Tramlines Is The AGCS Festival Of The Year

This year I was able to go to some truly great gigs, with particular highlights including Sufjan Stevens, Los Campesinos!, Johnny Foreigner, Peter, Bjorn & John, The Kabeedies, Metronomy and loads more I’m sure I’ve forgotten. But while I saw lots of great shows in 2011, on the whole I was disappointed by the festivals I went to this year. In fact Reading’s line-up was so poor (and prices so high) that after five straight years I decided not to go, while the soulless Wireless and Get Loaded festivals were lackluster affairs with poor sound and a complete lack of atmosphere. Even the normally reliable Latitude Festival suffered from an uninspired music programme, and with prices getting close to £200 it’s getting harder to justify going for only 5 or 6 bands.

Luckily my summer wasn’t a complete washout, as this year Tramlines festival grew into much more than just a festival for Sheffield, but a national event to compete with the likes of the above and win hands down. The festival was recently named Best Metropolitan Festival at the UK Festival Awards, beating The Great Escape, The Camden Crawl and Dot To Dot, and it’s easy to see why. In 2010, Tramlines was a fun weekend with a few good bands; in 2011, it had the best line-up of the summer.

Now I know some of you may look at this years line-up and say I’m talking shit. And sure, if you wanted The Strokes or Kasabian, Tramlines wasn’t for you. But if you were up for seeing Dananananaykroyd, Three Trapped Tigers, Copy Haho, Ash, Tellison, Hot Club De Paris, Screaming Maldini, Trophy Wife, Heaven 17, Los Campesinos!, Nedry, Brontide, Johnny Foreigner, Dutch Uncles, The Futureheads, Hey Sholay, Islet, Racehorses, Likes Lions, Tall Ships, Blood Sport, Spector, Young Legionnaire, The Chapman Family, and many more I can’t remember seeing or wasn’t able to see as there was so much on, then this was the festival for you. And I don’t think I even mentioned the good bit: It’s FREE. Over 70 venues, more than 600 bands, and all of it FREE.

But the best thing about Tramlines has to be the atmosphere. Over the weekend of the festival, which this year had 175,000 attendees, crime rates are actually lower than normal, and it’s certainly got the most laid back and friendly feel of any festival I’ve been to. So what am I saying? Basically, Tramlines is the full package; a great line-up, brilliant atmosphere and it isn’t going to break the bank. For all those reasons AGCS is pleased to name Tramlines our festival of the year.

Jed. x