Tramlines Festival 2026 at Hillsborough Park delivered again, with Fatboy Slim, Courteeners, and Wolf Alice headlining. Assistant Showbiz Editor Daniel Bird shares his highlights and predicts three acts that will headline future editions.
The Royston Club: Electric Tent Performance
Bird singled out The Royston Club as his highlight. The Wrexham band performed on T'Other Stage to a crowd of around 2,000 people, described as one of the biggest tent crowds at the festival. Bird, who interviewed frontman Tom Faithful nearly a year ago, said the lads had the entire audience in the palms of their hands. He believes they could headline the main stage in the near future.
The Slates: Energetic Open Arms Set
Another band Bird interviewed, The Slates, impressed on the Open Arms Stage. Frontman Louis Barnes delivered an old-school performance that the crowd loved. Bird predicts they will move to the main stage or headline T'Other Stage in a few years.
The K's: Show-Stopping T'Other Stage Headliner
The K's performed a show-stopping set on T'Other Stage, attracting a huge crowd that filled the stage to capacity. Having played the main stage earlier in the day the previous year, Bird noted their impressive rise. Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson also scaled the speaker set-up during his performance.
Rick Astley was another highlight, with his timeless classics including Never Gonna Give You Up getting the crowd dancing. Bird concluded that Tramlines is one of the best festivals, praising the sense of community. He already cannot wait for Tramlines 2027.
