Aroundtown Magazine January/February 2024 edition

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Baa’sil goes to
Lights, camera, action!
Rotherham Real Ale and
Music Festival is back for 2024
with a film-themed festival to
celebrate the return of cinema in
Rotherham.
This year’s blockbuster festival will pay
homage to the film industry across three nights
from Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th March
at Magna.
Your favourite hero Baa’sil the sheep will
be making a cameo appearance at what the
organisers are calling ‘Director’s Cut’.
But plot twist: it could be the last one!
After 31 years, 12 of those held at Magna, it’s
becoming increasingly unviable to run due to
the rising costs of beer, bands, and venue hire.
The call sheet of volunteers is also dwindling
every year.
But lead organiser, Steve Burns, is counting
on the people of South Yorkshire to get a ticket
and make it a fun farewell before the closing
credits roll.
“We always start off with the premise of how
we can make sure people have a good time.
Then we decided how the festival is going to
“
Along with beers from
some of South Yorkshire’s
finest breweries such as
Abbeydale, Bradfield,
Gorilla, and Nailmaker,
there will also be a guest
bar featuring some West
Country breweries.
”
make money. This year we’ve cut expenses as
much as we can, and the ticket price is the same
as last year - £12.
“The pub up the road from you might be doing
a beer festival with a few guest ales and free
entry. But we spend as much on the music as we
do on beer. Our entry price gets you access to
some great live music for around half the price of
what you’d pay to see one act. And, as always,
if you keep your official glass then you can get
back in for free on the Saturday.”
The soundtrack to the start of this year’s
festival is a bit different than in recent years.
Thursday night will be an open mic event in the
main hall where solo acts and bands can book
their place to perform with the house band and
professional sound system.
On Friday night, the popular Funky Business
will headline the main stage with a mix of soul,
funk and dance classics, supported by Kiziah
and the Kings and beer festival stalwarts,
The G Men.
On Saturday, there will be a buskers’ corner
in the Boardwalk room. Any buskers who take
part can reclaim their expenses and also collect
donations on the night.
Over on the main stage, the line-up includes
South Yorkshire soloists and bands such as The
Leptons, Lightning Threads, Bone Broke Kings,
Sam Scherdel and Daniel Horsham.
Then get ready to send the beer festival out
with a bang as The Leathernecks take to the
stage with their energetic renditions of Indie-rock
hits from bands like Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, and
The Libertines.
Later this year, the eight-screen Arc Cinema
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