SHERIDAN’S: BASSLINE’S SECOND HOME

When people talk about Bassline, Sheffield’s Niche often takes center stage. However, the scene wasn’t confined to Steel City alone. An unexpected hotspot for Bassline was the town of Dewsbury, nestled between Huddersfield & Wakefield, home to the genre’s second iconic club: Sheridan’s.

Located on a quiet industrial estate, Sheridan’s became a Saturday night pilgrimage for Bassline enthusiasts seeking their weekly fix. The venue, often likened to a cowshed due to its long, no-frills structure, lacked flashy lights & elaborate decor. Instead, it thrived on raw energy, with the ravers’ vibrant enthusiasm lighting up the dark dance floor.

DJ Q recalls the club’s early days, noting that his first five or six sets there were played to empty rooms. However, following the closure of Niche in 2005, Sheridan’s quickly rose as the new epicenter for Bassline, with acts such as Jamie Duggan and Mick Tole stepping in to host events that kept the genre’s momentum alive. The venue became a launchpad for rising talent and a proving ground for budding producers and DJs, offering a platform for artists like T2 and TS7 to perform their first sets and hosting Paleface’s debut northern gig. Sheridan’s was pivotal in cultivating and expanding the Bassline movement.

The club would come alive around midnight, attracting ravers from as far away as London. It was a place to let loose, with revelers jumping around & inventing new dances. By dawn, the darkly lit ceiling would drip with sweat as sunglasses-clad ravers partied relentlessly until the event concluded. When it was time to clear the room, security—complete with dogs—swiftly emptied the space.

Sheridan’s occupies a legendary place in the music’s history, comparable to the formative Grime & Dubstep nights at FWD>> & DMZ. From conversations with scene veterans, a common theme emerges: many entered Sheridan’s as casual listeners & left as devoted Bassline artists.

Sadly, Sheridan’closed in 2008 due to a fire. Yet its legacy endures as a cornerstone of Bassline history. Unfortunately there isn’t much content available online of this venue, but As It Is TV documented it well during 2007. You can check the full videos online.