A SEVEN hour acoustic show on New Road in Kendal will serve as a test to see if music in the town can work, a meeting has heard.

The set, taking place on Armed Forces and Blue Light Services Tribute Day - June 23 - will be made-up of local artists, the annual general meeting of Kendal Business Improvement District (BID) was told.

Local shop manager Toni Dixon said that live music, maybe two nights a week from 4pm to 7pm, would help attract extra people into the town to help boost the evening economy.

Brian Harrison, director and vice chair of Kendal BID, said many people in the town wanted more activity in Market Place during the summer months.

"We tried to organise it last year," he said. "We thought about temporary stages. But it just wasn't viable."

He said the board of Kendal BID has just been re-elected for a second five-year term (2019-2024), which means it can now think further into the future.

"Now that we've got a full five-year term we can actively plan ahead," said Mr Harrison.

Mr Harrison said live music in the town centre was definitely on Kendal BID's wish-list but a lot of permissions would be needed.

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He said that Market Place was technically a highway so road closures would be required from Cumbria County Council if there were to be music events.

Mr Harrison said there were no live music events planned at present as Kendal BID needed "to prove that it works." He added that if the New Road show proves to be a success, music would be "easier to transfer through to the Market Place."

He also reminded people that Kendal BID is limited in its activities by finances and resources.

"We have a fairly small board that can only do so much, and we have a relatively small income too. It's only £140,000 [for the year]," he said.