All-day inner-city festival returns in just days including four stages, 30 DJs and a stacked lineup

The Irish Sun

21-05-2025

LOVE to be… returns to Sheffield in style on Bank Holiday Sunday, 25 May with an all-day inner-city festival at FORGE, taking over the warehouse, courtyard, and even the streets of Effingham Road.
With four stages, over 30 DJs, and a lineup stacked with house royalty including Sam Divine, Todd Terry, Barbara Tucker, The Shapeshifters, and Alison Limerick, it's set to be a huge celebration of house music culture.
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Victor Simonelli will be spinning some discs
Credit: Supplied
At the heart of it all is the Music Factory Stage, a nod to Love to be…'s original 90s home, where New York house legend Victor Simonelli will deliver a special set packed with soulful energy and deep grooves alongside Alison Limerick performing the hit single 'Where Love Lives', Gatecrasher resident Allister Whitehead, Hacienda legend Tom Wainwright, Love to be… founder Tony Walker and many more.
This is a rewind in time to the glory days of 90s house music. To mark the occasion, Victor Simonelli has curated a playlist titled 'Some of NY's Finest Favorites', showcasing highlights from his extensive label catalogue.
He told us: "It would be more fluid for me doing a chart of some of my favorite releases from my own labels...
"Besides myself, these labels include releases from many well-known artists and producers. So something like, 'Some of NY's Finest Favorites'.'
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From timeless vocal collaborations to fresh cuts from new artists (including his son), the playlist is a true celebration of NYC house heritage with Simonelli's signature touch.
Take a dive into Victor's selections below, read what he had to say about the music and get a taste of what's to come when he brings the Big Apple to Sheffield this weekend.
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His playlist will be a true celebration of NYC house
Credit: Supplied
Groove Committee Feat. Marcie Allen - I Still Believe [Bassline Records]
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Marcie Allen - the singer on this - and I have been friends since the 80s. Before She and I met, she was in the group Aquarian Dream and worked with Patrick Adams and many others.
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We have made numerous tunes together including "All Over Me" by Underground Circuit (sampled by Jr Vasquez for "Dream Drums"), "You Need Someone" by Groove Committee, amongst others.
This is our latest release together and will also be included on her upcoming album that we are putting together.
Soul Magic & Ebony Soul Feat. Ann Nesby - Get Your Thing Together (Odyssey Inc. Remix) [Bassline Records]
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I wrote this with Lenny D in 1989, and originally recorded it with Martha Wash.
That version was never released, but a version with Roberta Gilliam was in around 1990.
Fast Forward to approx. 2008, and I recorded a version with Ann Nesby, who added some additional writing to it too. Various mixes have been done on it since, and this is the latest - a new release.
NY's Finest, D Train - Stand Up For Your Love (Victor Simonelli Mix) [Bassline Records]
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It was a Dream for me do a tune with D Train, and this is it. Here is my Original mix of it, released this year.
Northbound – A Better Way Feat. Mone (Jazz N Groove Vocal Club Mix) [Bassline Records]
This is the first release by Mone. I had met Brian Tappert, one of the owners of Traxsource, and Roy Grant, who later became known as Jazz N Groove, at Winter Music Conference in 1992. At the time, they had not produced or released much. I asked them to send demos when they were ready, and they did.
I had started Bassline records around that time, and this was amongst the first releases I assisted them with. We released numerous works of theirs leading up to 1995 and Brian then started Soulfuric Recordings with Marc Pomeroy.
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Ebony Soul - I Can Hardly Wait (Victor Simonelli Mix) [Unkwn Rec]
Released in 1992 initially on Eightball Records, this is a release that is often requested, and another one of my Pseudonyms. There's been an anniversary release of this just recently released with original and various mixes on one of my own labels, Unkwn Rec's.
Blind Truth feat Tata & Toney - Why Can't We See (Odyssey Inc. Feat Louis Latino Remix) [Unkwn Rec]
Arthur Baker and I originally created this tune together in 1991. I am guessing it sets the record for the tune with most remixes and reworks, ever, with approximately 200 or so, to date. This is the latest remix of this treasure by Odyssey Inc.
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Brooklyn's Most Wanted - Just A Touch Away [Good Groove Records]
Produced by my eldest son, Immanuele Simonelli, and on his label Good Groove Rec's, I assisted him with mixing and arranging this. Setting dancefloors on fire.
Sound Of One - I Know A Place (Neapolitan Soul Remix) [Unkwn Rec]
Originally released in 1993 and often imitated, here is the latest remix by Neapolitan Soul. Available on Traxsource by another one of my many Pseudonyms, so new there is no Youtube link yet!
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Serena May - Tell Me Is This Love (Victor Simonelli Mix) [Bassline Records]
Serena May is a young new artist and a great songwriter, working with her Dad and Mom on her own tunes. She is from the UK and when her Mom presented me with a downtempo version of this song, I said I would like to remix it. This it the result - just released on Bassline Records.
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Interaction - Move To The Beat (Deep Dub) [Vendetta Records]
One of my first solely produced releases, made in 1988 and released in 1989. This Dub version still works.
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