AMHERST - Amherst's cancelled independent music festival is back on.
Festival organizer Richard Clark was recently contacted by Howie Gray, who offered the use of Teazers Pub & Eatery and the festival will go ahead on Saturday, Aug. 29, beginning in the afternoon and continuing through the night.
"It's great news because not only will it give local bands a chance to showcase their talents, but it will also see four bands come in from other areas to introduce people to their music," Clark said.
Clark originally hoped to hold an outdoor music festival in Victoria Square during the civic holiday earlier this month, but ran into difficulty when the town informed him he needed to have $2 million in liability insurance and could not get the blessing of the Downtown Amherst Revitalization Society.
While he was angry at the time that months of planning went down the drain, Clark said he holds no ill will toward either the town or DARS. In fact, he's looking to take them up on their offer to try again next year.
"I think I learned a lot of things on how to organize something like this," Clark said. "I really had no idea what to expect when I was trying to put it together.
"This way, I have the time to work with them to put it together for next summer."
Clark said the event at Teazers later this month will feature 10 bands, of which at least six will be from the Amherst and Cumberland County areas. The first act will take to the stage at 4 p.m. with the event wrapping up at 1 a.m.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
