Hopes of Simple Minds playing Stonehaven at Hogmanay remain alive and kicking despite police complaints threatening the gig.
A special meeting of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee will be held on September 5 to decide the fate of the sell-out event, which runs alongside the famous fireballs spectacle.
Area manager Willie Munro said plans for the celebrations would be progressed “through the usual channels”.
More than 20,000 people are expected to descend on Stonehaven at New Year and all 5,500 tickets for the proposed Open Air in the Square (OAIS) gig were snapped up within hours of going on sale.
There has been speculation that the gig might be called off because of police concerns.
A spokeswoman for the group’s agents, Quietus Management, said it would await the outcome of next month’s meeting.
She said: “Simple Minds sincerely hope the show will go ahead.”
A low-key meeting to discuss the arrangements was held at council offices earlier this week involving police, council officials and representatives from OAIS and the fireballs.
A police spokeswoman said there had been “regular dialogue” between the authorities.
She said: “We have worked closely with the organisers and local authority to address these concerns, however based on the information currently available, Police Scotland have made an objection based on public safety.”