Festival will help kick start young musician’s legacy

A SPECIAL music festival will take place at Priestley College this Saturday (July 23) to help raise funds for a foundation set up in memory of Viola Beach member River Reeves.

It is hoped the festival, that has been organised in under two weeks, will kick start an annual festival in memory of the young musician who tragically died alongside his fellow Viola Beach band members and their manager.

The River Reeves Foundation is a legacy to River’s “short but wonderful life” to provide bursaries, grants for young people across Warrington to give them that financial ‘small step’ and help them build a future within the arts, whether as actors, musicians, artists, directors, writers, singers etc.

There will also be a focus on those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

Working closely with Priestley College and Bridgewater High School the Foundation will provide grants to support Priestley’s PETT Charity (Priestley Education & Training Trust).

The festival will run from 2pm to midnight with all ticket sale profits going to The River Reeves Foundation and all bar profits going to The Viola Beach and Craig Tarry Memoria Fund.

River’s dad Benn Dunn said: “We’ve put together in less than two weeks a festival at Priestley College to raise money for The River Reeves Foundation.

“This is being done in close partnership with Priestley College where River spent probably two of the happiest years of his life.”

Around 180 tickets are still available which can be purchased from Dawsons in Warrington town centre for £20 (cash only), or online by visiting the EventBrite – RivFest page by clicking here.

Ben added: “In less than 14 days I am astounded by what we have achieved and the goodwill of bands and their management teams. I have video messages of support that we’ll be playing in the evening from Vaccines and Billy Bragg with more to come from Coldplay, Stereophonics and Chris Evans.”

“I am not limiting our ambition for Rivfest 2017 and am talking seriously with some major bands, who needed more than 10 days notice to appear this year, about dates that would suit them next year,” he added.

For more details about the River Reeves Foundation visit www.riverreevesfoundation.org