Tramlines Part Two
Tramlines. No, not the ones you trip over in the street. Sheffield has been hosting this offbeat beauty since 2009 and has since graduated to award winning status since 2011. The fest is unique in that it doesn’t just take over a particular air strip or farm, but the entirety of Sheffield city itself in over 70 different venues with major headlining acts and musicians all over the city centre. It’s pretty out there for a festival to just take over a major city centre the way that Tramlines does, so we’ve thrown together a little guide to steer you young newbies around.
Meat of the matter is always line up and this year we have an absolute corker. Previously, Sheffield city played host to the likes of Basement Jaxx and the Charlatans. This year, however, Tramlines has seriously upped the ante with British hip hop legend Dizzee Rascal coming to mainstage over the weekend. We’ve also got indie rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen who are seemingly everywhere these days after enjoying meteoric success with Jurassic 5 rounding Saturday out with some tasty vintage hip hop. If you’ve got an eye for the more secretive gigs nestled amongst the popular smash hits, keep an eye out for Detroit based minimal techno beast Floorplan on the Sunday as well as soundscape queen Gwenno. There’s a lot to love this year and lot on offer so keep your eyes and ears open for the hidden gems among Tramlines’ horde of venues.
Tramlines is making use of some road closures and has gotten very sophisticated at managing the inevitable congestion that comes with organising a music festival spread across a whole city. Pro tip, though; don’t bother driving. Sheffield’s public transport system will be near devoted entirely to shuttling revellers pinballing between venues throughout the weekend and there are some great deals on offer for weekend transport such as lift sharing, bus passes and, surprisingly enough, tram tickets. Tramlines works best when folk leave their motors behind; it cuts back on congestion meaning smoother travel between venues and is ultimately far easier and greener for Sheffield itself. Check out the travel options here to find out how you’ll be getting around on the weekend of July 22nd - 24th July.
An additional thing to note is that the boys and girls of Tramlines have also revised their ticket options which spells great news for those who might not be able to justify a full weekend ticket plus accommodation. This year we’ve got the full 72 hours festival ticket mega trip, plus a ‘Daytime ticket’ which sorts you out for all outside venues and gigs across all three days at a reduced price. For you night owls, there’s also ‘Club tickets’ which get you into all Tramline’s club nights, DJ sets and night time venues. Currently the prices are looking at £42, £30 and a bargain of £5.50 respectively, but ensure you get the tickets from the right place (http://tramlines.gigantic.com/ tramlines-sheffield-city-centr e-various-venues-2016-07-22-12 -00) to avoid being scammed - no refunds for this ride. Lastly, because Tramlines actually takes place in venues across the city that are very much ‘business as usual’ during this time, admission is based on a first come, first served basis dependent on capacity. Our top bit of advice to avoid disappointment for can’t miss acts and gigs is to get there early . That being said, with so many stellar events to choose from across over 70 venues in a city brimming with music and life, we doubt any disappointment will be particularly long lived so get your tickets booked, sort out your rail passes and we’ll see you in the crowds!
Kyle Cairns