The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Beach Boys end 10th anniversary MoFest in style 10,000 fans enjoy yet another memorable festival
Legendary band thrill 10,000 fans in fitting climax to weekend of music
Beach Boys fans were surfing on a wave of nostalgia at East Links in Montrose last night.
The band’s sun-and-surf sound transported 10,000 fans – many in Hawaiian shirts – to the golden beaches of California during a packed set of greatest hits and fan favourites.
The concert was the perfect end to the 10th year of Montrose Music Festival, which included around 100 gigs in 25 venues over the course of the weekend.
The Beach Boys performed songs from their 50-year career including Good Vibrations, Surfin’ USA, Barbara Ann and Wouldn’t It Be Nice.
Festival chairman David Paton said: “MoFest has racked up some of the biggest bands in music over the years and as one of the most influential rock and pop acts of all time, the Beach Boys top the list.”
Previous big name acts to play at the festival include Status Quo, Madness, Jools Holland and Canadian rock legend Bryan Adams.
The Beach Boys brought their feelgood songs to Montrose’s East Links last night.
The band packed their greatest hits into a two-hour set to bring the curtain down on Montrose Music Festival’s 10th anniversary.
They thrilled 10,000 fans with hits such as Good Vibrations, Surfin USA, Sloop John B, and Wouldn’t It Be Nice.
MoFest chairman David Paton said: “MoFest has racked up some of the biggest bands in music over the years and, as one of the most influential rock and pop acts of all-time, the Beach Boys tops the list.”
The band were formed in California in 1961 by the Wilson brothers – Brian, Dennis and Carl – and Mike Love, their cousin, along with schoolfriend Al Jardine.
The Beach Boys, now led by Love and Bruce Johnston, were joined on stage by Hollywood actor and producer John Stamos. He has toured on and off with the band for more than 30 years.
Love said: “The beauty of the Beach Boys’ music, the stuff that we’ve created for going on five decades now, it seems to transcend generations.”
Scottish soul pop legends Deacon Blue got the MoFest party started at East Links on Friday night before more than 100 gigs were performed in 25 venues over the weekend.
LCC Live has worked in conjunction with MoFest since 2013.
Organisers said it provided a great advert not just for Montrose, but for Angus and the North East.
A zero-tolerance anti-alcohol message in certain areas, coupled with the recent tragic events in Manchester, meant there was a much stronger security presence over the weekend with areas of the High Street sectioned off and bag searches.
The festival committee is a non-profit, volunteer run organisation, dedicated to promoting free live music of all styles and genres, and at all levels, in Montrose and surrounding areas.
This year’s festival saw a number of new bands join old favourites as organisers decided to take an ‘editor’s pick’ approach to applications.