So Mathew Street is happening, but only indoors.
It was something the Echo realised was the only real (if not brilliant) solution a week ago when the cancellation debacle first broke.
Even Warren Bradley, who was bullish on the phone from his ruined family holiday about saving some or all of the outdoor stages, finally had to admit after three days of negotiations that it couldn't be done.
And whether you think an indoor music weekend is 'saving' Mathew Street or not, that is what we must all work towards now.
Running parallel to the drive to put on SOME sort of Bank Holiday event is the inquiry which is now underway to discover just how we got into this sorry state of affairs.
In the Echo office over the past week we've heard plenty of rumour and conjection, we've had tip-offs - many anonymous, we've been briefed and advised, and we've seen an assortment of documents....some of them 'confidential'.
And each call, email or piece of paper has muddied the water just that little bit more.
Is there one person responsible for this catastrophe? Or is it collective incompetence? If so, who should shoulder the responsibility?
Have we really been told the real reason for the festival's (hopefully short lived) demise?
Who exactly is telling the truth? Who knows what the truth is? Do we want to really hear the truth? It could all be too dispiriting with Capital of Culture just 143 days away.
Of course, unpalatable as it is, we do need to hear exactly that - the truth of what has been going on behind the scenes, because otherwise how can we ever hope to prevent such a damaging, depressing incident happen again.
The indoor festival isn't ideal. Families may feel hard done by if all the bands go into packed, licenced premises, and no, the atmosphere won't be the same.
But I'll still be there on August 26-27, supporting Mathew Street, and I hope everyone else will be too.
