Talks have been held between members of the gay community and a nightclub over a controversial singer who is to play the venue.

Jamaican dance hall artist Buju Banton, who has written songs inciting the shooting and killing of gay people, will appear at the Concorde 2 in Madeira Drive, Brighton, on July 5.

It has caused outrage among the gay community, who have urged the club to cancel the performance.

The artist has so far refused to apologise personally for his notorious 1992 hit Boom Bye Bye which glorifies murdering gay men.

A meeting was held at the club last Thursday between the management of the Concorde 2, Mr Banton's promoters, the police, and gay activists to see if they could resolve the row.

Councillor Simon Williams, who is against the concert, said, despite disagreements, all parties had agreed to a joint statement condemning hate crime.

Mr Banton's promoters had agreed to look into the possibility of a gay journalist interviewing the artist to clarify his position on homophobic lyrics ahead of the Brighton event.

James Ledward, editor of Brighton-based magazine Gscene, said: "It would calm everyone's nerves if he would agree to a face-to-face interview."

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Simon Burgess said: "There is a lot of great reggae music out there. Buju's hate song taints that. Buju should renounce his song or stay away from the city."

Peter Tatchell, of the gay rights group Outrage, said: "Why is Buju Banton being feted and financially rewarded for advocating the shooting and burning of gay people? It's a disgrace. The city council should revoke the venue's licence."

In a statement, the club said it would work closely with the police and was eager to build relationships with all sectors of the community and to appeal against hate crime.

It said Buju Banton had metamorphosed from a rude boy into a self-assured Rastafarian.