Tramlines 2025: This Years Homegrown Talent

The Reytons, image provided by Tramlines

Tramlines doesn't need to sell itself to us anymore than it already has, it is sold-out after all. However, something that we at Sheffield Magazine always look out for each year is the selection of local artists that Tramlines religiously dedicates time to platform. This year of course has standout selections with 2 of the 3 Main Stage headliners hailing from South Yorkshire, away from them though there are plenty of local artists for you to sink your teeth into over the weekend. Here is a rundown of as many as we could find, with social handles and some track selections to help you get some research in before the big kick off!

Friday

Pulp - @welovepulp

When & Where: Sarah Nulty's Main Stage @ 20:30

Track To Get You Started: Common People

Why See Them: Do we really need to introduce this one? One of the biggest bands the Steel City has ever produced and a seminal band of the nineties crafting banger after banger to be enjoyed over and over again by millions of people all over the world. In what has to be the best news of the year, the band also released More, their first album in over 20 years and it is SO GOOD. With a setlist full of standouts including Disco 2000, Common People and Babies among many many more - And according to the schedule, with no other artists clashing with them, Friday evening will be an event you remember for the rest of your life.

Marples - @marples__

When & Where: The Open Arms @ 20:00

Track To Get You Started: First Kiss

Why See Them: A quartet packed with talent and potential, Marples have made waves around the city since their emergence in 2021. Every release has built their skills and confidence exponentially, leading to the most recent succes in 'First Kiss'. Songs packed with shoegazey riffs and vocals that remind you of Paul Heaton in both sound as well as lyrical quality, Marples are the perfect lead-in to Pulp to get you ready to dance the evening away.

Jetski - @jetskitheband

When & Where: The Open Arms @ 16:30

Track To Get You Started: Gardener's Rest

Why See Them: One of the most exciting bands in Sheffield right now, ready and primed to breakthrough in 2025. Offering a heavy dose of northern pop-punk euphoria to all those venturing over to The Open Arms on Friday. Having already played a number of sold-out shows, including one on The Leadmill's Main Stage on the back of their last Tramlines performance. Get your weekend started right, we cannot recommend these guys enough!

I Monster - @imonstermusic

When & Where: T'Other Stage @ 16:00

Track To Get You Started: Daydream In Blue

Why See Them: Dreamy, experimental and innovative, Sheffield duo I Monster find themselves experiencing a new wave of popularity at the moment thanks to the success of their 2001 track 'Who Is She?' becoming a global sensation on the app. It's fantastic to see a new generation of fans discovering the band's talents for transporting yourself to another world with their music. After their first tour in 18 years in 2024, the duo are ready to produce an unforgettable show on T'Other Stage.

Ed Cosens - @edcosens

When & Where: Sarah Nulty's Main Stage @ 14:15

Track To Get You Started: Doghouse

Why See Them: Levelling up from last year's Library Stage, Ed Cosens has made a name for himself as guitarist and songwriter in Reverend And The Makers and also as a former bandmate of Alex Turner and Matt Helders. But now Cosens has found his own voice as a solo artist and the release of his second album, Somewhere Between Dark And Light, has cemented him as an artist here to stay. It is easy to tell that Cosens has lent his talents to some of Sheffield's best bands, but his solo work is distinct, in similar vein to the legend that is Richard Hawley - emotive, cinematic and carefully orchestrated to make the heart swell.

Femur - @femurband_

When & Where: Sarah Nulty's Main Stage @ 13:15

Track To Get You Started: I Don't Like

Why See Them: Femur are a grungy, slightly doom-y four-piece band with a very unique acid punk sound. Their shows are always guaranteed to be high energy, chaotic and very loud! This year they’re taking the festival scene by storm, kicking it off at the iconic Glastonbury Festival, before gracing little old Sheff with their presence at Tramlines. They're part of Pulp's curated lineup to boot, which tells you just how exciting and highly thought of this band is - not one to miss. For a band who "don't like groovy music", they sure do know how to make it.

Saturday

The Reytons - @thereytons

When & Where: Sarah Nulty's Main Stage @ 20:45

Track To Get You Started: On the Back Burner

Why See Them: This quartet need no introduction either around these parts. They have charmed the nation with their three highly successful albums, the second of which (What's Rock and Roll) reaching number one in the UK charts. Their infectious energy, both in the studio and on stage, has drawn comparisons to giants like Arctic Monkeys and the similarities are inescapable at points. It’s indie music with mass appeal, propelled by grassroots support, and if their sold-out hometown gig in Clifton Park this time last year is anything to go by, it's going to go off.

The Rosadocs - @therosadocsuk

When & Where: The Leadmill Stage @ 18:00

Track To Get You Started: At Your Door

Why See Them: This five-piece alt rock band are taking this city by storm and have been doing for a few years now. They have sold out venues up and down the country, including our very own Sheffield City Hall with their brand of indie sensibilities, anthemic choruses and infectious melodies. A future festival headliner for sure, this is poised to be one of the biggest and best shows of their burgeoning careers.

Freddie Halkon - @freddiehalkon

When & Where: The Leadmill Stage @ 16:30

Track To Get You Started: Girl In The Smoking Area

Why See Them: This Doncaster-born youngster has truly burst onto the scene over the last year, going from strength to strength with a speed and quality the belies his years. He's earned fans across the industry, including Saturday's Main Stage headliner The Reytons, who he has supported on tour. With shades of Jamie Webster and Gerry Cinnamon in his early work, Freddie is already being touted as one of the freshest voices in indie music, he's one of those artists that you will want to tell your mates that you saw in the early stages when he inevitably makes his next leap.

KDOT - @kdot0114

When & Where: T'Other Stage @ 16:00

Track To Get You Started: Outside

Why See Them: A piece of Sheffield rap and bassline royalty shifts from last year's Library Stage to this year's T'Other Stage. With releases dating back to 2016, K Dot has shown consistent innovation which has gained him recognition on a national scale, even performing a bespoke feature for the BBC's coverage of the World Snooker Championship Final in previous years. A remarkable artist and inspiration for any up and coming rapper from the city, K Dot promises a huge party.

Everly Pregnant Brothers - @evpregbros

When & Where: The Sarah Nulty Main Stage @ 13:15

Track To Get You Started: Hendo’s 

Why See Them: Cult favourites across the city and one of Tramlines' most popular regulars, in a Saturday slot that they have made their own. This year marks their second appearance at the festival after the departure of beloved singer Shaun Doane after 14 years. Replacement Kieran Wardle is more than capable of filling those boots though as proved by their performance at last year's festival. Producing parody songs of the highest order for nearly a decade, their Tramlines sets are a must-see every year.

The Denabys - @thedenabys

When & Where: The Leadmill Stage @ 12:50

Track To Get You Started: Geronimo

Why See Them: It may be early for heavy riffs and energetic performances, but there is no person at a Denabys' show show that can resist the jolt of excitement this band brings. Every performance is electrifying, every riff sets the pulse racing. They're raw, authentic and undeniable and have already learnt from some of the best local acts on the lineup across the weekend in support slots for The Reytons and The Sherlocks. 2025 is set to be the first of many big years for this four-piece.

The Leadmill Studio Orchestra - @theleadmill

When & Where: The Sarah Nulty Main Stage @ 12:15

Why See Them: A project ran in collaboration with Waterbear, Sheffield Music School and their 'Tracks' project, with support from Tramlines Community Trust and various other benefactors. With the expertise of composer George Morton, this year's version is proud to feature the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra who are celebrating their 80th Anniversary. The project will see a return for Sheff Mag favourite Alice Ede as one of the budding musicians being supported by the project crafting beautiful arrangements to their own original songs.

Daisy Peacock - @daisypmusic

When & Where: The Leadmill Stage @ 12:10

Track To Get You Started: Valentine's Day

Why See Them: Indie pop goodness from another rising popstar from the Steel City. While Sheffield may be best known for it's indie guitar bands, there is a super exciting crop of young popstars in the making ready to take Sheffield's music heritage in a new direction, and Daisy may be one of the leading lights of this. With a sound and vibe that already makes the listener think of global megastars like Taylor Swift and knack for crafting some of the most-relatable-yet-catchy pop hooks we've heard in ages, Daisy Peacock is only just getting started.

Sunday

The Sherlocks - @thesherlocks

When & Where: Sarah Nulty's Main Stage @ 14:45

Track To Get You Started: Turn The Clocks

Why See Them: On the back of their biggest show to date at Don Valley Bowl last Summer, The Sherlocks are taking it one step further this year with a mid-afternoon slot on Sarah Nulty's Main Stage. Bound to be a special moment for the band, who are made up of Sheffield Wednesday fans, their infectious melodies have won fans up and down the country and have drawn comparisons to some of the biggest and best bands in the country like The Courteeners. A band tailor-made for this stage and a set that will be on a lot of people's radars.

Hannah Rowe - @hannahr0we

When & Where: T'Other Stage @ 14:45

Track To Get You Started: Bellevue

Why See Them: Hannah Rowe is an incredibly talented musician with an even more incredible voice to boot. A student of the renowned Leeds Conservatoire, the Barnsley-based songwriter's music is soulful, rich and gripping thanks to her talent and the backing of a diverse band that count among her best friends. That chemistry is palpable in their music and their presence on stage, their performance is one to catch for sure after debuting last year as the overall Apply To Play winners of 2024.

Sundress - @wearesundress

When & Where: Sarah Nulty's Main Stage @ 12:30

Track To Get You Started: Meet Me In Montauk

Why See Them: You know that band that you discover with their first single release and fall in love with so you scour their socials and soundcloud for any hint of more music, or listen to their 'Spotify Radio' just try and scratch the itch that their sound left, but nothing quite works like the real thing? Yeah, that's Sundress at the moment. A band truly worth getting down early for, on a stage that they will most likely be much further up the bill on in coming years, Sundress capture a feeling and sound with their music that feels both classic and fresh, relaxing and exhilarating. This is one set we cannot wait for.

April Tapes - @april_tapes

When & Where: The Leadmill Stage @ 12:10

Track To Get You Started: Reyt Fast

Why See Them: Pushing the boundaries here a little bit with April Tapes being from both Chesterfield and Sheffield, but any bands releasing songs with 'Reyt' and 'Int' in their titles is a full Sheffielder in our eyes, and they more than deserve a mention here. With a total DIY approach and all the charm and rawness that comes with that, April Tapes' ferocious brand of indie rock is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who get down to The Leadmill Stage early.

Elsewhere over the Festival

Pattern and Push Saturday Showcase - @patternandpush

Pattern and Push returns to Tramlines for their customer Saturday afternoon showcase. Sheffield’s own Big Ang (@bingangmusicofficialuk), queen of bassline, headlines The Open Arms on Saturday as part of the takeover. bringing a set that nods to her Niche roots and Top 40 success. She’s joined by a standout line-up including Prido (@northsideprido), Kaesu & Alex FB (@kaesu.u and @a1ex.fb), Leo Miyagee (@leomiyagee), Nørskov (@norskovmusic1), Lavelle (@lavelleofficial), Josie Wray (@josie_wraymusic), Namywa (@namywamusic), Kali (@originalkalimusic), DJ Kyla C (@djkyla_c), Surtees (@surtees_13) and Kid Blu3 (@kid_blu3e), with the whole stage hosted by JXK (@northernbwoy_).

Speakers with Slambarz - @slambarzlive:

Slambarz are back for another year at Tramlines taking over Speakers Corner across the weekend. The premier platform for Sheffield and South Yorkshire's underground and up and coming talent in rap, RnB, Grime, hip hop, trap and anything between, looks set for yet another stellar program. Friday's lineup features DJ Law (@lawmusiq), DJ Dylor (@djdylor), KIE 5 (@_kie_5), MitchelXOnly 1 (@mitchelxonly1), KO (@kowentrogue), RF (@arz.upnorth), Tinxshe (@tinxshe_1) and Justjase (@justjaseofficial).

On Saturday you can also catch CNC, a GSD (@gsdhub) takeover, with Kid Blu3 (@kid_blu3e), Keyz.TenTen (@keyz.tenten), NBPosted (@nbposted) and AJE (@ajsbars_) making up a Slambarz showcase.

Finally, on Sunday, Fuego (@officialfuegouk), Indii (@indii.mp3), Lex Fym (@lex.fym), Geeraii (@geeraii444), Tlarnaa (@t.larnaa), Kayess (@kayess_music), Lottie Dawe (@lottiedawee), Dynamic Dance (@dynamic.dance.cic) and DJ Kyla C (@djkyla_c) have the honour of closing 2025's Speakers with Slambarz. Each set only spans 10 minutes so if you have some time to kill in the afternoon, Slambarz always puts on an epic show.

As mentioned, Tramlines 2025 is fully sold out, with very limited resale tickets available through the festival's partnership with Tixel - more details can be found here. Hopefully after reading this, you've added a few of the local talents to your plan for the weekend that you hadn't considered, and we'll see you there.