A POPULAR all-day music event has named a stage in honour of musician Dean Zaccarini, who died tragically in March.

Countless tributes were paid to the 29-year-old, after he died following a  fall from a balcony in Manchester on March 6. 

Tributes flooded in for the popular musician who was the frontman and guitarist with Barrow-based band Sancho.

His funeral was held on March 23, when family and friends packed into St Mary's Church on Walney to pay their respects.

Afterwards Mr Zaccarini's family released a statement thanking the community for the well wishes – and for the generosity which has helped raise more than £1,200 for their chosen charity, the special care baby unit at Furness General Hospital. 

On May 29 the sold-out Croft Rock event will unveil their Zaccarini stage which will see a host of top local bands performing – headlined by The Dales.

Last year saw the festival raise more than £10,000 for local charities over two events, this year they hope to beat that total.

Mark Russell, organiser of the event at Crofters pub, in Holbeck,  said: "Dean had been a headline act since the beginning of Croft Rock. He was there back when we just had the one stage seven years ago.

"He was a huge supporter of the event even when it was just an idea in my head. He was fully behind it and could see the potential. He jumped on it straight away. He played the first year with Sancho and headlined every year since. He gave his talent free to support local charities."

The event will be raising money for North West Blood Bikes in Cumbria and Lancashire.