Bridget Reed Morawski
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — The Beach Boys are set to headline this year’s Memorial Day concert on the National Mall.
The annual concert is organized to honor America’s service members and veterans.
A number of other performers will round out the line up, including pop singer and actress Katharine McPhee, soprano Renee Fleming, country artist Trace Adkins.
Trent Harmon, the winner of the final season of “American Idol,” will sing the national anthem. The National Symphony Orchestra will also perform, as they do each year.
The iconic California pop band of the sixties, better known for their hit songs such as “Help Me Rhonda” and “Surfin’ U.S.A,” haven’t always been welcome to perform on the Mall. In 1983, then-Secretary of the Interior James G. Watt banned the group from performing, justifying his declaration by claiming that the “rock band” would encourage the abuse of alcohol and drugs.
Can’t get out of the house in time to make it to the Mall for the concert? PBS will host a live broadcast of the event from 8:00pm to 9:30pm EST on May 29th.
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