A CONCERT set be held as part of the newly formed Cumnock Tryst Music Club has been cancelled as a result of coronavirus lockdown.

The Tryst confirmed this week that were having to axe the event at St John’s Church on Saturday, March 28.

The concert was set to see Hebrides Ensemble and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Voices perform on the stage.

The big event was going to be the fourth instalment of the resurrected Music Club, after it launched in November last year.

Organisers announced the sad news last week, ahead of further announcements by the UK and Scottish Government that placed the country in lockdown.

But the defiant Music Club have vowed to make their come back once the ‘devastating’ pandemic is over.

A statement from the Tryst read: “Following close monitoring of the ever-changing situation regarding the global spread of COVID-19 and having held discussions with our performers, we all agree that our first priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our artists, audiences, staff and volunteers.”

Music fans who purchased tickets through the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Box Office, can receive a refund directly at 0141 332 5057.

The RCS box office will, however, be closed from Friday, so there may be a delay in refunding any customers who paid by cash or cheque.

Composer Sir James MacMillan, a driving force behind the project, said: “It is with sadness and frustration that The Cumnock Tryst has been forced to cancel its Music Club concert on 28 March with the Hebrides Ensemble and RCS Voices.

He added: “The Tryst will be back with even more resolve than ever that we can regenerate our communities in East Ayrshire with music and the arts.

“Music revives the soul, not just in the individual but at the core of society, and The Cumnock Tryst is aware of the consoling,transformative power of the music and the musicians that we bring to the area, and which exists in the hearts of many people in Cumnock and its surroundings.”

The Cumnock Music Club was revived under a the Tryst umbrella with the hope it would evoke memories of its heyday back when it was run by RD Hunter.

It was set up to bring a programme of concerts all year round, after the Tryst annual festival brought world class artists to the Cumnock area.