LOCAL musicians Ewbank Ska have launched their delayed mini tour of the Eden Valley.

Poor weather prevented the annual street celebrations taking place on New Year's Eve, in the Market Square, in Kirkby Stephen, which came as a great disappointment to the performers.

Member of Ewbank Ska, Richard Want, explained: "I was part of the heroic Dunkirk' style retreat from the hideous weather in Kirkby Stephen that night. I am the drummer in Ewbank Ska, the band that was booked to play in the Cloisters. We'd rehearsed over the last six weeks, and added extra material to cover for the lack of Amanda Tinkler on the night.

"We started setting up at 5.30pm, had sound checked by 7.30pm, and still at 9pm the gig was viable. But when we turned up to do the first set at 10pm, everything was sopping wet, and the snow was blowing right in to the back wall of the Cloisters. Apart from being a bit uncomfortable, it was too dangerous with all those wet electrics. The DJ was going to carry on, but he too was washed out.

"It was a real shame though, considering all the efforts of Andy Sayer, Wendy Wearmouth and the other organisers."

It was then that the band decided that the show must go onea few weeks later and extended to two gigs.

Ewbank Ska who play a jazz inspired Jamaican dance music of the 60s kicked off their tour on Saturday at the King's Arms, in Kirkby Stephen, and the other date so far on the tour is in Great Musgrave on February 21.