Tramlines Festival is officially back for its 17th year, with the lineups for each day completed in January.
Pre-sale saw a massive influx in ticket sales, with the festival selling a record number of presale tickets in its history. Sheffield legends Pulp are both headlining and curating the Friday lineup, for which day tickets are now sold out.
Weekend passes have also sold out in record time, as demand was even higher than expected. Students across Sheffield clamoured to buy theirs in both presale and general sale, and the buzz about the lineup was high.
Most of the students Forge spoke to were particularly excited about Friday’s programme. One, who wished to remain anonymous, had secured a weekend pass for their first year, remarking that “you really get what you pay for. It’s not like the bigger, pricier UK ones.”
They also expressed admiration for Tramlines’ independence, being ran by Tramlines Events Ltd. In a landscape where independent Sheffield venues are under threat, the student called it “reassuring” that Tramlines continues to thrive and expand.
The environment at Hillsborough Park was also a concern for one student, who attended last year. She appreciated the searches on entry, but worried that this year’s lineup would “make people get a bit too crazy”.
Tramlines is a part of the Association of Independent Festivals, which means they support the Safer Spaces campaign, and have medics and quiet areas on-site.
However, another student expressed frustration about the regulation of ticket sales. The initial release was powered by See Tickets, and the student missed out on a weekend pass due to being at work when presale went live. “It’s ironic”, they added, “I’m making money so I can go, but making the money was what stopped me”.
If you missed out on the pass you wanted, there are alternative festivals across Sheffield. Get Together is a more economical option on Kelham Island, coming up in May. Float Along happens across the city, the weekend before university starts back up in September. If you prefer outdoor venues, Bass Fest is coming up in Don Valley bowl in July.
Written By Nina Thyr
