Tramlines Festival 2016 Review

Tramlines has established itself as a front runner amongst inner city music festivals by blending local talent with blossoming talent and established acts. The latest edition was no exception with more venues, an improved main stage and bigger headliners such as festival stalwart Dizzee Rascal who kicked things off with a relentless greatest hits set.

Aside from well-known acts the event remains close to its Sheffield roots, featuring (worst kept) secret sets from the likes of High Hazels and Milburn. Another exclusive was the local collaborative known as Sheffield’s Revolver Project who brought the classic Beatles album to life at the O2 Academy by expertly rotating brass and string sections with lead singers. Then there was Caroline Francess in The Folk Forest; a Sheffield singer/songwriter with a carefully crafted, deeply thoughtful repertoire and a grandiose voice.

Saturday saw a chaotic set from George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, largely down to technical difficulties and a glorious grab-bag of genres. Young Fathers then impressed with their engaging trip-hop before R’n’B royalty in headliner Kelis, in a just about excusable leopard print tracksuit. Suffering from a cold her lackluster set still delivered a gratifying medley featuring Milkshake, Bounce and… Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Broken amps and borrowed equipment meant that between songs Hinds looked to be suffering a meltdown but their fun, vibrant garage pop brought a livener to Sunday’s proceedings. Despite entering their third decade Jurassic Five still managed to sound groundbreaking with a flawless set; from beats to scratches, rhymes to political protests. For a restrained, rustic finale to the weekend Gaz Coombes headlined The Leadmill on his tod with a set largely drawn from his solo material. Switching between acoustic to electric guitar and keyboards before ending with a suprise rendition of Caught By The Fuzz. Until next year, Tramlines.

By Omar Solimon