profile

Jazz at the Centre - Darfield

Jazz at the Centre - Dearne Big Band - 16th Jan 8PM

Published 10 months ago • 1 min read

Jazz at the Centre - Dearne Big Band & Singers

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year to you all,

This month it’s the Dearne Big Band and Singers led by Loraine Cawood.

Liz, Dave, Sue, Chloe, myself and many others in the village (plus more than one or two in full time music jobs) grew up and got our start in performing music through this band. The Dearne Big Band is the main fundraiser for the Barnsley Youth Jazz Association. The Jazz Association provides a route for local kids and young adults to start playing an instrument (and join a band) where this opportunity isn’t available to them through other routes. None of the adults in the Big Band take a fee, ever. The money paid to the Dearne Big Band goes back in total to the Jazz Association.

So, by supporting the concert on 16 January you are supporting local kids to get into music. This music is of course swing and jazz in the hope that the music we all love and enjoy can continue into the future whilst giving the kids opportunities to learn an instrument and, as we did, some life skills along the way. That might sound a little like emotional bribery and to a degree it is; music (and the arts) are now so diluted and under-funded in mainstream education that it is vital that other routes exist. Just ask Liz or Loraine they both teach or have taught in our secondary schools. I'll get off my soap box now.

As normal the Community Centre bar will be open for drinks and there will be the regular complimentary teas and coffees in the interval.

The remaining Concerts for the season are as below:

Friday 13th February 2026 - Washington Whirligig

Friday 20th March 2026 - Worth Valley Hot Seven feat. Ruth Gardziel

Concerts will be held at Darfield Community Centre, Illsley Road, Darfield, S73 9AL starting at 8pm. Entry is still £7.50 on the door, no need to book in advance, and there will of course be the obligatory raffle.

Thank you for all your support and making sure that we're keeping jazz live and alive!!

All the very best,

Andy on behalf of Dave, Liz & Andy (Jazz at the Centre)

Jazz at the Centre - Darfield

Keeping Jazz Live and Alive

We are three local jazz musicians self promoting a series of monthly jazz concerts during the winter months. Something bright and cheerful to look forward to during the darker months of the year. Let us have your email and we'll keep you up to date. It goes without saying that you email address will be safe and secure with us and only used for this single purpose.

Read more from Jazz at the Centre - Darfield

Jazz @ the Centre - Oct Update No 2 Hi Everyone, Unfortunately this is another "regrettably" email. Thank you to all of you who came out to see Whirligig at the Travellers on Friday evening in what were, lets be honest, foul weather conditions! You were the hardy and dedicated ones, the locals on the other hand did not show up. As a result the pub do not think it's a viable evening for them going forward. I know some of you were planning to go early next month and have some food so I wanted...

4 days ago • 1 min read

Jazz @ the Centre - Update Hi Everyone, This is a bit of a bad news / good news email. Regrettably there won't be a Jazz at the Centre this season. Nothing bad has happened it's just a combination of things happening in life that has lead to busy bands and reduced available dates. So it's a watch this space for the future and if things change then you will be the first to know. The good news however is that Whirligig will be playing at the Travellers Inn, Birdwell (S70 5XF) on a monthly...

20 days ago • 1 min read

Whirligig Jazz Hi Everyone, Hope you are all keeping well. Just a quick line to let you know that one of our regular Jazz at the Centre Bands is putting on an evening of toe tapping jazz. Whirligig Jazz will be playing this Friday the 10th July 2026 at the Travellers Inn, 124 Sheffield Road, Birdwell, Barnsley, S70 5XF starting at 8:30pm. Entry is free. The Travellers has new owners and is a new venture in the area. You can come for a drink or take advantage of a varied menu of splendid food....

4 months ago • 1 min read