POPULAR FESTIVAL: The dale duo Box of Frogs were among the bands to perform at the first Barney Jam in 2016
POPULAR FESTIVAL: The dale duo Box of Frogs were among the bands to perform at the first Barney Jam in 2016

THE Barney Jam is to return – and it’s back by popular demand.

After a hiatus this year, Barnard Castle’s popular day-long music festival will be staged next September.

Organisers say the event will follow a similar format to that of previous Barney Jams but with a few tweaks.

Paul Upton, who is part of the organising committee, said: “When it wasn’t held this year, a lot of people asked why it wasn’t happening – and is it happening again.

“People wanted it to happen again, so here we are.”

Mr Upton said the committee was in the earliest stages of planning next year's Barney Jam, which will take place on Saturday, September 7.

“It will be a similar format, but we have learned from previous years,” he said.

“It may be that there are fewer bands, but playing for longer and with no overlaps, and possibly fewer or different venues.

“The Barney Jam is about the music,” added Mr Upton.

“It’s a good opportunity to see different bands and artists.

“We have already got three or four people interested who haven’t played before.”

As with the previous two Barney Jams, the event would support the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.

However, there will be no after show party next year.

Mr Upton said planning would begin in earnest in the new year, but the search for artists to take part had begun.

Anyone interested in the Barney Jam or bands and artists wishing to perform at next year’s event should contact the organisers via their Facebook page @Thebarney jam.