Algorithmic Patterns in the Creative Arts.
12-14th September 2025, central Sheffield venues.
Over 40 artists exploring pattern-based music, arts and crafts through three days of concert + club performances, talks and workshops.
Friday 12th September 2025
TALKS – 10am-5pm Israac, Sheffield
Free, pre-booking required: tickets
Hosting diverse talks exploring the use of patterns across heritage and contemporary creative crafts, hosted in Israac in Sheffield UK. Part of the Alpaca Conference, which runs until 20th September. See the conference page for details.
CONCERT – 7:30pm-10pm CADS, Sheffield
Tickets £8 – £12 (or as part of £22 – £30 weekend pass)
Seated concert mixing ancient and contemporary approaches to musical patterns in deep time.
Kourosh Kanani and Matt Davies – Kourosh’s guitar and Matt’s electronics-infused drum kit create soundscapes grounded in deep understanding of South Indian rhythm, woven into the rich musical traditions of Iran and Azerbijian (via Leeds and London).
Digital Selves – the solo project of forward-thinking algorithmic musician and live coder Lizzie Wilson, who has performed rave-infused arpeggios, and progressive rhythms at algoraves and concert halls across Europe. If you’re new to live coding and/or her work, check out Lizzie’s artist video feature for Fact magazine.
Prathap Ramachandra – Internationally acclaimed South Indian percussionist, specialising in Mridangam, Ghatam, Khanjira and Konnakol. Prathap will introduce us to some of the geometric patterns of Carnatic rhythms.
Saturday 13th September 2025
WORKSHOPS – 10am-midday, CADS, Arley Street Sheffield
Tickets – £8-£15 per workshop
Hands-on workshops for adults curious to explore heritage and contemporary algorithmic patterns in the creative arts.
Choose between:
- Patterns for textile repair – Lucie Hernandez
- Making a paper record – JO Kazuhiro
- Procedural drawing workshop – Agoston Nogy
Click workshop titles for more info.
TALKS – 1pm-4:30pm, Israac, Sheffield
Free, pre-booking required: tickets
The Alpaca Conference continues with a session of diverse, inspiring talks held in Sheffield. See the conference page for details.
CLUB NIGHT – 7:30pm-late, Panke and Delicious Clam, Sheffield
Tickets £10 – £15 (or as part of £22 – £30 weekend pass)
A night of patterns over two venues. Panke’s dancefloor will host upfront pattern-based dance music, including some of the UK’s best electronic musicians and algorave artists writing code to make music to dance to. Delicious Clam will be a chilled space with more laid-back performances and DJs, with some patterny craft activities to try out.
Featuring Asa Rum, badcirculation, Bundy, Electric Detectives, Interworld, James Holden, Jo Kazuhiro x Cellar Dweller, Myna, Pastagang, Polinski (65dos), and Tyger Blue
Sunday 14th September 2025
WORKSHOPS – 11am-4:30pm, CADS, Arley Street Sheffield
Tickets £8-£15 per workshop
The daytime will be dedicated to more hands-on workshops, with a wide range of practices to try out, all suitable for adult beginners.
Morning session (from 11am) choose from:
- Kumihimo braids using simple tools – Jackie Pease and Jake Thorne
- Live coding visuals with Hydra – Antonio Roberts
- 33 Fingering Methods for Qin – Echo Ho
Afternoon session (from 2pm) choose from:
- Musical improvisation with patterns – Sarah Heneghan and Timothy Knowles
- Learning to juggle with mathematics – Mees Jager
Click workshop titles for more info.
CLOSING PARTY – 7pm-10pm, CADS, Arley Street Sheffield
Tickets £8 – £12 (or as part of £22 – £30 weekend pass)
Sending off the first Alpaca Festival with an energetic mix of instrumental and electronic music. Featuring minimalist percussion duo Wood + Metal (Sarah Heneghan + Will Shaw), electric khomus + live code outfit UDAGAN, audio/visual duo Phase Transition, plus Sheffield Pattern Club/Algorave residents Eye Measure and Epiploke!