HIGHMOUNT, New York — Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, one of American popular music’s greatest composers, will rock the Belleayre Music Festival in Highmount on Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m.
The Beach Boys took the American music scene by storm in the 1960s, creating some of rock-n-roll’s most memorable tunes. Brian Wilson was the driving force behind the band and his multi-faceted contributions rank among the most important elements of rock music.

Brian formed the Beach Boys with his two brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and school friend Alan Jardine, and served as the group’s lead singer, bassist and songwriter.
The Beach Boys were signed to Capitol Records after their single, “Surfin’,” was a big local hit and even made some ripples nationally. What followed was a string of hit singles and hit albums, beginning with 1962’s “Surfin’ Safari,” and including “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Surfer Girl,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Shut Down, Vol. 2,” “All Summer Long” and Concert, all within the next two years.

In 1964, Wilson decided to dedicate his energy to writing new material rather than touring; indeed, he steered the group to international success between 1962 and 1967 with a string of hits that included “Surfin’ USA,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “California Girls,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Good Vibrations.”

In the mid-1960s, the group released Pet Sounds, which has been named by various music outlets as one of pop’s greatest albums ever recorded. It also marked the first time Wilson was credited as a solo artist, for the track “Caroline, No.”
Wilson released his first solo album, the self-titled “Brian Wilson,” in 1988, which featured the singles “Love & Mercy” and “Rio Grande.” His second, “Imagination,” was a hit and resulted in Wilson’s return to the concert scene. A new studio album, “Gettin’ In Over My Head,” was released in 2004 and featured collaborations with Elton John, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton. One of rock’s most revered personalities, Wilson is a legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer of some of the most treasured music in rock history. He will be supported by a top-notch band that consistently draws rave reviews.

Tickets for the Brian Wilson show range from $75-$45 for reserved seating and $20 for lawn seats.

Full season:
The schedule also includes:
Friday, July 18 at 8 p.m.: “The Maestro Plays Beethoven to the Blues” – John Covelli Unplugged – $20 general admission.
Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m.: “Rock-n-Roll Brothers” – The Bacon Brothers Band. Reserved seating $65-$45, $15 lawn.
Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m.: “The Post-Neo Trio,” featuring Justin Kolb with Abby Newton and Mikhail Horowitz – $20 general admission.
Saturday, July 26 at 8 p.m.: “Star of Stage and Screen,” Bebe Neuwirth. $65-$45, $15 lawn
Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m.: Belleayre Festival Opera – “Pagliacci” and Opera Choruses. Reserved $75-$45, $15 lawn.
Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1 p.m.: Children’s Opera – “Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.” Free.
Friday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m.: Belleayre Jazz Club – KJ Denhert. $20 general admission.
Saturday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m.: Jazz Piano Great Ramsey Lewis. Reserved $65-$45, $15 lawn.
Friday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m.: Belleayre Jazz Club – Ken Peplowski. $20 general admission.
Saturday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m.: “Two Jazz Diamonds” – 75th Birthday Celebration for David “Fathead” Newman & Curtis Fuller with Cedar Walton, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Cobb and special guests. Reserved $65-$45, $15 lawn.
Saturday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.: Country Superstar Vince Gill. Reserved $75-$45, $20 lawn.
Sunday, Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.: Kaleidoscope – A Children’s Classical Music Experience featuring The Teaching Artists Ensemble of the New York Philharmonic. Free.
Saturday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m.: Singer/Songwriter/Movie and TV Star Chris Isaak. Reserved $75-$45, $20 lawn.

Ticket info
Ticket for all shows are now on sale via Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster Express: 866 448-7849.
For additional information, please call 800 942-6904, ext. 344 or visit: www.belleayremusic.org. The festival’s e-mail address is: [email]festival@catskill.net[/email].
For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors when you’re in town for the Belleayre Music Festival, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com, www.ulstertourism.info or www.greatwesterncatskills.com.
Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.
Belleayre Mountain is located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain region. The area is located just off Route 28 and is 37 miles west of Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston; 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28; 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe; and 95 miles southwest of Albany and just two hours north of NYC.