Tramlines 2024: Hannah Rowe selected as festival headliner

A former contestant on talent show The Voice UK has been selected to headline Sheffield's Tramlines festival.

Hannah Rowe, from Barnsley, was chosen from 2,000 hopefuls for the Friday slot on the Library Stage at the festival as part of its Apply to Play competition.

The three-day festival, which attracts about 40,000 people per day, this year features main-stage headliners Paolo Nutini, Jamie T and Snow Patrol.

Ms Rowe said it was "crackers" to play at the event, running from 26-28 July.

Described as having a "rich, authentic, jazz-infused sound", Ms Rowe's band met at Leeds Conservatoire - a higher education music school.

The band, also featuring Sam Hughes, Luke Harrison, Owen Moriarty and Charlie Tanner, has played venues in Leeds such as The Wardrobe, Belgrave Music Hall and The Brudenell.

The group, which has been together for a year, is set to graduate on the day of the headlining slot, Ms Rowe told the BBC.

"We're going to be rocking up to graduation together, our names will be called out, we'll walk across the stage, get all of our stuff, then zoom across to Sheffield to play our first big festival together. It's crazy," she said.

To be in with a chance of being selected for the paid slot, up-and-coming artists had to submit a link to their music with a panel of experts from across the music industry selecting a handful of hopefuls.

It would be a "special round-off" for the new band, Ms Rowe said.

Ms Rowe appeared on The Voice UK in 2022 and earned a place on Anne-Marie's team, but was eliminated during the call-backs part of the show.

Last year's Tramlines festival was marred by poor weather, turning the Hillsborough Park venue into a mud bath following torrential rain.

The park was partially closed for months after the event while repair work to the grass area took place.

A financial agreement was reached between the festival organisers and park owners Sheffield City Council to ensure the event takes place at the site for the next five years.

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