Name: Merry Hell in Barnoldswick (or Barlick)
Start: 2026-06-27T19:00:00+01:00
Location: Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre

A welcome return to this venue of legends - have a look at who else is playing there and those who have already played. It's a fabulously intimate venue - which is why tickets are limited!
Anyway, this is what they have to say about us!!
Merry Hell return to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre on Saturday 27th June for another uplifting night of joyous, life-affirming folk-rock.
Multi-award-winning and proudly rooted in the North-West of England, this electrifying musical charabanc has become one of the most loved acts on the UK folk circuit, blending soaring harmonies, driving rhythms, fiddle, mandolin, keyboards and electric folk spirit into a sound that lifts hearts and fills rooms with energy, hope and togetherness. Formed in 2010 from the embers of the much-loved 1990s folk-punk band The Tansads, Merry Hell grew out of reunion concerts involving brothers John, Bob and Andrew Kettle, who decided to continue creating new music under a fresh name that reflected their renewed spirit and creative direction. Alongside keyboard player Lee Goulding and drummer Andy Jones, the band developed a powerful new identity with the addition of Virginia Kettle, whose distinctive voice and insightful songwriting helped shape the band's uplifting message of community, compassion and resilience. The current line-up also features Colin Foster on bass and virtuoso fiddler Simon Swarbrick, whose musicianship adds rich colour and texture to the band's vibrant folk-rock sound.
Over the past decade Merry Hell have built a formidable reputation as festival favourites across the UK, appearing at major gatherings including Towersey Festival, Wickham Festival, Beautiful Days, Folk on the Pier and the Great British Folk Festival, while also winning devoted audiences through hundreds of unforgettable live shows. Their music blends the storytelling tradition of folk with the power and energy of rock, creating songs filled with melody, passion and big communal choruses that turn audiences into singing choirs. Through a growing catalogue of acclaimed recordings — including Blink… and You Miss It (2011), Head Full of Magic, Shoes Full of Rain (2013), The Ghost in Our House and Other Stories (2015), Bloodlines (2016), Anthems to the Wind (2018), Emergency Lullabies (2020) and their latest album Rising of the Bold (2025) — the band have consistently delivered music that celebrates humanity while confronting the challenges of modern life with honesty and optimism. Across seven albums and countless gigs they have become beacons of light for anyone who values spirit, energy, melody and positive humanity.
When Merry Hell arrive at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, expect foot-stomping rhythms, soaring harmonies and the kind of joyous musical celebration that reminds us why live music matters. Their songs speak of hope, community and resilience, and when those voices rise together in a packed room beneath the Pennine skies, the result is nothing short of magical. This is folk-rock with heart, soul and a powerful message — music designed to bring people together and send them home smiling.