A SPECIAL summer bash is being planned to take place in the market square following the success of this year’s Salisbury Live.

Colin Holton, who co-ordinates Salisbury Live which brings free music to venues across the city, spoke about the plans for the event next month during the meeting of Salisbury Area Board on July 4.

He said: “The Salisbury Bash comes off the back of the launch this year which was a resounding success.

“The response from the public was ‘why can’t we do more of this?’.”

The bash will take place on August 23 and in the lead up to the event there will be free live music in the market square on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm.

Colin added: “We thought we’ll have a go at this so we decided we would do it over the bank holiday of August 23 in conjunction with the city council who are giving us the premise licence, the toilets and the hire of the market square.

“We have got some brilliant staging, sound system and a great headline band - the Pink Floyd Tribute Band. It is going to be a great live show - all absolutely free. We’ve got some brilliant youth bands playing as well. So we just thought lets go for it.”

Councillor Sven Hocking, the chairman of Salisbury Area Board, welcomed the plans and said: “I am a big fan of this stuff generally.”

Councillor Ricky Rogers said: “Those who know Colin Holton and have seen what he has done for many years in Salisbury Live, I’m absolutely 100 per cent behind him.”

Councillor Matthew Dean said: “I’m absolutely thrilled at this. Colin has done an awful lot for music in the city both in his day job but also more importantly Salisbury Live.

“I’m really pleased that the city council at last has put together a summer programme of music in the square. I have always felt that the square is there to be used much more for entertainment and live music than it has been in the past following its refurbishment.”

A grant of £1,625 was approved to support the event.