Fans of Hitchin’s Rhythms of the World festival can now look forward to a summer weekend of great gigs, organisers have revealed this week.

Although the full festival has been cancelled for 2013, some of the best acts associated with Rhythms will be performing over the weekend of 12-14 July as part of the Rhythms of the World Outreach and Rhythms Presents programmes. And plans are under way to run a full festival on a new site in summer 2014.

Chair of the Rhythms of the World Trustees, Amy Hopkins, said: ‘We’re working with some of our favourite musicians and local Hitchin venues to put on a superb summer weekend of music. It won’t be anything like a full festival, of course, but we’re keeping the spirit of Rhythms going in 2013 and it should be a great weekend.'

Organisers decided in February to cancel the planned 2013 Rhythms festival. The festival has been held at Hitchin Priory each summer for the past five years, but the 2012 event suffered very wet weather and the Priory’s owners asked Rhythms to find another site. Negotiations for a 2014 site are in progress, Amy said.

Three Hitchin venues – Club 85, The Victoria pub and St Mary’s Church – will host music performances over the July weekend, while there will also be a Family Fun Day in Hitchin market square.

The programme of events is:

12 July Don Letts and Blunt Beats Club 85 (7:45pm) What an honour to bring the legendary 6 Music DJ Don Letts to Hitchin

13 July Two gigs at Club 85 bringing a flavour of the Rhythms ‘BBC Introducing’ stage. The afternoon is a free, all ages show, showcasing the best young, up-and-coming local bands and is generously supported by Herts Music Service (2-5pm). The evening gig will include the Hitchin debut of Fort Hope, risen from the ashes of My Passion, with support from the best of the local music scene. (7:45pm)

13 July Folk and world music concert at St Mary’s Church (7:45pm)

13 July Sir Walter J Wallis (aka Wally) our host on the festivals Nettlebed Stage, playing country and blues presents an evening of music in the Barn at The Victoria pub on Ickleford Road (7:30pm). This event is supported by The Victoria.

14 July Free, all ages gig at Club 85 in the afternoon (1pm to 5pm) featuring adult acoustic acts to give a flavour of the Rhythms of the World Icehouse Stage, followed by a flavour of the Arcadeclectic Stage featuring Scum of Toytown, Blyth Power and The Astronauts (7pm).

14 July St Mary’s presents an afternoon concert featuring music from Faiths of the World, performers include the Covenant Praise Choir and Sukhi Rayat’s Tabla pupils (2-6pm)

14 July Family Fun Day (11am to 4pm) in Hitchin Market Square featuring young, local artistic talent, free carousel, bouncy castle, face painting and a range of other family-friendly activities. This event is supported by North Herts District Council, North Herts Homes and a bequest from the late Faith Russell (nee Hubert), a former Rhythms of the World Trustee.

14 July Lazy Summer Sunday, with chill-out DJs playing outside at The Victoria pub on Ickleford Road (2pm to 7pm).