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Diary Dates

The Milk Men – Saturday 8 June
The Musician

The Milk Men is a band made up from the cream of British R’n’B talent and pedigree, bringing together members of legendary R’n’B band The Pirates, and British Blues Award nominated The Mustangs, The Milk Men have been tearing up venues all over the uk with their dynamic, white hot versions of classic R’n’B and blues tunes, alongside unforgettable originals.

Cavalera – Wednesday 12 June
O2 Academy

Brazilian thrash metal from members of Sepultura, Soulfly and Gojira. Featuring Max Cavalera (vocals and guitar), Igor Cavalera (drums), Marc Rizzo (guitar) and Joe Duplantier (bass).

FuFu Sailors – Friday 14 June
The Donkey

FuFu Sailors are a well established covers band based in Leicester and known for crowd pleasing performances, party songs and awesome covers.

Threaded – Sunday 30 June
The Musician

With the unique instrumental line up of clarinet, violin and guitar, Birmingham based Threaded creates a distinctive sound like you’ve never heard before. With a classically trained background but a love for folk and acoustic music, this young and inspired trio wanted to combine their passions into one musical experience. Featuring beautiful melodic lines, combined with stylistic harmonies, atmospheric counter melodies and carefully crafted riffs, the balance between these three musicians is stunning.

The Hunna – Wednesday 3 July
O2 Academy Leicester

Hertfordshire four-piece, The Hunna, have become one of indie rock’s brightest lights. With obvious influences from the likes of Kings Of Leon and Foals, they deliver frantically-paced, guitar-driven anthems with a dramatic statement of intent.

Gorilla Riot – Friday 5 July
Firebug

Gorilla Riot are a dirty rock n’ roll blues machine from Manchester, England. They play raucous blues based rock, combining elements of grunge, stoner and country to create a full-on high energy rock show.

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PREVIEW: Tramlines Festival

It’s that time of year where festival season is upon us and we’re looking ahead to all of the brilliant weekend events that are within easy reach of Leicester. Next up, Tramlines in Sheffield. Held close to the city centre, Tramlines is super easy to reach on the train from Leicester and boasts an incredible line-up this year, with artists including Jamie T, Tom Brennan, Snow Patrol, Paulo Nutini, Example, The Charlatans, Bombay Bicycle Club, and more.

Tramlines Festival is Sheffield’s biggest party of the year, and it’s just an hour on the train from Leicester. Taking place at the 40,000 capacity Hillsborough Park from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th July, in 2023 they scooped the UK Festival Award for ‘Best Festival for Emerging Talent’, so festival goers are in for a real treat with the rising stars who’ll jean the huge acts already announced.

Each of the festivals’ five stages has something completely different to offer. From vast and intimate openair vibes to floor-shaking big tops and pubs filled with cabaret – Tramlines has it covered.

Serving up the soundtrack on The Sarah Nulty Main Stage this year are headliners Paulo Nutini, Jamie T and Snow Patrol, plus a selection box of rock, electro pop, indie and bass music from Sheffield heroes The Human League, Example, Maximo Park, Tom Grennan, Bombay Bicycle Club, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Miles Kane, Coach Party, The View, Bedroom High Club and Sheffield’s very own Everly Pregnant Brothers and The Leadmill Studio Orchestra.

Tramlines’ gigantic T’Other Stage will play host to a brilliant lineup of standup comedians by day, and a melting pot of musical talents, by night. Comics residing here for the 2024 edition include Lucy Beaumont, Angelos Epithemiou, Jon Richardson, Olivia Lee, and Justin Moorhouse among others. While the sound system come night will be put through its paces by The Charlatans, Soft Play, Dylan John Thomas, Holly Humberstone, Annie Mac, Jazzy, Yard Act, The Pigeon Detectives, and Anthony Szmierek, plus Sheffield’s Coco and Otis Mensah.

Over on the Leadmill Stage, revellers will find some of the best new bands and artists in the business. Drawing crowds into the big top this year will be The Mysterines, PEACE, Magic Gang, Corella, English Teacher, Been Stellar, Willie J Healey, Balancing Act, plus the winners of Victorious Festival and Truck Festival’s Apply To Play competitions, Jay Dodgson and Minds Idle.

The Library Stage at Tramlines is the place to discover the best in unsigned and grassroots talents where festival goers can expect anything from neo funk and soul, to ska, indie, and rap from the stars of tomorrow. For 2024 it will showcase the winner of this year’s Apply To Play competition, Hannah Rowe, as selected by Radio X’s John Kennedy. The Barnsley-based Hannah Rowe and band perform an incredible mix of soul, jazz and R’n’B and are not to be missed, as are the other finalists who fought their way through over 2000 applicants to perform at Tramlines, including alt-electro pop artist Darla Jade (chosen by Amazing Radio), UK rap outfit Tinxshe (selected by Exposed Magazine), alt rock indie band, Sam Scherdel (chosen by BBC Introducing) and more.

Fans of rap, spoken word and all round positive lyrics should flock to The Library Stage at Tramlines on Saturday to check out this year’s showcase curated by Sheffield talent development platform, Pattern + Push. As well as the former Apply To Play winner, Rumbi Tauro, and the heavily supported Hip-hop afro fusionist, Franz Von, festival goers can expect an abundance of grooves, phat beats, and sassy lyrics from young talents, Astrels, Lavelle, Chloe Beth Rogers and Harris Lih.

A very limited number of Weekend Tier 4 tickets remain, priced at £140+bf, so the advice is to be quick to get the best possible price. Last remaining Friday Day tickets are available, and Saturday and Sunday tickets are also selling fast from £45+bf. All tickets can be purchased from www.tramlines.org.uk/tickets.

There’s even more to be unveiled for the celebratory 16th birthday of Tramlines Festival including what’s in store for the family-friendly area ‘Into the Trees’, and its revamped offering of independent food traders, bespoke craft beer and ale, vintage clothes stores, and roaming entertainment across the site, altogether making Tramlines one of the best-value three-day festivals in the country.

For all the latest updates and announcements, follow Tramlines on socials @tramlines.

Tramlines takes place at Hillsborough Park, Sheffield from 26 – 28 July 2024. Book online at tramlines.org.uk.

PLAYLIST

In this week’s playlist you can check out some of the acts who will be performing at Tramlines this year. Find someone new and buy some tickets.