Tickets for gig tribute go well

Music fans are set to travel from far and wide to attend a concert in Malvern being staged by a Worcestershire band in tribute to a great friend of theirs who died after a cardiac malfunction.

Fifty-eight-year-old Keith Jones of the band Rare Breed said they had sold nearly 200 tickets in less than a month for the event in memory of 38-year-old singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Coffey, who lived in Malvern Link.

Mr Coffey was at a friend’s home in August when he felt a pain in his chest and was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, where he died. We reported earlier this month how Rare Breed are now putting on a concert in memory of him at Malvern Youth Centre in Albert Road North on Saturday, December 2.

Mr Jones, who lives near Malvern, said the band were overwhelmed with the response, and knew of people who known Adrian through his work as a scientist with Malvern-based science and technology organisation QinetiQ who were travelling from as far as Plymouth, Kent, Yorkshire and Oxfordshire for the concert.

He said: “I think the great response has just been because of how Adrian was and that he was such a good guy.

“We’re doing gigs all the time but this one will be a bit special because of that link and we’re really looking forward to it – the vibes are definitely right for it.”

Mr Jones formed Rare Breed last year with Tony May of Cotheridge. He met Mr Coffey at a folk club and played with him for 13 years, appearing alongside him in the group the Road North with renowned folk musician Vikki Clayton.

Rare Breed’s Malvern concert is being held in aid of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young. They hope to raise more than £2,500.

A limited number of tickets, priced £10, are available by calling Keith Jones on 01886 821 931 or 07974 703 581 or from Aquarius in Malvern town centre.