Fourteen bands will take over three bars on Clematis Street Thursday evening for the first ever "Keep the Beat Alive" music festival to benefit Corey Jones.
The bands will play at Longboards, Subculture, and Respectable Street.
"I've said it before...Corey's name belongs in the history books, not just in the headlines. And this is going to do that," Corey's bandmate Boris Simeonov said.
Simeonov played with Corey in the band Future Prezidentz.
"This is his work. And I'm glad to be a part of it," Simeonov said.
The festival starts at 8 p.m. and will raise money for the Corey Jones Music Scholarship Fund.
And Simeonov says it will also raise awareness for the need for police body cameras.
Simeonov says he will wear a body camera while he plays.
"We've been told these devices are cumbersome and get in the way of officers doing their job, and I don't believe it is possible because its so small and light," Simeonov said.
Organizers will also introduce "Corey Cams." It is an app friends and family of Jones are developing to help people record their own everyday interactions.
"They are different types of dash cameras with night vision...different types of cameras so people can arm themselves with the truth," Simeonov said.
Simeonov says he is still grieving the loss of his friend, but planning the music festival has given him purpose.
"I'm just connected the dots. I'm a part of his story. It's not about me. It's about him," Simeonov said.
