LIVE MUSIC

June 2021

LIVE music is always something that brings us all together.

But, like all in-person events during the pandemic, it was an industry bitten by the pandemic. That didn’t stop locals across Barnsley getting their fix, though.

The ever-popular Barnsley Live fesitval went online in 2020.

Thousands tuned in to watch as Barnsley Live went online. The popular town centre festival has become one of Barnsley’s most well-attended events in recent years.

But, with the coronavirus crisis putting paid to any chance of this summer’s festival taking place, it was decided to create a Facebook group and share videos of performances by more than 20 artists who were originally set to play the festival.

Hundreds of pounds were raised for Barnsley Hospital by the group through the festival and a charity CD produced by the team.

But it wasn’t quite the same as the real thing. That’s why it was all the more sweeter when the event returned in 2021.

The town centre’s bars and venues were so busy some acts had trouble getting to the stage in time for their sets, as Barnsley Live returned in October 2021.

But it was a nice problem to have for organisers, who oversaw 25 stages and close to 200 bands and musicians on the festival’s return after 2020’s event went online, owing to the pandemic.

Punters spilled out of every doorway shortly after the first acts hit the stage in the early afternoon and most stayed around until well into the night.

But - with collectors holding Barnsley Hospital Charity buckets and willing volunteers in festival T-shirts running up and down every street - the atmosphere was more jovial and celebratory than your typical boozy afternoon in Barnsley.

Thousands of pounds was raised by the organisers and generous Barnsley residents - and it’s an event which still gets bigger each and every year.