Portsmouth scene to pay tribute to musician Faisal Sketty with all-day fundraiser at The Gaiety for charities Tonic and Pushing Change

Faisal Sketty died aged 50 last September leaving the Portsmouth music community in shock. As a talented and well-respected harmonica player Faisal had loaned his skills to numerous bands and projects over the past 20 years.

Most recently he had been playing regularly with Americana act Southerlies, and the day is the band’s idea.

Frontman Ross Murphy said: ‘Faisal was a very much loved, absolute gentleman with a heart of gold. He would do anything for anyone and would always be there to listen if you needed him too. He touched so many people’s lives with his kind and caring spirit and his natural ability to give help and advice whenever needed.

‘We will miss his quick humour and his amazing way of making the best out of any situation. He was such a great friend, mentor and fantastic musician. Gone far too soon, he has left a massive void in the lives of all who knew him – we miss you so much brother!’

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In the noughties Faisal played with indie band Gilkicker after singer/guitarist Sam McCarthy and Faisal saw each other perform at an open mic night and admired each others’ playing.

Sam said: ‘I fell in love with his playing right there and that was it – he was so talented as a musician. Then Gilkicker started and we had the time of our lives.’

After Gilkicker’s demise, Sam and Faisal continued to play together as a duo. The pair drifted apart but reconnected during the pandemic, talking almost daily as they played Xbox games online during lockdown.

Recalling the news of his friend’s death, Sam said: ‘I had written a song the week before that I wanted him to play on, it was about feeling down and needing someone to talk to, and he said he would be honoured. But then a few days later I got the news. It’s just so tragic, it was a huge shock.’

Gilkicker are reuniting for the show, and have invited Faisal’s harmonica teacher, Matt Beckwith to join them.

‘He’s going to play Magic Carpet Ride with us which was like Faisal’s signature song,’ Sam added. ‘It would be weird not to play it, but it’s going to be incredibly emotional.’

Faisal had battled with alcohol problems in the past, but had been sober for three years and was training as a counsellor at the time of his death. He has left behind his long-term partner and her son, whom Faisal acted as a father figure to.

The event takes place on Sunday, May 14, from 3pm to 10pm at The Gaiety on South Parade Pier in Southsea, and features Paula Ann Savage, Ava Murphy, Jen, Surfless, Bemis, Jackdaw, Four Folds Law, Gilkicker, Marley Blandford, Amba Tremain, and Southerlies.

Tickets are £10 for adults, under-16s are free, with all money going to Tonic, Music for Mental Health, and Pushing Change, a charity offering peer-led support in recovery from substance misuse, mental health and social exclusion.

For tickets go to book.events/faisalsketty.

Jenny McBrayne of Southerlies wrote a poem for Faisal

He sits

Nervously awaiting his turn

He waits

Feeling his nervousness burn

He checks

The set list printed, laying on the ground

They wait

They all came to hear his sound

More reverb

We all hear him cry

We all laugh, at the sound engineer’s sigh

The band starts

He fidgets, anticipation sets in

He waits for the nod

Will he know when to come in?

The drum kicks

And the bass rumbles through

It’s time now

To show what he can do

The sound

So soulful and clear

Rings so beautifully

In everyone’s eager ear

He sings

Through the little metal harp

His sound

So unique and from the heart

The crowd

So still and mesmerised

By the man

who didn’t think he was liked

If only

He could see what we could see

The man

with the harp who set our souls free

Fly high

Our dear friend, you’ll always be here

Playing your melodies

forever in our ears