Breaking: Tramlines director Sarah Nulty dies aged 36

Tramlines director Sarah Nulty has died aged 36 after a short illness, her friend and Tramlines colleague Alex Deadman has announced.

Festival organisers paid tribute to "her tenacity, vision and unbreakable work ethic are the reasons that the festival can celebrate its tenth anniversary".

Nulty was involved with the festival since it began in 2009, and became the festival director in 2013, as well as previously managing The Harley.

She was a longstanding champion of the Sheffield music scene and worked on ten festivals after moving to Sheffield as a student in 1999.

The statement issued by organisers reads:

"It is with great sadness that Tramlines Festival must announce that our festival director, Sarah Nulty, has passed away at the age of 36 following a brief illness.

"Sarah was instrumental in the launch of Tramlines in 2009, taking on the role of festival director in 2013.

"She came to Sheffield as a student in 1999 and worked at Gatecrasher and Bed nightclub, going on to manage various venues and live events around the city.

"Sarah dedicated her whole working career to the Sheffield music industry. After nearly two-decades, this work has led to massive benefits for the city and she has been the driving force of Tramlines for many years.

"Her tenacity, vision and unbreakable work ethic are the reasons that the festival can celebrate its tenth anniversary.

"Sarah turned her hand to every aspect of the running the event over the years, she was the life and soul of Tramlines and no job was too small, but no responsibility too great.

"We would like to celebrate Sarah’s huge talent and the profound impact that she has had on the lives of so many people over the years."

The sad news comes just over two weeks before the biggest Tramlines Festival to date, which will take place at Hillsborough Park with an expanded capacity of 40,000.

The line up, including Stereophonics and Noel Gallagher, is the biggest to date and one that Sarah was instrumental in putting together.

The Tab Sheffield and our team send our condolences to Sarah's friends and family, and the Tramlines team, at this difficult time.