The Chewstick Foundation said its annual Emancipation Celebration Concert event BeachFest has been cancelled this year due to “circumstances beyond our control” but the performing arts charity has a surprise up its sleeve.

This year, instead of hosting what would have been its tenth anniversary BeachFest, it will be hosting a concert at the number one car park in Hamilton featuring international reggae star Wayne Wonder as well as a host of other artists.

BeachFest Emancipation Celebration was launched in 2005 and has been a growing event on Horseshoe Beach ever since. However, in recent years it has been hindered by a number of challenges including organisation, funding, general safety and concerns for the environment.

In 2013, the event was forced to move to Snorkel Park Beach due to “severe financial challenges, exasperated by tight timelines, and an increasing event budget due to the sheer scale of such an unprecedented event.”

And in 2011, a few revellers made claims that someone was stabbed, although Police did not receive any reports.

The concert at number one car park, due to take place on Thursday, July 30, will also feature the RuffKut Band, Tanya Stephens and Bermudian reggae singer Mishka. Others in the line-up include emerging international hip hop artist Alex Wiley and local artists Hannah Eggen, Gianluca Gibbons, Haz the Human and the DIA Band. Money raised from the event will go towards the Chewstick Foundation’s ongoing capital campaign to help bring the Chewstick Culture Hub on Front Street to reality.

Chewstick founder and executive director Gavin Smith said: “The Chewstick Foundation hopes to return to Horseshoe Bay once measures to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the beach are prioritised by key stakeholders and when effective communication and integration of the combined efforts of crucial agencies is assured.”

The Emancipation Concert will open at 9pm for a 10pm showtime. General tickets are $60 with VIP tickets $100. Both available online at www.ptix.bm, or from 27th Century, AF Smith, Rock Island Coffee and Chewstick.