Tramlines Festival returned to Sheffield with a bang this year, bursting with brilliant music and local pride.
Now a firmly established cornerstone of the social calendar, Tramlines has proved itself to be a multi-stage celebration of music sprawled across Hillsborough Park.
This year the festival felt even more local than ever before, with two out of three headliners hailing from the steel city itself.
But it wasn't just about the headliners, each and every act delivered impeccable sets to roaring crowds. Complete with a blazing sun and a cheeky England win, it was definitely a Tramlines to remember.
Day One
Friday kicked off in the most Sheffield way possible - John Cooper Clarke taking to T'Other Stage and delivering an hour long set jam-packed with his charming, witty and hilariously inappropriate poems. Signing off with "I Wanna Be Yours", the iconic poem that inspired the Arctic Monkeys, we were ready to take on the festival.
Image: The Sheff
Hot Chip really got the party started with an electric DJ set, whilst Fat White Family performed to a packed-out Leadmill Stage just before the one we've all been waiting for began their set. That's right, Pulp.
Walking through the grounds it was clear to see the majority of festival-goers were here to see Pulp, with every other punter sporting a piece of their merch. And their set did not disappoint one bit.
From the opening riffs of “Spike Island” to the belting choruses of “Disco 2000” and “Common People”, Jarvis and co. fused their past legacy with a defiant nod to the present. With Richard Hawley invited for the encore and “Sheffield: Sex City” finally getting its live hometown debut, it was the kind of show you'd write home about - if you weren’t too busy screaming the lyrics back.
An iconic Tramlines moment that we won't be forgetting any time soon.
Day Two
Back again to Hillsborough Park, perhaps not so bright eyed and bushy-tailed, but did that stop us? Absolutely not.
Image: The Sheff
Saturday brought another day of unbeatable local energy, Rotherham lads The Reytons headlined the Sarah Nulty Main Stage with swagger that felt both underdog and overdue. Whilst Franz Ferdinand had the field fizzing with guitar drama and singalongs to “Take Me Out”, but not before nostalgic icon Natasha Bedingfield could perform her catalogue of anthems from “These Words” and "Pocket Full of Sunshine" to “Unwritten”. We're going to blame that one on losing our voice.
And if you weren't at The Reytons, then you were most likely at the Rizzle Kicks who are back and boy oh boy aren't we glad they are. The crowd's electric reaction to "Get Down With The Trumpets" got us all asking, why did they ever leave in the first place?
Day Three
Last but definitely not least, Sunday brought a day of proper laughs courtesy of Russel Howard kicking things off at T'Other Stage followed by Irish legend CMAT who had the crowd enamoured by both her flawless singing voice and immaculate stage presence.
Scouting For Girls brought the nostalgia to the main stage closely followed by The Last Dinner Party who underlined their position as one of the best girl groups in the country right now.
And of course, as we were all bopping our heads to this myriad of fantastic music the Women's England squad were playing Spain in the Euro's Final. Just before Kasabian exploded onto the stage, the penalties were played to a sea of adoring fans which can only be described as electric. A perfect way to set up the last act of the night.
Image: The Sheff
Opening with “Club Foot” and closing with “Fire”, Kasabian turned the park into a celebration of national pride which can only be described as something really quite special.
So, Tramlines 2025? A weekend which showcased an incredible array of British music, with an undeniable focus of Sheffield's roots and musical prowess. We'll absolutely take that.
Tramlines 2026 will return from Friday 24 - Sunday 26 July, tickets go on sale this Friday and you can grab yours here.
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Featured image - The Sheff
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Innovative Leeds music venue TESTBED announces launch party lineup
Ever-evolving Leeds music hotspot TESTBED is making its grand return to Leeds city centre with an impressive launch party lineup.
Recognised as a cultural venue for bringing people together via music, TESTBED has hosted a variety of club nights in its warehouse location since 2024.
Back in April, it was announced that the team behind this rave-centric club were transforming this space from it's 'Phase 1.3' to 'Phase 2.0'.
Now, TESTBED has released the full lineup for its upcoming launch party which will show off some of the venue's latest features like its 360-degree DJ booth, improved acoustics and 5,000 sq ft mezzanine and balcony area.
Annie Mac is headlining the TESTBED Leeds launch party joined by Horse Meat Disco / Credit: Press Shots (via supplied)
Previous performers include Liverpool dance music duo Camelphat, house music DJ Alisha, Netherlands-own Chris Stussy and more, so it will come as no surprise that this relaunch features an equally-stellar lineup.
Fronting the bill for the TESTBED Launch Party is none other than EDM connoisseur and influential figure Annie Mac, who's hosted a variety of radio shows across the BBC as well as curating a set or two herself.
Also in attendance is Horse Meat Disco, a group who put disco and queer culture at the forefront of each and every high-energy set.
Irish selector Shee is also showing off his music expertise and already having collaborations with the likes of A-trak and Karma Kid, expect to hear some tunes.
Shee and Junior Simba will be taking to the decks to wow the crowds over at TESTBED Leeds / Credit: Press Shots (via supplied)
Seasoned club DJ and presenter Marcia Carr, known for playing live sets with vinyl records, will also be soundtracking the night too, playing out everything from Afrohouse to dubstep.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Leeds-based party without some local talent courtesy of Junior Simba who's quickly become a key player in the house music scene.
And if that wasn't enough raving for you, TESTBED has already announced even more insane nights of music madness featuring ROSSI., Interplanetary Criminal and Obskür.
TESTBED's opening party is taking place on Saturday 3 October from 2pm til 12am and you can grab tickets from as little as £20 HERE.
Jane McDonald at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
West Yorkshire's very own Jane McDonald is coming to First Direct Arena in Leeds for a hometown show that's set to be spellbinding.
Making her British TV screen debut nearly 30 years ago on The Cruise, before joining the Loose Women panel and going on to present a whole host of travel shows including Cruising with Jane McDonald, now this Wakefield legend returns to First Direct Arena.
This latest tour titled after her 2026 LP Living The Dream, will see Jane singing hits from both past and present including a couple covers too.
Earlier this year, Jane's Mighty Hoopla performance went viral online after she commanded the stage in a red leather jacket, donning a singular rainbow hair extension while belting out RAYE's 'Where Is My Husband!'
Audio North even got the opportunity to interview this legendary lady when she visited her hometown HMV store in Wakefield for an exclusive album signing - Oh look, it's me!
The Wakefield wonder-woman's latest album Living The Dream was released in March and considering the tour is named after this impressive LP, we're sure fans can expect to hear quite a few tracks from this album.
Living The Dream
I'll Not Be Beaten
You Don't Know What You Got
Don't Mind If I Do
The Hand That Leads Me
Ain't Gonna Beg
I Will Always Love You
Islands in the Stream
Jolene
9 to 5
You're My World
Where Is My Husband!
Let the Light In
Cake by the Ocean
Jai Ho!
APT.
Right Where I Belong
How Do I Move On
Beautiful Soul
All By Myself
You Still Lead Me
Of course, Jane also loves to cover a tune or two, and we'll never forget her renditions of 'Cake By The Ocean', 'Jai Ho' or 'APT.'.
What are the stage times for Jane McDonald in Leeds?
The doors for Jane McDonald's Living The Dream Tour in Leeds are set for 6pm with the event set to start at 7.30pm.
First Direct Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you have enough time to dash home and eat 'Cake by the (Sofa)' before ringing in the new day.
How to get to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
Clementine Hall -
30th July 2025 
