An Ipswich band will pay homage to the man who helped them get to Glastonbury Festival when they return to the event's stage later this year.
Stan Stanojevic, the founder of the well-known Ipswich ska and reggae band The Downsetters, died after a short battle with bowel cancer in September 2021 at the age of 52.
His fellow band members already staged a gig in tribute to their "band general" and are now getting ready to perform at Glastonbury Festival in his memory.
READ MORE: 'Music was his life' - tributes paid to The Downsetters founder
Reece Sleightholme of The Downsetters said: "It was Stan who actually introduced us to the festival back in 2014.
"We played a little club night in London on a Thursday night.
"It was a real dingy underground basement club in Soho and we were thinking, 'What the hell are we doing here'?
"Stan then said, 'Trust me'. We thought there was no way that this gig in London could lead us to something as big as Glastonbury.
READ MORE: The Downsetters to stage fundraising gig in memory of 'band general' Stan
"It turned out that the guy who put on the club night also runs a stage at Glastonbury called the Rocket Lounge, and he came up to us after the gig with compliments.
"He said, 'How do you feel about going to Glastonbury?' We didn’t know if he was serious."
The Downsetters performed at the festival in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Mr Sleightholme added: "After we lost Stan, we carried on, and we've done another show in London for him.
"We’re all really excited to go back to Glastonbury, we’re looking forward to it."
The band’s member added that the gig will definitely include "an element of emotion," as it will be the first time The Downsetters will play at Glastonbury without their leader.
He said: "What we're trying to do in every gig now is make sure that Stan would be proud of us, so we’re continuing to push the band’s name forward."
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