“Continue his legacy.” A pint, a barbecue and a raw bar at the festival in memory of a Cape Town musician

To many, Mark Hennessy is a Cape Cod musical icon. Although some may know him from his previous bands, such as The Hennessy Brothers and Tequila Mockingbird, he is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the Cape Cod Slackers, a band he created with Jeffery “Hollywood” Heyward .

“It’s like everyone you call (is like) ‘Mark played at my wedding party or my birthday party,'” said Leanne Anderson, a board member of the Mark Foundation Hennessy and Marketing and Events Manager for Cape Cod Beer. “Everyone you talked to was related to him in some way.”

After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Hennessy died in May 2022 at the age of 67. The month before his death, Hennessy played his final show, Cape Cod Beer’s 19th anniversary party, and according to Anderson, everyone showed up to see him perform. .

“It was a big party that day,” she said. “…We had so many restaurateurs who were there to support him. Many of his fans came to the brewery just to see him play one last time because word had spread that he didn’t have much time left. “

In 2023, the Mark Hennessy Foundation launched with the mission of helping music students, established musicians, and those trying to break into the industry advance their careers through “education, empowerment, “innovation and celebration,” according to their website.

The start of Hensc Fest

That same year, the foundation and Cape Cod Beer hosted the first Hensc Fest, a music festival celebrating Hennessy’s heritage and raising funds for the foundation’s goal of helping musicians.

“The most important thing is that by carrying on his legacy, we’re going to help students, local musicians, we’re going to try to continue to keep the music flowing across Cape Town,” Anderson said.

Now the duo is back for another Hensc Fest on June 22. The festival runs from noon to 8 p.m. with performances by local musicians, an auction – including hot tickets like Cape Symphony tickets and gift cards to local restaurants like the Beachcomber and the Black. Cat Tavern – and food from local vendors.

“The music is going to be great this year,” Anderson said. “We’re excited about that. It was great last year, but every year we try to get bigger and better.

Hensc Fest 2024 programming

Hennesy’s partner at Hollywood’s Cape Cod Slackers kicks off this year’s festival – accompanied by Fitzy Strings – followed by The Dirty Water Dance Band, Nikki & The Barn Boys, Syndicate and closing with Crooked Coast .

“It’s very special to have (Nikki & The Barn Boys) this year because one of the major donations (from the Mark Hennessy Foundation) was actually to the group,” Anderson said. “…Nikki & The Barn Boys had lost some of their equipment in the back of a truck last summer…so the Hennessy Foundation actually paid to replace their damaged equipment.”

Red River BBQ and Poor Boy Fisheries – formerly known as F/V Isabel and Lilee – will sell barbecue and raw bar specialties and Cape Cod Beer will sell alcohol (and other drinks) at the festival.

VIP tickets – which include entry, a Hensc Fest t-shirt, a Hensc Fest pint glass and a free drink ticket – for this year’s Hensc Fest are $75 and general admission is $38. For more information about Hensc Fest or to purchase tickets, visit www.capecodbeer.com/.

To learn more about the Mark Hennessy Foundation, visit www.markhennessyfoundation.org/.

Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and things to do. Contact her at frowley@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: In Memory of Cape Music Icon Mark Hennessy: June 22 Music Festival