Sheffield blog

Music in the sun (hopefully)

There’s a full post about this event over on counterfeitmag.co.uk so I won’t repeat it all here, but this looks like a good bet for a fun, free way to spend bank holiday Monday.

Billed as a post-Tramlines pick-me-up, this afternoon of music in Weston park features a line-up including Sarah Mac, Ian Brit, the Cartels, Orange 38, the Tivoli, Driftrun and Lords of flatbush.

The forecast says that the best of the weekend sun is going to be on Monday and you are invited to bring along your own picnic or barbecue.

Weston party, 30 August 2010

Sheffield’s urban music festival returns for a second year

So once again the hordes descended on the city centre for the second year of the Tramlines festival. This time it was much bigger than 2009, with an estimated 125,000 people creating an amazing atmosphere around town.

Following feedback from last year, there were some changes for 2010. The problematic ticketing system for the main stage was scrapped in favour of a one-in, one-out policy. This meant that there was queuing down Devonshire street, particularly on the Saturday, but on the whole I think it worked much better and led to the main arena being much fuller for more of the day.

The capacity for Devonshire green was increased to around 8,000, with a bigger area fenced off.  This meant that the spontaneous barbecues and gatherings that took place along the Rare’n'racy stretch of Devonshire street didn’t occur, which was a shame. Most of the businesses along there were inside the enclosure. I understand that the intention was for there to be public access to it via the side gates, but this didn’t seem to happen.

It was good that you were allowed to drink anywhere inside the main stage area, Food wise, I think there is room for more outlets offering a bigger variety of cuisine than we saw this year.

If you wanted to see a particular band then you needed to get there early, allowing time to queue to get in the different venues. Some people seemed annoyed at this but as it is a free festival, I don’t think that much can be done about it. I found that when one band finished playing there was the opportunity to move inside and get a good spot for the next one.

It was possible to avoid the queues if you chose your venues carefully. Drifting between the new music stage in Barker’s pool and also the world stage in the Peace gardens was easy. And I had no problem walking straight in to the Leadmill, Frog and parrot and Soyo at various times over the weekend.

If you didn’t go on the Busker line bus, then you missed out. As well as a practical means of getting around, it became a venue in itself. I overheard one old couple sat behind me on there discussing whether they should go round again. It sounds like they had been on it a while.

The organisers have said they’d like to make Tramlines even bigger if it returns in 2011. It will be interesting to see how they go about this. I can’t see how the main stage can increase its capacity, although they could also open it on the Friday night.

I also get the feeling that there is a limit on the size of the headliner that Tramlines can accommodate on Devonshire green. Echo and the bunnymen was a perfect fit: an established band that appeals to different generations and has at least a few songs that most people will recognise. If the main band was were really big then although that in some ways would be brilliant, it would also bring with it a whole new level of logistical and security issues.

There isn’t another obvious city centre location for a bigger stage than Devonshire green. They could look to using the Don valley bowl, but part of the appeal of the festival is its compactness and the atmosphere that is generated in town because of this.

Also, at the moment I don’t think Tramlines is just about getting big names to play. Although having very well known bands playing where you know the songs is great, the festival is as much for me about soaking up the atmosphere around town, checking out some new music and supporting local artists and businesses at the same time.

The organisers have acknowledged that some elements of this year’s festival could have been run better and are still looking for feedback (they have over 500 points on the list already). You can get in touch via Facebook.

And if you want to increase the chances of Tramlines happening again next year, they have also set up a voluntary donation scheme.

All in all it was another great weekend, I think the most exciting of the year to be hanging out in the city centre.

Flickr photos

• arepeejee Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• dansumption
• robinbyles
• Starquake
• Subterranean Tourist Board

Tramlines TV videos

Your post-Tramlines hangover cure

If you’re pining for more live music in town then why not check out Busk Sheffield on Saturday:

On the 31st of July Devonshire Green and other surrounding locations will see Sheffield’s best musicians and performers come together in a fantastic busking event in support of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter.

This event will tread new ground in city entertainment, with Devonshire Green hosting a mass busking event as musicians take… up their unamplified instruments and play for money from the giving public. There will even be a Free-Busk space where any old joe can come and pick up a guitar and play for their pennies. This is blended with live entertainers and non-profit food and charity stalls.

Bush Sheffield Facebook event

@busksheffield on Twitter

Music festival kicks off in style

Town was really packed last night with the opening night of Tramlines and I’m sure tonight will be even busier.

Most of the venues were at capacity, with people queuing outside. So if there is a band you really want to see then get there in plenty of time and allow for a bit of a wait to get inside.

Have fun!

Tramlines 2010 information

New this month

Here are this month’s additions to the list of Sheffield people and organisations of interest on Twitter – nearly 80 accounts are listed below. The full directory can be found on the Sheffield Twitter users page.

We’re now into our second Twitter list of people and organisations in Sheffield in Twitter. There is also the first Sheffield Twitter list, which contains the first 500 accounts.

Photo Sheffield – Sheffield photography community
@photosheffield

Made by jonty – Sharrow vale road cafe
@Madebyjonty

Beanies – retailer of all things good and wholesome
@beaniessheff

Rony Robinson – BBC Radio Sheffield presenter
@Rony37

CHEFFIELD – food festival
@CHEFFIELDfest

Brendan Moffat, Director of strategic marketing at Creative Sheffield
@mofster

La squadra cycle squad
@LaSquadraTeam

Sean Bloodworth photographer
@BloodworthPhoto

Mixed in Sheffield
@MIXEDINSHEFIELD

Simon Leake – Police inspector for Burngreave, Firth park and Shiregreen
@KPInspector

Tramlines music festival
@tramlines

Martyn Ware – Heaven 17
@martynware

Designed in Sheffield
@DesigninSheff

Busk Sheffield fundraising event on 31 July 2010
@BuskSheffield

Sheffield open doors – young people’s outreach health service
@shefopendoors

The riverside bar
@Riverside_Live

Your nuts health stores
@yournuts

Aalto moderna – Oakbrook road antique shop
@Aaltomoderna

Love Sheffield blog
@love_sheffield

The hair band – Eccy road hair salon
@thehairband

Statement images – photojournalist collective
@statementimages

PCL air technology
@PCLairtech

Shef flex – podcast
@Shef_flex

New start design – Social enterprise specialising in design and ethically sourced print
@NewStart_Design

Barkers furniture
@Barkers__

Group on – stuff to do in Sheffield
@GrouponShfield

Output records
@outputrecords

World goal ball championships (at Ponds forge in June 2010)
@worldgoalball

Golf lesson search
@LessonSearch

Carney academy arts school at the Lantern theatre
@carneyacademy

Charity unleashed Sheffield
@unleashed_0114

Nest online design store
@nest_co_uk

Neil Smith personal trainer
@ptsolution

Rebecca Wainwright designer and dressmaker
@rebecca_designs

Sheffield university student’s union building news
@shefunionbuild

Green news
@Greenasaspnews

Grievous angel producer and DJ
@grievousangeluk

Space cabaret club night
@SpaceCabaret

Silent Sheffield
@SilentShe

Tie machine – writer
@Tiemachine

Timberplay play equipment
@TimberplayLtd

Street food chef Mexican street food
@streetfoodchef

Chrysalis photography
@ChrysalisPhoto

Sheffield wire – automated newspaper-style Sheffield news service
@SheffieldWire

Cross scythes Totley pub
@CrossScythesS17

Screaming maldini – band
@kookaburrasings

Infinite training
@Infinite_Trng

Sorby house office accommodation
@SorbyHouse

Opportunity Sheffield – supporting Sheffield’s employers
@OpportunityShef

World development movement Sheffield
@WDMSheffield

Ponsford furniture
@Ponsford

Glue creative
@gluecreative

Beauty business news
@BeautyBizNews

Tuxtel telephone, ISPs, hosting
@tuxtel

Feedback – Corporation club night
@FEEDBACKDNB

Funding4Sport
@Funding4Sport

Webber klein agency
@WebberKlein

The stitch factory
@stitchfactory

MADE entrepreneurs festival
@MADEfestival

Dale Smith – a woman with Asperger syndrome updating you with news, events information for people on the autism spectrum to participate in Sheffield and the UK
@Ms_cellany

Science cafe at the Showroom
@SciCafe

The strange things – band
@StrangeThings1

Shaun Galleon – Everly pregnant brothers singer
@BigShaunGalleon

Clare MacKenzie – freelance journalist
@ClareMacKenzie

Buzzy work – beekeeping services arm of the Sheffield honey company
@Buzzy_Work

Sheffield university big band
@SUBB_Sheffield

The student magazine
@thestudentmag

New channels digital TV specialist
@NewChannelsLtd

Leftfield podcast
@LeftfieldShef

ShefiGEM
@ShefiGEM

Activity Sheffield council activity initiative
@ActivitySheff

South Yorkshire funding advice bureau
@syfab

Everly pregnant brothers – another account for the ukelele group featuring @PeteMcKee and @TobyFoster
@everlypregnant

17 Broomgrove – development in S10
@17broomgrove

The bakery store – independent clothing store
@bakerystore

Trak robotic eye in Access space
@trakrobot

Benjamin Harris – DJ
@muskmanbenji

Theo Simpson – photographer
@sheffield_fans

If you want to be listed on it then follow @sheffieldblog, get in touch or comment below.

23-25 July 2010

Our biggest musical weekend of the year, Sheffield music city, will soon be upon us. And the main part of that weekend will once again be the Tramlines festival.

Last year’s Tramlines was really good. The atmosphere around town was pretty special and even if you aren’t a music fan, it is worth popping down the the city centre over the weekend just to get a feel for what is going on.

As well as the big acts on the main stage, there are lots of smaller events happening at venues all over the city. The great thing is that it is a free festival and you do not need tickets for  events. You may have to queue up to get in to some venues or areas, but I think the plan is to have a one-in-one-out policy this year.

There have been various announcements regarding the line-up, and apparently there will be more news about who is playing on Monday.

For now, I’ve listed some of the information sources for the latest festival information:

www.tramlines.org.uk
Tramlines website. Should include full listings

www.facebook.com/Tramlines
Facebook page for Tramlines festival

twitter.com/tramlines
Twitter feed for main Tramlines festival

www.hallamfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=1812447
Hallam FM Tramlines page. Hallam FM is helping organise acts for the main stage

http://twitter.com/hallamfm
Hallam FM Twitter account

www.myspace.com/tramlines
Tramlines MySpace page

www.last.fm/user/tramlines
Tramlines Last.fm page

www.youtube.com/tramlinesfestival
Tramlines YouTube channel

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=83262808158
Sheffield music city Facebook group – doesn’t seem to be updated much though

www.eventsheffield.co.uk
Sheffield music city/Tramlines listing on Event Sheffield website

Anyone know if they are producing a paper brochure/programme this year?

A reminder of last year’s festival:

How many will we see in Sheffield this year?

The first Sheffield music city/Tramlines festival was a generally seen as a big success and last month’s announcement regarding both the scale and line up for the 2010 festival hint that this year’s could be even better.

However, Tramlines is not the only music festival happening in Sheffield in 2010. As well as the Sensoria event in the spring, meetings and discussions have been taking place since early in the year about an alternative music festival, organised by and for Sheffield people.

It seems that this alternative festival could be run as a not-for-profit venture where any money made would be put into some sort of Sheffield music trust. Discussions on the Facebook group that was set up have also included debate about whether it should be a completely independent event or form part of a Tramlines fringe festival. After a burst of activity, the group has gone a bit quiet in the last couple of months.

As well as the talk of this independent festival, last October the Sheffield Telegraph reported that talks were being held with a national promoter with a view to running a weekend festival at a location on the edge of the city. This would be a complementary festival to the Tramlines event.

If this was going ahead I’m guessing we would have heard more about it by now.

Can anyone shed any light on whether an alternative festival is still in the offing for 2010 and also what came of the discussions regarding the other big festival?

Twitter latest

Here are this month’s additions to the list of Sheffield people and organisations of interest on  Twitter. The full directory can be found on the Sheffield Twitter users page.

There is also a Twitter list of people and organisations in Sheffield in Twitter.

Sheffield words – retweeting your words for Sheffield to support the culture bid
@shefwords

Eve Wood – director of Made in Sheffield and the Beat is the Law films
@everdien

Quality time volunteering
@QualityTime247

James O’Hara – founder of Threads at @dqsheffield and one of the Tramlines organisers
@JAMESOHARA

Boots for Africa – Sheffield FC charity
@bootsforafrica

Site art gallery
@site_gallery

Museums Sheffield
@MuseumSheffield

Crystal peaks shopping centre
@PeaksShopping

Sheffield now – a community interest company, giving children and young people a voice in the design of their environment
@SheffieldNOW

Our favourite places – independent guide to the best of Sheffield
@faveplaces

Daily geographer – geography blog
@dailygeog

South Yorkshire police
@syptweet

The Grind – Kelham island coffee shop
http://twitter.com/Grindsheffield

Raw talent – Iain Hodgson’s new music show on BBC Sheffield
@RawTalentBBC

Nick Clegg – Sheffield Hallam MP and Liberal democrat leader
@NICK_CLEGG

Nicola Bates – Prospective Conservative MP for Sheffield Hallam
@nicolabatesppc

Me pod – maternity clothes that look beyond the bump
@me_pod

White house physio
@PhysioSheffield

CND removals -  removal company
@cnd_removals

Sheffield university’s theatre and performance festival
@PlatformFest10

Sheffield university staff cricket club
http://twitter.com/UniStaffCC

Swallownest baptist church
@Swallownestbapt

ITS Sheffield – IT services
@itssheffield

Visualis – TV, film and video production
@VisualisUK

Tim Cleasby – photographer
@TJCphotographer

4 networking Hillsborough – networking in Hillsborough
@4NHillsborough

JCI Sheffield – personal development organisation
@JCISheffield

Cats for peru – band
@catsforperu

TDC – events and video
@thefolksattdc

Snooker skills – not for profit social enterprise to help disadvantaged groups through snooker
@Snookerskill

Forced entertainment – group of six artists
@ForcedEnts

Sweet theatre – handmade sweets
@SweetTheatre

Walkabout bar
@WALKABOUTSHEFF

Chariband – promotion and fundraising social enterprise
@charibag_lady

ESP projects – social enterprise providing ICT services to the social economy
@espprojects

If you want to be listed on it then follow @sheffieldblog, get in touch or comment below.

Highlights from last summer’s music festival

This was plugged on the Facebook Tramlines fan page earlier:

This year’s event takes place 23-25 July.

Is this the best £50 you could spend in Sheffield?

At the Tramlines festival I saw a stall selling a book of Charity unleashed vouchers but was a bit sceptical. I’ve since seen a bit of online and press coverage about the book, but it is only since speaking to friends that I’ve realised just what a good deal it is.

Full details are on the website, but the basic premise is that you buy a book of vouchers for £50 that are valid for various shops, restaurants, bars and places in and around Sheffield.

You’d be mistaken for thinking that these vouchers are the kind of free vouchers that regularly crop up online. The Sheffield Charity unleashed vouchers are redeemable for loads of free stuff, with a value totalling £1,052. Here are some of the deals that you are entitled to:

• three separate nights in hotels including Losehill house and the Cutlers
• a spa and hair package at Spa 1877
• food and drinks at the Leopold hotel, Cubana, Sakushi, Aroma, Lounge bar, 23, the Aston hotel, the Olive bar, Bar 360, Dosanj and the Milestone
• family tickets for the Steelers, Eagles, Magna and skiing
• a bungee jump, dive session and photography course

There is no catch – although there are some minor restrictions on when you can use some vouchers: for example, one of the hotels is weekends only and another is midweek only. Plus, some offers can’t be used in the same visit and some are proving so popular that you need to book ahead. Most of the vouchers expire on 31 August 2010.

But generally it looks like a great deal, which can pay for itself after you have used just one of the vouchers.

And the best thing is that Weston park charity gets £15 for every book sold, with the remainder going to the businesses involved and to cover costs. A donation of £21,780 has just been made to Weston park charity.

I wouldn’t usually use this blog for obvious promotion of one particular enterprise, and I have no connection with Charity unleashed, but this does seem to be a good deal so have splashed out.

Has anyone else bought a book and already redeemed any of their vouchers?

Charity unleashed Sheffield voucher book