YORK bands were plunged into confusion after a row broke out over where they were to play a Bank Holiday charity gig.

The city's finest rock talent is now to assemble on Monday at The Junction, in Leeman Road, in a 12-hour concert in aid of The Samaritans.

The concert was originally scheduled to take place at Stonebow music bar Fibbers, before its short-lived closure last week. The shutdown forced the Samaritans to use The Junction as an alternative venue.

Despite Fibbers reopening, Samaritans staff decided to keep the SamAid event at The Junction.

Fibbers general manager Tim Hornsby said he was "frustrated" by the situation. "We did all the advertising and scheduling for the event and, to be honest, we moved heaven and earth to reopen in time to accommodate it. But the Samaritans have decided it should stay at The Junction. I'm confused. As far as I'm concerned, the performers wanted it to be here, the audience wanted it to be here, and so did I.

The Junction's licensee, Ralph Hudson, said there was "no confusion".

"The Samaritans wanted to keep it here; I don't know of any suggestion that it would return to Fibbers," he said. "We've put a lot of effort into it, and we're expecting a really good session."

He said bands lined up to play in the marathon event included Surf Sluts, Lynchpin, Gumbox, Duck Sick and Red:Shift.

Samaritans spokesman Charles Hunt said: "We transferred the event to The Junction, and by the time Fibbers re-opened, it was too late to change back as all the posters and publicity had gone out."

The event runs from noon to midnight.

Updated: 11:43 Friday, August 23, 2002