BARNARD Castle’s popular day-long music festival has been axed.
Organisers of the Barney Jam, which for the past two years has taken place on the first Saturday in September, say they cannot commit the time to organising the event, which has attracted bands, musicians and fans from far and wide to the town.
Artists from across the North East joined locally-based acts to take part in the event, which was staged across a number of venues in Barnard Castle town centre.
Last year’s event concluded with an after-show party at the Raby Arms which showcased the talents of four local acts as well as offering others the chance to pick up an instrument and jam.
Barnard Castle-based singer-songwriter Toni Sidgwick, who was part of the event’s organising committee, said the decision to axe the festival had been taken after much deliberation.
She said: “We’ve decided due to the personal commitments of the committee members this year that we can’t run the Jam this year.
“We wouldn’t want to do it half way.
“We are considering putting on the odd one-off smaller event with original and quirky musicians, but there is nothing in the pipeline at the minute,” she added.
“If we do put something on, our aim is for it to be something completely different.”
In a statement posted on the festival’s Facebook page, the committee adds: “Rest assured, Teesdale will go from strength to strength in its promotion of live music. Thanks for all your support.”
In addition to promoting the music of local and regional musicians and bands, the Barney Jam also helped raise thousands of pounds for the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.
Pam Ashmore, of the local branch committee, said the group was sorry to hear there will be no festival this year.
