From Castle Market to Centre Stage: Adelphi Music Factory Return for Love to be... Sheffield

Tony Allen
5 hours ago
3 min read

Three men stand outdoors, one in a black cap, one in sunglasses, another thoughtful. Green leaves and trees surround them. Casual mood.

Love to be... is back in Sheffield this weekend, and it’s going all out. An all-day street party turned full-scale house festival, set across four stages at FORGE and out onto Effingham Road. It’s loud, proud and properly rooted in the city’s history. Right in the thick of it are Adelphi Music Factory - local heroes who’ve been carrying Sheffield’s club culture into the future since day one.

For the AMF crew, this one feels personal. “Loads of our tracks have Sheffield dance culture references - Love to be, Jive Turkey, Rise, Uprising,” they told us. “We all cut our teeth DJing in Sheffield when we were still at school. Hanging around record shops on Castle Market as kids was so inspiring and formative.” They even named themselves after two legendary venues - The Adelphi and The Music Factory. That link between their past and present isn’t just symbolic. It’s foundational.

The trio burst onto the scene in 2018 with the anthemic’ Javelin (Calling Out Your Name)’ - a track that mixed euphoric vocals with heavy Northern grit. Gerd Janson, Annie Mac, and The Blessed Madonna all took notice. Since then, they’ve been on a run of joyful, floor-filling releases that have found their way into peak-time sets from Honey Dijon to Denis Sulta.

Three DJs perform on stage at Adelphi Music Factory. Vibrant lights and patterns create an energetic atmosphere. Audience is visible in front.

But AMF isn’t a typical dance act. They’re a collective, a crew, a shared vision. “We describe AMF as a brotherhood, a sisterhood,” they said. “We’ve all spent time in bands, studio complexes, DJ crews, and we always try to bring that spirit into what we do - bouncing ideas off each other, bringing in singers, other musicians. It’s about community, not ego.”

It’s not always easy to sync schedules, though. “We hardly manage to get the three of us in the same room these days due to distance and time, so we make liberal use of WhatsApp and video calls.” But even with the digital workaround, the creative chemistry is still strong.

That collaborative energy carries through to their live sets - each one built for shared release and unfiltered joy. “We always think, if you’re lucky enough to have a platform, why wouldn’t you try and spread some peace and love?” they told us. “There’s a lot of darkness in the world right now, so we try and bring some positivity.”

Their music does exactly that. Uplifting house and disco with purpose. From the gospel fire of ‘Salvation’ to the raw club power of ‘Uprising (I Can’t Wait)’, the message is consistent - freedom, unity, joy.

It’s a perfect match for Love to be... Born in 1994 at the original Music Factory on London Road, the party helped define Northern club culture. Now, after a 30th-anniversary run that touched everywhere from Miami to Sydney, it’s back where it belongs - with a lineup that balances legends and future icons.

This Sunday’s open-air blowout features Sam Divine, Todd Terry, The Shapeshifters, Victor Simonelli, Barbara Tucker (live), Alison Limerick (live), Allister Whitehead and more. The STREET STAGE, where AMF will perform, is the beating heart of the day - loaded with sound, lights, CO2 cannons and energy to match.

Elsewhere, you’ll find the MUSIC FACTORY STAGE going deep into the 90s with proper heritage acts, the VIP STAGE hosted by funkyLove and Funk My Disco bringing soul and sparkle, and the WORKROOM getting low and dirty with Mando Records. It’s a full spectrum of House - past, present and future - packed into one street.

Festival-goers smile under a large pink and purple arch with "Love to be..." text. Overcast sky and tents in the background.

Adelphi Music Factory’s set will be one of the most honest reflections of what this city’s scene is all about. From the roots in DIY record shopping and sweaty backrooms to today’s massive street raves with global lineups - it’s all part of the same lineage.

“House music is freedom,” AMF told us. “That sense of release, community, of coming together - it’s powerful. Especially now.” And where better to feel that than under the open sky, in the middle of Sheffield, surrounded by your people?

Tickets are flying on second release. If you’re only making it to one party this summer - make it this one. Love to be... is more than just a festival. It’s a full-circle moment for the city. And with Adelphi Music Factory on the bill, it’ll be one to remember. Grab your tickets via https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/love-to-be-in-the-park.