This year’s Barleycorn Music Club Festival promises to be an experience not to be missed with some of the city’s top live acoustic acts and bands taking to the stage.
The 38th festival takes place on Saturday May 18, at the “home” of the club – the Saggy Stone Pub and Restaurant at the Villager Football Club in Claremont.
This year’s line-up includes Boulevard Blues, Fruit Vendor, Alanna Joy, Berrisford Rose, Jules Terea, Celine and band, Luca Hart, Oh Mercy and Mae
Sithole.
The Barleycorn Music Club has survived for 44 years and has become a powerful platform for recognising and promoting exceptional local acts.
It all started in 1975, when a group of musicians decided to meet regularly to jam together and share their music. The club has remained and musicians still meet weekly to play music, said committee member Therese de Bruyn.
The first festival was held in 1980 at the Maynardville Open Air Theatre. Ms De Bruyn said the venue was packed for the 20 acts taking to the stage in the nine-hour event. The Barleycorn Music Festival went on to become an annual event with performances by artists such as Freshlyground, Steve Newman and Tony Cox.
Ms De Bruyn said what made the club unique and contributed to its longevity was that it promoted original music and was a venue where the audience really appreciated the performers and actually listened to the music.
She said the club was a non-profit organisation and the funds raised were used to promote local music and talent.
The festival will run from 6pm to 10pm. There will also be a lucky draw with a Fender Paramount PM-1 guitar worth approximately R18 000 up for grabs. Tickets are R100 on Quicket and R120 at the door. There will be secure parking, a cash bar and food for sale.
