SMiLE 2019 - First act announcement

SMiLE Festival are pleased to announce that the first act on the 2019 line up is Just Jack!

With hit singles 'Starz in their Eyes' and 'The Day I Died', Just Jack AKA Jack Allsopp will be playing SMiLE Festival at AFC Sudbury in Suffolk, in support of The Smile of Arran Trust. Jack will be playing an exclusive stripped back acoustic set, featuring songs from his older albums 'Overtones' and 'All Night Cinema', as well as new material from his album 'What We Did Today' with new songs that detail the change in Jacks life since becoming a father, and looking back on schoolboy crushes. His new album has been very well received and we are so glad that Jack will be joining us on 20th July, particularly as he was one of Arran Tosh's favourite artists.

Arran Tosh was 13 years old when he passed away from a brain tumour just 5 days after diagnosis. Arran would often be seen outside the Cancer Research UK shop in the town of Sudbury where he would busk on a Saturday before handing in his days earning to the shop, and popping round the corner to grab a Subway sandwich for his walk home. Arran had also planned to shave his head on the last day of school, again to raise money for Cancer Research, a charity close to his heart after his Aunt was diagnosed. Sadly Arran never did have his head shaved, and after going for a routine eye test, was rushed to hospital where a scan showed a tumour on his brain. Arran passed away just 5 days later.

The Smile of Arran Trust has been set up by Arrans family in memory of him, in order to ensure his legacy of helping others lives on. The charity supports children and their families suffering from brain tumours and brain cancer, and since 2014 until present has raised over £200,000. This money has also gone to charities such as Clic Sargent, and help fund projects such as music therapy in the childrens ward at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. More info can be found at www.smileofarran.org.

Arran's sister Abbie and her partner James initially came up with the idea of a music fundraising event having attended a local music festival and thinking 'Arran would have loved this'. Arrans love of music and acting meant there was no more suitable event to hold, and the first festival took place at AFC Sudbury in 2017. After a successful first event, unfortunately 2018 plans were cancelled due to other personal commitments, but the new look event returns in 2019. This year the event is an evening festival due to reasons out of our control, but there will also be a pre-festival gig on 26th April in order to showcase local talent and give local musicians a platform to perform.

With more acts to be announced, and earlybird tickets on sale now, we hope you'll join us as we welcome Just Jack and others to Sudbury on 20th July to raise money for The Smile of Arran and remember Arran Tosh.

www.smilefestival.co.uk

info@smilefestival.co.uk

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