Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats to headline MacMoray Family Easter Festival in Elgin
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE headline act for the MacMoray Family Easter Festival has been announced – with Sir Bob Geldof and his band The Boomtown Rats set to come to Elgin.
The Boomtown Rats will play their greatest hits, including I Don't Like Mondays and Rat Trap, during an hour-long set at April's all-day event.
Frontman Bob Geldof, who created supergroup Band Aid back in 1984, a year before hosting Live Aid to an audience of 1.9 billion people, is also famous for his outspoken activism.
In 1986, aged just 34, Geldof was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen for his work in creating Band Aid and Live Aid.
Event organiser Andy Macdonald, from Lossiemouth, is delighted to have brought The Boomtown Rats to Elgin, with the show due to take place at Cooper Park on April 16, subject to the granting of a public entertainment license.
He said: "Bob Geldof is my absolute inspiration.
"He created Live Aid, raising hundreds of millions of pounds for the fight against famine in Africa.
"He is the reason I got into event organising and I’ve always looked up to him.
"For me this is such a personal achievement to be able to bring him to Moray with his band The Boomtown Rats to perform at my Easter Festival."
Event administrator Linda Macdonald added: "The Boomtown Rats will play belting tunes coupled with with hard-hitting, thought-provoking lyrics."
The Boomtown Rats will be joined by a huge variety of bands at the festival, which is set to attract all members of the family.
Vengaboys were the first act announced for the event, with Toploader and S Club joining them.
The Animals and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band will add a 1960s vibe, with Dr Feelgood, Bad Manners and Amelia Lily rounding off the line-up.
Small announcements are due to follow, mostly covering The Ceilidh Cabin (the second stage), which will include local bands and traditional Scottish music.
Alongside the two stages, there will be wide-ranging entertainment at the festival, including a large marquee and a bar for adults and a bouncy castle and face painting for youngsters.
You can place a deposit and secure your ticket for the festival at www.MacMoray.com.
For further information check out the festival's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MacMoray.
