THE band mates of a young Stroud musician who died in 2010 are to play a gig in his memory.

Popular Keith Jefferies, who was the drummer with the Stone Saloon, died of a rare lung disease in 2010 at the age of just 24.

His brothers Mark and Shaun, alongside Keith’s girlfriend Sorrell Allen and his first drum student, Greg Bonnette, wanted to find ways to do positive things in Keith’s memory and decided to set up the Keith Jefferies Foundation.

The aim of the charity is to help disengaged young people improve their circumstances through music. Recently they have been working with the Gloucestershire Young Carers.

“Last month was fantastic, I spent a day with the young carers at Kingsholm Stadium, helping with rehearsals for their We Care, We Sing event, which was a huge success,” said Mark.

“We’ve also been able to give our support through donations of guitars and funding for music lessons.”

This Friday, Ben Lee and Tom Sandall, formerly of the Stone Saloon, will be playing a special concert, in aid of the foundation, at The Retreat, on Church Street, from 7.30pm.

“The gig is a chance to remind people we are still going strong and talk a bit about the work we do, and to give everyone a night of great music that Keith would be proud of.”