integral to the evolution of electronic music.
This is just a taste 👀
📹: The full 11-minute documentary lands on YouTube on Tuesday 29 September, with more clips from our contributors coming here soon.
Stay tuned…
📸: Cover photo - Barbara Wasiak
#documentary #electronicmusic #music #sheffieldinspires #sheffield
10 Sep 2026
DANIEL DYLAN WRAY’S MUSIC TOUR OF SHEFFIELD + BOOK GIVEAWAY
Today marks 3 months since the publication of Groovy, Laidback Nasty, @ddywray’s acclaimed history of the many incredible artists, sounds and scenes that have emerged from Sheffield.
To celebrate, Dan is taking us on a whistle-stop walking tour of the city to pick out just some of the many landmark sites mentioned in the book, so join him as he tells us a little bit more about…
- @yellowarchstudios
- The @warprecords shop
- The Grapes
- Violet May’s record shop
- The home of Meatwhistle
- @cabaretvoltaireband’s Western Works studio
- And the scene of Jarvis Cocker’s infamous Spider-Man fall
And we’ve also left a limited number of free copies for you to find and take away either at these locations or at great independent pubs and shops nearby - if you visit the likes of @thebathhotelsheffield, @theoldshoebar, @pina.sheffield, the @rutlandarms, @plantologyflowers or @thegrapessheffield today you might just find one. Be quick though, it’s first come first served. If you miss out you can of course grab a copy from your local bookshop or record store - including Sheffield’s own @labiblioteka and @beartreerecords.
There are many more historic music sites to discover across the city, and loads of these are explored in the book. Let us know your favourite Sheffield music landmark in the comments 👇
@visitsheffield | #sheffield
07 Aug 2026
Groovy, Laidback and Nasty author @ddywray photographed in Sheffield this week - and keep an eye out for more from Dan next Friday…
01 Aug 2026
Follower tracking
We have started recording @ddywray, but only 1 observation so far — not enough to show a trend yet. Track it daily →
Download @ddywray's data
Everything below is derived from this account, priced on the counts shown. Delivered as CSV by emailed link.
You only pay for rows we deliver. Counts are the maximum available today; if an export comes back smaller, the difference is refunded automatically. Counts as last collected 3 days, 4 hours ago.
Tracking
A monthly plan, not a download: we keep reading @ddywray and email you what changed.
Other reports
Not downloads of this account: they take their own inputs.
Similar accounts
Accounts we track that share hashtags, mentions or bio topics with @ddywray.
@lili_takesflickis
2,453 followers
Also mentions @noboundsfestivaluk
@clinicvoot
3,129 followers
Also mentions @beartreerecords
@jarredupfest
500 followers
Also mentions @gettogetherfest
@james_ellis_ford
23.6K followers
Also uses #pulp
@inpressbooks
8,849 followers
Also mentions @labiblioteka
@by_michael_smith
1,883 followers
Also mentions @leebrackstone10
@yardactband
87.0K followers
Also mentions @jamwinstan
@kangyang_music
2,933 followers
Also mentions @visitsheffield