A full programme of music, proudly 50/50 gender balanced, has been revealed for Yorkshire’s award-winning Underneath the Stars festival, to be held this summer from 4th - 6th August!

A fantastically full programme of music, proudly 50/50 gender balanced, has now been revealed for Yorkshire’s award winning boutique festival, Underneath the Stars, which returns on Friday 4th to Sunday 6th August.

Latest names to be announced are: The Magic Numbers comprising two pairs of brothers and sisters, known for their unique harmonies, melodic hooks, songwriting craftsmanship, timeless sound and their live shows.

Electric Jalaba, a deep psychedelic, groove-heavy sound, where Moroccan Gnawa meets echoes of Jamaican dub, trance, electronic music and jazz.
Songwriter, lyricist and poet David Keenan, one of the most fascinating new Irish artists of the past ten years.

Haiku Salut an instrumental dream pop and electronica trio who combine acoustic instruments with electronic elements, which they refer to as “loopery and laptopery”.

From Toulouse, France, the vibrant Super Panela inspired by Afro-Caribbean percussion, the tropical party sounds of Cumbia and Salsa, and the great tropical orchestras of the 50’s.

Barnsley Youth Choir with a joyous hour of music making with their large children´s choir from the internationally recognised.

Foot stomping Leeds based Alligator Gumbo, playing jazz from the hey-day of the swing and jazz era, the "roaring 20s".

One of Manchester’s hottest new artists, The Deep Blue four women, with songs of the indie folk persuasion, rich in three-part vocal harmonies.

This year sees another eclectic, high quality line-up in the beautiful setting of Cinderhill Farm, Barnsley. Returning for its ninth year, the arts and music festival boasts spectacular live performances in a host of musical styles ranging from pop to folk and all genres in between, celebrity interviews, fantastic family workshop activities, wonderful crafts, boutique caterers and great camping.

Headlining Friday are Scouting For Girls. During their immensely successful career they have sold over two million albums, two million singles, had four Brit Award nominations, an Ivor Novello nomination, had four top ten singles, sold-out Wembley Arena and The Royal Albert Hall and had a series of hit singles all of which were inescapable radio smashes.

On Saturday, The Shires, the UK’s biggest country music export, will be performing acoustically. Their achievements speak for themselves: three consecutive UK Top 3 albums, four #1 UK Country albums, 100 million+ streams, two Gold-certified records, and countless sold-out headline shows, including filling the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Also appearing on Saturday is acclaimed songwriter and guitarist, Newton Faulkner, whose fifteen-year career has ranged from the acoustic sorcery of his UK#1 debut, Hand Built By Robots, through to rock, pop, folk, soul and beyond. His most recent live forays have been stripped-back and minimal, just as he started, recognising the power in that.

Closing the weekend on Sunday will be Barnsley’s own nightingale and UTSf figurehead, Kate Rusby. Often hailed as the ‘first lady of folk’, Kate celebrated 30 years of touring last year. With a back catalogue stretching over three decades, Kate will perform a selection of highlights, including those from her most recent albums, the most recent of which is 30: Many Happy Returns.

Further highlights will include:

Nashville based Beth Nielsen Chapman, a Songwriting Hall of Fame member and two-time Grammy nominee who has written seven #1 hits and songs recorded by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Elton John and Neil Diamond, plus many more.

Skerryvore who represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music, being twice named Live Act of the Year. A feel good sound of folk rock with bagpipes, accordions and fiddle combined with kicking rhythms of guitar, bass and drums and keys.

Captivating harmonies and an exuberant live show from The Longest Johns, the face of the sea shanty revival, whose track Wellerman reached millions of fans all across the globe, via social media and leading them to become a must-see band.

Hailing from the Highlands of Scotland, Elephant Sessions, combining the very best of trad, funk and electronica to create a fresh, highly acclaimed sound and breath-taking live shows.

Lottery Winners quickly becoming one of the UK’s biggest and best live bands, renowned for their charisma, sense of fun and numerous, energetic live shows.

A rare appearance from cult band the olllam, winners of Best Folk Group at Ireland’s prestigious RTE Radio One Folk Awards 2022.

A dance party from start to finish, from world-renowned purveyors of contemporary world music, Molotov Jukebox, fronted by the internationally acclaimed actress Natalia Tena.

Smokey-voiced Elles Bailey, at the forefront of the British blues and roots scene, winning multiple UK Blues Awards and Americana Awards UK, including Best Live Act and Artist of the Year 2023.

Back by popular demand 9-piece Cut Capers, who mix a 4-piece brass section with funk, dance and hip-hop and were described as inspirational by the legendary Jimmy Cliff.

Honeyfeet, once likened to Amy Winehouse with the Dap Kings, spanning from big-band swing to blues-tinged folk, held together by Ríoghnach Connolly, BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year.

Holy Moly & The Crackers who bombastically mash together unique flavours of Americana, rock and indie with a circus-punk edge, and have become renowned for their blazing live shows.

Debuting at UTSf, the uniquely captivating Lady Maisery, whose first studio album in six years was released to critical acclaim late last year.

“The best thing to come out of Barnsley, since the A61 to Sheffield" according to Jarvis Cocker, parodists extraordinaire and one of the funniest bands on the planet, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican.

Rum Buffalo a writhing beast of jazz flavoured psych-rock sounds, with horn lines sitting amongst huge sonic landscapes of guitar, twisted synths, and groovy rhythms.

Angeline Morrison & The Sorrow Songs Band who released one of the finest, and most important folk albums of 2022, or indeed, any year, shining a long overdue spotlight on the historic Black experience in the UK folk tradition.

The Often Herd who will bring their transatlantic sound rooted in bluegrass yet deeply coloured by their surroundings in Northern England.

Completing this the line up The People Versus and their haunting folk fairytales powered by sheer pop euphoria and the beguiling voice of lead singer Alice Edwards.

Circus, workshop and street theatre artists are still to be announced.

Underneath the Stars features covered stages within big top tents and award winning production, so festival goers are guaranteed to enjoy performances without need for an umbrella. There is also unrestricted viewing from outside for those who prefer to sit outdoors.