Launched in 2018 and held at Broadstairs Pavilion, the May bank holiday event showcased a set of fantastic music performances from rock to blues and soul to funk. Hundreds of music lovers came to enjoy the day and support the fundraising team’s efforts.
Four bands took to the stage, giving up their time for free to benefit the worthy cause, including The Rhythm Shack, Starfire 98, The King Johnson Trio and The Joey Bluesbreaker Band.
All the performers gave their time for free, and this year also saw the addition of a sales table of professional equipment donated by musicians, which added over £300 to the event’s £1140 total.
The 2023 event was the fifth Rock the Pav festival, and the organising team told their local paper: “We have passed the £10,000 marker in style. It really shows what can be achieved and we are delighted in the strong community spirit around the Rock the Pav series.”
The original Rock the Pav event in 2018 was the idea of Broadstairs musician Phil Hunt and drummer Andy Burring, created to fundraise and increase awareness of pancreatic cancer. Phil performed at the first two festivals before succumbing to the disease in 2019. The subsequent events are seen by Andy and the rest of the organising team as an ongoing tribute to Phil.
Yasmin Bailey who heads the Thanet fundraising for PCRF said: “It was an amazing show and people’s generosity never ceases to amaze me. Thanks to all the bands who took part and to everyone on the organising team who made the whole event possible.”
Yasmin and her and fellow PCRF fundraisers have raised almost £58k in total for PCRF Since 2013 and are determined to reach £60,000 by the end of this year!