Tramlines is a festival I will always buy an early bird ticket for immediately after the festival in July, knowing full-well the line up won’t be released for months – and that’s because it’s stellar. Every. Single. Year. And 2023 is no different, with some HUGE names on the bill, and some incredible small acts set to take to Hillsborough Park for Sheffield’s biggest three-day party.
On Tuesday, January 31, Tramlines Festival organisers revealed the first wave of artists that are set to take to Nulty’s Main Stage, T’Other Stage and Library Stage this summer, including three massive headliners, and a mix of fresh and familiar faces.
This year will be our fourth at the Yorkshire-based festival, which fast became our favourite weekend of the year for so many reasons. Firstly, it’s a no-camping festival, as a result, it feels safe, it’s clean, it’s tidy and you can get a good night sleep before another jam packed day. The street food is amazing, we’re talking filled Yorkshire puddings, loaded fries and pizza – the bars don’t get rammed, tickets are cheap, the line up is mega, the stall holders are lovely, there’s really nothing not to love.
Read more: The 27 acts I got to see and photograph at Tramlines Festival 2022
Over the past few years, we’ve seen headline slots from Sam Fender, Kasabian, Madness, Nile Rogers and Chic, The Courteeners, Stereophonics, Noel Gallagher and Craig David. From Friday, July 21 to Sunday, July 23, 2023 we’ll see The Courteeners return to celebrate 15 years of St Jude off the back of a big Heaton Park show, as well as The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft and Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott.
Here’s the current line up poster, with ‘loads more’ to be added, including The Open Arms and Library Stage announcements.
Here’s who I’ll be making sure to see at Tramlines 2023:
There’s only one way to end the night at Tramlines festival, and that’s partying to the headliners at the main stage, so you’ll be sure to catch me down the front for Richard Ashcroft singing my heart out to The Drugs Don’t Work. He’s been on my to-watch list for a while now, so I’m very excited for Friday night. We did catch Courteeners slot back in 2019, however, it’ll be great to see the boys again, especially since it’s such a big anniversary for their debut album. On Sunday, we’ll be partying to The Beautiful South’s Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, who recently completed a UK tour and are set to end the festival with a bang.
Read more: Giant Yorkshire puddings, pizza and pastries: What we ate at Tramlines 2022
The big names don’t end there, with Blossoms returning to the main stage following a packed out crowd in 2018 and 2021. Also friends of the festival are Pale Waves, who I’ve seen live three or four times now, most recently at Manchester’s Albert Hall. Bloc Party, Katy B and Kate Nash are set to bring the nostalgia – as will The Zutons, who I certainly won’t be missing since Dave McCabe was one of the first musicians I ever interviewed.
Acts I’ll be seeing for the very first time include DMA’s, Circa Waves, Yorkshire lads Kaiser Chiefs and Sugababes, the latter of which recently filled the AO Arena and from videos circulating on social media, the girls are serving. It’s not a set to be missed, that’s for sure.
On the other hand, there’s a few acts on the bill I’ve seen countless times. No, really, I have lost count, and I’m not sure who I’ve seen live more often between Reverend and the Makers and The Enemy, but the park will be absolutely bouncing for both of these sets. It’s guaranteed.
Read more: Disco ball headdresses and leopard print – what I wore to Tramlines 2022
Not forgetting some incredible up and coming artists too, I can’t wait to catch sets from Red Rum Club, Black Honey and October Drift, whom I tipped as ‘Big In 2023’ on BBC Radio Stoke this January. Prima Queen, Dead Pony and The Beths will all be getting a slot in my festival schedule, too.
In the comedy tent, Jonathan Pie, Paul Smith and Omid Djalili will be providing all the laughs. I nearly bought tickets to see Paul Smith this year, so seeing him on the line up was a big win. I’m also looking forward to discovering some of the female comics, too, like Daisy Earl and Nina Gilligan.
With even more acts to be announced, it’s gearing up to be a massive weekend of live music and performance. With over 95% of Weekend tickets sold out, the final weekend tickets and first batch of cheap day tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 3 at midday. You can sign up to be the first to bag them when they go on sale here.
Read more:
- Tramlines Festival 2022: Seven incredible moments from the Sheffield festival
- 9 Reasons to buy tickets to Tramlines Festival 2020
- Tramlines Festival 2019: What I ate, wore, and who I saw
- A Weekend at Tramlines Festival
