John Cooper Clarke Tops Latest Tramlines Announcement, Joined by Ed Cosens and a Fresh Wave of Apply to Play Artists

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Tramlines

John Cooper Clarke Tops Latest Tramlines Announcement, Joined

by Ed Cosens and a Fresh Wave of Apply to Play Artists

Tramlines 2025 Drops Second Wave of Artists: Apply to Play Winners, Pulp-Backed Picks, SlamBarz Cyphers, Pattern + Push Showcases and More Now Confirmed

As Tramlines returns to Hillsborough Park from 25–27 July 2025, a fresh wave of artists has been announced to join headliners Pulp, The Reytons and Kasabian. With Friday curated by Pulp, the new additions include poetic punk icon John Cooper Clarke—whose long standing affinity with Sheffield includes a poem dedicated to the city and past collaborations with the likes of Arctic Monkeys and The Fall.

Cult indie newcomers Spanish Horses and Ed Cosens, founding member of Reverend and the Makers and a sharp songwriter in his own right. Also added to the line-up are

Apply to Play winners Magnolia and Molly and the Dolly Shop, selected by the Tramlines team, with Marples (public vote), Jetski (BBC Introducing Sheffield), and

Ellie Evans (Pirate.com) bringing local talent to the fore.

The bill continues to expand with The Second World War and Beguiling Junior. Pattern + Push takes over Saturday with a line-up that reflects the platform’s mission to empower young rappers, singers and producers to push boundaries through positive music. Their stage features Big Ang, Prido, Kaesu & Alex FB, Leo Miyagee, Nørskov, Lavelle, Kid Blu3, Josie Wray, Namywa and Kali, with DJ Kyla C behind the decks and JXK hosting. Pattern + Push delivers high-quality programmes that include vocal and production coaching, industry masterclasses, studio sessions and live performance opportunities. Their return to Tramlines reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging talent and building pathways into the industry from the ground up.

Slambarz is back for 2025, bringing the energy of Sheffield’s grassroots hip-hop and spoken word scene to the Speakers Corner stage across all three days. Expect high-impact performances from artists like Just Jase, Tinxshe, RF, Reeko, Mitchelxonly1, KO, Kie 5, CNC, GSD, Tlarnaa, Geerai, Lex Fym, Indii and Fuego. With Slambarz regulars DJ Dylor and DJ Law on the controls and a programme that spans live rap, dance, and DJ culture, this is where raw talent meets real community. Slambarz continues to be a launchpad for voices often underrepresented elsewhere—making their role at Tramlines not just welcome, but essential.

The Apply to Play scheme once again showcases the very best of emerging UK talent, selected by tastemakers and industry heads including Amazing Radio, Exposed Magazine, The Rock Revival, The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, and WaterBear. This year’s standout acts include The Rolling People (The Rock Revival), Fear of Marko (Exposed), Montello (This Feeling), Flat Moon (WaterBear), Sacha T (The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation), Freddy Forbidden (Amazing Radio), and the overall winner Long Island—handpicked by legendary broadcaster and new music

champion John Kennedy. These names join a legacy that includes past winners like Rumbi Tauro, whose rise through the ranks has become a defining success story for the initiative.

Also confirmed today is Queer Cxntry, an unmissable LGBTQIA+ club night fusing country music and queer joy. This is rhinestones and resistance in equal measure—a celebration of individuality and inclusivity with a two-step twist. It lands in Hillsborough Park as part of a broader line-up of club takeovers, including Karaoke, Feminém, Hip Hop Karaoke, and The Leadmill’s themed nights: XCX World, Club Tropicana and Taylor’s Version.

Sunday's new additions include Hannah Rowe, Cowz, Mackenzie, April Tapes, Long Island, Flat Moon, Montello, Sacha T and Freddy Forbidden, alongside festival favourites like Buffo’s Wake and Oktoberfest Band, offering up a riotous finale to the weekend. These join previously announced acts such as Franz Ferdinand, Spiritualized, Hot Chip (DJ Set), The Last Dinner Party, Sigrid, CMAT and Everly Pregnant Brothers, making for a weekend that moves seamlessly between cult classics, future icons and the best of what Sheffield’s scene has to offer.

Applications for The Tramlines Trust are now open once again. With grants of up to £500 available for local community, youth, arts, and environmental projects, the Trust continues to build on a strong legacy. Since 2022, The Tramlines Trust has awarded over £90,000 worth of funding grants to local organisations. Over 50% of total funding was awarded directly to Hillsborough-based initiatives in 2024. For those doing meaningful work in Sheffield and beyond, this is the time to apply.

With only Tier 2 Sunday Day Tickets remaining at £70 + booking fee and expected to sell out soon, fans are urged not to wait. For tickets, full line-up details and information on Tramlines Trust applications, visit www.tramlines.org.uk.

All artists announced so far:

Friday

Pulp (a day curated by Pulp)

Spiritualized

Baxter Dury / John Grant / (SG) John Cooper Clarke

Hot Chip DJ set / Fat White Family / Lisa O’Neill

I Monster / Oracle Sisters / Spanish Horses / Femur

Ed Cosens / Beguiling Junior / Cloud Canyons / The Second World War

Marples / Molly and the Dolly Shop / Magnolia / Jetski

Fear of Marko / The Rolling People / Ellie Evans

Comedy: John Shuttleworth / Justin Moorhouse / Nina Gilligan / Danny McLoughlin

Queer Cxntry / Karaoke / Feminem / The Leadmill: XCX World

SlamBarz presents Speakers Corner – Cypher / Just Jase / Tinxshe / RF / Reeko / MitchelxOnly1 / KO / Kie 5 /

DJ Dylor / DJ Law

Saturday

The Reytons

Franz Ferdinand

Rizzle Kicks | Natasha Bedingfield | Jake Bugg

The K’s | Heather Small | The Futureheads | The Rosadocs

Freddie Halkon | Chloe Slater | Daydreamers | She’s In Parties | KDot

Danny Mellin | The Denaby’s | Daisy Peacock | The Leadmill Studio Orchestra

Special guests: Everly Pregnant Brothers

Comedy: Lucy Beaumont / Eleanor Tiernan / Hayley Ellis / Sally-Anne Hayward

Pattern + Push presents... Big Ang | Prido | Kaesu & Alex FB | Leo Miyagee | Nørskov | Lavelle | Kid Blu3 |

Josie Wray | Namywa | Kali | DJ Kyla C

Hosted by JxK

Sing It Back | Noel TBC | Noel TBC | The Leadmill: Club Tropicana

SlamBarz presents Speakers Corner – Cypher / SlamBarz / CNC / GSD / DJ Dylor / DJ Law

Sunday

Kasabian

The Last Dinner Party

The Lathums | Sigrid | CMAT

(SG) Scouting For Girls | The Sherlocks | The Royston Club

Red Rum Club | Luvcat | The Clause | Cliffords | Sundress

Hannah Rowe | Cowz | Mackenzie | April Tapes | Long Island | Montello

Flat Moon | Sacha T | Freddy Forbidden

Comedy: Russell Howard / Emanuel Sonubi / Olivia Lee / Tom Ward

Oktoberfest Band / Hip Hop Karaoke / Buffos Wake / The Leadmill: Taylor’s Version

SlamBarz presents Speakers Corner – DJ Kyla C / Dynamic Dance / Lotte Kayess / Tlarnaa / Geerai / Lex Fym /

Indii / Fuego

Event Info

Tramlines Festival 2024

Friday 25th– Sunday 27th July

Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, S6 2AB

Available from www.tramlines.org.uk.