A Walk about Studio Electrophonique

Join us for a fascinating walking tour through Sheffield city centre celebrating the launch of “Studio Electrophonique” by Jamie Taaylor. This guided journey will take you through the musical landmarks that shaped Sheffield’s influential electronic music scene of the 1980s.

Discover the spaces and places that inspired groundbreaking artists like The Human League, Heaven 17, Pulp, and ABC as we explore the city that fostered a unique DIY music culture during a time of industrial decline.

Perfect for music enthusiasts, local history buffs, and anyone interested in Sheffield’s rich cultural heritage!

About the book:

The amazing story of the home studio that helped launch some of Britain’s most beloved bands.

The Sheffield space age began in 1961, when local mechanic Ken Patten won a tape-recording competition by recreating the sound of a rocket launch using a pencil and a bicycle pump.

In the decades that followed, the makeshift home studio he constructed became the launch pad for a group of young musicians who would shape the futuristic sound of 1980s pop. The Human League, Heaven 17, Pulp, ABC and others made their early recordings with Ken, whose DIY ethic was the perfect fit for a city facing industrial decline but teeming with ideas.

Studio Electrophonique tells the story of a generation seeking new frontiers in music, using everything they could lay their hands on – from science fiction novels to glam rock, Dada art and cheap electronics – to get there. Drawing on original interviews with Jarvis Cocker, Martyn Ware, Mark White and others, it brings to light a world of humour, charm, creativity and unfounded yet undaunted self-belief.

About the author:

Jamie Taylor is a writer and filmmaker from Sheffield. He is the director of The Campaigners and A Film about Studio Electrophonique.

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