Tramlines 2023 and Hillsborough Gigs

[Dronx]

Bit muddy Sheff! 

[sheffinghell]

Bit of a swamp towards the end. Hoping for better weather for Y Not next weekend 🤞

[prefab]

I hadn't dressed warm enough for the weather, and even with my umbrella, I couldn't take the rain anymore, so I left after Wunderhorse. I'd planned to go see one of my favorite bands, Apollo Junction, who were playing at the Tramlines Fringe at 7:00. But when I got there I found that they'd cancelled! Still, no regrets; I like Paul Heaton and the Kaiser Chiefs, but after a weekend of mud and rain, I needed to be dry in clean clothes and a warm bed.

[thatTFBguy]

Festivals never been popular with the locals, but it's taking a right pelting on social media due to the state of the park. 

[sheffinghell]

5 minutes ago, thatTFBguy said:

Festivals never been popular with the locals, but it's taking a right pelting on social media due to the state of the park. 

Some people just like to moan. The park will recover, albeit might take a few weeks longer this year. The big longstanding gripe is the switchover from free/almost free. The comparison is mostly unfair; it's a different festival these days. I'm just grateful to have a good sized, mostly well-run event on my doorstep. Hopefully next year will be sunnier!

[sheffinghell]

1 hour ago, prefab said:

I hadn't dressed warm enough for the weather, and even with my umbrella, I couldn't take the rain anymore, so I left after Wunderhorse. I'd planned to go see one of my favorite bands, Apollo Junction, who were playing at the Tramlines Fringe at 7:00. But when I got there I found that they'd cancelled! Still, no regrets; I like Paul Heaton and the Kaiser Chiefs, but after a weekend of mud and rain, I needed to be dry in clean clothes and a warm bed.

Yes, getting pretty chilly late on. I bailed half way through Paul Heaton, even though I'm a fan from way back (saw him first in 1986 with The Housemartins at Cov Poly). Sadly, discovered this afternoon that my waterproofs are past their sell by!

[James179]

12 minutes ago, thatTFBguy said:

Festivals never been popular with the locals, but it's taking a right pelting on social media due to the state of the park. 

I know it’s been discussed to death on here, but the lack of re-entry seems to play a big part in the bad feelings towards Tramlines.

 

For all the talk about how much money it brings into the Sheffield economy, the pubs around Hillsborough always seem completely dead by 4pm now. It definitely takes a lot of money away from the local economy. Seems something like that would help regain some of the local’s faith in the festival.

 

Overall it was a fun weekend this time around, nothing can be done about the weather today but still managed to be a fun day. Shame the crowd was mostly gone by the time Paul Heaton was on as his set was brilliant 

[thatTFBguy]

1 hour ago, sheffinghell said:

Some people just like to moan. The park will recover, albeit might take a few weeks longer this year. The big longstanding gripe is the switchover from free/almost free. The comparison is mostly unfair; it's a different festival these days. I'm just grateful to have a good sized, mostly well-run event on my doorstep. Hopefully next year will be sunnier!

Aye, agreed. It is a shame the park has taken such a beating, but that's just the bad luck of the English weather. Not like the organisers will be happy about it all either. I think it's a cracking festival and something Sheffield badly needs as a city. 

[thatTFBguy]

1 hour ago, James179 said:

I know it’s been discussed to death on here, but the lack of re-entry seems to play a big part in the bad feelings towards Tramlines.

 

For all the talk about how much money it brings into the Sheffield economy, the pubs around Hillsborough always seem completely dead by 4pm now. It definitely takes a lot of money away from the local economy. Seems something like that would help regain some of the local’s faith in the festival.

Call me a massive cynic but I genuinely think the majority of people that moan about no more re entry don't care about supporting local business. 

I think it's mainly locals who want to nip home between sets to drink their own supermarket bought booze, or people who want to leave to support the great "local" business of Wetherspoons.

Im sure there's some people who would use re entry to support proper local business but I'm sceptical that it wouldn't just be used by a lot of folks to drink at home or enjoy a £2 John Smith at the nearby Spoons. 

[Hirstys 12th Pint]

11 hours ago, James179 said:

I know it’s been discussed to death on here, but the lack of re-entry seems to play a big part in the bad feelings towards Tramlines.

 

For all the talk about how much money it brings into the Sheffield economy, the pubs around Hillsborough always seem completely dead by 4pm now. It definitely takes a lot of money away from the local economy. Seems something like that would help regain some of the local’s faith in the festival.

 

Overall it was a fun weekend this time around, nothing can be done about the weather today but still managed to be a fun day. Shame the crowd was mostly gone by the time Paul Heaton was on as his set was brilliant 

Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey were fantastic.  Best act of the weekend I thought especially considering the conditions and glad I braved it out.

My other highlights were The K's, The Mary Wallopers and suprisingly Richard Ashcroft on Friday - Drugs Don't Work and BSS were immense.  Saturday was my favourites Red Rum Club, McFly and High School.

Enjoyed it but the weather certainly spoiled it somewhat.  My Wife and Daughter bailed out after Rev yesterday as did quite a few of our group. 

Honestly wonder if its time for the Festival to have a year off to get the buzz going again ?

[karlnuttall]

1 hour ago, Hirstys 12th Pint said:

Paul Heaton and Rianne Downey were fantastic.  Best act of the weekend I thought especially considering the conditions and glad I braved it out.

My other highlights were The K's, The Mary Wallopers and suprisingly Richard Ashcroft on Friday - Drugs Don't Work and BSS were immense.  Saturday was my favourites Red Rum Club, McFly and High School.

Enjoyed it but the weather certainly spoiled it somewhat.  My Wife and Daughter bailed out after Rev yesterday as did quite a few of our group. 

Honestly wonder if its time for the Festival to have a year off to get the buzz going again ?

 

I said exactly the same to my other half yesterday, wouldn't be surprised if they had a year off, especially with the state of the field before I left yesterday.

On the re-entry thing, agree that the locals would probably abuse it but for those who live further afield (as I do) I do think it's a pain in the arse not being allowed to go back in. Our Daughter wanted to go home around 5pm yesterday so I took her whilst my other half stayed, would have gone back in if I was allowed to to catch Kaisers and Paul Heaton.

[swede]

12 hours ago, James179 said:

I know it’s been discussed to death on here, but the lack of re-entry seems to play a big part in the bad feelings towards Tramlines.

 

For all the talk about how much money it brings into the Sheffield economy, the pubs around Hillsborough always seem completely dead by 4pm now. It definitely takes a lot of money away from the local economy. Seems something like that would help regain some of the local’s faith in the festival.

 

Overall it was a fun weekend this time around, nothing can be done about the weather today but still managed to be a fun day. Shame the crowd was mostly gone by the time Paul Heaton was on as his set was brilliant 

The lack of re-entry really added to the bad conditions underfoot as well. We had two people in our group with medical conditions who just couldn’t handle it on the Saturday so we bailed after blossoms as we just couldn’t get over to the left hand side of the stage where conditions looked better underfoot. Sunday was a bit better with the extra work they’d done around the main stage. 
 

If people could come in and out they could have seen bands as and when they wanted, especially those living local or in hotels /apartments near the park, wouldn’t have churned the park up as much 

[karlnuttall]

8 minutes ago, swede said:

The lack of re-entry really added to the bad conditions underfoot as well. We had two people in our group with medical conditions who just couldn’t handle it on the Saturday so we bailed after blossoms as we just couldn’t get over to the left hand side of the stage where conditions looked better underfoot. Sunday was a bit better with the extra work they’d done around the main stage. 
 

If people could come in and out they could have seen bands as and when they wanted, especially those living local or in hotels /apartments near the park, wouldn’t have churned the park up as much 

They weren't too bad Saturday, but yesterday they were horrendous where we were stood. Anything down past the accessible viewing platform was swamp-like yesterday.

[sheffinghell]

11 hours ago, thatTFBguy said:

Aye, agreed. It is a shame the park has taken such a beating, but that's just the bad luck of the English weather. Not like the organisers will be happy about it all either. I think it's a cracking festival and something Sheffield badly needs as a city. 

Yep, it's definitely an asset to the city. The other option would be change venue, but I think this is probably the largest capacity inside the city boundaries. Don Valley would be an option, but I've a feeling it's only half the size. They held 'Sheftival' there c. 2012/13, which had a number of smaller stages, largest act being the Lightning Seeds, and the Rock n Roll Circus events are down there this year, but looks like one big stage.

[Hirstys 12th Pint]

1 hour ago, karlnuttall said:

 

I said exactly the same to my other half yesterday, wouldn't be surprised if they had a year off, especially with the state of the field before I left yesterday.

On the re-entry thing, agree that the locals would probably abuse it but for those who live further afield (as I do) I do think it's a pain in the arse not being allowed to go back in. Our Daughter wanted to go home around 5pm yesterday so I took her whilst my other half stayed, would have gone back in if I was allowed to to catch Kaisers and Paul Heaton.

A mate of mine went to the customer service tent yesterday to say his lad was wet and cold and could he take him home and return later and they gave him a wrist band to return, which he did for Paul Heaton. 

 

[swede]

1 hour ago, karlnuttall said:

They weren't too bad Saturday, but yesterday they were horrendous where we were stood. Anything down past the accessible viewing platform was swamp-like yesterday.

On Saturday Getting from the right hand side of stage near the stalls/vip along the back for the people in our group with mobility issues was impossible, way too slippy and not worth chancing an injury to either of them. 
 

Our group has loved our three years going to tramlines but we’ve already provisionally booked accommodation for neighborhood weekender next year, I always love that buzz of trying a new festival, had friends go this year and it looked great 

[sheffinghell]

Early Birds for 2024 on sale tonight. You don't need to sign up if you're already on their mailing list.

Edited July 24, 2023 by sheffinghell

[sheffinghell]

One thing I thought was odd this year was the lack of wristbands, scanning same ticket each day. This was an obvious opportunity for people to share / sell weekend tickets across the days

[Hirstys 12th Pint]

3 minutes ago, sheffinghell said:

One thing I thought was odd this year was the lack of wristbands, scanning same ticket each day. This was an obvious opportunity for people to share / sell weekend tickets across the days

Been like that last 3 years.

[sheffinghell]

1 minute ago, Hirstys 12th Pint said:

Been like that last 3 years.

Fair enough - my first time since covid. I suppose it offsets the no re-entry to some extent if people can share tickets on different days. Pointless tagging of bags though as no checks anywhere else on the site.

[thatTFBguy]

2024 super early bird sorted. £100 for all three days is a very good price to me.

No idea who will headline next year. Thinking Ian Brown might pop up, the last of the canceled headliners from COVID now (catfish not withstanding cause they've broken up). Maybe I'm mad but I'd love McFly back with a longer slot, thought they were proper good fun this year and would fit the Sunday night Tramlines vibe I reckon. Maybe Busted instead? 

[sheffinghell]

I've booked VIP for the first time ever. My bones are getting too old to not be able to sit down all weekend. Pretty much what I paid for Tier 4 this year, so great value. 

After seeing them this year at Kite, I'd really love to see Suede on the line-up, and from Live at Leeds, Maximo Park and The Hives would be fantastic. Rick Astley for the McFly slot, even better if he did the Smiths mashup with Blossoms.

Others from the Superstruct roster this year... Pavement, Pigeon Detectives, Alt-j, Belle & Sebastian, KT Tunstall...

Plus must be a possibility of a Self Esteem headline

Edited July 24, 2023 by sheffinghell

[sheffinghell]

Slightly worried the 2024 dates are a week later, possible clash with Y Not... hopefully they have this in hand

[thatTFBguy]

3 hours ago, sheffinghell said:

Plus must be a possibility of a Self Esteem headline

Ian Brown, Self Esteem and Rick Astley feels very plausible. 

[sheffinghell]

8 hours ago, sheffinghell said:

Slightly worried the 2024 dates are a week later, possible clash with Y Not... hopefully they have this in hand

First weekend of the summer holidays, Truck is the same, so that's good. Y Not and Kendal likely to be into August in that case.