Plans unveiled for music festival to celebrate life of Chesterfield’s Gracie Spinks

Shinefest will take place at New Whittington Social Club on Saturday, August 13, next year.

It is the brainchild of Tracey Leeds who, along with Mark Hewitt, organsier of ‘Bandfest’ at The Hollingwood pub, created the festival as a way to honour the 23-year-old who was sadly killed in June.

As a family friend of Gracie’s for almost 20 years, Tracey said it will be the perfect way to celebrate her life as she had a huge passion for live music, performing and being on stage herself.

She said: “Shortly after Gracie died I approached her mum Alison and asked if I could put on a music festival next year to celebrate the life of her daughter.

"She saw some amazing bands over the years such as Iron Maiden, Green Day, UB40, Take That, the list is endless. In 2019 she came to see local band Escape Plan with me and loved it.

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"One of the last conversations I had with Gracie was on June 14 this year, she asked me if Escape Plan were playing again over the Summer and I told her yes, they will have loads of gigs to go to once Covid is out of the way.

"She said one of the things she wanted to do this year was go to some more local gigs, I told her she could come to any that she wanted with me. Sadly, four days later this changed forever.

"When I asked Alison about putting on the festival her response was ‘Do it, Gracie would have been the first one there’, so I immediately asked my friend Mark Hewitt for his help.”

Tracey said that Shinefest will have a ‘pink, purple and bling theme’ as those were Gracie’s favourite colours and, although the line up is yet to be confirmed, it will feature some of the best bands that Derbyshire has to offer.

She added: “Gracie's family have been involved every step of the way... keep your diaries free as on August 13, 2022, we are all going to party like rockstars in memory of their beautiful girl.”

For more information or updates on Shinefest, visit www.facebook.com/shinefest01.

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