Republica - 30 Years Of Ready To Go

Republica play Network on Saturday 24 October, part of their 30 Years Of Ready To Go anniversary tour. It's a Sheffield stop on a run that goes from 16 October to 29 November, so they'll be in the middle of the tour by the time they get here.

If you're coming to them from the radio, you'll know the name and the song that made it. Republica formed in 1994 and signed to Deconstruction, and they broke out with 'Ready to Go' from their self-titled debut. They followed that up with Speed Ballads in 1998, before reuniting in 2008. Along with bands like Catatonia, Elastica, Sleeper and Skunk Anansie, they were part of the Britpop era at its commercial and cultural peak, selling over three million albums and landing a UK Top 3 debut.

At the front is Saffron, the Nigerian-born vocalist who'd sung with N-Joi, the Shamen and Jah Wobble before Republica. Her voice has carried through to other projects since — she's performed as part of Alex James' Britpop Orchestra and did halftime shows during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The band's music has also turned up on screen in Captain Marvel, Yellowjackets and Ted Lasso.

Network is at 14 Matilda Street, Sheffield S1, and the show starts at 7:00 pm. Tickets start from £33.00.