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 Assembly 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.
Named as one of the Top Ten Folk Voices of the Century, a Mercury Prize Winner, 6-times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winner and a warm, Yorkshire sense of humour to boot, Kate has achieved an unprecedented cross-over appeal.
Kate will be supported by Barnsley indie-folk duo Eletto.
Kate Rusby said:
“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.
The 2026 festival will also feature three further events across the weekend.
On Saturday 30 May, from 11am – 4pm, a free festival event will take place in Mandela Gardens, celebrating traditional music, dance and craft. Performances will include The Rhythm Chaps Ceilidh Band; the very same band that played the festival 40 years ago; alongside musicians Barnsdale Hood and Katrina Tia Charles.
The day will also feature performances by dance groups: Barnsley Longsword, Silkstone Greens North West Morris, and Horizon Community College’s sword dance group, made up of the school’s students. Alongside the performances, visitors will be able to take part in a range of free traditional craft activities and dance workshops.
This will be followed by an evening event in Barnsley Civic’s Assembly Theatre featuring local bands inspired by folk music and storytelling. Headlining the evening are Passion Killers, who originally formed as a punk band in 1979, disbanded and joined the influential Leeds folk/punk/dance collective Chumbawamba. The band reformed in 2025 and now perform as an acoustic duo. Joining them on the bill are Parson’s Lot, Common Culture, The Rolling Down Hills and Gabriela y Antony.
The festival will close on Sunday 31 May with an afternoon ceilidh led by musician Chris McShane and friends.
Barnsley Folk Festival is part of Barnsley Civic’s artistic and community engagement programme and is this year supported by Barnsley Council.
The dates and first wave of Barnsley Folk Festival 2027 artist announcements will be made later this summer.
Tickets for the two evening concerts are on sale now and available:
- Online at barnsleycivic.co.uk
- By calling: 01226 327000
- Or in person from the Barnsley Civic Box Office on Eldon Street
Festival website: https://barnsleycivic.co.uk/barnsley-folk-festival/
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