Less than 24 hours after the 15th Tramlines Festival ended, tickets for the 2024 event have gone on sale, with fans wasting absolutely no time in snapping up those early bird slots for another epic three days of music, art and comedy.
One of the UK’s biggest inner-city music festivals, 40,000 revellers a day attended this year’s sold-out Tramlines, not once letting the drizzle dampen their spirits.
Considered the biggest party of the Steel City, the festival has been running since 2009, attracting thousands of music lovers to its home at Hillsborough Park each year, and will celebrate its 16th birthday in 2024 from Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28.
This year, the event saw a secret set from McFly, headline performances from The Courteeners, Richard Ashcroft and Paul Heaton and homegrown Yorkshire talent in abundance with sets from Kaiser Chiefs, October Drift, Reverend and the Makers, Rumbi Tauro, and this year’s Apply To Play Winner, Harri Larkin.
Having been to the festival four times in the past, I certainly didn’t need persuading to secure my tickets for a fifth year, but if you’re still sitting on the fence, here are 12 reasons why you should grab your ticket for Tramlines Festival 2024:
- The Line Up
Tramlines Festival is renowned for its diverse and impressive lineup of artists from a multitude of genres. Whether you’re into indie, rock, pop, electronic, or hip-hop, you’ll find some of the industry’s best-loved acts performing on a number of stages. In previous years, I’ve seen headliners such as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Kasabian, Richard Ashcroft, Sam Fender and James, as well as a wealth of emerging artists like The Lottery Winners, Sea Girls and October Drift, with even smaller indie musicians to discover. The music will undoubtedly be the central focus of the festival, with something on the line up for everyone to enjoy.
- The Street Food
Tramlines Festival offers an array of mouthwatering street food with dishes hailing from all around the world. From traditional favourites like filled giant Yorkshire puddings to unique and quirky dishes like poutine and Japanese fried chicken, you certainly won’t be going hungry at Hillsborough. One of my returning favourites is the Fries Before Guys van who do the most epic loaded fries for £12, while the Yorkshire pud stand will see you pay around £14. It’s your typical festival prices, but the options are quality, the portions are generous and in my four years of eating my way around the venue, I’ve yet to have had anything to complain about.
- The Bars
Walking from stage to stage to watch your favourite acts is thirsty work, but luckily Tramlines Festival boasts a fantastic selection of bars serving up refreshing beverages to keep you hydrated and in high spirits throughout the weekend. This year Jake was all over the Brewdog selection including Lost Lager and a hoppy pale ale, while my drink of choice over the weekend was the delightful Thatcher’s Blood Orange cider, which tastes like summer in a can. As well as craft beers and summery ciders, the bars also offer signature cocktails, wines by the bottle and even spirits and mixtures, so you’ll find the perfect libation to accompany the music and festivities.
- The Alternative Activities
While music is a major part of Tramlines Festival, it’s safe to say it’s not just about music. It offers an array of alternative activities to keep festival-goers entertained between sets, including spoken word sets, the Lidl Mudder, musical bingo and more. For children, there’s also a selection of workshops like spray painting, circus skills and illustration. The festival’s commitment to creativity and culture ensures that there’s never a dull moment.
- The Cleanliness
Tramlines Festival is one of the cleanest festivals I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. The organisers go the extra mile to maintain clean facilities and provide ample sanitation stations to ensure the comfort and well-being of all visitors. The loos are always well kept, there are dozens of bins dotted around the site which reduces litter, and there are volunteers walking around all day litter picking to ensure the space is kept pretty spotless.
In the same vein, the festival is dedicated to sustainability, with all food traders’ packaging and cutlery certified compostable, all cups recyclable, biodegradable, compostable and re-pulpable and most bars selling canned drinks over those in plastic containers.
- The Stalls
The festival grounds are dotted with an assortment of retail stalls offering official Tramlines merchandise, as well as clothing, festival essentials, accessories, and memorabilia. It’s an excellent opportunity to score some one-of-a-kind souvenirs and support local artisans and businesses.
- The No Camping
Unlike many other festivals, Tramlines doesn’t offer camping on-site. This means you can return to the comfort of your own – or a hotel – bed after a day of fun and music, wash off any mud in a hot shower, and get a good night’s kip ahead of another jam-packed day. Whether you live in Sheffield or book accommodation nearby, you’ll have a cosy place to rest each night. Personally, I also find that this – paired with how family friendly the festival is – means that there’s generally a much better atmosphere at Tramlines Festival compared to camping festivals I’ve attended.
- The Prices
Tramlines Festival is known for providing great value for money. Our first set of Tramlines tickets in 2018 were around the £45 mark, and while the prices have increased since, it has done so in line with the size and quality of the event. This year super early bird weekend tickets start from just £89.50. It’s definitely one of the more affordable festivals, especially considering the lineup and plethora of activities on offer, meanwhile, food is reasonable and bar prices are also pretty modest, too. Beers will set you back around £6.50, which is cheaper than some of the gigs I’ve been to at major arenas of late.
- The Festival Fashion
You know me – I love a festival outfit, and each year I document my Tramlines looks on the blog, be it DIY glitterball headdresses or rainbow unitards. Tramlines gives festival goers the chance to let their creativity shine through, and this year, I saw some fab fits and festival trends, including cowboy boots, glitter, sequins and more.
- The Atmosphere
There’s an electric and contagious energy that fills the air at Tramlines Festival. With thousands of like-minded music enthusiasts coming together, the sense of camaraderie and excitement creates an unforgettable atmosphere that pulls me back year after year. Everyone we spoke to was incredibly friendly and no-one is there for any other reason than to have a great time and experience what the festival has to offer.
- Comedy
In addition to the incredible music lineup, Tramlines also features a side-splitting comedy line up which runs early doors in T’Other Stage, where you can catch some of the best comedians in the industry. Jake and I really enjoyed grabbing a cup of Yorkshire Tea as soon as we got into the festival, and sitting in here for the first hour of the day to catch the likes of Jonathan Pie, Paul Smith and Omid Djalili. Starting the day with some laughter was definitely the way to kick things off.
Reflecting on my 2023 Tramlines Festival experience has made me all the more excited to see what 2024 has to offer. The event really is an unparalleled experience for music enthusiasts and festival-goers alike, complete with an impressive lineup, delectable food, exciting activities, and a welcoming atmosphere, each and every year. Despite the line up remaining under wraps for now, I already know the tickets will be worth every penny. So, mark your calendars, grab your tickets, and get ready for a weekend of fun, music, and memories at Tramlines Festival 2024.
Read more:
- Eight reasons to download the Tramlines Festival app including secret sets, clashfinder and schedule planner
- Giant Yorkshire puddings, pizza and pastries: What we ate at Tramlines 2022
- Disco ball headdresses and leopard print – what I wore to Tramlines 2022
