HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – People clamoring for live music along the Tennessee River in Huntsville are about to get their wish.

On Monday, the governing board of Ditto Landing unanimously approved the 569-acre public park and marina hosting a free, weekly outdoor concert series.

And they are moving quickly to make it happen.

Wally Kirkpatrick chairs Ditto Landing's governing board, the Huntsville-Madison County Marina & Port Authority. (File photo)

Wally Kirkpatrick, who chairs the Huntsville-Madison County Marina & Port Authority, said the goal is to hold the first "Concerts at Ditto" event by the end of July. Some key details are still being hashed out, he said, including whether to do it on Tuesday or Friday nights.

"We don't want to conflict with anything significant that's already going on in Huntsville, Madison or Madison County," Kirkpatrick told AL.com Tuesday. "Monday nights are out because of Concerts in the Park, and we don't want to do Wednesdays because that's church night."

Here's what is known at this point:

Kirkpatrick said Ditto Landing plans to reach out to Huntsville-area bands willing to play for free just to get their music before a potentially large crowd. Admission also will be free.

Music fans will be able to bring a picnic dinner or buy from food trucks that Ditto Landing plans to invite to the concerts. Kirkpatrick said Ditto officials also intend to reach out to local breweries about selling their craft beers at the shows.

The bands will play on a hand-me-down stage donated by the Land Trust of North Alabama. The stage will initially be set up near the water just east of the Ditto Landing pavilion, with fans sitting on the grassy bank that slopes down to the river.

"It's a portable stage," said Kirkpatrick, "and we're interested in experimenting a little bit with the location. We think we'll learn some things as we go through the summer."

He said Ditto Landing board member Paul Matheny, a Huntsville architect, has been put in charge of a volunteer committee responsible for lining up bands and other details. Among other things, Matheny will decide how much money Ditto should set aside to make the concerts a success.

"Our goal is for this to be a low-budget operation," said Kirkpatrick, "but that doesn't mean zero budget."

Kirkpatrick said Ditto Landing's "ultimate aspiration" remains to build an amphitheater near the water for outdoor concerts.

An amphitheater was one of the most popular ideas to emerge a June 24 public brainstorming session about the future of Huntsville's riverfront.