Madness fans went One Step Beyond to snap up more than 4,000 tickets for the ska legends’ Montrose summer gig.
An online pre-sale saw 2,000 tickets sold before tickets had even officially gone on sale at the Town Hall at 10am where some Madness fans queued up from as early as 6am.
By 11am, 4,000 tickets to Madness in Montrose were gone as fans hit the local box office or took to the phones or internet to get briefs for the hottest show in town.
David Paton, chairman of the Montrose Music Festival, said: “To have sold so many tickets within such a short timescale exceeded our early expectations and is testament to the popularity of Madness.”
After snapping up her tickets, Rosie Eddie of Edzell said: “I’ve been a big fan for many years but I’ve never seen them live.
“It will be great to see them play in Montrose.”
Paula Finlay from Montrose turned up before 6am.
She said: “It exploded on Facebook yesterday and I wanted to get to the head of the queue. I can’t wait.”
Archie Byers of Montrose has seen the band play live five times before.
He said: “I’m also a big fan of Status Quo and I saw them play Montrose last year but this will be on a different level.
“Madness are more of a family band and we will be talking about this gig for years to come.”
Lifelong Madness fan Derek Harper of Brechin was also at the head of the queue to snap up tickets.
He said: “I’ve been a fan all my life and now I finally get a chance to see them live.”
Fans from across the UK are expected to converge on Montrose for the 4,500-capacity July gig, which is the band’s only Scots date.
The show is being organised by LCC Live and the Montrose Music Festival.
Three-chord legends Status Quo turned East Links into a forest of air guitars at last year’s MoFest when they performed a greatest hits set.
Montrose councillor David May said: “I am sure this will provide a superb boost to our local economy and for all accommodations providers in our area.
“Madness is another great coup and they have a widespread appeal for a variety of ages in the same way that Status Quo did last year.
“Well done to the organisers yet again.”
The band was not available on May 22 to headline MoFest but the committee said it could not turn down the offer of a standalone gig in July. It is understood the committee is still working to confirm the headline act for this year’s MoFest.