LIVERPOOL CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THE BEATLES

Liverpool is planning a very special 12 months to mark the biggest popular music phenomenon the world has ever seen.

2012 marks 50 years since The Beatles came together and to celebrate the pivotal anniversary of Liverpool’s favourite sons, there’s a year worth of events taking place across the city.

The city council is joining forces with organisations across Liverpool to put together a programme of activities which pays tribute to four young lads who changed the music scene forever.

The programme so far will be launched at a special event on Friday 24 February, at the venue where it all began - The Cavern Club. The announcement will come just hours after it has been launched at Carnegie Hall in New York during an event aimed at attracting American Beatles aficionados to Liverpool.

Highlights include:

Liverpool City Council

• August will see the 20th Mathew Street Music Festival and Fringe which will be a huge celebration of all things Merseybeat. Two of the stages will not only play host to the usual high quality tribute bands, but there will also be a special section for acts influenced by The Beatles.

The Cavern Club

• Saturday with The Beatles – every Saturday throughout 2012 the club’s resident Beatles tribute bands will give special performances in the venue’s Live Lounge.
• Beatles-mania will take over Hulme Hall in Port Sunlight on 18 August, as a musical extravaganza takes place to mark the historic day that Ringo Starr made his debut with The Beatles as their official drummer.
• 19 August marks the 50-year anniversary of the Fab Four’s first gig at The Cavern and the venue will be in full party-mode to celebrate the occasion.
• International Beatles Week (22 – 28 August) will mark the 50th anniversary in style with bands and fans from all over the world descending on the city. Gigs, guest speakers and the world’s biggest Beatles convention will all make this an unforgettable week.
• For the first time, on 25 August, Port Sunlight Summer Festival is teaming up with International Beatles Week and will see tribute bands take to the outdoor stage to give a Beatles flavour to the event.

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