Environmental improvements at The Waits in St Ives have run on later than planned, and the site is now not due to be handed over by the contractors until mid-June.  This means that replacement venues have had to be found for the first two Riverside Music concerts in the town, on Sunday 10th June and Sunday 17th June.  If the weather is fine on the day of the concert, it will be held in the grounds of The Dolphin Hotel and, if wet, it will be in the Methodist Church on The Waits.  The third concert in the season, on Sunday 24th June, will be held at The Waits as usual.

Organisers are concerned that local people will see the barrier tape round The Waits site and think the concerts have been cancelled.  Viv Peters, Arts Service Manager at Huntingdonshire District Council, commented:  “It would be a shame if people think that the first two concerts in St Ives have been cancelled, and not turn up to hear the excellent musicians from Huntingdonshire Music School this week, and Bury Community Band next week.  We are very pleased that The Dolphin and the Methodist Church have been able to help us out in this way.  We plan to be back on the Waits from Sunday 24th as usual.”

The annual programme of Riverside Music band concerts begins across Huntingdonshire this Sunday, with free, open-air events also running in Riverside Park Huntingdon, Riverside Park St Neots and on Abbey Green Ramsey.  Other bands playing this week are:  Somersham Town Band, Barry Palser’s Savoy Jazz and City of Peterborough Concert Band.

The concerts in all four towns run from 2.30-4.30pm.  They feature excellent performers from across the country with a mix of brass and silver bands, and a sprinkling of jazz.  Riverside Music is organised and funded by Huntingdonshire District Council, with support from Huntingdon, St Neots, Ramsey and St Ives Town Councils.  The full Riverside Music programme can be downloaded from the Arts pages of the website using the link on the right, or call Arts Services for a free copy - 01480 388248.