The Fringe at Tramlines 2025 Programme Is Out and It Looks Massive

Alright, so get your calendar out and circle the last weekend of July. Seriously. From Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July 2025, the entire Sheffield city centre is turning into one massive music festival. The full programme for The Fringe at Tramlines is officially live, and it’s packed with over 400 performances across more than 40 venues. Best part? It's pretty much all free.

Whether you’re into indie, punk, soul, or just fancy seeing some brilliant live music, this is the event for you. Let’s get into what’s happening.

The big stage on Devonshire Green

The main hub of the festival is, as always, the big stage on Devonshire Green. Imagine chilling on the grass with your mates, grabbing a bite to eat, and listening to some incredible bands. This year’s headline act is the absolute legend Macka B and the Roots Ragga Band. If you don’t know his music, get ready for some proper feel-good reggae vibes. It’s the perfect sound for a summer weekend.

But that’s not all. The main stage programme is stacked. You’ve got Sheffield’s own ska heroes Jungle Lion, who are guaranteed to get everyone dancing. Then there’s the punk-folk energy of Shanghai Treason and the seriously smooth sounds of Soul Battalion, who will bring a whole load of soul music to the party. The event is also showcasing some amazing new talent, with performances from The Tivolis from WaterBear Music College and the young musicians from Tracks, a brilliant youth music development programme. It’s a proper mix of legendary names and the next big things.

Exploring the sounds of the city centre

While Dev Green is the main focus, the real magic of The Fringe is wandering around the city centre and discovering your new favourite band in a random pub. The programme is huge, covering basically every genre you can think of. If you’re into intense post-punk, Hallan will be at The Washington. Fancy some fuzzed-up indie riffs? Get yourself to the Hallamshire Hotel for Sheffield’s own Floodhounds. The Hallamshire is also hosting Brighton’s Bones Ate Arfa, who mix psychedelic street punk with desert rock, which sounds amazing.

There are so many great live performances to catch. Sam Scherdel, who some people are calling the “South Yorkshire Springsteen,” will be playing his anthems at The Washington. And if you’re a fan of The Blinders, you have to check out Whitehorse, the new project from Tom Haywood. Over at Sidney & Matilda, Sister Wives will be creating some post-punk, psychedelic dreamscapes, while the synth-punk crew Hard As Nails are set to bring a load of energy to Hatch. It’s a fantastic showcase of what the UK’s live music scene is all about.

It’s not just about the music

Okay, it’s mostly about the music. But this year’s event has so much more going on. It’s a proper cultural celebration across the whole city. Ever wanted to be the lead singer of a band? Now’s your chance with Bandeoke (that’s live-band karaoke). And there are loads of other things to get stuck into:

• Eclectic open mic nights
• Jazz-infused hip hop
• Loop-pedal experiments
• Talented local DJs
• Everything from classic soul to street punk

With so many different venues taking part, The Fringe at Tramlines is easily the most expansive and accessible cultural event in all of South Yorkshire. You can literally just wander around and stumble upon something brilliant. The whole programme is designed to have something for everyone, which is what makes this weekend so special.

Why this event is massive for Sheffield

This whole thing isn’t just a massive party; it’s actually a huge boost for the city. In 2024, The Fringe brought in over 45,000 people, which pumped an estimated £1.86 million into the local economy. That’s a lot of money going into local shops, pubs, and restaurants. The organisers are expecting a similar footfall this year, which is brilliant news. The event is supported by some key organisations, including the Sheffield BID and Sheffield City Council, who know how important it is.

Diane Jarvis, who is the Head of Business Operations at Sheffield BID, said:

“As we mark a decade of Sheffield BID in the city centre, we’re rightly proud of our continued association with The Fringe. The event drives footfall, dwell time and much-needed additional spend into the city centre. It’s become one of our signature festivals, and we’re proud to continue backing it.”

And Councillor Mohammed Mahroof from the Sheffield City Council added:

“The Fringe is free to attend and brings real benefits to our local economy. It adds vibrancy to the city and makes Sheffield a brilliant place to live and visit.”

So, how did this whole fringe thing start?

Some of you might remember when the main Tramlines Festival used to be spread all across the city centre. The Fringe at Tramlines is basically keeping that original spirit alive. The first Tramlines launched way back in 2009 as a free celebration of Sheffield’s creative scene. When the main festival grew and moved to Hillsborough Park in 2018, The Fringe continued in the city centre, making sure there was still a massive, free music event for everyone to enjoy. The success of Tramlines at Hillsborough Park actually helps power The Fringe, allowing this huge weekend of free activity to happen. It has grown into a flagship cultural event that really shows off what Sheffield is all about.

Getting around without a fuss

Worried about hopping between all the different venues? Don’t be. To make the whole event more accessible, TravelMaster has brought out a special CityWide ticket. For just £10, you get unlimited bus and tram travel across the city for two days. You can grab the pass on the TravelMaster app. It’s a great deal, especially if you’re coming with your family or travelling in from another part of Sheffield. It just makes exploring all the different live performances that little bit easier.

A Sunday special for the junglists

And just when you thought the programme couldn’t get any better, there’s a really cool addition for Sunday. Drum and bass pioneer Ray Keith is hosting a pop-up shop and a 'Coffee Rave' at Cole’s Corner. He’ll be joined by a load of local DnB stars like Junglist Alliance, Charla Green, and Hungry Lungz. This is happening after his headline DJ set at Forge nightclub on the Saturday night. Getting to meet one of the most respected figures in underground music is a rare chance, so if you're a fan, you know where you need to be. It shows how the Fringe caters for everyone, from indie kids to dedicated junglists.

So, there you have it. A massive, free, city-wide music event is taking over Sheffield for one weekend. What are you waiting for? The full listings are on the Welcome to Sheffield website. Go check them out and start planning your musical adventure!