This spring saw the return of Barnsley Folk Festival, a traditional song and dance festival that first took place in 1986. Hosted and managed by Barnsley Civic, the festival saw nearly 2,000 people attend a range of concerts, dances and workshops over a weekend in May. The weekend also included a sell-out concert from headliner Kate Rusby. Barnsley Folk Festival will take place over Wednesday 19 – Sunday 23 May 2027. Friday night will see the exclusive An Evening with The Roberts; an intimate concert with Barnsley’s foremost musical family; featuring both award-winning duos Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman and Gilmore & Roberts sharing the stage together for the first time. Kathryn and Sean have forged a creative bond that is as enduring as it is inspiring. Their 30 year journey together stands as a testament to their artistry, authenticity, and masterful musicianship. From young trailblazers in the 1990s folk supergroup Equation, they have become one of Britain’s most admired and decorated folk duos. Their contribution to the British folk landscape has not gone unnoticed. Kathryn and Sean have twice been named ‘Best Duo’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Their live shows have earned them a devoted following and a reputation in the British folk and acoustic scene. Gilmore & Roberts celebrate 20 years Performing alongside Kathryn and Sean is Kathryn’s brother Jamie Roberts and Katriona Gilmore. The performance will combine award-winning songwriting with astounding musicianship and their trademark harmonies to create a powerful wall of sound. Nominated three times at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts have toured Canada and mainland Europe. They have played some of the UK’s biggest acoustic festivals and toured with folk rock legends Fairport Convention. 2026 sees Gilmore & Roberts celebrate two decades of music with an album of newly recorded career highlights. Having both grown up in the Barnsley village of Dodworth, siblings Kathryn and Jamie have taken the UK folk scene by storm over the last few decades. Support for the evening comes from singer-songwriter Jasmine Fearn. On the festival’s Saturday night, Barnsley’s very own purveyors of comedy folk music, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican and their army of knit-wear clad fans will take over Barnsley Civic’s theatre. Now entering their twentieth year, The Doonicans are far from being your typical folk ensemble. Outspoken and energetic ringleader Scott Doonican, and his brothers-from-other-mothers, Alan Doonican, Mo-Jo Doonican, Dave Doonican and the Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Rickenbacker Doonican III, have made their name with their anarchic live shows and no-holds barred parodies of famous songs. Over the last two decades, the group have played over 1400 shows, played to 20,000 people at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, the Avalon Stage at Glastonbury Festival, recorded collaborations with the likes of Frank Turner, Eliza Carthy and members of the Levellers. They have also scaled the heights of a #1 and a #2 single as well as a #2 album on the iTunes Comedy Charts. A packed programme across the festival Alongside Barnsley Folk Festival’s headline concerts, there will be performances by Serious Sam Barrett, The Rhythm Chaps, The Hooliemen, Shoon, Parson’s Lot and Glass Ships. Also expect folk sessions, storytelling, theatre, traditional dance performances, craft activities and plenty of food and drink.
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