The Steel City Radio launch at Sumfest 2012

Date: 02/08/2012. Story submitted by: Ben Hastie

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It's the time of year for festivals and the Burngreave Community filled Abbeyfield Park to celebrate their own Sumfest 2012.

The free festival was organised by Burngreave Community Radio (BCR) to commemorate their transformation into Steel City Radio.

“We decided to re-brand last year to attract listeners from all over north Sheffield,” explained press and media officer Sally Eldin-Dalziel.

“We wanted to combine the launch party with something for the whole community.

“There’s been lots and lots of hard work by many dedicated volunteers.

“We didn’t have much of a budget but we like a challenge, and we wanted to give people in the area something to look forward to."

The festival took the best part of a year to organise and was made possible by numerous local residents investing their time and their energy.

“There hasn’t really been a local focal point since Music in the Sun moved to the Don Valley,” said 42-year-old Tariq Hassan.

“It’s really important for the people to have somewhere they can be together.”

There was a wide variety of stalls offering a forum for local businesses side by side with the Muazzam Ali Welfare Trust, Arundel Street on the Move and African in Sheffield.

Folk of all ages, colours and creeds relaxed beneath the sun as an impressively eclectic array of DJs, dancers and musicians performed on the main stage.

At 4pm Steel City Radio was officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Councillor John Campbell.

The Mayor was presented with a cup by BCR founder Aisha Special K to celebrate the significance of his being the first black man to hold the position.

“I want all the young faces out there to see that race and class don’t have to be restrictions on what you can achieve,” Aisha told the crowd.

"It's good for an area with a bit of a bad reputation to show a positive side," added Tariq.

"Places like ours often have the strongest sense of, and need for, community."

Additional info

Address: Abbeyfield Road Sheffield South Yorkshire S4 7AT

Tags: Sumfest 2012, Steel City Radio, Abbeyfield Park