It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Tramlines Festival 2024, bathed in glorious sunshine and blue skies, stood in stark contrast to the muddy, rain-drenched spectacle of 2023. It was an age of open-air revelry, in contrast to the year prior’s waterlogged woes; it was the epoch of carefree dancing, instead … Continue reading Live Review: Tramlines // Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, 26-28.07.24
As the opening chords of subheadliners Circa Waves’ most popular song ‘T-Shirt Weather’ filled the air, the energy at Leed’s Temple Newsam Park was still palpable, even if us punters were ironically soggy. The song, a quintessential anthem of carefree summer days, perfectly encapsulated the crowd’s hopes for the festival: a day bathed in sunshine, … Continue reading Live Review: Live at Leeds in the Park 2024
“All night, all night waiting for you”: At The Octagon in Sheffield on Monday night, an eclectic assembly congregated, reminiscent of a captive class eagerly awaiting their instructor’s insights. And who better to whisk these minds through the corridors of time than West London indie darlings The Vaccines? After a raucous warm-up set from Australian rockers, … Continue reading Live Review: The Vaccines // The Octagon, Sheffield, 19.02.24
Spector’s show at Leeds University’s Student Union, Stylus, on Thursday 30th November 2023 was a wild ride that mirrored the messy unpredictability of a classic student night out. From misplaced bank cards to wardrobe malfunctions, the evening unfolded with a chaotic charm that only added to Spector’s typically jubilant live performance. Despite occasional hiccups, the … Continue reading Live Review: Spector // Stylus, Leeds University Union, 30.11.23
Spector‘s latest album, Here Come The Early Nights, set for release on Friday 24th November is a mature and introspective meditation on aging and legacy. Addressing the search for purpose and identity amidst urban chaos, the London-based band offers a poignant reflection that ensures their relevance transcends fleeting trends. Rather than risk being relegated to a … Continue reading Album Review: Here Come The Early Nights // Spector
Sheffield’s own psychedelic retro-pop outfit Minds Idle set the scene before Birmingham rising stars Overpass delivered a rousing warm-up set, with highlights including ‘3AM’ and recent single ‘Beautiful’. Edinburgh indie rock trio Vistas subsequently took to the stage of Sheffield’s esteemed music institution, The Leadmill on Wednesday evening, following the release of their third studio album, Is This All We Are? back in … Continue reading Live Review: Vistas // The Leadmill, Sheffield, 15.11.23
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the first day of Tramlines festival will always chuck it down. I really made sure of that, though, by donning a pair of white trainers for the Friday. They are white no more – but that’s a small price to pay for a weekend packed full of noughties pop … Continue reading Tramlines Festival highlights 2023
It’s Saturday 22nd July 2023 and I’m backstage at Tramlines festival with Fred Macpherson and Jed Cullen from Spector. It’s a weekend that has made film history, as movie buffs and pink lovers descended on cinemas across the country for Barbie and Oppenheimer. It started as a bit of a meme but it snowballed into a cultural moment that became bigger … Continue reading Interview: Spector
The Indiependent caught up with Pale Waves frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie ahead of their Friday evening set at Tramlines festival. We discuss the band’s connection to the LGBTQ+ community in the wake of Pride Month, get Heather’s take on the Matty Healy/Taylor Swift relationship, as well as tease out details about new music following on from the release … Continue reading Interview: Pale Waves
There’s a guy in the centre of the moshpit at Sheffield’s O2 Academy who has taken Circa Waves’ ‘Carry You Home’ a little too literally; he’s waving his crutches around in the air with reckless abandon, as his friends look pleadingly at him, singing the lyrics: “I would die for you / Just to try and … Continue reading Live Review: Circa Waves // O2 Academy, Sheffield, 16.06.23
BETH KIRKBRIDE 