Tramlines Festival

Tramlines held its first festival in 2009. Notable artists such as Rolo Tomassi, Just Jack, Toddla T, Pixie Lott, Little Boots, Example, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, The XX and Reverend and The Makers, who headlined, played at the festival. The festival was a huge success,[5] attracting 35,000 fans.[6] The organizers, as well as councillors and Sheffielders, praised the festival. The festivals popularity, along with positive reviews, led to the 2010 event being announced. The festival-goers had to queue to get wristbands, which gave them access to the different stages.

2009's festival recycled 400 litres of paper, 2080 litres of plastic and 560 litres of aluminium in the outdoor venues alone.[7] This led to an environmental campaign in 2010 in which the festival seeks to reduce its environmental impact.

Tramlines Festival 2010 was held from 23 to 25 July.[7] 250 artists performed, and several venues were added, including Sheffield University's Octagon Centre, Tudor Square, The Leadmill, O2 Academy Sheffield, Winter Gardens and the main stage at Devonshire Green increased in capacity from 5,000 to 8,000. Headliners were Echo and the Bunnymen, Mystery Jets, Simian Mobile Disco DJ set, Professor Green, Tinchy Stryder, Future of the Left, Darwin Deez, Macka B, The King Blues, The Hoosiers, Craig David, Dum Dum Girls, Annie Mac and Toddla T.

The festival remained free, and the wristband system was scrapped, replaced with a first-come-first-served turnstile system. The festival attracted 65,000 people.[1][8] New events at the 2010 festival included a Youth Music Festival, Blues trail and a Ceilidh.[8][9]

The festival also focussed on reducing its environmental impact in 2010. This pledge included a solar powered headphone disco on Devonshire Green, major recycling areas at all of the outdoor stages, and cheap accommodation via Unite.[7]

Tramlines 2011 took place from 22 to 24 July, with an estimated 175,000[10] revellers in attendance. Over 70 venues took part, with four main stages and at least 200 live acts. Headliners and other notable acts included Ash, Olly Murs, Pixie Lott, The Futureheads, Heaven 17, Dananananaykroyd, David Rodigan, Dry The River, Michael Prophet, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Los Campesinos!, Rolo Tomassi, Dead Sons, Skint & Demoralised, The Crookes and Toddla T. New additions were made to the festival, including 'The Folk Forest', a folk music event taking place in Endcliffe Park, 1.5 miles from the city centre.[11]

Tramlines 2012 took place on Friday 20 July to Sunday 22 July.[12] Headliners included Reverend & The Makers, Roots Manuva and We Are Scientists, with Spector, Ms Dynamite, Mr Scruff, Julio Bashmore, Toddla T, Koreless, Ifan Daffyd, Clock Opera and Dead Sons also playing over the weekend, amongst others. Weston Park hosted a stage for the first time in the festival's history.

Tramlines 2013, took place from Friday 19th to Sunday 21 July.[13] For the first time in the history of the festival, an entry fee was charged at £6 per day, though the event retained a large free fringe element.

The main headlining acts were Katy B, Public Enemy, The Cribs and Annie Mac. The fee was increased to £12 per day, and early bird tickets were available in advance at £28 for all three days.[14]

Tramlines 2015 took place on Friday 24th to Sunday 26 July. The main stage moved from Devonshire Green to Ponderosa Park to increase the venue capacity.[15] Tickets cost £30 for the weekend. Headliners included Sugar Hill Gang, Neneh Cherry, Slaves, The Charlatans, Basement Jaxx, and Buzzcocks.

Tramlines 2016 took place on Friday 22nd to Sunday 24 July. Headliners included Dizzee Rascal and Catfish and the Bottlemen.

Tramlines 2017 ran from Friday 21 July 2017 to Sunday 23 July 2017. Headliners included The Libertines, Metronomy, Primal Scream, The Coral, Kano and All Saints. 2017 also saw the return of the Devonshire Green stage, alongside the Ponderosa Park stage and The Folk Forest.

Tramlines 2018 ran from 20 July 2018 until 22 July at Hillsborough Park. Tickets were sold in six tiers with the first and second tier being sold out within days. Weekend admission tickets to Hillsborough Park cost £79. The line-up consists of Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Craig David's TS5 as well as other acts including Stefflon Don, Mabel, Blossoms, De La Soul, Jake Bugg, Clean Bandit, Everything Everything, Mystery Jets, Shed Seven, Milburn, Reverend and The Makers. The new capacity of the event was 40,000[16]

The festival's namesake Supertram network went on strike for the duration of the 2018 festival, over pay and working conditions; free tram replacement buses were provided as shuttles between festival venues as a result.

Over £30,000 was raised at the festival in 2018 for both Cavendish Cancer Care and Weston Park Cancer Charity.[17]

Tramlines 2019 was held from 19 July until 21 July in Hillsborough Park, headlined by Two Door Cinema Club, the Courteeners and Nile Rodgers & Chic. Other acts included the Manic Street Preachers, Rag'n'Bone Man, Doves, Happy Mondays, Reverend and The Makers, Johnny Marr, Sleeper, Peter Hook and the light, Miles Kane, Circa Waves, Lewis Capaldi and Shame. The main stage was renamed to Nulty’s Main Stage in honour of the late Festival Director, Sarah Nulty, who died just three weeks before the festival's 10th Anniversary in 2018.[17]

Tramlines won the "Best Metropolitan Festival" award at the UK Festival Awards 2019,[18] the second time the festival had won this award.

Tramlines 2020 was set to return to Hillsborough Park, Sheffield from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August 2020. On 7 May 2020 it was announced that the festival had been cancelled as a result of the social distancing measures that were in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The line-up consisted of headliners Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Madness, as well as The Kooks, Dizzee Rascal, The Hives, DMA's and Pale Waves. For the first time the second stage, t'Other was to be open for the full three days of the festival.