Tramlines musical festival on track to discover yet more new talent

Sitting outside The Bowery, a welcome cool drink in hand, O'Hara's bar has been one of the cultural hotspots of Sheffield in recent years.

How hot? O'Hara is enjoying an afternoon drink with an old friend – who just happens to be Matt Helders, the Arctic Monkeys' drummer. "They like coming in here because they don't get hassled, they just get left alone," says O'Hara.

It's a place where musicians like the Arctic Monkeys can return, because in places like this they are just like so many others who gather under the roof of a bar to listen to – and make – live music.

While the Monkeys have established themselves, the ongoing discovery of new musical talent continues – and shows no sign of slowing down.

O'Hara says: "In places like Manchester, the old industrial buildings have all been turned into yuppie flats.

"Being a post-industrial city helps Sheffield so much, because there are so many spaces that people can use as rehearsal rooms or set up recording studios.

"It's always happening – you might not know it and if you drive down certain streets you won't be able to tell, but in the city there are so many buildings where people inside are making and recording music."

And, despite the recent success of the Arctic Monkeys, it's not just indie guitar bands that are making waves.

O'Hara says: "I've known Toddla T for years, since he was DJ-ing at little underground clubs all around the city. He was 15 and, like most of the people making their music in Sheffield, he wasn't doing it to get noticed or get a recording contract, he was doing it because he wanted to make his own music."

In a move that has enough precedent and has been happening for long enough to be called a tradition, O'Hara saw all this going on and 18 months ago decided to celebrate the underground musical talent of Sheffield with a dedicated festival. Tramlines was born. "It was a typical thing really," says O'Hara. "We decided to do something and set off doing it. We found out the council was interested in doing something similar, so we got together with them and staged this festival."

The first Tramlines Festival, held last year was a huge success – 35,000 attended. The number of venues, from "about ten" has increased this year to 50, with acts including Annie Mac, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Hoosiers, Craig David, Toddla T and The King Blues.

The event runs from July 23 to 25 – and it's fair to say there may well be some new musical Sheffield talent on show.

For more info on the festival, log on to www.tramlines.org.uk