The annual scheme offers new and undiscovered bands and artists the chance to play at Sheffield’s biggest music festival as Tramlines continues its support of grass roots music talent.
Tramlines, Sheffield’s biggest music festival, has announced the opening of this year’s ‘Apply to Play’. The scheme offers a number of paid performance slots to emerging and undiscovered bands and artists from across the UK. Those wishing to play at the 2022 edition of Tramlines can apply via the website at. https://tramlines.org.uk/apply-to-play-now-live/
Taking place at Hillsborough Park from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th July, Apply To Play is an annual call out. With slots available to play across a variety of stages, Tramlines Festival continues year on year to support and create opportunities for grass root music talent.
With no genre or set-up out of the question, Apply To Play is open to anyone who believes they have what it takes to entertain the music-loving crowd at Tramlines.
Tramlines Operations Director Timm Cleasby said,
“Discovering new artists has always been at the heart of Tramlines. Walking round the festival and hearing a new sound that just grabs you like when I first heard the angelic voices, Before Breakfast in 2019 is fantastic. It’s great to see August Charles who played through Apply To Play in 2021, booked for this year. We love championing new bands and I can’t wait to find my new favourite artist for 2022.”
Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts, tastemakers and the Tramlines team, and successful applicants will also receive a performance fee.
Winners this year will join a line up including Sam Fender, Kasabian, Madness, The Wombats, James, Declan McKenna, The Vaccines, Sigrid, Becky Hill, Kelis, Alfie Templeman, Jade Bird, Self Esteem and many more.
The deadline for applications is 14th April (direct link to application form, here) and the winners will be notified by 27th May. With the scheme receiving so many amazing entries, unfortunately organisers are unable to respond to each applicant individually.
Notable bands discovered via Apply To Play in past years include Blossoms who later were nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2017, showing what an important, career-launching platform this can be.
More recently, 2021 Apply To Play winners included August Charles who this year has gone on to receive an official booking by Tramlines to play the T’Other Stage (Stage 2).
And singer-songwriter Rumbi Tauro – also the winner of the ‘Pattern & Push’ vocalist competition endorsed and supported by Toddla T and rapper Coco – who got to meet MOBO Award winner, Mahalia. On the experience, Rumbi said,
“Being a part of Tramlines was honestly an incredible experience. I got a chance to network with other artists/bands throughout the day, a BBC Radio Sheffield Live interview and a chance to see the logistics of what it’s like performing at a festival. Meeting Mahalia after her set was incredible. She took the time to share some words of wisdom and encouragement that truly inspired me.
I really recommend applying because opportunities like ‘Apply to Play’ can open so many doors and give you a real chance to build relationships with industry people.”
The twelfth edition of Tramlines was held on Friday 23 July – Sunday 25 July 2021 at Hillsborough Park, Sheffield as part of the Government’s Event Research Programme.
Tramlines is one of the UK’s longest running, city-based music festivals. It attracted 40,000 people daily in 2021.
The lineup for Tramlines 2021 featured The Streets, Royal Blood, Supergrass, The Kooks, Blossoms, Dizzee Rascal, Tom Walker, Pale Waves, The Pigeon Detectives, Little Simz, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Mahalia, Jake Bugg, The Sherlocks, The Fratellis, Sundara Karma, The Blinders, The Hara, The Lathums, Georgia, Lucy Spraggan, The Magic Gang, The Big Moon, Holly Humberstone, The Reytons and many more.
Tramlines first moved to Hillsborough Park in 2018 marking its first year on one greenfield site.
The 2017 edition of Tramlines took place across 3 outdoor stages – the Main Stage on Ponderosa Park, Stage 2 on Devonshire Green, and the Folk Forest in Endcliffe Park.
Prior to this from 2009, Tramlines existed as a multi-venue festival mixing outdoor stages (as above) and city centre venues including the o2 Academy, the Leadmill, the Cathedral, Millennium Gallery, City Hall, Corporation, Queens Social Club and Yellow Arch Studios amongst others.
With the enormous diversity of music and activities on offer, it is value for money.
Whilst there’s no on-site camping at Tramlines, there’s plenty of affordable accommodation in the city centre.
Sheffield is easily reached by the UK road and rail networks. Hillsborough Park is easily accessible by public transport.
TRAMLINES FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP
Friday
Sam Fender
James
Declan McKenna
Shed Seven (Special Guests)
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
Jade Bird
Lady Leshurr
Orla Gartland
Working Men’s Club
Baby Queen
Brooke Combe
The Clockworks
Coach Party
Kynsy
Lime Garden
August Charles
Harri Larkin
Friday Comedy
Seann Walsh
Scott Bennett
Michelle Shaughnessy
Alisdair Beckett-King
Vince Atta
Danny McLoughline
Saturday
Kasabian
The Vaccines
Sigrid
Little Man Tate
Self Esteem
Inhaler
Sam Ryder
Alfie Templeman
The Lottery Winners
Kawala
Just Mustard
Crawlers
Bleach Lab
Swim School
Sheafs
Pixey
Everly Pregnant Brothers
Saturday Comedy
Russell Kane
Tom Ward
Karen Bayley
Harry Stachini
Jack Gleadow
Matt Read
Sunday
Madness
The Wombats
Becky Hill
Reverend and The Makers
Kelis
The Coral (Special Guests)
Sports Team
Scouting for Girls
Elvana
Yard Act
Do Nothing
The Goa Express
April
Bedroom High Club
Luxury Goods
Sunday Comedy
Jason Manford
Ivan Brackenberry
Lily Phillips
Mark Simmons
Emmanuel Sonubi
Event Info
Tramlines Festival 2022
Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th July
Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, S6 2AB
Weekend tickets – SOLD OUT
Saturday & Sunday Day tickets: £50+ bf (Friday sold out)
Available from www.tramlines.org.uk
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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
