Montrose Music Festival has expressed its disappointment that “red tape” has meant under 18s will not be able to attend their headline concert by English group Toploader.
The Mo Fest organising committee has received several requests from children to attend the Dancing In The Moonlight rockers’ Montrose Town Hall concert next month.
They made inquiries with Councillor Paul Valentine, who sits on Angus Council’s licensing board, about the possibility of youngsters attending the gig, where alcohol will be served.
He said there would be a number of “difficult but not insurmountable” problems that would need to be overcome in relation to the issue.
Due to a lack of time, the committee decided to not make an official application to the licensing board.
A statement on the Mo Fest Facebook page said: “We have been asked by several people if under 18s are allowed to attend the Toploader headline gig on Friday May 24.
“It is with great regret that due to lots of red tape from Angus Council Licensing Board we are unable to offer under 18s entry.
“Mo Fest are dedicated to encouraging the younger generation into the music and arts scene and we are very disappointed that they cannot attend this gig.”
Mr Valentine, who is also a Music Festival committee member, said the late inquiry and scheduling of licensing board meetings would have left little time for ticket sales.
“One of the licensing objectives is to ensure that children are protected from the effects of alcohol,” he said.
“The bar would have had to move from the main hall into a side room and everyone who looked under 25 would have been challenged by bar staff.
“However, the big issue would have been people buying alcohol and taking it into the hall and giving it to under 18s.
“This may have meant the festival would require extra security staff and a final decision about this risk would have rested with the board.
“The festival could have held tickets back to see what the licensing board decision would be but this would have left them very little time to sell these other tickets before the concert.”
Mo Fest secretary Jamie Kinghorn said he hoped that youngsters in Angus would still engage with the festival, which has open air events on the Saturday and Sunday, following Toploader’s opening night gig.
He said: “The licensing board requirements would have probably meant we needed extra security and we’re a small organisation and it just wasn’t possible. We will potentially look at the issue again next year.
“However, there are so many other things youngsters can get involved in at the festival. It’s just one gig out of more than 120.
“On the Sunday, we will be running a youth festival in the High Street and there will be lots of kids getting their chance on the big stage. For a lot of artists it will be the first time performing.”
He added that he expected the full programme, which will feature events in more than 20 venues in the town, to be released at the start of May.
“We are very nearly finished the scheduling and a lot of local talent will be on display,” he said.
“Montrose has a small but thriving music scene and there will be a strong local focus.
“The festival is now in its sixth year and has grown each year. It’s quite a draw for music fans around Angus and further afield.”
There are tickets still available for the Toploader concert, priced £15, which can be purchased online from ticketweb.co.uk, or from B@r on Hume Street, Montrose.