14 acts at seven venues for second Barney Jam

THE line-up has been finalised for this year’s Barney Jam day-long music festival.

Upset Beat

The event will feature 14 bands playing across seven town centre venues and will conclude with an after show party at the Raby Arms featuring four more acts.
The Barney Jam will take place on Saturday, September 2, and will kick off with a set by Teesdale’s Upset Beat at the Cricketer’s Arms at noon.
Paul Upton, a member of the organising committee, said feedback from last year’s inaugural Barney Jam had been taken on board when organising this year’s festival.
“Last year we were overwhelmed with people wanting to play and we ended up putting too many artists on with people running from one place to the next,” he said.
As a result the number of performers has been cut from 21 to 14 and there will be no overlapping of sets.
The acts chosen to play from more than 30 which expressed an interest will also get to be on stage for longer.
“Everyone who played last year applied again, but we want to keep it fresh,” said Mr Upton.
This has resulted in a variety of performers from across the North East, with one – Gerry Cooper – travelling from Bradford for the festival.
“There is good live music here, all the venues support live music and we wanted to build on that.
“It’s about attracting people to see live music at some of the great venues in the town.”
The festival will also raise funds for good causes.
“Upset Beat, a group of teenagers from The Hub, are going to open the festival and money raised in there will be going back into the music studio at The Hub,” added Mr Upton.
Elsewhere throughout the day, money will be raised for the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.
Last year, more than £800 was raised for the charity.
The venues hosting the Barney Jam are the Cricketer’s Arms, the Commercial Hotel, Three Horse Shoes, 12 Bar Blues, The Golden Lion, Old Well Inn and The Blue Bell.
The full line-up is: Upset Beat; Pete & Sarah; Toni & Gaz; Bon Scott’s Parrot; Freeman; Chris Pryke; Gerry Cooper; Luke Jordan & James Brown; Moonshine Grove; John Doe Experiment; Crossover; Accidental Damage; Kitchy Retro and Reverent Green.
The after show party at the Raby Arms will be restricted to 220 people and this will be the only ticketed event of the day, with admission costing £5. Performing will be the Norgaards and Deeper Season, with acoustic sets by Cara Pearson and Liam Samson. Further details are available on the festival Facebook page – search for Thebarneyjam.