Ay uP
Tramlines
Sheffield 2013
I am
always reminded quite quickly how special tramlines can be for our little city.
Despite breaking a few traditions this year and not seeing half as many acts as
I should have I had a great weekend and feel a need to highlight some amazing
musicians and events.
It
was really nice to start my weekend with something I had been a part of once
back in the day with some artworks. Prism is a collection of art forms brought
together for an evening of eclectic happenings. Often moving about Sheffield in
regards to locations it plays host to music and live performance arts along
with films, sculptures, paintings, photography, drawings and much more and is
guaranteed to be a unique experience every time.
Tramlines
Prism was no acception in regards to this. It was held within the millennium
gallery and was very well presented. The artworks had room to breathe and were
very strong. An old friend of mine whom I was showing work alongside at an
early prism has recently released music under the name Aches and was performing
in the hall area of the gallery. With a good video backdrop I was really glad
to be able to see this performance take place.
Links
to prism and aches are here.
I
was aware at this time that 65 Days Of
Static had put together something special to be held in the hall on
Saturday and Sunday. Something I regret not going to as I had heard really good
things. I look forward to reading about what they had put together and maybe
see some footage from somewhere?
After
a few rather nice chats with some unanticipated encounters (such a regular
experience with tramlines, rather like pulling up a stool at hunters bar and
counting how many people you know from direct or indirect routes) we headed of
to the cathedral only to be put off with what looked like the biggest
confessional cue the likes Yorkshire had ever seen. We killed a few minutes
outside whilst watching some youth being young and entertaining us with a few
fights and flying words of a selected intent. Bless.
We
ended up at the library theatre and caught the last few tracks by a solo act. Although
not being my cup of Yorkshire tea I was very impressed. Great lyrically with a
good presence, good hat too. David Ford is a great songwriter and I look
forward to finding out more about him and his music. I have already seen some
nice videos on YouTube.
Like
this one
After
a few more entertaining encounters and ales I called it a day at that.
I
missed the whole of Saturday as I was working and then fell down at the hurdle
of getting up and out. I can persuade myself to stay in far to easily these
past few years but I had Sunday to look forward to. See what I mean?
What
a great surprise I had. After a rather dull shift at work on Sunday I received
a text telling me that one of my favorite finds were actually playing at
tramlines within the next 3 hours at DQ? I had no idea they were playing so
this got me very excited. The band are called This Town Needs Guns, alternatively know as TTNG. I first heard of these when I was doing a video marathon on
youtube and they were recommended after I had watched a few tracks from a band
that had unfortunately split up a while back called meet me at st louise. This turned out to be one of youtubes finest
recommendations as I normally get prompted to titles such as fat kid falls of
bike or girl gets hit by Frisbee?
Anyway.
I quickly became a fan of TTNG and found out they were also on the same label
as Omar Rodreguez Lopez in his
various lineups. I was pleased that I got to find out how this all came about
after the gig within a rather giddy chat I had with the band.
Unfortunately
the sound in DQ went tits up and all the dynamics they clearly rely on got lost
in a haze of very loud drums and no vocals. Towards the end of the set it had
gotten a tad better but felt it a shame not to have been able to see them with
a deserved setting and sound clarity. In my chat with them afterwards I learnt
that they are coming back at some point in December as a support act to someone
they seemed very keen on playing second fiddle to, so I am look forward to that
with great expectations.
So
that was pretty much it for my tramlines outings. I was sad to miss Tomassi as they had become a bit of a
tradition for me and after I had got home I learnt that Rumpus were also making an appearance later on to. I would also
liked to have seen Screaming Maldini,
as their track Summer somewhere had
been somewhat of a soundtrack to my early summer this year. But then there is
always next year and like I always say, I should be better prepared by then,
and maybe even involved somehow like I was last year with exposed magazine.
Well
if I am not I am going to make sure my brother is…
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