Rockers to remember Bean at festival

Plans have been unveiled for Beanfest 2011, the second charity music festival in memory of Rob, known as “Bean” who died in a car crash last year aged 23.

Last year’s festival at the Star in Rawmarsh raised more than £5,000 and organisers hope to top that total this time around with a day of music and entertainment at the same venue on July 2.

Eighteen bands are set to play the free local music festival, from which all proceeds will go to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

The entertainment starts at noon and will run until midnight, with each band getting half an hour.

Headlining the all-day concert will be Jilted Generation—billed as the world’s only Prodigy tribute band—and Rage against the Bean, a Rotherham tribute to Rage Against the Machine.

Also confirmed in the line up are Bruce Springsteen tribute band The East Street band, In the Absence of Light, Disarm, Mask of Virtue, View from S62, Troika, Doused and Montuno.

The bill also features Leather Zoo, Steel Trees, Massacre of Megafauna, Sporadic Slaughter, Burden, Goatleaf, Diamond Velocity and Kitty Fly.

The festival is free entry and aims to raise cash through voluntary donations, sponsorship, raffles and events. Children are allowed at the outside stage.

All the bands, artistes, helpers and organisers have donated their time free of charge.

Bluebell Wood was chosen as the beneficiary by Rob’s parents Dorothy and Dennis Crook, who said that they hoped the event will raise serious cash and that the festival could make a real difference for children in South Yorkshire.

Among those performing will be festival co-organiser Simon Hartley, a close friend of Rob’s and lead guitarist for both Rage against the Bean and The East Street Band.

He said: “This festival means so much to so many people and the attendance and atmosphere makes the day unforgettable.

“The interest in bands this year has been phenomenal and many bands have had to be turned away.

“We have the local area’s top live bands and accompanied by a few national bands it should be the best festival Rotherham has seen for decades.”

Anyone wanting to take part in, support or help the event can get in touch by email at [email protected].

Donations and pledges are also welcome and can be made via www.justgiving.com/beanfest.

For more information, visit www.beanfest.co.uk.

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