More about: TramlinesFemurTramlines Fringe

Long before Tramlines was bought by businessmen and swiftly moved out of town, there existed a beautiful haven of free music for all! Taking over the city centre and packing every bar, venue and pub with a lineup of local talent, luckily Tramlines Fringe has popped up to fill the accessible gap. Still filling the town with tunes and providing a platform to spotlight DIY talent and some of Sheffield’s favourite homegrown acts, head to the Fringe if you want that festival feel without the bucket hat brigade. 

Split all across town, we did the heavy lifting of gathering up all the lineups for a lowdown of acts to not miss. If you’re in the mood to go hunting for some ones to watch, here’s our guide of acts to not miss at Tramline Fringe 2022.

Kalter

Maintaining the industrial sound of the steel city, Kalter are representing the dirty post-punk, strange techno roots in town. Plugged into the legacy of Cabaret Voltaire and early Pulp, the fresh sound is full of nostalgia for the old Sheffield. Building huge, woozy sounds from a guitar and a desk full of synths and tech, Kalter are one to catch if you want to extend your festival days into weird nights. 

Friday - 8pm, Delicious Clam

Femur

True darlings of the Sheffield scene, it wouldn’t be tramlines without a Femur set, or three. The psyche troupe have been making the rounds for years, but have recently stepped it all up a notch. Announcing their debut album and straying way beyond South Yorkshire to take their latest singles national, it seems like the band are speeding ahead suddenly, making 2022 their year. Merging sounds of psychedelica, punk, western and sleazy lounge rock, there’s a bit of everything all being mixed up in their audio chaos. Always providing an experience with guitars flying around, drums thrashing and the band throwing themselves into the crowd - that's the true spirit of a fringe festival, and Femur always feel like the masters of the ceremony. 

Friday - 9:30pm, Sidney & Matilda
Saturday - 11pm, Shakespeares
Sunday - 10:20pm, West Street Live

I Set The Sea On Fire

Another staple on the scene, you can feel the collective excitement that I Set The Sea On Fire are back after a lengthy hiatus. A kitchen-sink five piece that includes flutes and trumpets alongside the typical guitars, when it all kicks in, the sound is huge. Their 2016 album Sleep Now Suburbia remains one of my favourite releases to come out of Sheffield in recent memory and whatever is to come next feels set to be just as fresh. 

Saturday - 6pm, Shakespeares

Teah Lewis

Sheffield’s resident folky angel, Teah Lewis is the perfect set to catch to ease you out of Saturday nights hangover and into a calmer sunday. Not only is Teah a fierce supporter of sheffield talent, always striving to highlight her peers, but her sound cuts out a path that is so needed in the indie-band-heavy landscape. With storytelling lyricism that latches onto the long lineage of artists like Joni Mitchell and Carole King, it’s refreshing to hear something so tender on the line up. Playing both the official Tramlines over in Hillsborough and the fringe, Teah has her fingers in both pies and her feet striding towards big things.

Sunday - 1pm, Dev Green

Shelley Byron

From Teah to her recent collaborators Shelley Byron, their track ‘Isobel (Just Start A Band)’ has been on repeat lately. Once again adding something fresh to the still undeniably boys-in-bands dominated scene, Shelley Byron are bringing some intellect to the table. With a name stolen from traditional romantic poets and lyricism that could give them a run for their money, they’re a must-see for something a big mellower. Somewhere between Wet Leg, ALVVAYS and Arlo Parks, it’s sweet, silly and twanging with uniqueness. 

Saturday - 7:10pm, Gatsby

Django Jones & The Mystery Men

You can find no evidence of their music online, but Django Jones & The Mystery Men can still draw a crowd. Recently returning from a hiatus, their reputation as an intense, must-see live act on the scene has stuck around to greet them. Playing seven shows over the weekend - surely that has to be a new record. But with a fresh lineup rejig, a new vibe and new songs to unleash, get yourself along to one of them. 

Friday - 6:30pm, Crystal
Friday - 9pm, Firepit Rocks
Saturday - 12pm, Network
Saturday - 5pm, The Globe
Saturday - 9pm, The Harley
Sunday - 8:45pm, Bungalows and Bears

Rosey PM

With the energy of a friendly get together or a stand up show, a RoseyPM gig is a guaranteed good time. Writing songs about snails, hanging out with your pals and the decision of whether to shave your body hair off - the introspection is all wrapped up in a catchy little package. Despite only being a one-woman-show, Rosey’s showmanship could have even the biggest venues wrapped around her finger. With all the energy of free-flowing improvisation but the comedic timing of a well rehearsed spectacle, it’s something so different and so special and should be so high up on your to-see list.

Thursday - 8pm, Delicious Clam
Friday - 7:45pm, Alder Bar
Saturday - 9:30pm, Bungalows & Bears

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More about: TramlinesFemurTramlines Fringe