Billy J. Kramer at the Cavern Club for first time in 42 years 
[Posted by Katie Hickox on Wednesday, 09/01/10 6:14 pm] [Permalink] [Related Posts] [Tweet This]Billy J. Kramer and his band "The New Dakotas" performed Tuesday night at the Cavern Club for the first time in more than 42 years, and his first performance in Liverpool in 13 years, as part of the closing night for the Liverpool Beatles Festival 2010.
Billy received a huge response from the packed audience during his first of two shows Tuesday and kicked off the set with "I Call Your Name" written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. He played many of his hit songs such as "Do You Want to Know A Secret", another song written by Lennon and McCartney, and the crowd went wild with his performance of "Bad to Me", "I'll Be On My Way", "Little Children".
Billy told the audience that John Lennon had played "Bad to Me" for his 21st birthday, and it became his next hit single. Afterwards, Billy signed autographs and also signed his CD, a compilation of the best of Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas hits from 1963 to 1966 that were all recorded at Abbey Road.
Currently Billy lives in New York City where he has lived for the past 25 years and continues to perform across the country. For more information about his tour schedule, go to billyjkramer.com.
Earl Don't Wanna Spoil The Party
[Posted by Dave Haber on Wednesday, 09/01/10 10:35 am] [Permalink] [Tweet This] Many families are stressed with what to do over Labor Day weekend now that Hurricane Earl is forcing many east coast beaches to close.
To give people an entertainment option that the whole family can enjoy, organizers of the world's largest Beatles tribute festival, Abbey Road on the River, are offering free admittance to all 21 and under guests with each regular ticket holder throughout the entire 5-day festival, a policy that was originally for advance purchasers only.
The Labor Day Weekend music festival will draw thousands of Beatles' fans to the stunning Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, which will be home base for festival bands and attendees, hosting five indoor and outdoor stages, seminars, and a Beatles merchandise market place.
Abbey Road on the River takes place this weekend, September 2-6. Visit www.abbeyroadontheriver.com for tickets and more information.
Beatles tribute this weekend in Toronto
[Posted by Dave Haber on Tuesday, 08/31/10 4:00 pm] [Permalink] [Tweet This] This Friday, Michael Wrycraft presents Twist & Shout: A Tribute to the Beatles at Hugh's Room in Toronto, Canada. It promises to be, as all Man Called Wrycraft presentations, an eclectic and astounding line-up of musicians to celebrate one of the greatest musical groups of our time.
The performers will include Christine Duncan & the 20-member Element Choir, an astounding Avant-Choir that must be seen and heard to be believed, Wendell Ferguson, six-time CCMA Guitarist of the Year and Canada's "Go-To-Country-Session-Player", George Koller with Pat Murray, stand-up Bass and Sitar with a great Toronto Vocalist, and James Keelaghan, one of Canada's Truly Great Singer/Songwriters.
Also performing will be Scott McCord & the Bonafide Truth Horn Section, Toronto Blues Society's 2009 New Blues Band of the Year with a wicked Horn Section, Michael Occhipinti with Lester McLean, eight-time Juno nominee and one of the great Canadian Jazz Guitarists with a fantastic Toronto R&B/Soul Singer, Alejandra Ribera, a passionate, intense singer/songwriter, the buzz about Alejandra over this last year has been huge, and Maury Lafoy and Graham Powell with pure pop harmonies from the founding members of The Supers.
All in all, 38 great musicians in 8 acts performing around 20 Beatles songs.
Twist & Shout: A Tribute to the Beatles takes place on Friday, September 3, 2010 (Labour Day Weekend) at 8:30pm sharp at Hugh's Room, which is located at 2261 Dundas St. W., Toronto. Tickets are $22 in advance or $25 at the door, for ticket information plese call 416-531-6604, send an email to info@hughsroom.com or visit www.hughsroom.com.
Tribute concert was once in a lifetime experience
[Posted by Katie Hickox on Monday, 08/30/10 9:21 am] [Permalink] [Related Posts] [Tweet This] Saturday night's fundraiser, Beatles: Peace, Love, and Understanding, at the The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral was a once in a lifetime experience and for Beatles fans, this concert was the most memorable of this year's Beatles Week 2010 in Liverpool.
The concert featured over 24 various performers and guest speakers from all over the world. Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, opened the evening, followed by Jon Keats of Cavern City Club who was the man primarily responsible for organizing this near marathon of different performers and speakers, along with Bill Heckle of Cavern City Tours. Other guest speakers such as Julia Baird, John Lennon's half-sister, gave a fascinating background into the meaning of "Jai Guru Deva Om" which John sings in "Across the Universe." According to Julia, "Jai Guru Deva Om" loosely means victory to the greatness within each of us and recognizing the greatness within each of us.
The Dovedale School Choir from Liverpool along with solo artist Marcus Cahill of Australia were among the many outstanding performers and helped steal the show by singing together John Lennon's 'Happy Xmas War Is Over.' Pepperland from Sweden played 13 Beatles songs to finish the first half and Nube 9 from Argentina performed 13 songs from the Beatles solo collection in the second half of the concert.
The sound of John Lennon's voice was heard as performing artist Mark McGann talked about what 'Peace and Love' meant to John Lennon. Mark performs as John Lennon in Sunday's show at the Liverpool Philharmonic in which he does an amazing portrayal of John Lennon from before the Beatles became the Beatles until his tragic death.
A rendition of "Let It Be" by three Russian scientists based in Antarctica after an introduction by a Russian Orthodox Monk also based next door to the scientists in Antarctica was amongst the highlights of last night's once in a lifetime concert.
The concert was filmed so hopefully it will become available if you missed this truly once in a lifetime concert. Check with the Anglican Cathedral website that includes an on line gift store.
The Overtures is best show of Beatles week 2010 so far
[Posted by Katie Hickox on Saturday, 08/28/10 7:09 pm] [Permalink] [Related Posts] [Tweet This] One of the highlights of this year's Liverpool Beatles Festival was last night's Overtures concert which was jam packed with brilliant authentic renditions of sixties bands such as the Kinks, the Who, the Searchers, the Animals, the Turtles, the Birds, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and many, many more along with a superb video clips of old sixties news and commercials and fashion in which London was the mod capital of the world.
About the Overtures, the Cavern City Tours Beatle Week 2010 guidebook says, "Having begun 2009 with Sir Elton's invitation to suport him at this New Year's Eve show for 17000 people at the OxArena, the year ended just as memorably when The Overtures were asked by Sir Paul McCartney to entertain at his aftershow party at the same venue."
From first hand experience attending their concert last night at Liverpool's Philharmonic, I can attest that their show is one of the top shows for any retrospective of the very best of sixties, and last night was the very first time I have ever seen so many sixties classics such as The Turtles "Happy Together" or The Doors' "Light My Fire".
Wow! And it's only getting better everyday! Stay tuned!
Liverpool's Casbah Club is hot this weekend, inside and out
[Posted by Katie Hickox on Saturday, 08/28/10 6:13 pm] [Permalink] [Related Posts] [Tweet This] The Casbah Club had a tent outside the downstairs from the club yesterday for acoustic acts as part of this year's Liverpool Beatles Festival. Hal Bruce and Tony Murtagh played Friday afternoon.
 | | Hal Bruce |
Cavern City Tours provided buses for attendees from the Adelphi Hotel to and from the Casbah Club for the afternoon. The acoustic acts were great because you could also sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy the great weather in the large backyard of the former home of Pete Best.
 | | Tony Murtagh |
For those who could handle loud music and crowds, rock and roll bands playing down in the Casbah Club cellar in the same rooms where the Beatles got their start playing as "The Silver Beatles" in late 1960 and recruited Pete Best as their drummer. Pete's mother Mona was the driving force behind transforming her family's unused cellar into the extremely popular Casbah Coffee Club where local bands could get a chance to perform.
See www.casbahcoffeeclub.com for the history of when the Beatles started playing and John Lennon got paid to decorate the ceilings and walls of the Casbah Club to make some extra money!
Bill Heckle spreads Peace, Love and Understanding
[Posted by Katie Hickox on Saturday, 08/28/10 4:24 pm] [Permalink] [Related Posts] [Tweet This] I chatted with Cavern Club owner Bill Heckle yesterday, he told me that the Russian scientists and monks who are stationed up in Antartica sing "Let It Be" on the 6 minute video that was be presented at tonight's Beatles "Peace, Love and Understanding" Concert being held at the Anglican Cathedral, and that it is very moving. Bill shared that he had great difficulties communicating with the small community stationed up at Antartica because there are no phones or email and it sometimes takes 3 months for a letter to get sent to them and they didn't have any film equipment to record a message for tomorrow night's concert.
For the Beatles "Peace, Love and Understanding" Concert, Bill has recruited people from 7 different continents to participate by having them videotape a short message. Bill's efforts deserve a great deal of thanks in spending over a year to set this event up and to make this concert a truly global event with participants from seven different continents!
 | | Bill Heckle with festival emcee Neil Brannon |
Sunday's Liverpool Beatles Convention starts at 10am and runs until midnight. There will be two world premiere screenings, "Come Together," a movie about the fans and the many tribute bands that come together at Beatles festivals, and "Let Him Be."
The Tuesday night's Billy J. Kramer shows at the Cavern Club are sold out and have been for several months. Kramer hasn't performed in Liverpool for 12 years after living in the US. Pete Best replaces Denny Laine for Monday night's Beatles variety show at the Liverpool Philharmonic.and took his photo standing with Neil who has been the Emcee at many Liverpool Beatles Festivals.
Thinking of Brian
[Posted by Dave Haber on Friday, 08/27/10 3:29 pm] [Permalink] [Tweet This] Today we remember Brian Epstein, who passed away 43 years ago on this day, August 27, 1967.
Would the Beatles have happened without Brian? He believed in them when no one else did. Dick Rowe of Decca records told Brian that guitar groups were on their way out. Brian told Dick Rowe that the Beatles were going to be bigger than Elvis.
Brian tamed the Beatles without changing their sound or who they were. He traded in their leather jackets for suits and ties, and taught them to bow politely to the audience at the end of every song. Imagine that day, telling John Lennon he'd have to clean up his act and bow to the audience, instead of cursing at them. No one could get John Lennon to do anything he didn't want to.
Except Brian.
This image of Brian's grave in Liverpool was taken yesterday by our friend Katie Hickox. She tells us that while some of the cemetery has unfortunately been vandalized and fallen into disrepair, thankfully Brian's grave remains untouched, and has been cleaned up for the visitors who invariably arrive on this day to pay their respects.
It's a crime an accident took Brian from us at such a young age. He was only 32, but he lives on in the hearts of every Beatles fan forever.
To learn more about Brian Epstein, vist www.brianepstein.com.
Tell Liverpool how you feel about Ringo's birthplace
[Posted by Dave Haber on Friday, 08/20/10 4:25 pm] [Permalink] [Tweet This] As we have been posting this week on Beatles News, fans are organizing to prevent the City of Liverpool from destroying the birthplace of Ringo Starr.
Controversy has raged for decades over whether Ringo's first home at 9 Madryn Street, Liverpool, should be saved. It was first earmarked for demolition in 2005 but a wave of public opposition saw the street remain standing while options for saving it were considered. Now official demolition notices have been posted in the street.
 | | 9 Madryn Street, Liverpool |
You can tell the City of Liverpool how you feel about this controversy. There is a section on their official web site, called "Have Your Say". The website describes the section of the site as "Liverpool City Council's scheme for dealing with comments, compliments and complaints about the services we provide. We welcome your views, comments and suggestions about the city and the council."
Click here to Have Your Say.
Paul McCartney and friends pay tribute to Sid Bernstein
[Posted by Dean Wien on Wednesday, 08/18/10 11:48 am] [Permalink] [Tweet This] Last weekend, I had the pleasure of traveling to Philadelphia from New York City to see Paul McCartney's concerts on Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15, 2010 at The Wacovia Center, part of a 25 City Tour entitled "Up and Coming Tour".
Both nights were special, because Paul added songs to his sets that I've never seen him perform like Two of Us, And I Love Her, I've Just Seen a Face, I'm looking Through You, Venus and Mars/Rock Show, Obla Di Obla da, Ram On, Let Em' In, Paperback Writer, Letting Go, and so much more.
Sunday, August 15, 2010 was a special night, because it was the 45th Anniversary of The Beatles at Shea Stadium. Well, Sid Bernstein was in the audience, and Paul took a moment to pay tribute to Sid.
 | | Sid Bernstein |
Paul told the audience that it was the 45th Anniversary of The Beatles at Shea Stadium, and the man that brought us here is in the audience. Let's hear it for Sid Bernstein. The crowd gave a really nice cheer to a very important person in Beatle History. Then Paul said that he would like to dedicate the next song to Sid Bernstein. Paul continued to play "The Long and Winding Road".
I truly felt happy for Sid, this was the first time that I've heard Paul pay tribute to Sid Bernstein.
Then, on Monday, there was a party for Sid Bernstein, and the celebration for The 45th Anniversary of The Beatles playing at Shea Stadium at The Delta 360 Sky Club at Citifield.
Everyone at the party were friends, relatives, co-workers of Sid Bernstein. There were people there like May Pang, Billy J. Kramer and members of The Yardbirds. Also at the party, a video of The Beatles at Shea Stadium was shown, as well as a short documentary on Sid Bernstein.
Happy 45th aniversary Sid Bernstein on bringing the Beatles to Shea Stadium!
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