A FREE music festival which has been enjoyed by thousands of revellers over the last five years has been axed.
LIVE in Barnsley has seen hundreds of live acts performing in venues across the town centre and raised valuable funds for different charities.
But a statement was put out by the organisers this week to say the festival will not go ahead next year.
It read: “After five amazing years of the LIVE in Barnsley free music festival, we have decided that all good things come to an end at some point and that this year’s festival was our last.
“It has been an amazing rollercoaster ride full of amazing moments and memories. Our thanks go to every volunteer, every musician, every technician, every venue, festival-goer, supporter and sponsor who made it all happen.
“We will continue to maintain the LIVE in Barnsley social media sites and help in whatever way we can to continue promoting local music.”
Patron Michael Dugher, the former Barnsley East MP, said he was writing to the council to ask it to help co-ordinate volunteers and keep the festival alive. He said he has already had discussions with deputy leader Jim Andrews, who was supportive.
He said: “LIVE in Barnsley was a phenomenal success that was rightly nominated for several awards. It gave an opportunity for so much local talent, it was such a positive advert for the borough and it was the biggest earner of the year for the town centre. I have nothing but complete admiration for Dave Pearsall and Steve Clifford and all the volunteers. I still hope a solution can be found that means LIVE in Barnsley can continue.”
This year’s festival raised money for the Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support, but there was controversy afterwards when organisers appeared to criticise the lack of charity donations in a Facebook rant which was swiftly deleted.
The post said just £145 had been raised through an online donation page, though this later increased to more than £800.
The post read: “I’ve also been advised that, on the day, BIADS collected less than £1,000 in donations. It sickens me that people are paying £3.50 for a pint, can or bottle of beer but couldn’t see their way into putting 50p in a collection tin.”
At the time, BIADS thanked everyone who donated, and a new post on the LIVE in Barnsley Facebook page said the total raised was expected to be in excess of £2,500.
No-one from LIVE in Barnsley wanted to comment on the decision to axe the event.
