The Tameside Radio presenter addresses the return of Little Man Tate and the musical talents of Sheffield in his latest column...

Coming out of a huge Sheffield music explosion in the mid 2000s, which included Milburn, Reverend and The Makers, The Harrisons and Arctic Monkeys to name just a few, Little Man Tate were a band at the forefront of it all.

Although they may not have ended up with world domination like Arctic Monkeys did, Little Man Tate meant as much to their fans, and the music world, as anyone.

Liverpool had its Merseybeat era, Manchester had its Madchester era, and the mid 2000s was the time for Sheffield.

Little Man Tate were formed in 2005, and in the four years before disbanding in 2009, the line-up of Jon Windle, Maz Marriott, Ben Surtees, and Dan Fields released a whole host of songs, and two albums, which were relatable, anthemic, and in many ways life- changing for a huge army of fans.

I was, and still am, one of those fans. Little Man Tate mean as much to me as any other band that’s existed, that includes The Beatles and Oasis.

When the news broke, on July 13, 2009, that the band had called it a day, it was a huge blow for fans, and the music scene.

But we’d had four years of timeless songs which felt like they’d been made for each one of us individually. Not to mention the live shows.

Little Man Tate on stage were untouchable. I was lucky, and privileged as a fan, to work with the band as a DJ at a couple of their Manchester gigs back in the day, nights I’ve never forgotten, nights I class as highlights of my career, purely because of what the band mean to me.

So when in 2020, new social media accounts appeared for the band, with a status which simply read ‘something’s happening’ minds started wandering and rumours of a reunion were the talk of the music world.

It was true, the band were to get back together for a couple of nights at the O2 Academy in their hometown of Sheffield. As a fan, nothing would stop me going to these.

The dates had to be moved because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but now, when the gigs do take place next month, both sold out nights will go down in history as one of the best indie reunions of all time.

The excitement and hype for these gigs is huge. Since the dates were announced, I have now been announced as the DJ on both nights. I’ve worked on some amazing events since the pandemic ended, but the two LMT sold-out reunion gigs, on October 8 and 9, are personal to me.

Playing at the reunion gigs, hanging out with the lads, of one of my favourite bands ever.

The band have promised the nights will be full of the hits we all came to know and love them for, ‘House Party At Boothys’, ‘Sexy In Latin’, ‘Man I Hate Your Band’, ‘This Must Be Love’, the list is endless.

We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Little Man Tate, one of the most loveable bands of all time, but for now, it’s just so good to have them back.

Little Man Tate join me ahead of the reunion gigs, this Monday on my Tameside Radio show from 7pm.

You can listen to Dave on Tameside Radio 103.6FM on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Click here to subscribe and catch up on previous shows.

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