SNOW PATROL CLOSES TRAMLINES FESTIVAL 2024 FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

★★★★☆ (4/5)

SNOW PATROL HEADLINES AND CLOSES DAY THREE AT TRAMLINES FESTIVAL 2024 AT SHEFFIELD’S HILLSBOROUGH PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: ALEX BROWN

The final day and contender for strongest line up as we had a day stacked with local icons The Human League, as well as DJ legend Example.

We started the morning off with Tramlines special guests Maximo Park, yet another band I have spent 20 years of my life listening to and the Geordie band definitely came to celebrate. Playing a mix of the old classics as well as a couple of new songs which frontman Paul Smith joked about how new songs are usually a ‘no-no’ at festivals but truth be told, they have the familiar vibes to the older hits from ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’.

Bringing in quite a large crowd for a Sunday morning, there was only great things to follow for the remaining day.

After taking a little food break and a little writing I headed back into the arena to await for the one and only Example and truth be told, I didn’t really know what to expect, but from chats with the crowd it was going to be something special and I must say.. They were absolutely correct. Joking how he was going to ‘get the boring songs out the way for the fun songs’ there wasn’t a single dull moment in the 45 minute set. Banger after banger, waves of fans bouncing up and down climbing on shoulders and enjoying the hot summer sun.

Summer was here that was for sure and I didn’t want the show to end (and I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t have been the only one thinking this).

Now the day was in full swing I went over to watch the much loved and talked about Indie-pop band from Wigan ‘The Lilacs’. This wasn’t my first time seeing the lads perform having seen them earlier in the year supporting The Lottery Winners in Leeds.
The Lilacs were playing The Library stage which was a small picturesque tent that before we had even arrived was rammed with fans who were already excited to sing along to their favourite songs. With strong vocals and with your fun-loving indie classic riffs the show was underway, listening to the fans at the barrier of all ages from young children to the older generations it showed that this isn’t a band that has a set demographic. This is a band that have recently signed a record deal and they have so much to give, they’re going to go a very long way and have an absolutely amazing career ahead of them and I’m excited to see where they end up

Now, I don’t think there needs to be an introduction for the next band. Home town heroes. Icons. Legends. The Human League were at the Main Stage, with it being a highly anticipated home town show (Which Paul Oakey revealed he grew up only down the road from Hillsborough Park) the crowd came in their thousands and possibly had the biggest of the weekend (Estimating around 35 thousand) they came on to ‘Mirror Man’. Phil Oakeys live vocals are on parr or even better than their studio recordings. That similar sound was a highlight of the weekend and the crowd were in complete awe of the band as they played through all the iconic and fan favourite hits.

It truly was a pleasure watching them perform in their home-town.

Onto my next band The Pigeon Detectives, again a band I’d been a fan of for the last 20 years and what a treat it was. A real festival band full of bangers that everyone can bounce around to and sing-along with. Lead Singer Matt jumping around the stage and off the drums, he was on true showman form and the crowd couldn’t have thrived off it more. The tent was full to the brim and towards the end of the set half of the crowd were on each others shoulders, by request of Matt wanting the largest amount of fans on shoulders throughout the festival. I’m so excited to catch these guys again next weekend at Kendal.

Tonights main event was the one and only Snow Patrol. Now these are a true headline band. The field full of excited fans and an unreal performance. They were 100% the best headliner of the weekend, playing new songs (including one that had its debut) and all the classics and bangers. The crowd was the perfect choir for the band throughout the night. As the sunset over the Yorkshire site the band played the final few songs which included ‘Chasing Cars’ and ‘Just Say Yes’ I had a moment to reflect on what a beautiful and poetic end it was to my first festival and such an amazing summer weekend.