TRAMLINES 23RD – 25TH JULY HILLSBOROUGH SHEFFIELD
FRIDAY
LIVE MUSIC’S BACK and TEN’S OF THOUSANDS CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE
It’s been a long time between festivals, too long!!! There is nothing quite like the bringing together of like-minded people to enjoy a plethora of bands, artists, and musicians in a celebration of art and culture and that is what Tramlines has done year after year, and even with an extended break, this amazingly cool festival has delivered again in bucket loads.
Arriving on the Friday evening, the festival was already very busy; the sense of freedom and finally being able to see and hear live music again was tangible. So many happy faces, dancing, singing; food for the soul!
I headed straight for T’Other Stage and the brilliant Red Rum Club. If there was ever a band to start my festival off in the right way, it is the Red Rum Club. Their brand of Liverpool / Cuban Indie is infectious and just goes off and go off is exactly what the people in the packed-out tent did. dancing and singing along, its safe to say Red Rum Club brought the house down
Staying at the same stage, it was time for Manchester’s very own Slow Readers Club, a band with a huge following and a top 40 album. They kept the tent at full capacity, and as the crowd eagerly anticipated the arrival of the band on stage, the tent vibrated with the chant of “Slow Readers Club” “Slow Readers Club”… the band didn’t let anyone down, filling the whole place with their own brand of New Order influenced Indie, a wonderful showcase of effortless musicianship and beautiful pop sensibilities. And the crowd of thousands basked in the glory
It was time for a quick walk round the festival grounds, grab a beer, absorb the vibe and excitement, and I must say the layout and the facilities were on the money. There were plenty of food stalls and something for everyone’s taste from meat lovers to vegan palates, enough bars which were well manned and well situated on the show grounds, plenty of toilets, hand sanitizers, and people could move and flow effortlessly from stage to stage.
So, even though I had been in the festival for quite a while I still hadn’t ventured to the main stage and it was ne different for the next artist I was going to see, so it was back to the T’Other stage for the magical and forever youthful Sophie Ellis Bexter, resplendent in sparkling, sequinned jumpsuit of multi colours, and she brought the house down with her own brand of 80’s disco and when she launched into “Murder On The Dancefloor” the crowd were so loud and actually couldn’t hear her vocals at all, spine tingling.
Finally, I got to the main stage for a band that produced one of the most iconic British albums of the last 20 years, Original Pirate Material, YEP!! The Streets AKA Mike Skinner and he was at his best as he prowled the stage with a mic in one hand and a bottle of Moet in the other. The Streets are amazing; their music is timeless in the way it reflects growing up in Britain and British culture. Mike Skinners Lyrics are clever, witty and cutting all at the same time and his unique style and deliverance is always on the money. His way of fusing dance music, rap beats, and UK garage rhythms, whilst sampling UK funky drum and base is still as powerful as ever. With that and the sun setting and Mike Skinner playing conductor to a crowd of thousands I have to say it was emotional, the release of being able to be out amongst people and live music, the crowd were in raptures and The Streets were the perfect way to end a perfect first day, bring on Saturday!!
FOR FULL IMAGE GALLERY OF FRIDAY NIGHT PLEASE CLICK HERE
FOLLOW TRAMLINES FESTIVAL
FOLLOW RED RUM CLUB
FOLLOW THE SLOW READERS CLUB
FOLLOW SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTER
FOLLOW THE STREETS
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
