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The Beach Boys performance will conclude a full afternoon/evening, open-air music festival, the first organized by Gary Penington in his new role as Fort Lewis College event specialist.
"This will be a terrific way to kick off the summer," said Penington, noting that details of the festival will be announced in coming weeks. "We will have a couple of opening bands, as well food and beverage vendors in the stadium. It will be the largest music event in Durango's history."
Festivities will begin at noon on June 4 in the north parking lot adjacent to the stadium with "The Morehart Chevrolet Beach Party." The beach party will feature a variety of food vendors, live music and a classic car show.
"We're working with the car clubs in the region as well as beach party sponsor Morehart Chevrolet to organize the car show," said Penington, noting that many of the Beach Boys' hits centered around automobiles and cruising. "There's an entire CD of the Beach Boys' car songs. We are currently looking for one of each of the vehicles featured in the songs."
Inside the stadium, which will open at 4 p.m., festival participants will be treated to a custom-built stage, specially constructed and donated by Skyridge developer Gene Fisher. The stage will be located on the field, facing the bleachers, with reserved seating on the field immediately in front of the stage. Festival chairs will be allowed on the grass for those holding general admission tickets.
Local rocker Ralph Dinosaur will entertain with his band at 5 p.m., followed by a yet-to-be announced national performer at 6:15 p.m. The Beach Boys will take the stage at 8 p.m.
The Beach Boys' sunny vocal harmonies are one of the signatures sounds of the modern era. Among rock and roll groups of the Sixties, the California quintet place second only to the Beatles in terms of their overall impact on the Top Forty. The group was initially comprised of singer/songwriter Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine.
In addition to founding Beach Boy Mike Love (lead vocals), the newest incarnation of the band also includes 40-year Beach Boy veteran Bruce Johnston (vocals/keyboards), Mike Kowalski (drums), Adrian Baker (guitar/vocals), Chris Farmer (bass/vocals), Tim Bonhomme (keyboards/vocals), John Cowsill of the Cowsills (keyboards/vocals/percussion) and Scott Totten (guitar/vocals).
This article was provided by the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. Visit www.durangoconcerts.com to find out more information about the June 4 Beach Boys concert and other Community Concert Hall events.
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