Words: Josh Parsonage
Sheffield’s summer musical celebration kicks off today, led by Steel City legends Pulp, who curated and headline the opening day.
Hillsborough Park is set to be blessed with just Pulp’s fourth hometown performance since the turn of the millennium–an occasion that, if past returns are any guide, ought to promise setlist surprises and special guests.
The main stage lineup for this sunny Yorkshire Friday has been handpicked by the band themselves, with some of Jarvis Cocker’s favourites, such as Baxter Dury, setting the tone ahead of Pulp’s headline performance.
A brooding build-up leads into the evening’s Britpop extravaganza. On its marks with the sensible melodics of Spanish Horses and Femur’s anthemic grit, it folds into hypnotic art-pop curtesy of the Oracle Sisters, and the new-wave wry of Baxter Dury, culminating in Cocker and co’s prime selection: Spiritualized.
Spiritualized, celebrated for their sonic ambition, explore love and loss through their orchestral inspired space rock. Their magnificent moody sound ensure to leave the crowd in a psychedelic awe.
Elsewhere on the festival grounds, Tramlines have pulled a special guest known for some of the world’s most renowned poetry. The punk poet, Dr. John Cooper Clarke, will be bringing words studied in classrooms across the country, such as ‘I Wanna Be Yours’, to T’Other Stage’s afternoon bill in what is sure to be a weekend highlight.
Rockstar’s must see band of the day is confrontational garage-rock outfit, The Second World War. Standing perhaps in contrast to the rest of Friday’s musical collection the Edinburgh four-piece’s punk shows leave absolutely nothing behind.
Keep an eye on our Instagram and website for Tramlines content from across the weekend.
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