A brand new music space in Sheffield’s City Centre has invited young people to attend its Tuesday events as it continues to raise money for renovations.

Mary St Live, located at the south of Sheffield’s centre, will offer free or cheaper space to aid “the Sheffield music scene” and encourage people to take part in music.

Daniel Johnston, 52, co-owner of Mary St Live and a drumming and percussion teacher said there are plans to transform the building from “an empty shell” into a music space because “it’s got music and youth at the heart of it”.

He said: “We want the community at the heart of it. We want it to be flexible. We want the community to come to us.”

Sheffield Music School has made use of the space and has described it as a ‘perfect match’.

They run the Tracks Youth Club – funded by the Ed Sheeran Foundation – at the Mary St Live location, which has held its Tracks on Tuesday events for the past month.

This upcoming Tuesday – March 4 – they are hosting a “very special workshop” with AJ Sutherland who has previously toured with world-famous musicians such as Tate McRae, Stormzy and Dave.

Mary St Live invites young people passionate about music between the ages 11-18 from across Sheffield to attend the evening session as well as future ones, some of which are open mic nights.

Daniel said the location is open to hosting other events, with their website advertising as being “an accessible space for local charities, groups and musicians” and that there is a photography exhibition taking place there in the near future.

When Mary St Studio began work on the building, the walls and roof were unstable and there was only one electrical outlet.

95 Mary Street was formerly a car auto part retailer, which had a small practice room used for college music exam sessions for around 15 years.

Since the car company closed, Daniel and Stephen Blakeley, co-owner of the Mary St Live, funded refurbishments of the building to ensure that it meets safety regulations. 

In order to pay for ventilation, soundproofing and to build a stage, they have been raising a further £1,500 on JustGiving since January, of which they have raised around £700.

Mary St Live is currently working towards becoming a non-profit charity.

Picture credit: Daniel Johnston