Love to be… unveils all-star lineup for Bank Holiday house fest at Sheffield’s FORGE

Sheffield’s legendary house music brand, Love to be… is set to stage an all-day festival on Bank Holiday Sunday, 25th May at FORGE, taking over the warehouse, courtyard, and even bringing the party out onto Effingham Road. For this inner-city festival, the beloved Love to be… curates a quality lineup over four stages, including house music royalty Sam Divine, Barbara Tucker (live), Todd Terry, The Shapeshifters, Victor Simonelli, Alison Limerick (live), Allister Whitehead, Adelphi Music Factory, Tom Wainwright, Trimtone, Tony Walker and loads more. Stage takeovers come courtesy of Sheffield and Leeds’ finest house and disco brands, Mando Records, funkyLove and Funk My Disco. With over 30 DJs on the lineup, full festival production, entertainers, street food, merch stalls and much more, this is set to be a true celebration of house music in the Steel City.

Originating in 1994 at the Music Factory on London Road, Love to be… was championed as the North’s original super club for its inimitable atmosphere and legendary lineups. Now, one year on from a 30th anniversary – that staged 30 events from Miami to Sydney – and the launch of the sell-out Love to be… Festival in Harrogate, Love to be… is back on home turf with a renewed energy for house music and a vibrant community bridging generations on the dance floor.

The sprawling FORGE site makes for the perfect setting for this next Love to be… event; a location it’s now called home since 2023. Effingham Road will be closed off as Love to be… takes over the streets and surrounding areas to stage a fully-fledged festival with an increased capacity.

Headlining the outdoor STREET STAGE is Queen of Electronic Music and winner of Best House DJ at the DJ Awards, Sam Divine. Also putting the huge sound system through its paces is the iconic Barbara Tucker, Todd Terry, The Shapeshifters, Adelphi Music Factory, Trimtone and more. With full production, CO2 cannons, entertainers, glitter stalls, street food, and access to the venue and courtyard, the STREET STAGE is the hub of this house music affair. 

The MUSIC FACTORY STAGE over in the Warehouse, is a nod to Love to be’s… first ever home in Sheffield. With a superb line up of house music icons that rocked Love to be’s…. early years, including New York’s Victor Simonelli, Alison Limerick performing the hit single  ‘Where Love Lives’, Gatecrasher resident Allister Whitehead, Hacienda legend Tom Wainwright, Love to be… founder Tony Walker and more, this is a rewind in time to the glory days of 90s house music. 

Back outside on the VIP STAGE hosted by LGBTQ+ advocates funkyLove and Sheffield’s Funk My Disco, festival goers can expect back-to-back, exclusive DJ sets spanning a fusion of funky, soulful and underground nu disco, with the face of funkyLove, Soraya Vivian performing live. 

For something altogether different, Sheffield’s Mando Records turns the WORKROOM into an intimate rave cave, bringing the latest and greatest in house and tech from local and UK up-and-coming talents, with label don Kyle Robertson at the helm taking no prisoners! 

Tickets are already selling fast and are on second release priced at £52 plus booking fee on Skiddle.com. For those wanting some extra treatment, upgrades are also available for access to the VIP stage, with add-ons including queue jump, posh loos and private bar, and even more exclusive DJ sets and entertainment.

If there’s only one festival for the summer hit list, make it Love to be… Sheffield.