Concert News

Emerging Talent Can Now Apply To Play At Tramlines Festival

• 24th May 2021

Tramlines, Sheffield’s biggest music festival, has announced the opening of this year’s ‘Apply to Play’. The scheme offers a limited number of performance slots across various stages to emerging and undiscovered bands and artists from across the UK. Those wishing to play at the 2021 sell-out edition of Tramlines Festival can apply via the website at www.tramlines.org.uk.

Taking place at Hillsborough Park from 23rd – 25th July, Apply To Play is an annual scheme from the organisers at Tramlines Festival as it continues to support and create opportunities for grass root music talent.

Tramlines Operations Director Timm Cleasby said, “My favourite element of Tramlines has always been the discovery of my new favourite band. Our Apply To Play scheme gives bands and artists the opportunity to play on a big festival stage, and offers the next generation of talent the experience of playing a bigger stage while showcasing their music to new audiences. Since the beginning of the festival, supporting emerging talent has been at the heart of the event and continues to be a big part of it.”

No matter the genre or set-up, Apply To Play is open to anyone who thinks they have what it takes to take to the stage and entertain crowds in their tens of thousands.  The deadline for applications is 27th May (direct link to the application form, here), and those successful will also receive a small performance fee.

Notable bands discovered via Apply To Play in past years include Blossoms who later were nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2017, showing what an important, career-launching platform this can be. 2019 Apply To Play winners included the afro / RnB sounds of Sierra Leone-born artist PJ Francis, Glaswegian ‘art pop’ band Fauves, and the swing-electronic inspired collective, Electric Swing Circus.

The first line-up announcement for Tramlines 2021 landed in April and was followed by tickets selling out in record time. Headliners are The Streets, Royal Blood and Richard Ashcroft, plus over 40 more acts were unveiled including The Kooks, DMA’s, Pale Waves, Little Simz, The Pigeon Detectives, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Mahalia, Everything Everything, Jake Bugg, Blossoms, The Sherlocks, Dizzee Rascal, Tom Walker, The Fratellis, Sundara Karma and more.

Tramlines Festival will be working closely with the local authorities and following all the latest government guidance. If for any reason the festival is not able to take place then in keeping with 2020, ticket buyers will have the option to retain their ticket for next year’s event or receive a face value refund on their purchase prices. More information here: https://tramlines.org.uk/update-on-covid-19/

Keep up to date with all the latest news and announcements at www.facebook.com/tramlines