Early bird tickets have gone on sale for the 2023 festival.
35,000 revellers a day attended this year’s sold-out event which saw North Shield’s boy wonder, Sam Fender make his first ever headline appearance to crowds in their masses at Sarah Nulty’s Main Stage on Friday night.
The 13th edition of Tramlines also staged hometown performances from the recently reunited Little Man Tate. Lead singer Jon Windle closed the set by giving his guitar to a beaming fan in the front row. Sheffield’s Reverend and The Makers fronted by the larger-than-life Jon McClure debuted two new tracks ‘Heatwave’ and ‘Problems’ from the band’s highly anticipated seventh studio album as McClure’s family and children joined them on stage. Self Esteem aka Rebecca Taylor was an absolute highlight with both herself and her band kitted out in Sheffield Wednesday shirts on T’Other Stage.
Other standout performances across the arena included Scouting For Girls whose 30-minute set drew the largest crowd ever to T’Other Stage, second only to Eurovision hero Sam Ryder whose army of fans spilled out from the tent. Delightfully, four human-sized wombats appeared on stage for The Wombats’ set. New Kasabian frontman Serge hugged a surprised security person on stage while James leadman Tim Booth jumped into the crowd to perform four songs, up close and personal. The world’s first Elvis fronted Nirvana, Elvana were also a highlight of the weekend with Elvis himself launching himself into crowds for more rock ‘n’ roll crowd surfing. And to top it all off, a stunning sunset broke as Madness closed proceedings on Sunday evening.
The entire festival weekend was packed with quality performances from the likes of Pixey, Baby Queen, Do Nothing and Yard Act. It also saw official festival bookings for two special artists, both who’d come through Tramlines’ Appy To Play scheme in 2021; neo-soul singer August Charles and the soulful R’n’B artist, Rumbi Tauro.
The Library Stage was the place to discover the best in breaking and unsigned talent. On Friday the stage saw a takeover from DINA, Sheffield’s innovative arts organisation which presented sets from the all-female punk band Black Joanie and female/non-binary 8-piece afro-jazz/fusion outfit, The Goddess Collective.
Sheffield’s Pattern + Push talent competition for rappers and singers certainly fulfilled its brief on Saturday, showcasing to audiences 2022 winner Sarinity Jones alongside Sheffield MC and producer, Coco.
In conjunction with BBC Introducing Sheffield, the Sunday takeover was a showcase of winners from the 2022 Apply To Pay scheme. Audiences caught a diverse selection of grass roots music talent many who had never stepped on a festival stage before from Otis Mensah with his alternative take on hip hop and abstract poetry to and the dark-pop stylings of Gia Ford.
With so much joyous feedback from punters this year, people are advised to be quick to snap up a best value early bird ticket which historically sell out, fast. Tramlines 2023 will take place from 21st – 23rd July at Hillsborough Park, Sheffield.
Event Info
Tramlines Festival 2023
Friday 21st– Sunday 23rd July
Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, S6 2AB
Weekend tickets £79.50 + bf
Available from www.tramlines.org.uk
