First online DaleFest in memory of musician Dale Harrop raises over £4,800 for charity

Dale Harrop

The first online DaleFest in memory of local musician Dale Harrop has raised over £4,800 for charity.

Dale sadly died in April 2018 at the age of 38 due cystic fibrosis, a lifelong condition which affects the lungs. He had played with Nat O Brien Band, Funked It Up, Midnight Hour, Roper, The Tritones, Chris Wise & The Hidden Revolution amongst others.

The first online DaleFest – and the third overall – was held on what would have been Dale’s 41st birthday on 25 May 2020, a mini concert via Facebook with new performances and archive footage from Dale’s friends and fellow musicians.

The 45-minute video features contributions from The Tritones, Shenanigans, Owen Harrop, Alan Tarpey, LJ, Kirk McElhinney, Funked It Up, Pinked Floyd, The Scattering, The Late Show and Chris Wise & The Hidden Revolution.

Dale’s best friend, Iain Simpson said: “This year we’d have had DaleFest 3 but due to social distancing it was impossible. We thought it would be especially nice to give Dale’s mum and his family something from all of us in this way, as we hadn’t been able to see her on the anniversary of his death or on his birthday.”

He added: “It’s hoped that as we share these performances it invokes fond memories of Dale, brings a smile and, in some small part, comfort to his family and those who knew him.”

The first DaleFest was held in May 2018 at the Flying Horse Hotel in Rochdale town centre, raising money for the cystic fibrosis unit which cared for Dale.

Last year, the second DaleFest was held, raising money for not only the cystic fibrosis unit, but also Action for Alport’s, a kidney disease charity.

Iain added: “In these furloughed, lockdown days, there is no emphasis on fund raising but for those who can we have donated to the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre who cared for Dale.”

DaleFest 3 can be watched via Facebook at:

• www.facebook.com/646412064/posts/10158443060362065

To donate to the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manchester-cf