Float Along Festival has got Everything (Everything)
Strange Days' Float Along Festival spans various venues across the city on 24 September, including The Leadmill. Buy a ticket for 100% satisfaction.
The final lineup for Float Along Festival, which takes place on 24 September.
Do you remember Tramlines 2017? You don't? It was a time when bands played across Sheffield in venues ranging from The Leadmill and Devonshire Green to Bungalow & Bears and The Washington. Back then, you could follow your favourites (The Libertines, Metronomy), indulge in summer singalongs (The Coral) and search out the very best new talent (Our Girl, The Big Moon, Pillow Queens, Otis Mensah and Loyle Carner all appeared) across a panoply of music venues in the city.
Sadly, that pan-Sheffield festival of musical talent got swallowed up whole by the one-stop shop version of Tramlines that exists today. Great for some I'm sure, but for this writer? Well, you know me, I never complain.
But hold on – what's this hoving into view? It can't be – it is! It's the good ship Float Along Festival, a multi-venue, one-day explosion of leftfield sonic cacophony, organised by our good friends at Strange Days and providing the perfect late-summer musical remedy.
So, what can we expect? Headlining are Manchester's Everything Everything who will no doubt be showcasing their May LP Raw Data Feel and hopefully tracks from 2015’s exceptional Get To Heaven.
Warmduscher – who have been one of the major success stories of 2022 – also feature. They've been delighting audiences with their live shows and Devo-like stage garb as excellently reviewed by my colleague Tom Roper, plus have a fabulously filthy banger of an album in At The Hot Spot (just a warning that you might need a wire brush and some Dettol after listening).
As if that wasn't enough, Pigs x7 bring their own brand of riff-laden, Sabbathian psych-rock from Newcastle, plus the truly magnificent Katy J. Pearson will be playing tracks from her superb new album, Sound Of The Morning.
If only I had time to mention the delights of Manchester's Porij, Leeds-based Bored At My Grandmas House and their dreamy indie-pop, new live sensation W.H. Lung, punk’s newest daughter Bex and 6 Music legend Steve Lamacq. Ah well. Next time. With DJ sets, street food and vintage shops, Float Along is an overdue, yet extremely welcome addition to Sheffield’s musical calendar.
I can't wait. But I guess I'll have to. Float, float on....
