A NEW free music event will honour the memory of one of the town’s musical pioneers.

Renegade Hornblower, which will take place at the Basingstoke Irish Centre, in Council Road, has been organised to commemorate five years since the death of Robbie Fraser.

The much-loved trumpet player died as a result of a motorcycle crash in 2013.

With much unrest surrounding the introduction of a charge to this year’s Basingstoke Live event – now known as B Love – this free all-day event has been set up both as an alternative and a celebration of Robbie's life.

Event organiser Raz Razzle told The Gazette: “There was a lot of disconcert towards the council over the running of Basingstoke Live.

“When we were looking to organise this we thought this is the type of thing that Robbie would be doing if he was still with us, so we wanted to do it as a memorial of his life.

“To give the event some validity we initially asked some of the more established local bands, but when we wanted to do it for Robbie we knew we had to get people involved who knew him.”

The event, which will take place on Saturday, 7 July, will feature local bands, singers and DJs provide live entertainment on both floors of the Irish Centre.

By hosting the event on the same weekend as B Love, Raz said it is a statement to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council at the disappointment residents felt with the way the previously free event has been changed and revamped.

Raz added: “This isn’t in anyway a protest against B Love, rather a statement to the council and we want everyone to feel welcome to the event.

“There is a worry we might be a little over capacity, but we just want people to come along have a good time and enjoy the local talent we have on show.”

Confirmed for the event so far are Black Bullets, Skan Kin Steve and Johnny Marvel’s Blues Groove with more acts to be announced.

For more information, search for 'Renegade Hornblower 2018' on Facebook.