Hillsborough Park filled with joy for Tramlines 2025
The weather, vibes and music made this year's edition one to remember
Last updated 2nd Aug 2025
And just like that, Tramlines is over for another year... and if it's your first time or you've been going since the first one - 2025 was certainly a festival to remember..
Emotion? Tick.
Great weather? It's Yorkshire - of course.
Stunning vibes? Naturally.
An awesome crowd? You're chuffing right!
And it was a sold-out event, with festival bosses telling no lies when they promised fans their biggest party to-date, with thousands flocking to Hillsborough Park for what certainly was a weekend to remember.
It was made even more special this year with the first night headlines by Sheffield legends Pulp, fresh off the back of their iconic set at Glastonbury, and with a new album in tow to boot.
Read more: Festival bosses promise BIGGEST party to-date at Tramlines 2025
What made the Sunday night headliner extra special was the final of The Euros.
With England's Women taking the nail-biting match against Spain to penalties - and winning - that made the tantalising wait for Kasabian even sweeter.
And Serge's performance really brought the night to a crescendo on the Sarah Nulty Main Stage.
People on Tramlines' social media pages commented: 'a brilliant end to a fantastic weekend', 'absolutely incredible', and, 'one word: amazing'.
But of course, it wasn't all about the Main Stage, with music fans spanning the gamut of genres satiated, with a mix of rock, pop, dance, electronic, 80s, 90s, 00s and modern tracks all making an appearance over the weekend.
One of the Sunday highlights was CMAT - who's been turning heads this year for her unique style and captivating stage presence.
The afternoon's performance saw fans spilling out of the tent to catch a glimpse of her.
Whilst on Saturday, of course, it had to be Natasha Bedingfield who stole everyone's hearts - as you can check out on the video below:
The Everly Pregnant Brothers
Naturally, it was the music which was the standout element of Tramlines - with fans from across South Yorkshire coming down to see their favourite artists under the Sheffield sunshine.
One band tops them all when you think about this festival - especially if you're from around these parts - and that's of course the Everly Pregnant Brothers.
We were lucky enough to catch up with two of them - lead singer Kieran Wardle and local legend Pete McKee - after their set.
Kieran told us: "If I could describe the set in three words, I'd say it was 'legendary, awesome, fiendish.'
"Those three words are how it felt in every single molecule of my body - and I'm sure that's how every band member felt as well."
For the second year, they were joined by KIER, who calls herself 'Your new favourite Y’alternative artist'.
She's become a firm crowd favourite, with Kieran saying: "She was great - again!
"She's a true professional, a great vocalist, and I think I forgot more of the lyrics than she did! It's always a pleasure to have KIER on stage.
"I always enjoy performing with her, and I think our voices match really well."
The pair say they always like to bring something different to their set at Tramlines this year - and for 2025, the ace up their sleeve was inviting along the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra.
Pete McKee said: "They joined us for the last three epic songs!
"It was immense - we only rehearsed with them last week, and they absolutely blew our socks off.
"They really vibed off it, and for them, I like to think it was quite liberating, as it's something a little different to the kind of thing they usually do.
"It's a 30-piece orchestra. What kind of band gets to do stuff like that on stage?!
The man, who's been a part of the group since the very start, said this year was one to remember.
Pete added: "I've certainly expelled all of my energy, fiendishly, on stage!
"The crowd, especially by the end of the set, was just huge - it's one of those moments where you're like, we can show them to our grandkids in years to come.
"We'll be able to say 'oh we were in a band once and look at t'crowd!
"It was absolutely fantastic, and the Tramlines crowd in Sheffield are always second to none. They know the songs, they know the set, they sing along, and also get involved with throwing those breadcakes!"
The Reytons
If you don't know why they're called 'The Reytons', well, it's likely you're not from South Yorkshire.
The band themselves say it's slang for a 'right one' – or just a little bit daft.
Their rise has been meteoric, having started out in 2017, playing at the bottom of the bill at The Fringe at Tramlines to making their way to the main festival in 2021 before this year - not just headlining the Main Stage - but doing it on the iconic Saturday Night slot.
Their awe-inspiring journey has taken them to the heights of music, when, in 2023, they scored a chart-topping record with 'What's Rock and Roll?'.
It's a bit of all right for four unsigned lads from South Yorkshire.
Jonny Yerrell is the lead singer, and called their journey 'unreal'.
He told us: "What an eight years it's been, and I can remember it like it was yesterday, when we asked if we could get on the line-up for the Fringe.
"Fast forward a few years, we got to The Leadmill stage, then we got to the main stage - so talking to you right now - as headliners - is just mind-blowing.
"We've always had our eyes set on the main stage - this is it, we're here, whether you like it or not!"
They're staunch supporters of up-and-coming talent - and them a huge shout-out during their set.
Being the first unsigned act to headline the festival, they added how it's really important to look out for those coming through the ranks.
Jonny added: "You know, the up-and-coming music scene feels good at the moment. It feels alive.
"Yes, we're losing venues, and that's really sad - they're vessels of raw creativity, but the talent is thriving.
"There's so many young bands and artists around with so much potential, and there always has been - and what there needs to be is for the media to put a brighter spotlight on them so they can have that platform, like we now have, to show the world how good they are."
Thousands descended on Clifton Park last year for what was a homecoming gig for the boys.
Just over a year ago, on July 6 2024, around 20,000 people flocked to see South Yorkshire's finest take to the stage, in what reports say was Rotherham's biggest EVER outdoor show.
It was a special moment for the band, too, with the set being the first time since all the way back in 1971 that any band has played there.
Jonny said: "Clifton Park will always be a different thing for us.
"We're Rotherham lads, so that was our home town.
"That was a night for the Reytons community, and now, being here at Tramlines Festival, this is a night to celebrate us, and the culture of South Yorkshire.
"We've got an awesome music scene here, and for us to sit at the top of that - just for one night - is unreal."
Heather Small
M People icon Heather Small rocked T'Other Stage on Saturday afternoon - with her half an hour set wheeling out all of the bangers from her career, from the legendary 'Moving on Up' to the absolute bop which, of course, is 'Proud'.
She's not been in Sheffield for a while - but told us how the crowd brought ALL the right energy.
And was made extra special - with her family being right there in the crowd.
She said: "I enjoyed the set immensely - it was so much fun.
"The tent was packed, everyone was jumping, there was a lot of noise, and it felt exactly how a festival should feel: intergenerational and happy.
"Life is not easy, so to be able to come out for half an hour, on stage, with people beaming at you, that's no small feat, I don't take it for granted, and I absolutely loved it.
"For me, it's quite a spiritual thing, being in that tent, with all of that positive energy seeping into your bones.
"That's the real power - it's the people you're with when you're on that stage."
You might have grown up listening to 'Proud', or you might remember them loving the track on the sitcom Miranda - but that track has really transcended generations: there's even a Reddit post asking just that, 'what did you do today to make you feel proud?'
So, we asked Heather just what it means to her: "I think it's great because it really has taken on a life of its own!
"I think that it's good because it's done what I want it to do for myself. Know the things that you should be grateful for - even if it is for those 'small things' in life.
"Sometimes it's things that other people will never know about, but it makes you stand a little taller, and that what it's all about."
Now in its third year, after a successful pilot back in 2023, Little Hillsborough once again made a return to the site, in what has become a regular addition.
The original aim was to offer local businesses the chance to trade inside the festival, giving them the opportunity to engage with concert-goers, many of whom may not have popped in on their way to Hillsborough Park.
Festival bosses say they're dedicated to supporting the local community, so also set up a dedicated webpage of the local spots they think are well worth checking out, which you can check out here.
Faith Nicholson is the owner of Annie Jude's, and was one of the stallholders to return for 2025.
She told us: "It's been absolutely incredible this year! What a vibe, and 2025 is the best one yet.
"We've done a roaring trade, everyone's been in a great mood, and it's been absolutely fantastic.
"Our best-selling items have of course been all about Pulp - the fans really couldn't get enough of it, which is awesome when it comes to us, and shopping local."
About the future of Little Hillsborough, Jude said just how important it is for local small businesses.
She added: "We aren't a shop where people would come in and browse before a big festival, so for us, it would have been quite a quiet weekend.
"So here, the fans really do support us and the people around me as local businesses, and it means the world to us.
"This is a great middle-of-the-year boost, and things are really, really hard for small businesses right now.
"We've had a difficult year, everything is going up, so to have this offered to us is super beneficial."
...So, all eyes are on 2026 - and this edition will be a tough one to beat.
Read more: South Yorkshire basks in the summer sun for Tramlines 2024