Traffic woes are forcing an Anna Maria Island group to take some of their shows off the island.

For the first time, the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra is leaping off the island this season to Bradenton.

The group is making the move in hopes of making their audience members and musicians happier.

The problem isn’t the quality of the shows. It’s the drive to get to there.

“We’ve been hearing so many concerns from our patrons, our subscribers and our musicians that they’re just having trouble getting to the island,” AMICCO executive director Jeanie Pickwick said.

More visitors are coming to Anna Maria Island, which is bringing more cars, adding more travel time, and leaving fewer parking spots.

For years, the group has held its Sunday performances at the CrossPointe Fellowship Church on Gulf Drive on Holmes Beach.

When patrons and musicians try to drive there, they find themselves stuck in traffic and are often late. This causes the shows to be delayed.

Pickwick said to help, they decided to hold their February and March performances at a new venue in Bradenton.

The shows will take place at the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church at 6101 Cortez Road. Pickwick said she feels this will be a relief for everyone.

Two hundred people will now be off the Island during peak season.

Pickwick said they thought about changing the time and days of their performances, but this didn’t work out. She’s hoping the new plan helps.

If it doesn’t, she said, they’ll fix it.

“This is a trial and if it works we’ll consider doing two on, two off,” said Pickwick. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back and keep tweaking it, until we find best fit for our patrons and musicians.”

The first two shows in December and January will remain at the CrossPointe Fellowship Church in Holmes Beach. The last two shows in February and March will be held at the new location in Bradenton.

Pickwick also stated, "traffic is a fact of life in such a beautiful area as Anna Maria Island, and we all make adjustments and continue to appreciate and support our community. AMICCO also considers their two concerts off Island this season as a way of showing what wonderful cultural opportunities are available on Anna Maria Island."