The volunteers of Montrose Music Festival have been praised for transforming the town into a “mecca for music”.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams is the latest name in a lengthening line-up of famous musicians signed up to play in the town.
Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will also perform next year following previous appearances from Ash, Status Quo and Madness.
Montrose councillor David May said: “It seems that 2016 is going to be another fantastic year for the Montrose music scene which is building on an amazing 2015 with the headline act of Madness.
“It is evident that this is a great boost for the local economy to have so many visitors from far and wide coming to hear these acts and stay in our town.
“David Paton and his volunteer committee have to be congratulated for their very hard work and each year MoFest seems to get even better.
“We now have headline acts and musical events throughout the year and in 2016 we now will be welcoming Jools Holland and Bryan Adams.
“Increasingly Montrose is becoming a mecca for music and across the UK people are talking about our town and the role we play on music.”
Angus North and Mearns MSP Nigel Don said he was “really impressed” by the continuing success of MoFest.
He said: “It is great to see big bands come along and to find folk organising their diaries around what is happening in Montrose.
“A really big thank you to everyone involved.”
North East MSP Alex Johnstone said: “The MoFest line-ups just get better and better.
“There can be no greater tribute to the hard working volunteers and organisers than the continued success that MoFest enjoys and it is obvious that these big name bands have every confidence in the event when so many are keen to sign up and attend.
“MoFest is a great advert not just for Montrose, but for Angus and the North East, and the spin-off benefits for the local economy should not be under- estimated.”
The festival committee is a non-profit, volunteer run organisation, dedicated to promoting free live music of all styles and genres, and at all levels, in Montrose and surrounding areas.
Each year, the Friday night opens MoFest with an opening night headliner which is the only ticketed event of the entire festival and provides income to make the rest of the weekend free.
Last year’s MoFest attracted more than 12,000 music fans, contributing approximately £750,000 to the local economy.
Next year’s headline act is Jools Holland on May 27 before Bryan Adams performs a one-off gig on Sunday August 7 at the East Links.