LIVE in Barnsley, the town’s first metropolitan free music festival that first took place in June 2013, is now into its third year. This year’s LIVE in Barnsley FREE Music Festival takes place on Saturday 20 June 2015 and the organisers today announced that there will be more venues and more bands than last year and that applications open today, Friday 20th February, for bands wanting to appear.
One of the organisers, Dave Pearsall, told us “We are really pleased to announce that twelve of the venues that took part in 2014 will take part again this year and that there will be two additional venues. They are Soul Lounge on Shambles Street and Igloo which is above Chambers in Peel Square.
This means that the festival expands to 14 venues, 126 bands, over 500 musicians and the organisers are hoping that after last years sunny weather that brought over 4,000 music fans into town, will see even more people come along and join the fun.
Fellow organiser, Steve Clifford, also told us, “We’re also happy to announce that this years festival will again be sponsored by local Barnsley based firm, Fenton and Fenton Ltd, one of Yorkshire’s largest roofing and Upvc specialists. We are so grateful for their support in the current economic climate and this is an amazing show of faith and support in the festival”
Craig Fenton, the founder and Managing Director of the company stated “It’s great to support LIVE in Barnsley again. I had an amazing time at last years festival and we are happy to support local music. Yet again it shows what Barnsley folk can achieve if we all work together.”
In 2013 it was announced that Feargal Sharkey was to be Patron of the festival. Feargal will be fondly remembered by many as the singer for The Undertones who had UK hits with songs such as “Teenage Kicks”, “Here Comes The Summer” and “My Perfect Cousin”. This year the organisers have announced that local Labour MP for Barnsley East and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Michael Dugher, has also agreed to be a patron of the festival. Michael has played an acoustic guitar set at the festival in 2013 and 2014. Those lucky enough to have been in Funky Buddha last year will also have seen Michael joined on stage by Feargal Sharkey for an impromptu rendition of ‘Teenage Kicks’.
Michael told us, “I was delighted to accept the offer to become a patron of LIVE in Barnsley. It is a real honour to be involved in such a fantastic local event and I look forward to supporting the festival this year and in the years to come.”
Organiser, Dave Pearsall said, “Michael has been a great supporter of the festival right from the start and we wanted to thank him and show how much we appreciate his support by inviting him to become our patron.”
Since last years event the festival has been honoured with nomination in the 2014 Proud of Barnsley awards, the Yorkshire Gig Guide Awards and the UK Festival Awards. Just before Christmas it was announced that they were winners of the inaugural Barnsley Music Awards in the Favourite Event category.
Dave Pearsall told us, “The festival philosophy hasn’t changed. We are a Free festival, we are the festival on a shoestring and we look to showcase and support local and unsigned musicians from Barnsley and across Yorkshire and the North. Working together with local businesses and volunteers we hope to put on another great day out for everyone.”
Bands wishing to apply for this years festival go to www.liveinbarnsley.co.uk and apply online.
For live updates from the Live in Barnsley team, visit twitter/liveinbarnsley and facebook/live-in-barnsley
left to right; Steve Clifford, Feargal Sharkey and Dave Pearsal.
Alternative Barnsley 