Even in the chilly Month of March, Provo-area residents have a warm thought to cling to: The Beach Boys at Stadium of Fire this Fourth of July.
Three of the five original members of the classically American group will be stopping for the event as part of their 50th anniversary tour. This year will be their second performance at Stadium of Fire, exactly 20 years after their first.
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“I think they remembered their first experience and it helped to bring them back again,” Osmond said. “They love the audiences here in Provo. I can tell you every artists that’s been here will comment about the audiences in Provo’s BYU stadium; they’re incredible, and I think these artists know that personally.”
Osmond said he thinks The Beach Boys will capture the essence of what the Fourth of July celebration is about.
“It’s something that we’d like to visually and musically express what America is about,” he said. “These guys are really Americana so we’re happy to have them here.”
The Beach Boys have been performing in Utah for nearly five decades. They recorded the song “Salt Lake City” in the mid 1960s including a shout out to the Lagoon amusement park where the band performed.
They lyrics read: “There’s a park near the city, yeah. All the kids dig the Lagoon now. It’s full of all kinds of girls. And rides and we’ll be flyin’ there soon now.”
And Osmond said he believes the show will be a performance everyone can enjoy.
“These guys are entertaining; they relate to everybody,” he said. “When you find someone that appeals to the whole family, there won’t be anybody that won’t be up jumping around having a good time.
Paul Warner, executive director of America’s Freedom Festival at Provo, said the choice will hopefully meet audience demand.
“We have had so many request The Beach Boys since they were here 20 years ago,” Warner said. “They all remember what a great time they had.”
America’s Freedom Festival hopes The Beach Boys, along with other unannounced artists, will help the community as it celebrates the nation.
Lathaire Bluth, president of the festival this year, reminded the audience what the festival tries to promote through the celebration.
“We’re always grateful for those of you have always shared an interest in not only the stadium, but the Festival itself in honoring America and the patriotic views that we all share,” he said.
Stadium of Fire will be Wednesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Tickets go on presale Wednesday, March 21 at 9 a.m. Members of the public can join presale by going to stadiumoffire.com and clicking “Purchase Tickets Now.” Tickets will be available to the general public Friday, March 23 at 9 a.m. and can be purchased at stadiumoffire.com or the BYU ticket office.
