Second annual Johnny Alfrey memorial gig to be headlined by Glastonbury regular

The second annual Johnny Alfrey memorial gig, featuring local bands, will take place at Littleborough Sports Club on 18 May – headlined by a Glastonbury regular.

The event is hosted by The Johnny Alfrey Music Memorial CIC, set up in memory of Johnny Alfrey, a 22-year-old talented musician from Littleborough who sadly died in 2022. The not-for-profit organisation was set up by his family, friends and band, Starboard Jubilee, to support and build a new music community.

The first-event memorial event in 2023 was a sold-out success, with this year’s promising to be even bigger, with 18 “superb northern” bands on the roster, including headliners Beans on Toast and I Am Kloot’s John Bramwell as well as local bands like The Sprats, Lagoon and Starboard Jubilee.

Beans on Toast – Jay McAllister – is a Glastonbury favourite, having played the famous festival every year since 2005. He’s worked with the likes of Ben Lovett (Mumford & Sons), Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets), Frank Turner, Kitty and Lewis Durham (Kitty, Daisy & Lewis).

Renowned musician, DJ and radio presenter Clint Boon will also return to the two-stage event, which will also see street food, cocktails and beer tents on offer. An open mic will be available with a music-themed art tent for children, as well as merchandise on sale.

 

 

Johnny’s mum, Dr Julie Alfrey, said: “This year we are promoting more young bands from the local area and we will be showcasing them as individual gigs throughout the year, some in conjunction with Hoochi Koochi in Rochdale.”

She continued: “We have some new members who are getting involved in different areas of event planning.

“We have had a few workshops including one on compèring and videoing interviews for our young people so that they can be involved in lots of different aspects of the event and build new skills.

“Dave Sweetmore has supported our compèring workshop and [we have] lots more workshops on the horizon.”

 

 

Dr Alfrey added: “We are already planning our 2025 event with another amazing line-up.

“It's all really exciting stuff that Johnny would have been proud of and would have loved to be a part of!”

Tickets for the day cost £15 for adults and £6 for children; all proceeds go towards building opportunities for young people in live music.

Tickets are available at www.ticketsource.co.uk/thejamm or through the Johnny Alfrey Music Memorial Facebook page.