BRADENTON -- The federal budget sequestration has forced the U.S. Coast Guard Band to cancel a March 9 concert on the Bradenton Riverwalk.

Realize Bradenton, the cultural organization sponsoring the cpncert, was notified Friday afternoon that the Coast Guard had cancelled the show because of the sequestration, which is forcing across-the-board cuts in planned federal government spending.

The notification, according to Realize Bradenton read: “It was not an easy decision. We further regret that the US Coast Guard Band's tour of the South (which included Bradenton) was cancelled so close to its start- however, the final decision was delayed until today under the hope that there would be some sort of resolution to sequestration. Per the Coast Guard Commandant's guidance on the Coast Guard's handling of sequestration, the service's priority during this time is to preserve those areas that best support its critical assets.” This concert is part of Realize Bradenton’s Music in the Park series that starts at 6 p.m. Friday evening at the Mosaic Amphitheater with the Marc Mannino Jazz Quartet.