For one weekend every year the streets of Sheffield fill up as it turns in to the venue for one of the UK’s most exciting music festivals. As well as the outdoor stages, pretty much every pub and club has a live act to be seen. And that’s not to mention the performers on the buses and trams too. Devonshire Green hosts the main stage; in previous years acts such as Public Enemy, Katy B, Ash and The Cribs have headlined. The Peace Gardens showcase some of the best world acts, whilst the cathedral has acoustic performances.
This year’s lineup has just been announced and it has the same eclectic list of bands and singers we have come to expect. Motown star Martha Reeves (minus her backing band The Vandelas) will be gracing the main stage, and no doubt be performing her huge hit and perfect-for-tramlines anthem ‘Dancing In The Street’.
After Public Enemy’s triumphant set in 2014, two more hip-hop legends will be taking to the Devonshire Green stage this year. Seen as one of the pioneers of the genre, Sugarhill Gang will be providing their unique style of rhyming. Imagine how good their signature track ‘Rapper’s Delight’ will sound on a sunny day with a cold beer in your hand. We’ll also be welcoming Melle Mel and Scorpio. They are both former members of eighties hip-hop supergroup Grangdmaster Flash and The Furious Five. Their hits ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It) and ‘The Message’ helped shape the genre.
Billy Bragg is probably the world’s most famous protest singer. He appeared on the scene back in the early eighties. Twelve studio albums later and still going strong. We hope to hear such classics from his vast back catalogue as ‘A New England’, ‘Sexualty’ and ‘Between The Wars’. Without doubt, he is a booking many music fans will be most excited about, me included.
But it’s not all about the past. This year’s lineup also features an exciting list of current and up and coming acts. Spoken-word artist Kate Tempest, Mercury nominated Ghost Poet and German techno DJ Roman Flugel. Manchester based indie five piece Dutch Uncles will no doubt be performing tracks from their new album ‘O Shudder’.
And of course, let’s not forget seventies punk stalwarts, The Buzzcocks. I’m sure the whole of Devonshire Green will turn in to one huge mosh pit to songs such as ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You should’t’ve Fallen In Love With?)’.
Also on the bill are Slaves, Jagaara, Tropics, Walls, Robyn Sherwell, Gulf, Knifeworld, And So I Watch you From Afar, amongst many more.
Tramlines is also a great place to discover great new music. Find a pub, get a drink and see who comes on. And don’t forget to take a trip to the Cathedral to enjoy the fantastic atmosphere whilst enjoying some great acoustic performances. It feels kind of weird sitting in such a place with a beer in your hand, but when other than Tramlines would you be able to do that?
Weekend tickets are thirty quid, but get in there early, and you can pick up an early bird ticket for just twenty.
Read more about the festival at their official website: http://www.tramlines.org.uk
