Daniel Dylan Wray

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

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

Sheffield’s music history is hardly a secret. The city famously punches above its weight, yet still holds on to its outsider status: industrial, independent and underdog.⁠ ⁠ In ‘Groovy, Laidback & Nasty’, writer @ddywray tells the story of Sheffield’s music history through the artists, clubs, venues and scenes that made the city so singular.⁠ ⁠ Drawing on more than 150 original interviews, the book traces almost seven decades of independent music culture, from experimental electronics, synth-pop and industrial funk to Britpop, trance, bassline and beyond.⁠ ⁠ Follow @crackmagazine for more music and culture content.

Big thanks to everyone who came down to @thesociallondon last night as we brought South Yorkshire to Fitzrovia for the London launch of Groovy, Laidback and Nasty. Brilliant chat between @ddywray and guest host @benbthomas , lovely crowd (with some great audience questions), top tunes from DJs @zaereo @toddlat and @96_back , and every single copy sold out from @realmagicbooks . And we’ll be announcing our next event here very soon…

Just about got over Thursday night for my Sheffield book launch. A very special evening that made my heart very full. Thanks so so much to the frankly ridiculous amount of people who came along to celebrate the city and its music - there was a lot of history in that room. Also, you bought every fucking book there was on sale (which was a LOT) so again huge thanks. Was a properly joyous night with a wonderful audience. I’ll have a full gallery of photos back next week but @traced.in.light has very kindly sent over an early preview selection to post. Featuring myself and @elizabethalker getting into it - who was a wonderful host, thank you - as well as when things took a psychedelic turn via @thereal_acidklaus ’ bingo. Plus DJ spots from @gutlevelsheffield and @doitthissen (also thanks to @memorydance - not pictured for now). Thanks to all at @whiterabbitbks for coming en masse to join the party too. Was a belter. Bless you Sheff. ✊🏻

Massive thank you to the 350+ who packed into the legendary @crookessocialclub last night to celebrate @ddywray and his book on Sheffield’s music history. What a brilliant night it was. Special thanks are also due to @elizabethalker for asking the questions, all the guest DJs from @memorydance @doitthissen @warprecords and @gutlevelsheffield , @thereal_acidklaus for hosting a game of bingo unlike any we’ve ever witnessed before, Alex at @labiblioteka for selling every single copy of the book we had (which was a LOT), Maurice and all the team at Crookes, and of course to the main man himself, Daniel, for working so hard on bringing it all together. The people of Sheffield turned out in force to support Dan and his book and we couldn’t be more grateful 🙏

This exclusive extract from Daniel Dylan Wray's new book ‘Groovy, Laidback and Nasty’ tracks the earliest days of Britpop heroes @welovepulp . 📚 “People found us funny because we were such a mess,” @jarvisbransoncocker says⁠ 🔗 Visit the link in Rolling Stone UK's bio to find out more. ⁠ ⁠ Words: @ddywray

podcast ep with author @ddywray discussing his new book on the history of independent music in Sheffield, which spans 1960 to present day. Shout out to the mid 00s bands from the indie scene, and to @thehorrors , Black Wire and Neil’s Children. Listen to the full episode in our bio link or wherever you get podcasts Dan’s book is excellent and out tomorrow on @whiterabbitbks #arcticmonkeys #reverendandthemakers #sheffieldmusic #sheffield #newyorkshire

It’s finally publication week for Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, @ddywray ’s hugely entertaining and immersive exploration of Sheffield’s vast musical history.    Still time to grab tickets for one of the launch events: SHEFFIELD: PUBLICATION DAY PARTY Thursday 7th @crookessocialclub w/ @elizabethalker @thereal_acidklaus @warprecords + more, books by @labiblioteka LONDON: Monday 11th @thesociallondon w/ @benbthomas @toddlat @zaereo @96_back , books by @realmagicbooks BRIGHTON: Friday 22nd @residentbrighton w/ @malmallinder   And if you’re quick you can grab a copy with bonus fanzine from indepenent retailers, including the likes of @roughtrade @beartreerecords @coloursmayvary @residentbrighton and @labiblioteka but these are selling out fast   @kelham_island_brewery are helping us celebrate launch with their Blonde Ale, available at some great pubs across the city including @faganssheffield and @thebotanicalarms   And for those who want to listen to the audiobook, Dan has been in the recording studio and this edition will be available later this month - you can pre-save it now from your audiobook supplier of choice   So there’s lots happening for this one - links for event tickets and to grab the book are in our bio

As we gear up for publication of Groovy, Laidback & Nasty: A History of Independent Music in Sheffield, I’m doing a little series called Sounds of Sheffield. In which I dig into - in less than 60 seconds - the story of lesser known records from Sheff music history. We all know the big records by Pulp, Monkeys, Human League etc but the story of Sheffield is more than its headline acts. First up: Ramases. Egyptian mythology meets Christian folk that’s recorded at Stockport’s legendary Strawberry studios.

Why do some cities just have it? From synth-pop number ones to underground techno classics, industrial funk to accidental Britpop icons, the Steel City might have produced more brilliant music per capita than any other world metropolis. And yet, no one has published the definitive book on the subject – until now! @ddywray is one of the UK’s best music writers, and his new book Groovy, Laidback and Nasty: The History of Independent Music in Sheffield chronicles the maverick artists, chart invaders, parties, labels, venues and even Christian cults that shaped the city’s musical history. We talked to Dan about why Sheffield rejected punk rock for Kraftwerk and Wendy Carlos, how Peter Stringfellow became a crucial early mover in the city's club scene, and why there are no murals of Jarvis Cocker in the city centre. We also heard about the unlikely chain of events that birthed @warprecords , and one of the most important yet undersung ‘80s club nights, Jive Turkey. We also unveil a major expansion of our Rockufiction canon of ‘music films that bend reality’, including Frank Zappa, Daft Punk, Macca and S Club 7. That’ll probably be the final update on Rockufiction, but if you have any burning additions then get them in quick… As ever, if you like what we do on No Tags, please do consider signing up to our paid tier for a mere £5 per month!

Very happy to have a nice big fat extract from my forthcoming debut book in the Guardian today - out May 7 via @whiterabbitbks . It’s the section that focuses on the early years of Arctic Monkeys, as well as rivalries, riots, and the whole manufactured New Yorkshire movement. It depicts an era that was tribal, catty, and very funny but also one that was quite pure and rooted in a strong sense of camaraderie too. A lot of it was not my scene at the time in the city but I really enjoyed chatting with a lot of these lads and appreciated their honesty and self-deprecating nature. It features brand new original interviews from all involved from that scene. There’s lots and lots of different stuff from the 2000s era also included in the book, of course, but if you wanna read about the meteoric rise of a bunch of young lads from High Green - and pre order the book/come to launch events - you can find it all in my bio.