A YOUTUBE sensation who has stormed the UK music charts is to play in Barnsley to help the town’s homeless.

Jade Helliwell, 25, grabbed the attention of the nation last month when a YouTube video of her singing a duet of the Leonard Cohen classic ‘Hallelujah’ with a street busker while on a night out in Leeds clocked up an incredible 16.8 million views.

She will be on stage in Barnsley next week for the Rucksack Rock benefit concert on June 16 with all of the proceeds from the night going to The Rucksack Project, which helps rough sleepers in the town by supplying them with sleeping bags and essential items to help them through the winter months.

Funds will also be donated to the Barnsley Churches Drop-in Project which provides a warm and dry place for people to go, as well as hot food, clothing and toiletries.

Jade, whose EP hit the number one spot in the UK Country charts, will join an impressive line-up on the night that includes Barnsley’s own Emily Worton, Ginger Tom and Rockaoke.

The gig is upstairs at The White Bear and starts at 7pm. It is the official launch party for the Live In Barnsley musical festival on June 17.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle