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TOUR NEWS: ILUVLIVE Hot List Tour September 2017

7 Aug 2017

ILUVLIVE has announced the brand new Hot List Tour, a series of live events headlined by itunes chart topping star Geko, coming to audiences across the UK on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 27th September 2017.

Featuring:
GEKO
SNE
MIRAA MAY
MATT WILLS
AUTUMN SHARIF

After the success of the two hotlist shows held in London earlier this year, ILUVLIVE are proud to announce their 2017 nationwide tour. The shows are headlined by rapper Geko and will feature the four top artists from the 2017 ILUVLIVE Hotlist, voted for by the public: Miraa May, Autumn Sharif, SNE and Matt Wills.

ILUVLIVE, widely known as the premier homegrown live music event, shortly turning an impressive 15 years old, consistently promotes gifted artists thanks to the support of PRS Foundation Open Fund. ILL supported some of the biggest UK artists early in their career including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Emeli Sandè and Katy B and still attracts new talented performers. They host more than fifty events every year and over sixty new artists apply to perform at their events every month. ILL represents the ultimate way for new musicians to be discovered, as their previous performers can testify. These include Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Chip, Emeil Sande, Naughty Boy, Professor Green, Maverick Sabre, Plan B, Tinie Tempah, Katy B, Shakka, Kano, Krept & Konan, Izzy Bizu and Wretch 32 to name but a few.

ILUVLIVE also run an annual artist development programme supported by The Arts Council England and have a record label and management arm (Izzy Bizu and Mika Barroux).

Artist Info For The Hotlist Tour:

GEKO
Geko is s 20-year-old artist of North African descent from Manchester who started writing raps at just 10 years old. However it was two years later at the tender age of 12 that he started taking music seriously and became the online and youth phenomenon he is now.

By 17, Geko and manager Shaz had created their own record label ‘One Tape Records’. Singles include ‘Baba’, ‘Love Me’ and ‘Over & Under’ and ‘Heartless’ reached number 9 on the iTunes chart. Being of Algerian and Libyan decent Geko experimented with afrobeats and his track ‘Baba’ has had over 9.6 million views on YouTube. His talent is now being recognised across by a larger audience exemplified when videos for ‘Y’, and ‘Drunk on You’ reached over a million views.

The One Tape Records YouTube channel itself has reached over 49 million views in total and with so much achieved at such a young age, it is exciting to see where his career will take him in the years to come. @RealGeko

SNE
SNE aka (Sound Never Ends) is a patriot to his hometown East London. He has coined himself ‘Hackneys Golden Child’ and continuously creates and grafts to become the best in his lane. SNE’s music is a fusion of different genres and ‘vibes’ creating a sound he describes as ‘Trillful’. Between 2009 and 2011, SNE was a member of the Grime collective “S.O.S.” (Sound Of The Streets), performing at the BBC and taking well-known stages such as, Hackney Empire and the 02. Now solo for five years, SNE has released two acclaimed projects, ‘I.0.U’ and ‘Essence’ along with a handful of quality singles, including ‘Rico Rodrigo’, ‘Tell Me (Team Like Us)’ and ‘Tiana Major’. @SNE_UK

MIRAA MAY
Born in Algeria Raised in Tottenham, Miraa came to the UK as a young child with her parents and quickly settled in. Growing up she gained a passion for music and all things creative, taking up music classes via school and other avenues wherever she could, Steel Pan being one of her favourites. Fast forward to 2012 and a chance meeting with her current management while attending a live night ended up with Miraa’s First Acoustic EP ‘The Beginning’ being released in 2013. The positive reaction to the ‘The Beginning EP’ helped build a dedicated fan base and with numerous plays on specialist radio, the future is looking bright for Miraa. @Miraa_May

MATT WILLS
Hot on the heels of supporting Bastille on their worldwide tour and featuring on Wilkinson’s new single We Will Be, singer songwriter Matt Wills releases Emily and recently headlined London’s Omeara. “Emily” was premiered on Radio 1 by Abbie McCarthy (standing in for Huw Stephens), and follows the release of Matt’s Hurricane and Set You Free EPs. Showcasing a new side Matt Wills’ signature style, Emily sees him layer sincere, heart-felt lyrics over a fusion of lush electronica and a subtle piano melody to create something original, touching and undeniably compelling. @MattWillsMusic

AUTUMN SHARIF
21 year old singer/songwriter Autumn Sharif recently released debut single “5AM”. The up tempo pop-soul anthem combines stylistic inspiration from 90s icons Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston with lyrics that touch on the challenges she experienced reaching the quarter finals of The Voice in 2015.

Born and raised in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Autumn has been writing songs and crafting her vocal skills since she moved to London with her family at the tender age of 8. After picking Ricky Wilson as her mentor on The Voice, Autumn struggled with being thrust into the media spotlight but has recently been developing her sound and plans to release an EP imminently. @AutumnSharif

Hotlist Tour Date Details

Manchester
Venue: Zombie Shack, 50 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP
DJ/HOST: DJ STEVO (Unity Radio)
Time: 7.30PM till 11PM (1st act onstage 8.30)
Entry: Early bird tickets – £5, £7 thereafter & £10 on the door. Tickets available here – https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/iluvlive-hot-list-tour-2017-the-zombie-shack-tickets/7619285

Bristol
Venue: The Square Club. 15 Berkeley Square, Bristol BS8 1HB
Host: Miss Divine (Ujima Radio)
Time: 7.30PM till 11PM (1st act onstage 8.30)
Entry: Early bird tickets – £5, £7 thereafter & £10 on the door. Tickets available here – http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/286841

Leeds
Venue: Hirst Yard, 11 Hirst Yard, Hirst Yard, Leeds LS1 6NJ
DJ: DJ/ HOST: TBC
Time: 7.30PM till 11PM (1st act onstage 8.30)
Entry: Early bird tickets – £5, £7 thereafter & £10 on the door. Tickets available here – http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/286839

Leicester
Venue: 2Funky Music Café, Leicester, LE3 5NH
DJ: DJ ENVY
HOST: MR SHAY
Time: 7.30PM till 11PM (1st act onstage 8.30)
Entry: Early bird tickets – £5, £7 thereafter & £10 on the door. Tickets available here – http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/286843

LSF Statement: Hope & Glory Festival

Frank

7 Aug 2017

We’ve had some queries from our readers asking whether, because we published news pieces about Hope & Glory, we have any formal connection to, or agreement with, the companies that organised the festival – tinyCow and Hope & Glory Festival Liverpool.

Local Sound Focus has no connection to the festival organisers, nor do we have any ‘contract’ with them to put stories on our website.

We did news pieces to inform our readers about the festival as we do many other events. Basically the organisers sent out press releases and we used them to do our pieces as we felt that some of you might be interested in attending.

We will share information on the refund situation if and when any is published. We shared the ‘official statement’ from the organiser/promoter today on our Facebook and Twitter streams.

SINGLE REVIEW: Fie! Fie! Fie! – ‘Edge of Space’/’Everything I Told You’

Frank

7 Aug 2017

So Fie! Fie! Fie! Are back. They are back with a different sound, it’s still recognisably them but it is different – it’s more… well read on.

The lead track ‘Edge of Space’ has this sort of warped Spanish vibe – it’s in the guitar sound. The vocals also have this slightly warped vibe to them. And then to top it off there’s some really spacey keyboards. It almost sounds like it could be the lead track to a space film soundtrack.

I have become strangely addicted to hitting repeat on this track. It’s hard to say exactly why. Part of it is that I really like the bit where it drops to something less warped for a bit and then these eerie keyboards come in. Part of it is that I really the way the vocals work against the music. And part of it is that I keep trying to work out quite what the song is about.

I guess the short answer to why I’m so addicted to this track is that I really like it. The slightly longer answer is that perhaps it reminds me – in the vibe not the sound – of the music I liked in my youth, and it’s this that makes me like it so much. This is not to say it’s retro, it isn’t.

’Everything I Told You’ is perhaps more straight forward. It’s an acoustic song, light, mid-tempo. But wait it has these touches, there are sounds layered in the background, and some really really nice guitar. And then it has this build. It is just lovely.

I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to hear when the band told us that ‘This is a fresh, brand new way forward for us’ but if this is an indication of the way forward for Fie! Fie! Fie! I really like it.

You can check out the track and get it from

Bandcamp: https://fie-fie-fie.bandcamp.com
iTunes/Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/edge-of-space-everything-i-told-you-single/id1266654719

SINGLE REVIEW: MUFFIN – ‘Superhero’

Frank

7 Aug 2017

I like, as I have said before, bands who have their own original sound. MUFFIN have this in spades.

I’d heard of, but not heard anything by, the band before reviewing this. So I didn’t really have much of an idea what I was going to hear. The band describe their sound as grungegaze – to be honest I’m not entirely sure what this means. This track has its grungy moments but it also has what I can only describe as finesse. It’s clever, it’s incredibly well played and the vocals are really impressive.

For me listening to this I’m reminded not so much of shoegaze or grunge (assuming that that’s where they got the term grungegaze from) but more that slightly arty rock from the 70s – I’m thinking SAHB here – not in the sound but in the vibe. The fact that the vocals and the playing come together to tell a story and convey a mood. You only need to listen to the vocals at the beginning of this track, they’re not just a great vocal they’re a performance.

Musically the track builds from relative quiet (and I mean relatively) – a lovely sustained and slightly fuzzy guitar – to crashing trashing climax with side trips to these weirdly staccato sections.

And yes, I do hear hints of 70s and 80s rock in the mix but the sound overall is very much the sound of now. I’m tempted to use the word ‘progressive’ to describe this, not in the sense of prog rock but in the sense that this is inventive and new. I might even suggest that the band replace their description of their sound with one word – MUFFIN.

I’d recommend checking this out, and then getting it.

The info

The Leeds based band came together about 9 months ago. They played a packed gig at Santiago’s for their previous single launch, as well as gigs at Milo, Verve and Headrow House.

And they actually give out free muffins at their shows…..

MUFFIN are:

Matt Bond – Vocals
Patrick Foster – Guitar
Jacob Tresidder – Guitar
Barry Mageean – Bass
Sam Heffer – Drums

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatismuffin/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/whatismuffin

Upcoming gigs

Zigfrid Von Underbelly of Hoxton, LONDON // 30.8
Heftival, BLANDFORD FORUM // 9.9
The Rocking Chair, SHEFFIELD // 29.9
Whiskey Jar, MANCHESTER // 18.10
360 Club @ Lending Room, LEEDS // 27.10

TOUR & ALBUM NEWS: Will Varley Winter tour postponed until early 2018, new album coming soon

LSF Staff Writers

4 Aug 2017

Having spent most of 2017 on the road, including dates with Frank Turner in the US and a European spring tour with Valerie June, Will will be heading back to the studio to record a new album later this year.

Unfortunately, this has meant rescheduling the planned November UK tour for January and February 2018. All tickets for the autumn shows will be valid for the new year shows, all taking place at their scheduled venues.

Will says: “After much deliberation, we have decided to move my November tour to January and February 2018. I’ve been offered the opportunity to work with a really incredible producer (and) hopefully this will mean I’ll have a new album for you all very soon.

“Unfortunately, this is the only way we could make the dates work and although all tickets will still be valid for the rescheduled shows, I’m really sorry for any inconvenience this still might cause any of you.

“I haven’t made this decision lightly, but I feel like it will be for the greater good as I want to make the best record I can. I can’t wait for you all to hear the new songs. See you all in 2018.”

The rescheduled dates are:

JANUARY
30 Birmingham @ O2 Institute 3
31 Nottingham @ Rescue Rooms

FEBRUARY
01 Leeds @ Brudenell Social Club
02 Edinburgh @ Le Belle Angele
03 Manchester @ Club Academy
06 Southampton @ 1865
07 Cardiff @ The Globe
08 Bristol @ Trinity Centre
09 London @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Will practically lives on the road, and 2017 has been perhaps even more busy than 2016, when he toured with the Proclaimers and supported Billy Bragg as well as performing on the Flogging Molly Salty Dog cruise. After starting this year on the road with Frank Turner in the US, Will embarked on a headline tour of his own in Germany before the European tour with Valerie June, including his first ever France dates. He also performed the Xtra Mile night of Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings festival at Camden’s legendary Roundhouse in May. He spent the rest of spring and the beginning of summer in the US supporting Lincoln Durham before hitting the festival circuit, wowing crowds at 2000trees, and Greenfield.

With so many shows under his belt, the wait until 2018 will be worth it, especially with brand new songs in tow.

Often politically charged and always emotionally loaded, Varley’s live shows have been drawing crowds across the world, and his headline tours have seen him selling out venues from Berlin to New York and everywhere in between. It’s been a meteoric rise for the 29-year-old who began self-releasing albums and travelling England on foot only six years ago. In 2015 he signed a deal with independent music champions Xtra Mile Recordings, and momentum has been growing around the young troubadour ever since with the release of two studio albums ‘Postcards From Ursa Minor (October 2015) and ‘Kingsdown Sundown’ (November 2016) and toured extensively across the UK, Europe and North America opening for supporter and label mate Frank Turner, Scottish heroes The Proclaimers and Billy Bragg.

Will Varley: www.willvarley.com
Extra Mile: www.xtramilerecordings.com
Will on Facebook: www.facebook.com/willvarleymusic
Extra Mile on Facebook: www.facebook.com/xtramilerecordings
Will on Twitter: www.twitter.com/willvarleymusic
Extra Mile on Twitter: www.twitter.com/xtra_mile

ALBUM & TOUR NEWS: The Travelling Band ‘Sails’ out 25th August, dates August & November 2017

LSF Staff Writers

4 Aug 2017

‘Last Night (I Dreamt of Killing You)’ is the second single from The Travelling Band’s forthcoming album ‘Sails’. The song was inspired by a nightmare in which lead singer Jo Dudderidge murdered his girlfriend. The dark and nihilistic lyrics are set against the majestic guitar and keyboard riffs of a band in full flow, taking you spellbound on an irresistible journey through the shadowy depths of the lover’s dreaming mind.

On the inspiration behind the song, Jo says: “It was a real dream and it kind of messed my head up at the time. The song explores the darkness of love and the brittle nature of relationships and escapism. I’d revisited J D Salinger’s ‘The Catcher In the Rye’ and reflected on the protagonist Holden’s misguided adventures in New York as he searched for a deeper meaning in life. There’s a part of me that hasn’t really grown up and is constantly searching for something missing. I relate to his character in that way. I tried to weave that into the song as best I could. I’m not a killer though, I’m way too untidy to get away with it.”

‘Last Night (I Dreamt of Killing You)’ will be available on all digital platforms on the 28th July via Sideways Saloon/Kartel Music Group.

The Travelling Band play an exclusive album preview show at The Water Rats in London on Thursday 10th August, performing the new album in full for the first time in public. The evening will feature an opening set from label-mates Elle Mary & the Bad Men.

About ‘Sails’

Focused around the songwriting talents and production skills of Jo Dudderidge and Adam Gorman and the rhythmic driving force of enigmatic drummer Nick Vaal, The Travelling Band have been quietly honing what Marc Riley described as “Mancunian Americana”. The resulting album mines a rich seam of influences, with key album track ‘Last Night I Dreamt (of Killing You)’ and the grungy ‘Wasted Eyes’ highlighting the band’s love of American indie rock, but still with that Mancunian twist. ‘Mopping Forwards’ draws on their time spent in East Nashville and the almost Satie-like melancholic ballad ‘Loser’ belies the darker turn that Jo and Adam’s lyrics have taken.

Beneath the surface of the rockier exterior and beautifully woven string and horn textures, the album’s unexpected darker lyrical themes and noir-esque approach reveal a band navigating stormy waters as personal and relationship issues began to emerge after ten years of hard-hitting life on the road. Two of the five remaining founding members jumped ship during the album’s turbulent recording process, and an album that was essentially recorded live ended up taking a further twelve months to complete.

Ironically, it was Spenny, one of the two departing members, who had driven the band to get back in to the studio after the event that Jo has dubbed “the Christmas miracle”. The band made national news when social media rallied round after all their gear was stolen along with their tour van: “what happened made us feel wanted and relevant to people’s lives. The band seemed bigger than just the members,” Jo says. When the van and all the gear was safely returned, Spenny floated the idea of getting straight into the studio to record a new album live, quickly.

However, despite the initial enthusiasm, the band started to fracture. As the recording process stalled, Jo travelled to Nashville and became inspired by the sense of community amongst artists and musicians in the city’s buzzing East Nashville suburbs. He returned to Manchester with renewed confidence and a desire to create a similar kind of supportive hub back in his home city:

“It seemed an obvious thing to me: if there’s a city in the world that has that collaborative spirit at its core, then it’s Manchester.”

It was out of this new-found optimism that Pinhole Sound Studio was born: Jo and Adam consolidated their instruments and recording equipment into a space which they have turned into a hub of creativity for the Manchester musical community.

“All the bands coming in to record at Pinhole Sound Studio gave us the impetus to finish our own record,” Jo continues. “The songs we had were the sails for the band – all we had to do was find the energy to breathe life in to them.”

‘Sails’ is due 25th August via Sideways Saloon Records/Kartel Music Group and available to pre-order now: http://smarturl.it/sails

‘Sails’ tracklist

1 Moments Like Switches
2 Wasted Eyes
3 Into the Water
4 Mopping Forwards
5 Loser
6 Unlike You
7 Last Night (I Dreamt of Killing You)
8 Out of the Water
9 Failure is a Bastard
10 Leftover Lines

Formats: CD, Limited edition white vinyl LP, digital.

The info

The Travelling Band are a Manchester-based rock band. The core trio of Adam Gorman, Jo Dudderidge and Nick Vaal have been joined recently by Harry Fausing Smith (sax, violin, clarinet) and Sam Quinn (bass) after the departure of original members Mugger (guitar) and Spenny (bass). The line up is augmented by Chris Hillman (guitar and pedal steel) on their energetic live shows, which feature the dual lead vocals of Adam and Jo. The Travelling Band have released three critically lauded previous albums – Under the Pavement (2008), Screaming is Something (2011) and The Big Defreeze (2014) – they have performed at festivals such as Glastonbury (Other Stage/Park/Acoustic), Cropredy, Green Man, Festival No.6, Kendal Calling, End of the Road and Beautiful Days and spent much of 2016 touring Europe as Lissie’s backing band.

Sideways Saloon was set up by The Travelling Band for their first release, Under the Pavement, but is now spreading its wings, having released the solo debut from UK-based Canadian A. Dyjecinski, and with plans for further releases in the pipeline. This release also marks the start of a new label services and marketing relationship with Kartel Music Group.

Tour Dates

10 Aug – The Water Rats, London (exclusive album preview show)
12 Aug – Tinkermann Festival
27 Aug – River Cottage Festival
29 Aug – Rough Trade East (instore)
30 Aug – Rough Trade Nottingham (instore)

Wed 1 BRIGHTON Prince Albert
Thu 2 BRISTOL Thekla
Fri 3 CHELTENHAM Forg & Fiddle
Sat 4 LIVERPOOL Shipping Forecast
Fri 10 NEWCASTLE Cluny
Sat 11 GLASGOW The Hug & Pint
Sun 12 EDINBURGH The Mash House
Thu 16 LEICESTER Soundhouse
Fri 17 MANCHESTER Band on the Wall
Sat 18 BANGOR Blue Sky Cafe
Tue 21 LONDON Borderline
Thu 23 BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds
Sat 25 LEEDS High & Lonesome Festival
Sun 26 NOTTINGHAM Bodega

TOUR NEWS: Goldfrapp announce UK leg of ‘The Silver Eye World Tour’ October/November 2017

Frank

2 Aug 2017

After a run of festival performances including Glastonbury, Bluedot and Latitude and a spectacular headline show at Somerset House, Goldfrapp have announced the UK leg of their ‘Silver Eye World Tour’. A run of eight live shows across the UK throughout October and November starting in Glasgow, the tour will also include dates in Leeds, Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Bristol before concluding at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.

The ‘Silver Eye World Tour’ follows the critically acclaimed Top 10 album ‘Silver Eye’ – Goldfrapp’s first album in four years, which was released via Mute in March and includes the singles ‘Anymore’ and ‘Systemagic’.

Tickets for the UK dates are on general sale from https://www.goldfrapp.com/live/.

The Silver Eye World Tour UK Dates:

31st October – Glasgow, 02 Academy
1st November – Leeds, 02 Academy
3rd November – Manchester, Academy
4th November – Leicester, De Montfort Hall
6th November – Birmingham, 02 Institute
7th November – Brighton, Dome
9th November – Bristol, 02 Academy
10th November – London, 02 Academy Brixton

SINGLE & TOUR NEWS: Salad Undressed release ‘Being Human’, August 2017 dates & Salad upcoming dates

LSF Staff Writers

2 Aug 2017

Salad Undressed are singer Marijne van der Vlugt and guitarist Paul Kennedy from the 90s band Salad. After 20-odd years of being in complete denial about ever reforming…Marijne and Paul found themselves in January 2016 finding the idea of going out on the road as a 2-piece, (just like they did in the late 80s as The Merry Babes), really quite appealing. They wanted to play the classic Salad hits and some rare B-sides and odd-scurities, acoustically. What to call themselves? The Merry Babes again? The MBs? Salad Unplugged? Ah yes…let’s pun the hell out of this one…Salad Undressed….

Live, they are not fully acoustic though…fuzz guitar and an old fashioned Melodica are also employed.

‘Being Human’ is the first single since Salad released ‘Yeah Yeah’ in 1997. It is the first track from their upcoming album ‘Good Love Bad Love’.

Released as a Free Download via the PledgeMusic website, in the Salad Undressed Updates Section.

Salad Undressed are also recording an album of new songs with Producer and multi- instrumentalist Donald Ross Skinner for release at the end of 2017. ‘Good Love Bad Love’ is available for Pre-Order on the PledgeMusic website. Donald produced Salad’s last Album ‘Ice Cream’ in 1997 and is well known as Julian Copes’s ex-Guitarist.

Other Salad related releases available on Pledge…

The Merry Babes Demos
Salad The Lost Album

Salad Undressed are currently gigging as a 2 piece and will be appearing on the Star Shaped Britpop Festival Tour with Sleeper and The Bluetones.

Dates

5th August – Forum Kentish Town
12th August – ABC Glasgow
19th August – Ritz Manchester

Salad

Salad have also reformed now and are getting ready for their first shows in 19 years

27th September – Lexington, London Islington – Warm up for Indie Daze
7th October – Indie Daze Festival at London Kentish Town’s O2 Forum
8th December – York Fibbers

Find more details at www.saladband.com

LIVE REVIEW: Calder Valley Voices, Central Methodist Church Hebden Bridge, 26th July

Diana Forrest

1 Aug 2017

If you haven’t heard this choir before, make the effort. The effect they get is partly due to being a large choir with every pitch of voice well represented, partly to their ability to handle complex harmony, and partly to the enthusiasm and enjoyment they put into their songs. They are led by musical director Carol Donaldson.

The songs themselves have many origins and styles, from harmonious to protest to toe tapper. An even more exotic selection came from subgroup of seven Corista, including a lullaby.

An interval brought cakes and seriously good lemonade. A subgroup of four, the Remmingtons, demonstrated close harmony singing. The low voices did not come over strongly enough in some of their numbers, but the voices were beautiful, and they finished with a lovely version of “Who will be the lady” with the rest of the choir backing them up.
The Calder Valley voices finished the concert with songs including “Valley of Sanctuary”, about refugees, ending with “Let there be peace”.

The concert was a benefit for Street Angels, working to help people for whom a night out has gone wrong. They also have a café in Halifax: “Angels’ Rest”.

LIVE REVIEW: Tramlines 2017

Ewan Wright

30 Jul 2017

This year, Tramlines had streamlined from four outdoor venues last year to three, concentrating the main acts into the Ponderosa, Devonshire Green and the Folk Forest. This was no downgrade at all; I had a hard enough time choosing the best acts to see at just two of the stages.

The main stage opened with Liberty Ship, a local four piece who seemed pretty pleased to be kicking off the festival. The rock and roll throwback of their music might not set the world on fire but their enthusiasm was infectious, particularly in their new single ‘Cast Away’.

The walk up the hill to the town centre is one I endured regularly whilst commuting to the university, and despite a whole year of it, I was embarrassingly sweaty as we begun to hear the bassy thuds of Matic Mouth across West Street. We had made the ascent to see The Pharcyde, the Californian rap group that came to prominence in the 80s. Now down to two of the four original members, Bootie Brown and Imani, they were supported by DJ Mike Relm. I enjoyed their vagarious sampling and the duo are good dancers, having worked as dancers before creating the group. The crowd, a younger audience than the main stage, got more into it when the duo played their top hits, ‘Passin’ Me By’ and ‘Runnin’’. Their biggest cheer, however, came when they played ‘Dirty Harry’ by Gorillaz, which Brown features in.

Back in the Ponderosa, I found myself queuing up to the side of the main stage amongst other photographers as the Libertines began their set. The crowd, clad in black and red band t-shirts, screamed as they strummed out the intro to ‘The Delaney’. I had never been in a photo pit before and fiddled nervously with the settings on my camera as the next eight photographers were ushered up to the stage. As I walked out in between the screaming crowd and the car sized amps I made a mental note to bring ear plugs next time.

As I moved to the back of the crowd, I thought the Libertines started well. I’m familiar with most of their songs and particularly like the smouldering guitar lines in ‘Gunga Din’, but the vocals were quiet and, when heard, perhaps a bit too relaxed. The Labour leader seemed a theme for the night, with Pete Doherty announcing he had ‘a boner for Corbyn’ in between rants about southerners and squatting, and an ‘oh Jeremy Corbyn’ White Stripes riff was impressively inserted into ‘The Good Old Days’. But they soon moved onto a piano ballad and slow tempo songs that gave an end of night feel to halfway through the set. The drummer, Gary Powell, rolled his eyes as Doherty staggered around the stage, and tried to get the crowd clapping along, but the performance fizzled out into the quartet hugging triumphantly after what I felt was a very mediocre set.

Tramlines often surprises me with songs I never expected to hear live. Last year, I heard ‘Bohemian Like You’ and ‘Milkshake’; this year was no exception. The first time I hear the Hot 8 Brass Band was whilst watching the feel-good film Chef, about a middle aged professional chef who gives up fine cooking to run a sandwich truck with his son across America. I came away from it with two new interests: Cuban sandwiches and brass band covers of Marvin Gaye hits.

Unfortunately, this afternoon at the Ponderosa, there was no ‘Sexual Healing’. Instead we were treated to what felt like a half hour long New Orleans jam session. Part of me regretted choosing the clarinet over the trombone as I found myself smiling at the enthusiastic performance. Their arrangement of ‘Ghost Town’ was spot on and I could have watched them all afternoon.

This year a new venue was erected in the Ponderosa, in between the main stage and the food stalls (Scranlines, geddit?). Nothing more than a gazebo and some oversized deck chairs, the ‘Into the Trees’ site was home to various DJs and a crowd that ebbed and grew like a tide as the main stage acts came and went.

In between Hot 8 and The Age of L.U.N.A, I listened as Sheffield DJ Leroy seamlessly remixed disco tunes as funky as, and as old as, some of the bright vintage jackets dotted amongst the crowd.

As we were leaving I was struck by the impressive voice of Daniella Thomson, from The Age of L.U.N.A. (Live Under No Authority, in case you were wondering), before we once again headed up the hill to see another local band: Alvarez Kings. A kind of more mature sounding 1975, they’re close to sounding like a generic pop rock boyband (Lyrics: ‘the second that we got it right we got it all wrong / so I told you I told you I told you to move on’) but some funky electronic moments added another dimension to their dynamic performance.

On Saturday evening, I found myself conflicted between Primal scream and All Saints. Neither of which are groups I expected to see any time soon but both have songs I can hum along to without quite remembering their titles, and I knew I would enjoy either band.
We arrived at Primal Scream as the sky turned ominously dark. Either lots of people had flocked to see All Saints or the rain had deterred all but their more devoted fans. Dressed in a bright red suit and bathed in mustard and ketchup lighting, Bobbie Gillespie stood out as he took centre stage and burst into ‘Movin’ On Up’. Gillespie sang each song perfectly and was supported by the crowd on just about every song. By the end of ‘Come Together’ I was wet and cold and smiling – Primal Scream were definitely one of the high points of the weekend.

The next afternoon began with the fast, rhythmic rhyme of Akala. His lyrics are incisive and, important for their often-political message, comprehensible. Grime can often descend into a heavy beat and shouted choruses but Akala’s performance, accompanied by live drums, was emotive and awe inspiring. Akala has been performing for over a decade and as just released an EP ‘Visions’ – a heavily political, furious collection of an introduction and four chapters that accompanies an actual comic book of the same name.

It was a hip-hop afternoon at the main stage, as Akala was followed by Loyle Carner. I thought Akala would be pretty difficult to follow but Loyle Carner’s thoughtful tone captivated me at once. I hadn’t heard of Loyle Carner, and I was struck by his introspective, crafted lyrics. The stage, set out as an old living room, was shared with DJ and producer Rebel Kleff, and Ben sat down as he sung ‘Ain’t Nothing Changed’ and ‘Damselfly’. It’s quite easy to see why his debut album, ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ has been shortlisted for a Mercury Prize. Listening to it, I struggle to pick out a single line that will do him full justice and I can’t; listen to the whole album.

We return, anoraked, in the afternoon. Despite the best efforts of the staff and a few bales of straw, the field is muddy and I have to tread carefully to avoid embarrassment. Others are more foresighted than me, with wellies and big mac ponchos, handed out earlier in the weekend.

For someone not well acquainted with house music, the House Gospel Choir provided a good introduction. The lead singer energised the crowd as they sung along, accompanied by a band, to house standards such as ‘Hey Hey’ and ‘Deep Inside’.

Finally, culminating the festival, Metronomy took to the stage. Half the band were dressed head to toe in angelic white, contrasting with the funky shirt and glittery top worn by bassist Olugbenga Adelekan and drummer Anna Prior. Metronomy’s brand of slightly retro electro pop is instantly recognisable but I thought it wouldn’t be headliner material; I was wrong. My personal favourite, ‘Love Letters’, was electrified and bassed up suitably, and this did the song justice (tonight, Joe Mount assured us, the letters were addressed to Sheffield). The crowd joined in with hits ‘The Bay’ and ‘The Look’ as the rain briefly abated. Metronomy aren’t the most charismatic band, staying fairly still in their five-piece layout and not saying much between songs. This was outweighed however, by their impressive visuals, with gently lit candyfloss smoke and smart glass keyboard stands. I get the feeling Metronomy are quite geeky, focussing on the music more than jumping around the stage, and I like that.

I found myself humming the irritatingly catchy keyboard opening to ‘The Look’ as I walked home, soaked, needing a cup of tea, but very happy to have been a part of Tramlines 2017.