Barnsley Folk Festival will return to the town centre on May 29- 31 as part of Civic 150, the 18-month celebration which marks 150 years of Barnsley Civic. Taking place across Barnsley Civic and the adjacent Mandela Gardens, the festival will open with a rare hometown concert by Barnsley’s very own KATE RUSBY in the intimate setting of Barnsley Civic’s Main Theatre with an exclusive set-list for a three-piece.
The festival builds on the town’s rich history of traditional music, song and dance, from the founding of Barnsley Folk Club in 1962 and the many successful folk artists that have sung and played there, to decades of folk music concerts that have taken place at Barnsley Civic over the decades.
Barnsley Folk Festival also recognises the work of past local festivals that have helped nurture this tradition, including Barnsley Acoustic Roots Festival, Madfest and the Rusby family’s own Underneath The Stars. Its return proudly follows in the footsteps of other successful town-centre festivals such as Barnsley Live, Pride Barnsley and Brassed On!
Headliner KATE RUSBY is widely regarded as one of the most captivating voices in British folk music. Kate’s tender, pure, and unmistakably Yorkshire tones have enchanted audiences worldwide for over three decades. Her live performances are a unique blend of intimacy and joy — filled with laughter, stories, and songs that feel like home.
KATE RUSBY started performing in local folk clubs as a child, following in the footsteps of her parents, Steve and Ann; then made a name for herself performing in groups The Poozies, Equation and singing alongside fellow Barnsley folk artist fellow Barnsley artist Kathryn Roberts. In 1997, she released her debut album Hourglass and the rest is history.
40 years WOW!
40 years ago I was inspired to be an actual singer, I was 12. In the old Barnsley Civic, Barnsley Folk Festival, there I was in the dark sat beside my dad, who was sound engineer for that concert. I was captivated by Barnsley’s own Dave Burland.
I remember the moment, thinking to myself, how lovely and amazing that would be to sing to people like that, tell stories, make people laugh, move people to tears, all through music. I had been brought up with folk music of course, but also listened to anything and everything I could get my hands on via the incredible Barnsley Library music department, I had learnt to play fiddle and chords on the guitar, worked out chords on the piano, but that was “the moment”.
Here we are all these years later, 34 years in the music industry, lucky enough to tour the world (always told the audiences how brilliant Barnsley is) but always it remains…. Barnsley in my blood, Barnsley in my brain, born to be an advocate of all things Barnsley, now a very proud Freeman Of The Borough…… all due to music and that moment.
I cannot wait to take to the Barnsley Civic stage myself 40 years after that “light bulb moment”. Full circle complete.
You never know, there may be another 12 year old in the audience at the new Barnsley Folk Festival who may be inspired!Such a fabulous weekend of music planned, come along, bring your kids too, you never know what will happen!!
Thank you Dave Burland. Thank you to my folks who brought me along to the gig – Kate Rusby: Freeman Of The Borough Of Barnsley
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