BUMPER crowds totalling about 58,000 people attended York Racecourse’s Music Showcase Weekend - far more than organisers expected.

A concert by music legends The Beach Boys helped attract a crowd of about 18,000 to Friday evening’s race meeting, with an attendance of about 40,000 for Saturday’s meeting, which was followed by a concert by Wet Wet Wet.

“It was fun, fun, fun,” said racecourse spokesman James Brennan. “There was a very pleasant atmosphere and spectacular sunsets over the Knavesmire both evenings, and the rain arrived on Saturday night long after the concert was over.”

He said The Beach Boys played all their classic hits, such as Good Vibrations, California Girls and God Only Knows, and then, in an added bonus for people who remembered the 60s, Roy Wood, from the Move and Wizzard, unexpectedly appeared on stage to sing the old Move hit Blackberry Way with the band.

Wet Wet Wet also played their classic hit Love is All Around, albeit not until their finale. He said a new sound system was used for the concerts, of a much higher quality than at similar Music Showcase concerts held in previous years.