The beat goes on
by Barbara E. Cohen
For Custom Publications

Although the Beatles broke up 35 years ago, their beat goes on as the spirit of the Fab Four comes to Louisville for the Fifth Third Bank Abbey Road on the River, an unprecedented array of international Beatles tribute bands. The three-day extravaganza is set for May 27 through 29.

“I get by with a little help from my friends”
More than 40 of the world’s best Beatles tribute acts will perform on four outdoor and two indoor stages at the Kentucky Center and the Belvedere/Festival Plaza, with the Galt House Hotel and Suites serving as festival headquarters.

“Beatles fans from all over the world come back year after year to honor and celebrate the most influential musicians of our time,” said Gary Jacob, event organizer. “After three years in Cleveland, we are looking forward to the new venue, where we can offer more acts than ever before.”

Louisville has welcomed the Beatles festival, with Fifth Third Bank and other event sponsors coming forward to ensure something Beatles for everyone, whether you’re a baby-boomer Beatles fan or the next generation of Beatle-maniac.

“We’ve had substantially better advance sales in Louisville,” Jacob said. “The Kentucky Center is a terrific location, and we’re building on the success of the previous three festivals.”

This year’s event is the largest yet, with twice as many bands on six full stages, along with Beatles films and archival footage, Beatles art, Beatles books and the Beatles store From Me to You offering the widest selection of licensed Beatles merchandise available.

“Take a sad song and make it better”
With 209 Beatles songs and another 300 to 400 solo-career songs presented by musicians from around the world, there’s not likely to be much repetition.

“The Beatles are like Shakespeare,” Jacob said. “Their works never get stale, and they lend themselves to endless interpretation.”

Choose between bands that replicate the sounds of Beatles’ recordings and musicians who interpret the songs in styles from reggae to the blues, from jazz to classical guitar.

• British Export, a Chicago band that has played Beatles tributes for 10 years, wears vintage suits and duplicates the sound of original Beatles’ recordings.

• Abbey Road Live!, a tribute band from Augusta, Ga., will play the entire “Abbey Road” album live from start to finish, note for note.

• 1964: The Tribute, which headlines Friday’s sold-out VIP concert, has been called the best Beatles tribute band by Rolling Stone magazine.

• Other headliners include the “world-famous” Smithereens from New Jersey, who usually include one Beatles song in each concert set. At Abbey Road on the River, they’ll play a full Beatles set for the first time.

• Don’t miss Canadian Hal Bruce, who will perform his “deadly medley” of all 209 Beatles songs in chronological order in two hours.

• The festival also brings together Beatles tribute musicians from around the world, such as the Repeatles, a ’60s tribute band from Sweden; and the Greek Beats, a seven-piece band from Greece with a female lead singer. Performers from Japan, Australia and the Czech Republic also are scheduled to appear.

Tributes to John Lennon include Instant Karma, which Jacob calls “an evocative and emotional show,” and Tim Piper and Working Class Hero. Sunday’s “Concert for John” will include about 30 bands, each performing one or two songs by John Lennon. Peter Conrad performs “A Tribute to George Harrison,” and the band appropriately named Sir Paul plays the ultimate McCartney tribute show.

The Beatles Ensemble of 50 acoustic guitars will lead the audience in a Beatles sing-along. Other sing-along opportunities include an open mic and Fab Fun Karaoke.

Take a break from the music at lectures with guest speakers. On Saturday and Sunday, join George Harrison’s sister, Louise Harrison, for afternoon tea. On Sunday, enjoy a buffet “Breakfast with the Beatles” with Bill Bernstein, Paul McCartney’s official photographer.

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