Following last year’s success, the festival expands across a wider range of venues and unveils a thrilling first wave of artists. Over 40 acts will perform across eight stages, including Corporation, Sidney & Matilda and Triple Point Brewery, among others.
Headliners for the event include pop-poet Antony Smierek, Birmingham punk duo Big Special and electronic indie-folk star Jane Weaver. Glastonbury Emerging Talent winners Westside Cowboy are also on the wide-ranging bill.
Former Blinders frontman Thomas Haywood returns with his raw, riff-heavy new outfit Whitehorse – a must-see for indie rock’n’roll lovers. They’ll be joined by the genre-blurring singer-songwriter Blossom Caldarone and the multi-dimensional collective Mandrake Handshake.
Teaming up once again with the BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield team, Float Along will showcase the best new talent from Yorkshire. The first acts announced for this curated stage are Sheffield’s-own Femur and Treeboy & Arc.
Event organisers Strange Days said: “This year, we’ve pushed things further, expanding the line-up and taking over more venues to create an experience that’s both intimate and electric… we’re proud to be building something that champions discovery and keeps independent music at its heart.”
The festival offers a seamless experience, with live performances running from 12pm to 11pm (14+), followed by DJ sets until 2am (18+).
In addition to general admission and team tickets (buy six for the price of five), Float Along have introduced new options this year, including under-18 tickets and instalment plans.
Visit floatalong.co.uk for tickets, lineup announcements and further info.
OUR TOP PICKS
RADIO FREE ALICE
YELLOW ARCH STUDIOS // 10 AUGUST // £10
Fresh from selling out their entire UK tour, Radio Free Alice head to Yellow Arch with support from Humane the Moon. The Melbourne-based post-punk band are known for their angular sound, which blends clean-toned guitars, melodic bass lines, urgent drumbeats and occasional saxophone.
yellowarch.com
FESTIVAL OF REGGAE
NETWORK // 16 AUGUST // £27.50
After the huge success of The Sheffield Festival of Reggae 2024, organisers are bringing the second edition to NETWORK this month. With three stages playing the absolute best of reggae, dub, dancehall and roots, performances come from some of the best acts in reggae, such as Maxi Priest, Big Youth and Musical Youth.
networksheffield.co.uk
YARD
SIDNEY & MATILDA // 21 AUGUST // £10
A three-piece electropunk band from Dublin, Yard are known for their intense and immersive live shows, bridging the gap between electronica and post-punk. Their electrifying live performances have been likened to Death Grips, Nine Inch Nails and The Prodigy (high praise indeed), creating an auditory onslaught that leaves audiences sweaty, energised and strangely unnerved.
sidneyandmatilda.com
LEMONHEADS
FOUNDRY // 26 AUGUST // £25
A celebration of their UK Top 5 album Come On Feel…, raucous indie outfit The Lemonheads return to Sheffield for their first headline show in the city in almost 15 years. The Evan Dando-fronted band will perform the record in its entirety, alongside hits, fan favourites and tracks from their latest album, Love Chant – their first release in 19 years.
foundrysu.com
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
FOUNDRY // 28 AUGUST // £33
20 years ago, Wainwright stepped out of her family’s illustrious shadow with her stunning, self-titled debut album. Two decades on, the singer-songwriter extraordinaire is celebrating the landmark release with a series of anniversary shows and the release of the album on vinyl for the very first time.
foundrysu.com
