21 July 2012 Last updated at 05:40 ET

Sheffield Tramlines festival gets under way

Sheffield-based indie band The Crookes are among the many acts signed up to play

A free music festival described as the biggest of its kind in Europe is under way in Sheffield.

More than 900 artists and bands are taking part in the Tramlines festival, which attracted 150,000 people in 2011.

Sheffield-based The Violet May kicked off the opening night on the main stage at Devonshire Green, followed by Dead Sons and Reverend and The Makers.

Sarah Nulty, festival director, said this year's event would showcase Sheffield's talent.

Last year's Tramlines event won the award for Best Metropolitan Festival at the UK Festival Awards.

The three-day event, which runs until Sunday, features several musical genres including indie, electronica, blues, folk and world music.

Performances are spread across more than 70 different venues in the city.

Headlining the main stage on Saturday is UK hip-hop act Roots Manuva while Sheffield's Radio 1 DJ Toddla T, Ms Dynamite and Frankie & the Heartstrings are among other acts taking part.

Other acts signed up to the festival include Sheffield-based indie band The Crookes, We Are Scientists, Field Music, Beth Jeans Houghton and Clock Opera.

Ms Nulty said: "As well as the music, we've got street theatre, we've got film exhibitions, art exhibitions.

"There's literally something for everyone from toddlers to 90 year olds.

"We think this is the most inclusive it's ever been and the biggest, best free for all festival."

Daniel Hopewell, The Crookes guitarist, said no other festival rivalled Tramlines for its atmosphere.

"We've played all over the UK and the world and nothing really rivals Sheffield in terms of the atmosphere because it's sort of enclosed to a small centralised point it becomes likes a funnel where everyone goes and the music just spills out."