Beach Boys a great pull for MoFest

IT’S absolutely great news that the Beach Boys are to play MoFest next May.

Unfortunately as a lifelong fan I won’t make that particular gig but have booked tickets for the SECC in Glasgow to see the band two days earlier.

Younger fans perhaps should be aware there are currently two “Beach Boys” groups on the go.

The group playing at Montrose is in fact Mike Love’s Beach Boys. Mike was the lead singer with the band throughout their halcyon years of the 1960s/70s.

The other is Brian Wilson’s Beach Boys, who played Glasgow last year.

Brian, of course, was the genius, driving force and founder member alongside brothers Dennis and Carl, Al Jardine and Love.

Bruce Johnston joined later and he currently accompanies Love’s band.

Carl and Dennis have sadly died but Jardine is still with Brian, as is David Marks, who had a couple of spells with the band in the 60s.

Both versions sing all the hits brilliantly but, for me, Brian’s version is tops.

Sloop John B, Broughty Ferry.

The Beach Boys in 1979 (back, from left) Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Dennis Wilson; (front) Mike Love and Carl Wilson.

From small beginnings this festival has gone from strength to strength — with Bryan Adams and Madness being only two of their previous acts.

Add to this the promised big name festival at Camperdown Park next year and, of course, the regular Rewind weekend at Scone, and Taysiders and their neighbours have plenty to sing about.

It’s nice to see the area attracting such good entertainment.

Full credit to the organisers working behind the scenes to make this sort of thing happen.

P.S., Arbroath.