Tickets for the June 4 early summer music festival, featuring the legendary rock and roll band The Beach Boys, go on sale 9 a.m., Saturday, March 29. The festival is presented by Fort Lewis College and Coors Light.
The Beach Boys performance will conclude a full afternoon-evening, open-air music festival to be held in Ray Dennison Memorial Field at Fort Lewis College. General admission tickets are $45 each, with reserved seats available for $100, $80 and $60. General admission tickets are limited to 20 per order, with reserved seat ticket sales limited to 4. All can be purchased through the Community Concert Hall Ticket offices in Durango and Bayfield, and on the Durango Concerts website.
 Festivities for what promises to be the largest music event in Durango’s history will begin at noon on June 4 in the north parking lot adjacent to the stadium with “The Morehart Chevrolet Beach Party,” according to Gary Penington, FLC’s event specialist. 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 Boy’s 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, the gates to 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’ 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).
“Inside the stadium we will have a VIP tent for our sponsors and those interested in paying $50 for the privilege to be included,” said Penington, reminding that as a not-for-profit institution of higher education, FLC is seeking to cover costs and raise funds for scholarships, while providing an exciting opportunity for the community. “There will also be the Coors Light tent inside the stadium, and food will be available in the ‘beach party’ area throughout the night.”
Limited reserved parking will be offered adjacent to the stadium for $15 per car, and free parking shuttles will run across campus throughout the afternoon and evening. Parking, access and seating for those with disabilities is also planned.
In addition to Coors Light, Four Corners Broadcasting and Morehart Chevrolet, sponsors currently signed on to help underwrite the festival include Skyridge Market/Ike’s Coffee, the Durango Herald, Hampton Inn, The Quality Inn, The Point 99.7FM, Wells Fargo Bank and KOOL 104.5FM.
Penington notes that sponsors, vendors and volunteers interested in participating in the event are invited to contact him directly at 970.247.7117. |