Miles Kane Brings Sunshine To The Shadows In Sheffield

Photography by Steel City Snapper

“Sheffield on a Monday, COME ON!” Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats famously didn’t like Mondays, but Miles Kane certainly does, especially when they’re in Sheffield! And the large crowd gathered in Crookes Social Club also had no complaints on this cold, wet, Monday in January.

Support for the evening had come from Villanelle, a band that’s gaining a rapidly increasing following thanks largely to frontman Gene Gallagher (son of Liam!). They tore through seven songs in 25 minutes, with Gene ably demonstrating that he’s a chip off the old block - it’s definitely in the genes with Gene! Whether they’ll ever make it as big as Oasis is up for debate (few bands ever do, of course), but Villanelle are surely ‘ones to watch’…

So onto the headline act, the main reason that everyone had braved the cold and rain for. Miles Kane may have been born in Birkenhead on the Wirral, but through his frequent collaborations with Alex Turner, he’s always felt like an honorary Sheffielder. He’s played many times in the Steel City, including headlining the Leadmill’s last ever gig in June 2025 (a fast, furious and emotional night). The crowd in Crookes tonight greeted him like he was a proper hometown hero, and Miles clearly enjoyed the reception.

Looking effortlessly stylish wearing pink trousers with leopard-print trim (later a matching guitar was added to the ensemble), a white vest and a black leather jacket, Miles and his band took to the stage accompanied by Link Wray’s classic 'The Rumble'. The set started off perhaps surprisingly low-key with 'I Pray', an album track from his latest record, 2025’s Sunshine In The Shadows. It does feature a killer guitar line, but it isn’t really one of the night’s big numbers (interestingly, this opening track was swapped to 'Electric Flower' for the second night in Crookes). It gets the crowd nicely warmed up though before launching into 'Rearrange' (from 2011) which is quickly followed by 'Troubled Son' (from 2023), definitely two big numbers with big riffs and even bigger choruses: “let it out, let it out, let it all out” the crowd chant in unison with Miles.

This is a night full of Miles’ trademark riffs. His songs sound great on record of course, but it’s on the stage where Miles really comes alive - whether it’s the main stage of Tramlines or the more intimate Crookes Social Club. He’s a phenomenal guitarist, and this really comes to the fore on songs like 'Too Little Too Late' and long-time crowd-favourite 'Inhaler', which are just two of the songs tonight that feature intricate guitar solos. A sea of phones go up to capture these big moments.

To really boost the guitar sound Miles is joined on stage by two other accomplished guitarists, Ben Rose and Jake Fletcher, the three of them share the lead and rhythm guitar parts throughout the night to great effect. The band is completed by Nathan Sudders on bass and Jennifer Walinetski on drums, a formidable rhythm section. In December 2023 Miles played a Christmas show at the Leadmill on his own as part of his One Man Band tour. He was good on that occasion, but like most artists he’s so much better with a full band to riff off, and all on stage were clearly loving the chance to play together in Sheffield.

Sunshine In The Shadows is Miles’ sixth solo album, and 7 of tonight’s 21 songs came from that Top 20 album. It’s an album influenced by T-Rex and that instantly recognisable glam-rock sound which tonight really gets the Crookes crowd bouncing. Two of the songs from the album had been played live for the first time ever at the Leadmill’s final gig last June, 'Love Is Cruel' and the album’s title track. At the Leadmill they went down well, but tonight in Crookes they’re greeted more like old friends, already firm favourites amongst Miles’ rich back catalogue. The epic 'Walk On The Ocean', the closing track from that album, was an undoubted highlight of the night as it built from a quiet start into a big, beautiful guitar solo.

“Are we feeling it Sheff?” asks Miles, the crowd roars back in the affirmative. “We’re in the groove aren’t we Sheff?” They certainly were in the groove, Miles and his band were oozing confidence as they reeled off favourite after favourite like 'One Man Band'. 'Colour of the Trap', and 'Never Taking Me Alive'. The whole set flew by, there was no bored clock-watching from this reviewer.

There was no encore tonight, just 21 songs played straight through. The final run of songs featured an energetic 'Don’t Forget Who You Are' (a big favourite with the crowd), a loud 'Sunlight In The Shadows', and a fast and furious set closer 'Come Closer' from his 2011 debut album Colour of the Trap.

Before the final song, Miles tells the crowd “I appreciate you coming out on a cold night, it means the world to me”. It’s always a treat to see a big artist in an intimate venue, and tonight is no different. It means the world to his Sheffield fans that he regularly plays the city, according to setlistFM this is Miles’ thirteenth gig in Sheffield since 2011 (and that doesn’t include his gigs with Arctic Monkeys and the Last Shadow Puppets!). With gig fourteen taking place the following night, Miles departs the stage quickly, leaving the crowd definitely wanting more.

“Don’t forget who you are”? Judging by this set of classic rock n roll in a tiny working men’s club in the Sheffield suburbs, Miles Kane clearly hasn’t forgotten who he is or where he’s come from. And long may that continue.

The Sheffield dates are part of an extensive headline tour of the UK and EU throughout January, February, and March. Sheffield was just the second stop on the tour which will include a date at the prestigious Roundhouse in London at the end of January.

The tour concludes in Paris on 20 March, if you get the chance to see Miles live on this tour then you should definitely take it and enjoy some “sunshine in the shadows” during this cold and miserable winter.