Alehouse Rock II: Bands rally round for festival tribute to founder

Bands and artists have rallied together to put on three days of live music in Southwell as a tribute to a festival organiser who lost his battle with lung cancer.

The Eternal Youth Club Presents Alehouse Rock II will take place from July 3-5.

It has been organised by the Eternal Youth Club, a regular open mic event at the Old Coach House, Easthorpe.

Mr Neil Jenkins, 56, the founder of the club, was in the process of organising the festival before he died in March.

He was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in August, which spread to his bones.

A total of 21 bands have offered their services for free for the festival and will be performing over the three days.

They will play a mix of rock, blues, funk and acoustic.

Alehouse Rock II takes place at the Old Coach House, Hearty Goodfellow and The Bramley Apple Inn, all on Easthorpe.

The Bramley Apple Inn will serve tapas on Friday night and the Hearty Goodfellow will be offering a Sunday lunch menu.

The festival starts at 7pm on the Friday and 6pm on Saturday. The festival will close with a special Eternal Youth Club open mic session at the Old Coach House on Sunday evening.

Mr Chris Birkhill, one of the organisers, said: “Following on from the unprecedented success of last year’s inaugural event, Southwell’s Alehouse Rock Music, we are pleased the festival will be taking place again, much to the delight of beer and music lovers alike.

“Following Neil’s sad passing after a battle with cancer, the show will go on in his memory, with funds raised benefiting charity.”

A raffle will be held during the festival, with prizes donated by local businesses.

Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark, and John Eastwood Hospice, Sutton-in-Ashfield.

They were the two charities Mr Jenkins chose before he died.

Speaking to the Advertiser in February Mr Jenkins said: “I realise that there are so many people out there whose lives have been touched by this terrible, ugly, cruel disease.

“Both of the charities perform similar roles and between them cater to the needs of people across Nottinghamshire.

“The people of Southwell have always turned out in their droves to support the events.”

Mr Jenkins has previously organised the Raise The Roof and Alehouse Rock festivals.

Festival wrist bands for the festival can be bought from the three host pubs and cost £5.

For more information email eyc@hotmail.com