Tramlines 2018 Preview

Tramlines music festival is fast approaching with it set to overtake Sheffield from Friday 20th July – Sunday 22nd July. Celebrating its 10th year, Tramlines is one of the UK’s longest running inner-city music festivals attracting over 100,000 people into Sheffield in 2017. From what first begun as a mutli-venue festival which mixed outdoor stages and city centre venues such as the Leadmill and Yellow Arch Studios has quickly become an internationally sought festival. Expanding last year onto three main outdoor stages on Ponderosa Park, Devonshire Green and the Folk Forest in Endcliffe Park the festival now finds its new home in the form of Hillsborough Park.

Each year Tramlines has cemented itself as one of the largest and most popular inner-city music festivals in the country. Its new home – which is licensed for up to 40,000 people – is just a 13 minute tram ride from the city centre meaning it still remains one of the most accessible festivals in the UK. The space at Hillsborough Park can accommodate even more music lovers with a much wider range of world class musical talent as well as plenty of exciting emerging acts with lots of great entertainment for all the family to enjoy.

Featuring more than 70 artists across its four stages, Tramlines is planning to put on the biggest party Sheffield’s ever seen. For their 10th birthday they plan on going beyond the music, including their first-ever comedy stage, a pop-up cinema, an expanded Into The Trees family area and a food and drink line-up unlike anything the area’s ever seen. On top of all of this Tramlines will be championing local talent while celebrating the creativity of Sheffield.

MAIN STAGE

The focal point of the Hillsborough Park site will certainly be on everyones radars over the weekend. Featuring performances from massive international acts such as Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds, Stereophonics, Craig David’s TS5, Blossoms, Milburn and Reverend & the Makers you will certainly want to arrive at this stage early to grab the best possible plot to see some of your musical icons brace the stage.

T’OTHER STAGE

Named by the people of Sheffield following a competition, T’other stage will showcase Tramlines more eclectic offering. From indie to grime and ‘90s girl bands you can find a whole host of genres, with acts including Clean Bandit, Steflon Don, Little Comets, Jake Bugg and Mabel.

THE LEADMILL STAGE

The Leadmill is a true Sheffield institution with over 35 years of providing a platform for bands who have gone on to take over the world. Their stage at Tramlines will feature guitar bands, comedy and the best of the local scene. Jon Reverend of Reverend and the Makers will also be curating a special Sunday service in partnership with the Leadmill. Artists across the weekend will include The Magic Gang, Ratboy and Tom Grennan with comedy from the likes of Henning Wehn, John Shuttleworth, Bethany Black and Tom Stade.

THE LIBRARY STAGE

A brand new stage for 2018, set back from the hustle and the bustle of the main arena, close to the historic Hillsborough Library. This stage is all about discovery with a line-up that leans to the left and supports emerging talent such as Rae Morris and Teleman.

INTO THE TREES

Previously home to Tramlines daytime DJ line up, this year Into the Trees will feature a diverse mix of entertainment for the whole family in a wooded glade within the park during the day. By night party DJs take over. Expect an area full of surprises with the area coming alive with twinkling lights and visually exciting decor.

Friday will see the Sheffield-based Village Screen Presents bring a pop-up cinema to the festival screening family favourites and cult classics. By night, festival goers can look forward to Club Tropicana, which brings 80s pop, disco and timeless anthems all night long. With coloured Hawaiian shirts, free flower garlands, surprise confetti canons, flamingos, rubber ducks and much more, the dance floor will be a lively affair. The pop-up cinema returns during the day on both Saturday and Sunday with a kids’ disco between films, but also comes the Responsible Fishing team who will invite kids into to their woodland workshop. Inspired by the natural landscape and using foraged materials of whatever they can find nearby, little hands can create beautiful transient artworks unique to Tramlines.

FOOD & DRINK

Tramlines is pulling all the stops out with its food and drinks offerings this year. Staying firmly on trend with vegan fast food options, Tramlines Festival will have offerings from cutting edge vegan food from stalls such as ‘Wholesome Junkies’ and ‘Herbivorous’ who offer plant based food inspired by the vegan food of California.

Sticking to its Yorkshire roots festival goers will also be able to get their hands on the now famous Yorkshire Pudding Wraps filled with a choice of meats including slow roast beef and pork, with all ingredients locally sourced from Yorkshire suppliers. For those wanting to spice up their weekend, Indian and Pakistani street food comes direct from The Rickshaw Club, an outdoor offshoot of the famous Bradford curry house, Kebabeesh. Award-winning bites are also on offer from ‘Flying Cows’ creators of the High Flyer burger which won Best Burger in the 2017 British Street Food Awards. Tramlines are also committed to providing plenty of ‘free from’ options with another award-winning dish on offer from ‘Pieminster’, the Bristolian masters of all things pie. Their gluten free ‘Heidi Burger’ was selected as the best Free From pie at the 2016 British Pie Awards, beating over 800 other entrants.

Tramlines also have you covered when it comes to feeling thirsty. There will be plenty of bars on site offering an exclusive Tramlines Ale created by a local brewer alongside the ‘Magners Cider Garden’ which will feature a host of live music across the weekend.

Tramlines 2018 promises to be one of the biggest birthday parties Sheffield has ever seen! With weekend tickets still available costing £79 plus booking fee while under 12s go for free! Tickets are available now from www.tramlines.org.uk.