The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican Bring Their Shindig to Darlington

The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican at The Forum Darlington is set for Friday 20 November 2026, bringing the Barnsley comedy-folk favourites back to the North East for a seated evening of rewritten hits, folk instruments and the kind of live chaos that has become central to the band’s identity.

Led by Scott Doonican, the group have spent years turning familiar songs into new comic versions, often with completely rewritten lyrics and a deliberately homespun stage style. The Forum describes their shows as lively, anarchic and instantly recognisable, with knitwear, audience interaction and a catalogue that ranges from songs such as The Lady In Greggs to How Deep Is Your Glove? and Goat Yoga.

The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican at The Forum Darlington

The band have built a significant following without relying on a traditional major-label route. They have released multiple studio and live albums, crowdfunded vinyl, appeared at major folk festivals and developed their own events around the same mix of music and comedy. That independence is a big part of the appeal, and it helps explain why the live show has become more of a communal shindig than a standard concert.

Doors open at 7pm and the show is expected to begin at around 7.30pm. Tickets are £22.50 plus booking fee and are being sold through the artist’s official TicketSource route linked by The Forum. The event is seated and listed as 16+, with under-18s needing to attend with an adult.

The show takes place at The Forum Music Centre in Darlington. Ticket information and the latest details are available from the official Forum event page. Details were correct at the time of writing, so check the venue and artist channels before travelling in case timings or admission information changes.