Headlined by Pulp, Raytons, and Kasabian on Days 1, 2, and 3, respectively, Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival 2025 had a stellar line-up consisting of classic acts as well as fresh artists who deserved the stage!
Tramlines Festival returned to Sheffield, England, with the city’s own rock band, Pulp, headlining on the opening day.
From its city roots, Tramlines Festival has evolved into a massive multi-stage celebration of music, heritage and local pride, exploring diverse sounds across Hillsborough Park. Despite the global recognition, the 3-day fest felt distinctly Sheffield – gritty, warm and sincere.
Tramlines Festival 2025: Day 1 (July 25th)
The ‘Sarah Nulty‘ Main Stage had Femur playing later, the garage-psych mayhem that set the stage on fire. The band sounded raw and fuzzy like always, while each member looked like we’re back to the 70’s with them cool shirts and long hair. With the raw, fuzz-drenched, anarchic sound they sure set the mood for the absolute chaos that the crowd was about to witness.
Later on, Ed Corsens took up the same stage, bringing with them the Brit-pop sound and fine songwriting. Warmer songs with orchestral harmonies gave the festival just what it needed.
Talk of a Diverse Lineup and Here We Go: A Comedian, A Punk Poet, Psychedelia, New Wave Alt-rock, Overdriven Blasts….Phew!
While the T’Other stage witnessed something very different with comedian John Shuttleworth performing his set. Punk poet John Cooper Clarke followed him with his unique set of poetry-songs that stood out amidst the sonically heavier bands. Call it odd for a festival vibe, but we all need something that slows us down amidst the chaos, and maybe that’s how his set cuts through.
The Leadmill Stage saw Beguiling Junior‘s signature psychedelic-dreamy soundscape, dark but not necessarily loud. Baxer Dury took the main stage later with their groovy new wave alt-rock sound. As the evening crept in, John Grant got up on the T’Other stage with his vocally commanding and emotionally charged performance. Grant’s rich, heavy vocals cut through the mix, and so did his cynical but witty choice of words.
When Fat White Family took the stage, the overdrive echoed, the band living up to their notoriety. Dirty grooves, howls, and shirtless antics – they conquered as they were expected to! The Main Stage saw Spiritualised with their signature overwhelming Brit-rock sound, transporting the crowd into another dimension.
But, without a doubt, Pulp stole the show, with their quirky and bold appearance. Jarvis Cocker still remains the magnetic frontman of the band, stealing hearts with what he does best. They opened with their latest release “Spike Island”, followed by all time hits like “Disco 2000” and “This Is Hardcore”. By the time Pulp played “Common People”, fans were on Cloud 9, cheering with their arms aloft and cherishing every lyric.
Tramlines Festival 2025: Day 2 (July 26th)
Headlined by Rotherham rockers The Reytons, the second day of the festival was a banger with an exceptional lineup. The Reytons’ ascent to the top of the bill felt unexpected yet organic, thanks to their working-class anthems and stadium-friendly chorus parts. With fireworks painting the sky, the band’s performance was no short of a message that grassroots indie rock strives across South Yorkshire.
Before that, Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand took the stage by storm with their distinct guitar play, and nostalgic, thirsty vocals. With the crowd moving and singing along to songs like “Take Me Out”, the performance was a lesson in entertainment.
Folk-rock gem Jake Bugg was a ray of sunshine for Sheffield. His raw, croaky vocals lightened up the stage. Songs like “Lightning Bolt” and the iconic “Two Fingers” showcased how the simple, intimate soundscape can work for a stadium setting as well. The reflective lyrics felt like a calm within the chaos.
Whereas on the T’Other stage, Heather Small delivered an interesting, bold R&B soul sound, with powerful vocals and an enormous stage persona. Her rendition of “Moving On Up” was the most apt song for the festival, a celebration of life.
The Leadmill Stage saw The Rosadocs like never before, with tracks like “Towards the Sun”, the perfect choice for the kind of atmosphere.
Natasha Beddingfield took the stage with her joyful energy, delivering hits like “These Words” and “Unwritten”.
Day 2 closed with The Reytons performing their all-time hits, including the anthemic “Kids Off Estate”. One memorable moment was when frontman Jonny Yorrell requested a fan to join the stage. While he played “Slice Of Lime,” the crowd, as well as the fan, sang every word with heartfelt perfection.
Tramlines Festival 2025: Day 3 (July 27th)
Kasabian headlined the 3rd day of the festival, their performance coming minutes after the festival aired England’s Lionesses’ success in the women’s Euros. Fans cherished all-time hits including “Club Foot”, “Shoot The Runner”, and finally “Fire” among others. The 3rd day lineup was balanced with headliners as well as rising stars.
Luvcat, The Last Dinner Party, CMAT, and many other acts rocked the stage!
Starting off at the Leadmill Stage, we had Cowz. Too brash and too loud for a Sunday early slot, these rebel girls rocked away nevertheless. I mean, this is the last day of the fest, why not start with a bang?
The T’Other stage saw an offbeat and tender Luvcat, a soundscape made of dreamy pop synths and dancy beats, very pop emotional vocals, the kind of music which is perfect for a Sunday afternoon sway. Playing away hits like “Vicious Delicious” and “He’s My Man”, Luvcat’s sound is something appealing to everyone, yet unique.
Leadmill stage next witnessed Cliffords with hitting lyrical vocals and jangly guitars, a pop still raw sound, something very Sheffield-y. They belted fan favorites like “Bittersweet” and “My Favourite Monster”, a vibrant, youthful energy leading up to more amazing things as they went on with their set. Iona Lynch‘s voice being that remarkable and bold, the band stood out with their relatable lyrics and stage persona. Surely we should expect more from them than just 1 EP.
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Dressed in a country glam fever dream, CMAT took to the T’Other stage, with fans going wild and singing along. Witty song delivery straight from the heart, yet sometimes funny, songs like “I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!” are always an audience favorite. More so when the singer is as interactive and appealing as CMAT.
As we were getting down to the golden hours of the festival, The Last Dinner Party rocked the mainstage. The songs were mostly articulate, poppy dance numbers with modern storytelling. Fans were treated to hits like “Nothing Matters” and “Sinner”.
The Royston Club is another honorable mention. They ruled the Leadmill Stage with their scrappy anthemic sound with hits like “Mrs Narcissistic” and “Shallow Tragedy”.
Time For The Final Act But Wait – Euro Cup Results First!
The final act of the festival, headliners Kasabian, had to wait till the Lionesses’ Euro Cup Final against Spain was finished, with Cloe Kelly putting in the final spot kick, thus winning the tournament. Now that we had one more reason to celebrate, Kasabian finally took over the Main Stage with never-ending energy from the moment they started playing “Club Foot”.
Sigrid got on to the T’Other stage meanwhile, delivering a pop fiesta, powerful, danceable, and synth-heavy. As she belted out hits like “Don’t Feel Like Crying”, “Mirror” and “Strangers”, fans were taken away to an euphoric state, the perfect festival sense of togetherness. No better way to end the final night!
Meanwhile, Kasabian launched into “Underdog” dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne, and “Shoot the Runner” kept the tempo breakneck. “Empire” brought out every phone light in the field. Kasabian finally closed the set with “Fire”. Kasabian were an ideal headliner – loud and explosive, yet unifying – the perfect end to the fiesta.
The experience was just like an ideal festival should feel like – diverse yet unifying, loud yet emotional. Bombastic performances throughout the three dates with a global roster of artists, while maintaining the local flavor – a pure magical experience where you can find the sounds of tomorrow even as you cherish the classics!
And right when we take some time to rest after 3 days of mad cheering and jumping around in sheer joy, the fans have to admit that they can’t wait for the chaos to be back next year!
