Penistone Folk Festival

The First Folk Festival
With the inauguration of the Market Cruck Barn and with an alcohol and public performance licence, Penistone is now able to put on decent-sized community events in the open. The first event was an Easter Service on Good Friday but the second use was a much bigger event on Sunday 26th June 2011.

This was Penistone's first Folk Festival and it introduced amateur and professional folk bands and singers to the people of Penistone. It was mainly organised by Carol Bradbury and Chris McShane, who is well known in folk circles, and with help from the Round Table who provided the sound system, Penistone scout volunteers and church people. The day went very well and attracted a large audience throughout the afternoon and early evening. The weather stayed pleasant throughout.

Yours truly was not feeling well and did not last more than four hours. This was a six-hour event. The Huntsman bar was serving real ale and that was very useful for its medicinal properties. A week after the event, a very polished and entertaining 'folk special' was transmitted on local radio Penistone FM. Ian France presented a show which included a balance of whole song performances and some interesting interviews.

The Participants
Penistone scouts did a good job with their barbeque. The fourth picture, top row, shows Penistone Mayor Steve Webber introducing them to the audience. Just visible behind the scoutmaster is a glimpse of chief organiser Carol Bradbury. The festival organisers hope to build on the success of this year's event and make it an annual event. Here was the entry in the 2011 Events List:

Penistone's First Annual Folk Festival - 2pm to 8pm, Market Barn, Penistone. An (almost) open-air, free event. Kicks off with The 'Bus Pass Buskers', also (but not in this order): 'The Monkey' Ukulele Group, Crazy Crow (Irish band), The Yorkshire Chandelier Dance Team, Barnsley Folk Ensemble, Johnny and Prison Didn't Help Boys, Penistone Poetry Group and, er, Morris Dancers. Not to worry though, there's a bar by the Huntsman with real ale and special scrumpy cider. Also cakes by St Andrew's, a barbeque by Penistone Scouts, refreshments, Cornish accents (why always Cornish?), beards and lots of wind. This event was organised by Carol Bradbury, Penistone Church, Penistone Round Table and an assortment of others. Apologies to Chris McShane for leaving him out. He was pivotal in organising the performers.

Penistone Festival of Folk 2012
The second folkfest was at least as good as the the first one, in spite of poorer weather. The summer of 2012 had suffered the most rainfall since records began and this was another cloudy and dull day. From the 2012 Events List:

Penistone Festival of Folk - 1pm to 6pm, Penistone Market Barn. Now in its second year. As a private venture, Carol Bradbury and Chris McShane have again arranged a great afternoon of folksy entertainment for the Penistone community. The list is: Johnny and the Prison Didn't Help Boys, The Bus Pass Buskers, The Rhythm Chaps, The Sheaf River Band, Penistone Ukulele Ensemble, The Paul None Trio, Band 4, Barnsley Folk Ensemble - and others.

With a Real Ale bar by The Huntsman and a barbecue by Penistone Scouts. Yorkshire Air Ambulance representatives were also present and Penistone FM recorded the proceedings to re-broadcast them later. The band in this panoramic view was (probably) The Sheaf River Band. The poster was designed by yours truly.