Anti-racism music event planned for town centre

Barnsley Council and the Love Music Hate Racism organisation are working on the event on the Court House site where the veteran band UB40 will be the headline act.

The main concert will take place from 4pm, with other acts taking part including Sheffield's Reverend and the Makers and rap act Chipmunk.

The show follows a successful LMHR event at the Magna Centre in Rotherham almost two years ago. Organisers have described the line-up as "fantastic" and in addition to the main stage, events will be taking place at a string of venues around the town centre.

The objective is to promote anti-racism through music and a council spokesman said: "The LMHR concert promotes unity and equality for all regardless of background and uses music as a medium to bring people together.

"The council's culture and creative industries are passionate about developing community cohesion in Barnsley and see the arts as a unique vehicle that can be used towards this aim.

"The LMHR concert offers us a very exciting opportunity to bring high profile music acts to Barnsley for its residents to enjoy and experience together and demonstrate the value that culture can play in building communities."

A large team has been assembled to handle staging, sound, lighting and security, with the county's emergency services contributing to the safety operation. On the day, 150 stewards will help to maintain safety.

LMHR spokesman George Arthur said they were expecting all 10,000 tickets to be sold.

"It will be the only LMHR carnival taking place over the May Day weekend and we expect a massive turnout by Barnsley people but also music lovers from across the North of England," he said.

Two small concerts have already taken place in the town centre to promote the event.

Tickets are available now from Metrodome, 0845 838 4519, and the Civic, 0845 1800 363, at 8.