The Cross Wires Podcast Festival, scheduled from May 31st to June 2nd, is set to enliven Sheffield’s iconic venues with a diverse array of live shows and special guests.
Hosted by top podcasters across various genres, the festival promises an engaging weekend celebrating the best of audio entertainment.
Featured Acts
- The Adam Buxton Show with Self Esteem: Adam Buxton hosts a lively session with acclaimed musician Self Esteem, combining candid conversation and live music.
- Brown Girls Do It Too with Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani: Poppy and Rubina bring their groundbreaking podcast to life, addressing taboos surrounding sex in Asian communities.
- Jon Ronson: The esteemed Gonzo journalist shares insights into his most captivating experiences.
- Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything LIVE: Comedian Katherine Ryan presents a night of unfiltered anecdotes and stand-up comedy, joined by a special guest.
- NewlyWeds with Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo: Jamie and Sophie offer a hilarious glimpse into married life, with surprises and audience participation.
- TalkArt with Russell Tovey & Robert Diament: Russell and Robert welcome art enthusiasts to a live podcast featuring exclusive interviews with prominent artists and curators.
- Uncanny: I Know What I Saw with Danny Robins: Danny Robins and his team deliver spine-chilling stories and thought-provoking tales in the stage.
- Wolf and Owl with Tom Davis and Romesh Ranganathan: Tom and Romesh engage audiences with their unfiltered banter and problem-solving prowess in a live podcast session.
Festival Fringe and Surprises
In addition to the headline acts, the festival offers free fringe events showcasing emerging podcast talents. Attendees can expect unexpected surprises throughout the weekend, adding to the excitement of the festival experience.
Sheffield was chosen because of their heritage during the cultural events. One of the organizers, Alice Levine said that,
Not all major national events, particularly in podcasting, need to happen in London… So, we wanted this to be a national festival that was in another vibrant, exciting city.
Visionary Organizers
Alice Levine, Dino Sofos, and James O’Hara spearhead the festival, aiming to establish it as a prominent national event outside London. Supported by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Sheffield City Council, Cross Wires Podcast Festival is poised to become a highlight of the UK’s cultural calendar.
Sofos who had experience setting up the BBC podcasts, said that it’s time for podcasts to take the stage,
People are listening to millions of podcasts every year but what we are learning is that people are more and more wanting to experience community, to go and meet the other people that are listening to shows and to be in the same room as the hosts and feel part of something… So we thought it’s time for a podcast festival across multiple venues where we bring the biggest names and have a big party really.
More Information
Tickets for the Cross Wires Podcast Festival are available now at CrossedWires.Live, promising an immersive and unforgettable weekend celebrating the vibrant world of podcasting in Sheffield. The events will be held at multiple venues like the Crucible and the City Hall.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is the festival’s primary funder, contributing £325,000 to the event. Oliver Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire, said:
“The Crossed Wires festival is further evidence of the world-leading strength of arts and culture in South Yorkshire; putting us at the forefront of one of the most innovative, exciting parts of the entertainment industry.”
