Ah Tramlines, good old Tramlines, our third year with the festival, and what a festival it has become. In past years we’ve thrown parties at The Great Gatsby, The Redhouse, DQ and The West End. This year we’re very happily taking on two venues who were absolutely integral to the very creation of the festival in the first place – The Bowery and The Harley.
In true Tramlines fashion we’ve attempted to encapsulate a wide variety of acts and genres within our line up; some are familiar faces at Cool Beans events, some have never even set foot in the city, some have even shamed themselves at past Cool Beans events by insulting all crowd and staff in the venue. A mixed bag I’m sure you’ll agree. And if you don’t agree we BANISH you from STEPPING FOOT on this PLANET.
Now, some of the details on the Tramlines website and in the Tramlines programme aren’t correct. You have 500 acts to deal with, sometimes things can get confusing. Big shout out to Alex Deadman who I believe was in charge of sitting at a desk sweating away and programming all the info.
So if you’re out and about and on the piss and can’t remember what’s cracking off, whip out your smart phone and check out this Mega Blog of Dreams & Desires. Exact times and listings are below, although as often with these things, we may be running late some times. LIVE BANDS IN CAPS, DJs in small.
THE LEADMILL – THURSDAY NIGHT – FREE ENTRY
22:00 – 23:00 – Arnivore & Jimmy The Gent (Cool Beans)
23:00 – 12:00 – GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB
12:00 – 02:00 – Arnivore & Jimmy The Gent (Cool Beans)
THE BOWERY – FRIDAY NIGHT – FREE ENTRY
18:00 – 19:00 – Andy Enchilada (Cool Beans)
19:00 – 19:30 – THE MEGA SQUAD
19:30 – 19:50 – Soulful Sally (Social Bean)
19:50 – 20:20 – JOHNNY KOWALKSI & THE SEXY WEIRDOS
20:20 – 20:40 – Soulful Sally (Social Bean)
20:40 – 21:10 – COUNTING COINS
21:10 – 21:30 – Powlo (Thirsty Ear)
21:30 – 22:20 – THE SOUL CIRCLE GANG
22:20 – 22:40 – Powlo (Thirsty Ear)
22:40 – 23:30 – SMILING IVY
23:30 – 23:50 – Arnivore (Cool Beans)
23:50 – 01:00 – NEW TOWN KINGS
01:00 – 02:00 – Arnivore & Enchilada (Cool Beans)
THE HARLEY – SATURDAY – 12:30 – FREE BEFORE 6PM
12:30 – 13:30 – The Meekatron (Hotsteppin’)
13:30 – 14:00 – THE GRAND OLD UKES OF YORKSHIRE
14:00 – 14:20 – Donnellanium (Cool Beans)
14:20 – 14:50 – CLIFF RESCUE & THE HELICOPTERS
14:50 – 15:10 – Banana Hill DJs
15:10 – 15:40 – INVASION OF THE DEADBEATS
15:40 – 16:00 – Banana Hill DJs
16:00 – 16:30 – 50 SNIFFS
16:30 – 16:50 – Swannick The Hedgehog (Puzzled)
16:50 – 17:20 – FEEL GOOD CULTURE
17:20 – 17:40 – Mr. Stu (Clothes Line)
17:40 – 18:10 – THE MOTHER FOLKERS
18:10 – 18:30 – Mr. Stu (Clothes Line)
18:30 – 19:00 – THE TALKS
19:00 – 19:20 – Mr. Stu (Clothes Line)
19:20 – 20:00 – HEKIMA & THE BONGO FLAVA
20:00 – 20:20 – Jimmy The Gent (Cool Beans)
20:20 – 21:00 – PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
21:00 – 21:20 – Jimmy The Gent (Cool Beans)
21:20 – 22:00 – MISTY’S BIG ADVENTURE
22:00 – 22:20 – Ocelus (Happy Slap)
22:20 – 23:00 – JERAMIAH FERRARI
11:00 – 11:15 – Jenova Collective
11:15 – 11:45 – THE LEGITIMATE GENTLEMEN
11:45 – 12:30 – Jenova Collective
12:30 – 01:15 – Ocelus
01:15 – 02:45 – Mr. Benn
02:45 – 03:30 – Andy H
03:30 – 04:00 – Arnivore
Well that’s all fine and dandy you say but who the hell are these acts? Well….
THE LEADMILL – THURSDAY NIGHT – FREE ENTRY
GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB
Big reggae bass machine, Gentleman’s Dub Club are no doubt going to bring the house down on the launch event!
www.gentlemansdubclub.com
ARNIVORE & JIMMY THE GENT
Starting off with reggae but taking you on a musical journey like no other, we have the very proud honour of officially opening up Tramlines weekend. Playing on a 4 deck, 2 mixer, 2 microphone set-up, things could get wild!
www.soundcloud.com/arnivore
www.soundcloud.com/thegentjimmy
THE BOWERY – FRIDAY NIGHT – FREE ENTRY
NEW TOWN KINGS
Ska/reggae 9 piece spectacular who are fresh from touring all over the UK and Europe, their energetic sound serving time at Boomtown Fair, Secret Garden Party & One Love and on tours with Reel Big Fish, The Slackers & Congo Natty.
www.newtownkings.com
SMILING IVY
Smiling Ivy are an explosive and outspoken band from Sheffield that perform an energetic fusion of ska, dub-reggae, punk and hip-hop. Supported the likes of Dub Pistols, Frank Turner and even Frankie Boyle.
www.smilingivy.co.uk
THE SOUL CIRCLE GANG
A fresh and innovative Leeds-based bandmade up of eight experienced musicians who weave elements of funk, soul, reggae, world and jazz into unique & exciting new sounds.
www.thesoulcirclegang.co.uk
COUNTING COINS
Get ready to skank, pogo, mosh, jig, polka and maybe even waltz – the Counting Coins sound refuses to stay still, switching from ska/punk to gypsy to hip hop and back again several times in the same song.
www.facebook.com/CountingCoins
JOHNNY KOWALSKI & THE SEXY WEIRDOS
This band of mismatched personalities react like magnesium with water to deliver incendiary performances which get any crowd dancing. Influences include folk, balkan and good old crusty punk.
www.sexyweirdos.co.uk
THE MEGA SQUAD
The Mega Squad are a live instrumentation hip hop outfit, ready to rock at a moment’s notice. Their plan: a) open up the festival b) party hard.
www.facebook.com/TheMegaSquad
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 track=1373233606 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]
+ DJs from Cool Beans, Thirsty Ear, Social Bean and The Bowery
THE HARLEY – SATURDAY – 12:30 – FREE BEFORE 6PM
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
J. Willgoose, Esq. and Wrigglesworth sample old public information films/archive material and set them to a new soundtrack – teaching the lessons of the past through the music of the future.
www.publicservicebroadcasting.net
JERAMIAH FERRARI
Fresh-faced Manchester-based roots/reggae/rock/punk/ska/calypso band who relentless tour the UK, including recent performaces at the M.E.N Arena and Club Koko.
www.jeramiahferrari.com
MISTY’S BIG ADVENTURE
Misty’s Big Adventure are an 8 piece pop, jazz, psychedelia, ska, folk, lounge and beats band from Birmingham led by Grandmaster Gareth, who John Peel once pronounced “The New God”.
www.facebook.com/mistysbigadventure
MR. BENN
Bristol-based DJ/producer Mr Benn plays an unmistakable blend of skanking reggae grooves married with the chunkiest of hip hop beats making for dancefloor chaos whenever he’s behind the decks.
www.soundcloud.com/mr-benn
HEKIMA & THE BONGO FLAVA
Hull-based outfit playing a distinctively African style of music that combines bluesy acoustic guitar, reggae rhythms, and plenty of afro-percussion – including that famous bongo flava.
www.facebook.com/thebongoflava
ANDY H
Technically the best DJ in Sheffield, hands down. Andy H’s residency at Tuesday Club has seen him play alongisde some of the finest in business and blow them all away!
www.djandyh.co.uk
THE TALKS
Dub/ska rockers hailing from Yorkshire, regulary hitting up festivals all over UK and mainland Europe as well as supporting the likes The Specials, Rancid, The Beat & The King Blues.
www.thetalks.co.uk
THE MOTHER FOLKERS
The Mother Folkers are a 6-piece alternative folk and country band from Sheffield. Their electro spin on tradition has influences ranging from reels and hornpipes to blues and hip hop.
www.facebook.com/themotherfolkers
THE LEGITIMATE GENTLEMEN
Live electro-swing duo (Fat Eddie & Slimg Chris) who incorporate sax, banjo, a double bass and turntables. Fresh from touring the UK, their set includes originals and cleverly-worked remixes.
www.soundcloud.com/legitimategentlemen
FEELGOOD CULTURE
Young and energetic reggae/ska band from West London, after recently gaining a lot of attention with packed out London shows Tramlines Festival will mark their Sheffield debut.
www.facebook.com/FeelGoodCultureOfficial
50 SNIFFS
Hip hop troupe from Boston, UK. After taking a few years out to embrace his alcohol addiction, Sniffs is back with a bunch of brand new jams, including B.S.T.N (loads of hits on YouTube).
www.facebook.com/50Sniffs
INVASION OF THE DEADBEATS
Rockabilly, garage, blues, psyche and rock’n’roll all rolled up into one and smashed together by a tight-knit band of brothers. Harmonica solos are very present.
www.facebook.com/InvasionOfTheDeadbeats
OCELUS
A veritable dancefloor destroyer whose time performing at festivals across the country has lead to a diverse musical selection and a keen ear for mashing up everything he comes across.
www.soundcloud.com/ocelus
THE GRAND OLD UKES OF YORKSHIRE
Think of the 90’s, Take That, B*Witched, TLC, etc. Now think of a ukulele. Now put the two together. You’ve got yourselves The Grand Old Ukes Of Yorkshire.
www.grandoldukesofyorkshire.co.uk
JENOVA COLLECTIVE
DJ/producer team from Leeds who play a mashup of swing, latin, disco, ghetto funk and beyond. You can find them hitting up a bunch of UK cities in the summer, including their Tramlines debut.
www.soundcloud.com/thejenovacollective
CLIFF RESCUE & THE HELICOPTERS
Five lads donned in Hawaiian gear playing all your favourite surf-rock hits. Expect renditions of the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, The Shadows and maybe even the Hawaii 5-O theme tune.
+ DJs from Banana Hill, Clothes Line, Puzzled, Cool Beans & Hotsteppin’
What about our infamous Sunday Party on the Patio sesh at the West End? Well things just ain’t been the same there since Big Stu and Big Al left. Plus we’re all off to Cockrock Festival on the Sunday to get naked and frolic in the Lake District. And frolic we shall.
Either way, it’s going to be a sweaty, emotional weekend for a lot of people out there. Stay safe and have fun!
Cool Beans. Xx