There are hopes the event will raise funds and honour the memory of Oliver Ellis
Cottingham Live charity music night will be held in memory of Oliver Ellis, pictured at an Oasis gig(Image: supplied image)
A bumper night of music is being planned in East Yorkshire in honour of a talented young performer who sadly passed away at the age of 18. William Jennison is putting on Cottingham Live, a charity night packed with “fantastic live music”, at Cottingham Civic Hall, on Saturday, May 9.
More than five hours of entertainment is planned in tribute to Market Weighton teenager Oliver Ellis. William said: “In October, I lost my best friend Oliver Ellis at the age of 18.
“Oliver was a much loved staff member at Hull’s famous Gough & Davy piano shop. Oliver was special, he wasn’t like most people, he had this part of him that brought the best out in you.
“Everything that played on your mind faded away around him. His brightness and enthusiasm was infectious.
“Oliver had a passion for music; the way it made him feel and how it could move others inspired him.” As well as working at Gough & Davy, Oliver was studying music and “on a mission to play to as many people as possible”, said William.
“Studying at East Riding Music College, being in a band and working at Gough & Davy gave him the opportunity to do this.” Tragically, Oliver passed away at home on October 7 last year and his funeral was held the following month, at All Saints’, Market Weighton.
“It was a complete tragedy, completely awful,” said William, who first met Oliver when he went into Gough & Davy to buy an amp. The pair struck up an immediate friendship and three weeks later had formed a band, together with William’s two brothers.
Oliver later formed a tribute band and “sold out” Hull’s Polar Bear, William said. “After he died, I was away on a long-planned trip and Oliver’s mum held up his funeral until I was back – the band gigged at his funeral.”
William and his two brothers have since written an album and will be debuting it at Cottingham Live in memory of Oliver. The young man’s image and his guitar will also have a place on the stage.
“From this big charity night we hope to raise lots of money towards The Warren Youth Project in Hull. Everything’s organised and there’s the likelihood it will sell out – about 200 tickets are remaining at the moment.”
The line-up includes The Verve’d, tribute to The Verve; The Stepbrothers, the band that was formed with Oliver; AKA Noel Gallagher, tribute to Noel Gallagher and Oasis, and Kind Queen, tribute to Queen. William wears a pendant bearing an image of Oliver from when they both went to see Oasis in Manchester.
He said: “Oliver was in his element. We managed to get about 25m from the stage and when they were playing Oliver’s favourite song, D’You Know What I Mean?, there’s him on this guy’s shoulders and just loving it; it’s hard to describe what it was like.”
William said of the charity night: “Hopefully we can all get together, enjoy some fantastic live music and raise money that may potentially go towards preventing another young life being lost.” Oliver’s mum Katie Jenkins said her son was “a different person” when he was up on stage performing.
She said she was delighted about the charity music night and that it would be a fitting tribute to her son. “I know Oliver would be very happy it was going on,” said Katie.
She said music and working and studying in Hull had introduced Oliver to a “massive community of people” through whom he blossomed, having had struggles that began when he was still at school. “Oliver was fortunate to have access to instruments and being able to play.
“The Warren has a music space that young people can go in and use. Music was always a massive part of Oliver’s life and I think he inspired so many people on the music circuit.
“I’m very excited about the charity event, I think it’s going to be an emotional night and it’s going to keep Oliver’s memory alive. I think he would have been gobsmacked by it.
“He was so kind, he would do anything for anyone. He was a fabulous big brother to his 15-year-old sister; he loved being around his grandparents.”
Tickets for Cottingham Live are available on Eventbrite.
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