VARIOUS bands and artists including Maximo Park, Billy Bragg and Eliza and the Bear will play at this year’s music festival set up by the family of Warrington musician River Reeves, who tragically died last year.
RivFest, the annual music festival set up by the family of the late Viola Beach guitarist River Reeves will take place on Saturday, September 2 at Priestley College. All four members of the band attended Priestley College.
The four members of Viola Beach – Reeves, Kris Leonard, Tomas Lowe, Jack Dakin – and their manager Craig Tarry were all killed when their car left a bridge in Sweden in February 2016.
Tickets for the event are on sale now via a variety of methods at www.riverreevesfoundation.org/rivfest-2017
Organisers say that for every ticket sold, £1 will be donated to the We Love Manchester campaign set up by the British Red Cross and Manchester City Council in support of victims of the recent terrorist attack in the city.
Proceeds will also go to The River Reeves Foundation, which will be working with bus company Arriva NW to build over the coming years a school to school bus fleet that will include a recording studio bus, animation bus, theatre bus, dance bus, and a creative arts bus as well as single decker buses, providing mental health support for youngsters across Warrington’s schools as part of the Future in Mind initiative.
The buses will tour schools and provide inspiration to youngsters, many from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as wider support for those struggling to access mental health support.
Following their tribute to Viola Beach at Glastonbury in 2016, Coldplay have been passionate advocates of the charity and are lending their support to the bus project and other ambitious plans the charity has.
Coldplay will have their images over the buses and have issued the following statement to encourage people to buy a ticket and attend this year’s RivFest17: ‘If you live anywhere near Warrington, please buy a ticket for Rivfest17 on Saturday 2nd September. It’s a fantastic line up, a top day out and a wonderful cause – raising money to realise the dreams of upcoming local talent, all in memory of the great River Reeves.’ Coldplay.
Whilst Coldplay won’t be performing at this year’s RivFest17, the festival organizers are daring to dream that a performance by the band at a future RivFest might one day happen.
The aims of the foundation are to help young people realise their dreams as actors, writers, artists, directors and musicians through school to school support, grants, donations and other payments.
For more on the charity see www.riverreevesfoundation.org
