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weareopus.bsky.social
We Are Opus
@weareopus.bsky.social
530 followers 23 following 38 posts
Opus works to create and support responses to achieve urgent systemic change through @nowthenmag.bsky.social @festofdebate.bsky.social & more.
👉 weareopus.org
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We Are Opus @weareopus.bsky.social · Jun 24
A statement from Opus on the government's decision to proscribe @palaction.bsky.social.

You can also read the full statement on our website, where all of our sources are linked.

➡️ weareopus.org/post/opus-te...

#PalestineAction
Opus team statement on the ban of Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws After their protest at RAF Brize Norton, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to designate direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Palestine Action sprayed paint on military jet engines as a protest against the UK’s complicity in Israel’s genocide. This is not terrorism. Direct action is the heartbeat of our democracy, and the government’s draconian attempt to smear Palestine Action represents a dangerous moment for civil liberties in the UK. Since the Policing Act, protest has been curtailed and police have been given more power than ever to intervene in protests, and to arrest protesters. Our government have supported Israel’s genocide both politically and materially. Keir Starmer has refused to call Israel’s actions a genocide, when the UN, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have all done so. Recent data from Action on Armed Violence has found that the RAF have conducted more than 500 reconnaissance flights over Palestine since December 2023. The UK has sent thousands of military items to Israel since October 2023. Just days ago, a study from Harvard found that Israel has “disappeared” 377,000 Palestinians, half of them children. Research published in the Lancet estimates the death toll is 40% higher than shown in official records. Israel are committing a genocide in Palestine, and they’re doing it with the support of the UK government. Sheffield is not unconnected to this genocide. Research from the University of Sheffield is used to provide vital parts for arms for Israel. The university has received almost £100m over the past 12 years in investments from arms manufacturers. BAE Systems have opened an artillery production facility in Sheffield, further cementing the city as a major player in arms production. Palestine Action have put their own freedoms at risk to call out the complicity of the UK government in supporting a genocide. In accusing them of behaving as a terrorist group, this government is further weaponising post-9/11 legislation which criminalises and demonises Muslims. We refute the allegations that Palestine Action are terrorists, and we challenge the government’s definition of terrorism. It will soon become illegal to express any support for Palestine Action. The nature of proscription also complicates how journalists can cover the group, a startling restriction of freedom of speech. At Opus, we work to make systems change possible for a better world. We urge everyone in Sheffield and the rest of the country to agitate for Palestine Action’s right to protest, and our collective right to object to a genocide. We will continue to use our platforms to amplify groups like Palestine Action whose principled actions make a better world possible. Emergency mobilisation outside Sheffield Town Hall, Thursday 26 June, 5:30 pm
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
Sheffield will keep its hard fought-for committee system of local governance, after the government U-turned on plans to force all councils across the country to adopt more centralised leadership models.

✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social

#Sheffield #LocalDemocracy
Sheffield will be allowed to keep more democratic council system for now, following government U-turn
Labour’s Steve Reed previously said he would force the city to scrap the popular Committee System, despite being backed by two-thirds of residents in a referendum.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
Like Sheffield, Melbourne is undertaking a radical project to reimagine the city in service of people and planet – here's how 👇

✍️ Alison Whitten (first published in
@citizennetwork.bsky.social)

#Sheffield #Melbourne #DoughnutEconomics #SheffieldCityGoals #RegenMelbourne
Regen Melbourne - Like Sheffield, Melbourne is undertaking a radical project to reimagine the city in service of people and planet
Ahead of our event with Sheffield City Goals tomorrow evening, Alison Whitten tells the story of how Regen Melbourne has created an innovative framework to bring civic and natural life to the city.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"The Championship is a tough competition, it's a tough industry: the pressure's there and stress levels can go through the roof"

We sat down with @sheffieldunitedfc.bsky.social boss Chris Wilder to find out what's kept him going across a near-25 year managerial career ⚔️

#SUFC #Sheffield
Chris Wilder - "You need to keep learning, whether you're in good or bad situations"
Now Then talks to Blades boss Chris Wilder about the importance of education, motivation and attitude across his 25 years as a football manager.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"The song is about finding joy or relief in repetition, so it seemed perfect for creating these stop-motion loops"

Now Then favourites Life Aquatic Band have kindly let us premiere the video for their new single 'Stuck In The Mud' – and it's a corker 👇

#Sheffield #LifeAquaticBand #StopMotion
Life Aquatic Band - Life Aquatic Band find themselves 'Stuck In The Mud' as they share new stop-motion video
The psych-soaked Sheffield five-piece return with their danciest effort to date, and we've got an exclusive first play of their new video.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"Different landscapes inspire different types of art, and the areas around Calderdale and Pendle have always been beautifully weird places. Both of tonight's bands have roots among these trees"

English Teacher and The Orielles at Foundry in #Sheffield.

✍️ Hamish Yewdall
"Richard Hawley gave me those flowers!": English Teacher and The Orielles at Foundry
Two of the finest bands the north has produced in recent years meet in Sheffield on a raucous Saturday night.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:41 AM
weareopus.bsky.social
We've just invested £250 in @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social's brilliant initiative to help secure the future of some of the UK's best grassroots music venues, including #Sheffield's beloved Gut Level.

They're still £150k short of their target with 12 hours to go – consider investing if you can 👇
Own Our Venues 2025
Your chance to invest and help secure the very buildings that host some of the UK's iconic and community-focussed Grassroots Music Venues.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"These cuts have probably already taken about 3,000 jobs out of the local economy"

We report from the frontline as @ucuhallam.bsky.social members begin a fresh wave of strike action against @sheffieldhallamuni.bsky.social 🪧

✍️ @rose-mason.bsky.social

#Sheffield @ucu.org.uk @drjogrady.bsky.social
Sheffield Hallam staff are going on strike – but will the university listen?
This week marks the first of strike action at Sheffield Hallam. Now Then headed down to the picket line to find out why staff are choosing to swap their lanyards for placards over the next few weeks.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"This is your chance to recognise the deep challenges we face in #Sheffield and beyond, and be part of responding to them together"

We've got the full low-down on this year's @sheffieldtransformed.org, which returns to South Yorkshire later this month.

✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social
Sheffield Transformed - Sheffield Transformed reveal line-up for 2025 festival, with organisers promising “bigger and more diverse” programme
The annual festival of left-wing politics features sessions on anti far-right organising and clean energy transitions, as well as zine-making, poetry writing and folk singing.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
“I like the way when people remix a song they take the core essence of an idea and make it tighter”

We speak to the Mercury Prize-winning English Teacher about the Yorkshire Moors, touring rituals and their new remix album featuring @fontainesdc.bsky.social and Daniel Avery.

#EnglishTeacher
English Teacher - "I wanted to flip over the table and run onstage... I had to restrain myself for the next hour!"
Lewis Whiting from the Mercury-winning English Teacher reflects on a busy year of touring and creating new music.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
festofdebate.bsky.social
Next Thursday, we're inviting the team behind Regen Melbourne – a community of more than 200 organisations committed to creating a thriving city living within our planetary boundaries – to Sheffield 🌏

Find out more at the link below, or grab a ticket ⬇

www.tickettailor.com/events/wordl...
A poster for a new event series called Sandbox. Over a beige background and an abstract image of a sandbox, it has the text "Sandbox. How cities collaborate for transformation. Sheffield x Melbourne. In conversation with Alison Whitten (Regen Melbourne) & Helen Sims (Voluntary Action Sheffield). Thu 20 Nov, 8–9:30pm, The Circle, Sheffield. Below this are the logos of Regen Melbourne, Sheffield City Goals and Opus
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
#Sheffield citizens will be able to invest in local projects to help tackle climate breakdown from December, the council have announced.

The first round of climate bonds will aim to raise £1 million for solar panels on schools – and anyone can invest from as little as £5.

✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social
Sheffield citizens to be offered chance to invest in local climate projects by end of 2025, starting at just £5
The first round of Local Climate Bonds will aim to raise £1 million, and could fund projects from renewable energy installation to electric vehicle infrastructure.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"I like to create an experience – we cry together, laugh together and dance together"

@afriwoman.bsky.social speaks to Nigerian singer Kayefi, a powerful voice in contemporary African music, about her move to #Sheffield and her formative influences 🎤

#Nigeria #Kayefi
Kayefi - "People would ask who my designer was – I’ve had to give out some of my costumes after a performance!"
Now Then sat down for a chat with Kafeyi, whose unique performances blend contemporary African music with older forms of storytelling.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"Recorded via the Kroustpop! label with Cornish musicians and friends from parallel and spin-off bands, Durdey describes these five songs as 'despondent ballads from an optimist'"

Steve Hunting reviews the new EP by Cornish-born, #Sheffield based songwriter Posturing ⬇️

@kroustpop.bsky.social
Posturing - Ephemera EP
Laura Durdey's exquisite EP is a mesmeric blend of wonderful, optimistic ballads combined with punctilious 'stealth sounds'.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
Later this month, BBC 6Music's New Music Fix will be setting up shop in #Sheffield for a week of special live performances, plus a club night at Yellow Arch Studios 🎶

@djdebgrant.bsky.social #6Music
BBC 6Music's New Music Fix show to broadcast from Sheffield for first time, as part of four-day residency
Deb Grant and Nathan Shepherd to front four days of live broadcast, including sessions and interviews with Richard Hawley and Self Esteem, plus an extended live show from Yellow Arch.
nowthenmagazine.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"The sub-bass rolls like steelworks under pressure, and snippets of processed traffic and industrial resonance thread through the mix"

@waynehoyle.bsky.social picks up the vibrations as legendary #Sheffield outfit Cabaret Voltaire make a live return for #Sensoria 🎛️

#CabaretVoltaire
To disturb, to provoke: Cabaret Voltaire at Sensoria
The sonic shockers mark fifty years since their initial transmissions – but cosy nostalgia is far from their agenda.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"I bought a new 20-metre guitar lead just for that bit of the song!"

Steve Hunting spends the day at Sidney & Matilda for Jarred Up, a one-day indie extravaganza starring @cruushband.bsky.social, Grandmas House, Our Girl and many more 🎸

#Sheffield #LiveMusic #Indie #JarredUp
"I bought a new 20-metre guitar lead just for that song!": Jarred Up at Sidney & Matilda
James Watkins’ one-day festival could mark a turning point for new music in Sheffield.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
festofdebate.bsky.social
🚨 We've decided to take a year out from our full Festival of Debate programme in 2026

But don’t worry – we’ll still be hosting six headline events throughout the year that will welcome some of the most interesting and radical systems change thinkers to #Sheffield

@nowthenmag.bsky.social have more⬇️
Festival of Debate - We’re taking a break from the full Festival of Debate next year – here’s why
We have an exciting lineup of keynotes talks in 2026, but we’re taking time to think about how the festival can play a more active role in building the new systems that we urgently need.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"A Spacey Jane show is a two-way conversation: a joint effort of energy, noise and unfiltered joy"

Sahar Ghadirian was at Foundry for Aussie alt-rockers Spacey Jane's first-ever visit to Sheffield 🎸

#Sheffield #SpaceyJane
Empathy amid chaos: Spacey Jane at Foundry
Sheffield welcomes its first show from the Aussie alt-rockers with jangly riffs, dreamy vocals, and plenty of Antipodean charm.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"As expected, the interaction with the crowd was strong, never cliched, and all very Pharcyde – playful and honest"

30 years after first seeing them play, @andytattersall.bsky.social catches The Pharcyde in fine form at #Sheffield's Network.

#Rap #HipHop #ThePharcyde
A bizarre ride to a good time: The Pharcyde at Network
The test of time hasn’t blunted one of rap’s most loved acts, as The Pharcyde deliver their tried-and-tested formula as to what makes a great hip-hop show.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"Terminal clearly have that individual and collective DNA, and if EP1 is anything to go by, the future for Feenstra, Wright and Robinson is bright indeed"

Steve Hunting reviews EP1 by Terminal, a new #Sheffield outfit featuring two ex-SHEAFS members 🎸
Terminal - EP1
Partly made up of SHEAFS alumni, Sheffield's new three-piece combo combine alt-rock, electronics and vocoded vocals to great effect.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
“At the moment it feels like a rumble, a constant tumbling going on. Music is the constant that keeps us going”

Hamish Yewdall chats to Ibibio Sound Machine co-founder and frontwoman Eno Williams ahead of their gig at The Foundry in #Sheffield next month.

#IbibioSoundMachine
Ibibio Sound Machine - "People always say, ‘I've never danced this much before'"
Ahead of a Sheffield Foundry gig next month, Ibibio Sound Machine’s Eno Williams tells Now Then how music and movement bring people together.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
seanmorl.com
My latest for @nowthenmag.bsky.social:
Who Remembers Attention Spans?

Half of people in the UK think their attention span has shrunk. With "doomscrolling" becoming an increasing concern for policymakers, I ask: but is this even real though?

nowthenmagazine.com/articles/who...
Who Remembers Attention Spans?
Why can't we focus on anything these days? Sean Morley takes a brief interlude from checking the latest death tolls to investigate our belief in the shrinking attention span.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"It’s impossible not to leave the venue with vigour and a full heart – Panic Shack are the absolute epitome of an exceptional live act"

Panic Shack leave @danielatherton.bsky.social hugely impressed at The Foundry, #Sheffield.

#PanicShack #Punk
Vigour and a full heart: Panic Shack at The Foundry
The Welsh four-piece shatter the walls and uplift the souls of a sold-out crowd at The Foundry.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Reposted by We Are Opus
nowthenmag.bsky.social
"Armitage has the rare gift of both inciting an emotional reaction and finding the most dry, arid humour from his rich life experience"

Steve Hunting is mesmerised by Simon Armitage and his band LYR at @otsfestival.bsky.social ✍️

#OffTheShelf #Poetry #SimonArmitage @sheffielduni.bsky.social
Sensitivities await: Simon Armitage & LYR at Off the Shelf
The UK's poet laureate spoils us with a mix of stand-alone poetry and spoken word songwriting with his band LYR.
nowthenmagazine.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM