PREVIEW: The Fringe at Tramlines - official free music events bring festival to the city centre

The Fringe at Tramlines - an official free weekend long Sheffield city centre event - is the place to be to see festival stars of the future, say organisers.
The Fringe at Tramlines in association with SheffieldBIDThe Fringe at Tramlines in association with SheffieldBID
The Fringe at Tramlines in association with SheffieldBID

Sheffield City Council, with funding from Sheffield Business Improvement District (BID), will turn key areas of the city centre into entertainment zones for the weekend, whilst buskers, street performers and circus acts will also roam the streets.

They say it aims to bring the festival feeling to the city - Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22 - with music, entertainment, food and drink at Devonshire Green, Barkers Pool and Peace Gardens plus events at bars and venues in the city centre.

VIDEO: Crystal Stage set to sparkle with big names at The Fringe at TramlinesVIDEO: Argentinian band The Otherness rock up dream gig at TramlinesThe official ticketed Tramlines festival has moved out of the city centre this year and celebrates it's 10th anniversary with a new home at Hillsborough Park, Friday to Sunday, July 20 to 22 - where the stella-line up includes headliners Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Stereophonics and Craig David’s TS5.

It continues with the likes of Blossoms, Everything Everything, local lads Milburn, Reverend and the Makers, The Sherlocks, plus comedy from Henning Wehn, John Shuttleworth, Bethany Black and more. Tickets and information at www.tramlines.org.uk.

PREVIEW: Tramlines 2018 - ALL you need to know highlights, stage times and tickets.Read more at: https://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/preview-tramlines-2018-all-you-need-to-know-highlights-stage-times-and-tickets-1-9258041

Holly TandyHolly Tandy
Holly Tandy

But while that is happening, a few miles up the road, The Fringe at Tramlines - a free event - will feature acts including emerging talent aiming to be the big festival names of the future, such as Barnsley's 17 year old X-Factor finalist Holly Tandy and more.

The Fringe at Tramlines will see entertainment and activities taking place during the daytime and into the evening on both Saturday, July 21, from noon to 9pm, then on Sunday, July 22, from noon to 7pm. Some participating bars and clubs will run late in to the night.

It aims to give festival goers something extra to enjoy as well as giving those without tickets to the festival the chance to soak up the atmosphere in the city centre.

Devonshire Green, the original main stage home of Tramlines when it launched 10-years ago, will be transformed into a family-friendly world music stage, curated by Alan Deadman and Young Music. For full line up and stage times see below.

The Fringe at Tramlines - Saturday line up and stage timesThe Fringe at Tramlines - Saturday line up and stage times
The Fringe at Tramlines - Saturday line up and stage times

Lively acts with a global influence and plenty of energy will be the theme of Saturday while Sunday will focus on local talent and emerging bands from across the UK.

Barkers Pool will be turned into a food, drink, craft and entertainment area with Yellow Bus Events, and the Peace Gardens will become a place to chill out in front of a big screen showing musical films and footage from previous Tramlines line-ups.

As well as the main The Fringe at Tramlines areas, bars and music venues across the city are signing up to be a part of The Fringe at Tramlines, each curating their own line-ups of artists and musicians over the weekend.

The Fringe at Tramlines will also feature musical film screenings at The Peace Gardens, ‘The Boulderers’, a street performance fusing dance, parkour and bouldering, street theatre presented by Professor Vanessa Toulmin from The University of Sheffield, roaming circus performers and busker points dotted on the trail from Sheffield station into the city centre.

The Fringe at Tramlines - Sunday line up and stage timesThe Fringe at Tramlines - Sunday line up and stage times
The Fringe at Tramlines - Sunday line up and stage times

Saturday’s Devonshire Green line-up, brought by Papa Al, includes Jungle Lion, Mango Rescue Team, Forefathers, Tixxy Bang and one of the Sheffield's newest and liveliest crew, Captain Avery and The Cosmic Triceratops of Intergalactic Peace.

Papa Al said: “After nine great years in the Peace Gardens we've moved up to the dizzy heights of Devonshire Green. My Saturday programme will feature a mostly Sheffield based line-up with a distinctly global flavour.

“Performing on the day will be rappers, dancers and some fantastic bands. There's so much exciting music being created in Sheffield and it's not just indie bands, I can't wait to see the stage in full effect in July.”

Sheffield based social enterprise Live Core Events, formerly Young Music, are providing the programming for Sunday. Their focus is on local talent and emerging bands from across the UK.

Natalie Beard, Managing Director of Live Core Events CIC, said: "Sunday’s line-up will focus on showcasing some of the UK's best upcoming artists. With a mainly local line-up and a few favourites from further afield there will be something for everyone.

"Highlights include young X-Factor finalist Holly Tandy. It's our first gig with her since before she entered the X Factor competition, so it'll be great to have her back in Sheffield,

Female fronted rock band SyteriaFemale fronted rock band Syteria
Female fronted rock band Syteria

"We have Syteria, a female fronted rock band, Caroline Francis and the Lights - Exposed Magazine’s best unsigned artist of 2017 - and Welsh rock band Kane’d, a powerhouse rock band fronted by sisters Steph, Stacey and Chez. We’ve been wanting to bring them back since they played here in 2014. Our local crowd loved them and we can't wait for them and all the other acts to bring the noise.

"Also performing on Sunday is the aptly named Sundance, a Barnsley indie band fronted by Harry Walker, hotly tipped for big things."

Tributes are expected to be paid to Sarah Nulty, the late director of Sheffield's Tramlines Festival, who died last month after a short illness, aged just 36. She had only recently expressed her delighted to be working alongside Sheffield City Council in the development of The Fringe - saying the city centre remained an important part of the weekend, which was a city wide experience.

Tramlines was launched in 2009 with her help, attracting about 35,000 music fans. She was appointed director in 2013.

Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for culture, parks and leisure at Sheffield City Council, of The Fringe at Tramlines: “We’ve developed a brilliant entertainment programme that continues the festival vibe across the city centre and offers something for everyone.

“It will perfectly showcase Sheffield’s vibrant city centre and fantastic local talent, from our buskers, circus performers, young musicians and local bands, to our craft ales, diverse street foods, and independent bars.

“And the Fringe programme is in perfect harmony with Tramlines in its new location. Festival goers can experience our buzzing city centre and locals without tickets can enjoy a great weekend of music, food and entertainment.”

Diane Jarvis, Sheffield BID manager, said: “Tens of thousands of revellers visit Sheffield during Tramlines weekend, and with the festival itself moving to Hillsborough Park, we want to maintain the festival feel in the city centre.

“Thanks to The Fringe at Tramlines Sheffield doesn’t lose that Tramlines atmosphere during the weekend. The city centre will be alive with music and entertainment for all to enjoy for free. The Fringe at Tramlines will give businesses the opportunity to capitalise on the thousands of music fans visiting Sheffield.”

LINKS:

The Fringe at Tramlines web site: www.sheffafter5.com/thefringeattramlines

Facebook event: Keep an eye on #TheFringeAtTramlines for the latest news - CLICK HERE.

Tramlines web site: www.tramlines.org.uk.

THE FRINGE AT TRAMLINES - DEVONSHIRE GREEN LINE UP AND STAGE TIMES

SATURDAY, JULY 21:

Jungle Lion (8.30pm), Mango Rescue Team (7.30pm), Rogue Siesta (6.30pm), Lornah Stewart (6.05pm), Tixxy Bang (5.30pm), INK Dance (5.05pm), Forefathers (4.30pm), Romano Jilo Dancers (4.05pm), Captain Avery and the Cosmic Triceratops of Intergalactic Peace (3.30pm), J.Kas (3.15pm), Vain Dolls (2.50pm), Unscene (2.15pm), Dan Loops (1.35pm), Alfie Wright (1.10pm), Blue Street Brass (12.30pm), Angelina Dance Troupe (12 noon).

SUNDAY, JULY 22:

Syteria (6.05pm), Kane’d (5pm), Fahran (4pm), Chayser (3.15pm), Holly Tandy (2.30pm), Caroline Francess & The Lights (1.45pm), Sundance - acoustic set (1.120pm), Lizzie Goddard (12.35pm), Harriet Rose Grant (12 noon).