SOMETIMES it is the second bite of a new food and not the first that tastes the best. Gone are the insecurities about whether you will like it, to be replaced by an altogether more wholehearted indulgence.

The first taste of Guernsey Live was not a wholly pleasurable experience.

Wrangles about the venue came first. After The Track was ruled out, a less than enthusiastic Culture and Leisure put imaginary barriers in the way of using the Victoria Avenue site. They relented under pressure from more open-minded islanders – but it was a struggle.

Then other concerns came to the fore, from security through to noise pollution and even the risk of Jersey music fans clashing with locals.

Questions were asked about the quality of the acts, which were exacerbated when the ever-unreliable Pete Doherty was jailed.

Finally, the weather forecast was less than optimistic.

Yet, judged by all criteria except profit, the event was a resounding success. Brilliantly organised, and with no security problems, all the initial doubts faded away.

Sadly, tickets sales were poor and organisers claimed to have lost £200,000. And that was before they were hit with a surprisingly huge bill of £25,000 for repairs to the sports field.

In the circumstances, Positiv could be forgiven for picking up its ball and taking it home with them. Jersey Live works very well, thank-you, Huge crowds bring major artists. Perhaps there isn’t room for two big music festivals in the Channel Islands.

If that proves to be the case it would be a big loss for Guernsey. Apart from the enjoyment given to thousands of young (and not so young) island music-lovers, a bigger concert would raise the island’s profile in the UK and bring in much-needed tourist revenue.

It is tempting then to hope that reports of the death of the concert under the terminal headline ‘Next year’s Live is dead’ are premature.

This may be brinkmanship aimed at persuading the States to share some of the financial burden of establishing Guernsey Live.

Let us hope so, or the aftertaste will be bitter.