LIVERPOOL BEATLE WEEK

Thursday 26 August 2004

The Beatles Shop, Mathew Street Art Gallery.
The Cavern Pub, Pete Best at The Cavern.

Wonderful to be back in Liverpool again! We went directly to Mathew Street and The Beatles Shop...

A beautiful shop

The Beatles Jukebox

31 Mathew Street is the place of THE BEATLES SHOP, containing the widest range of Beatles memorabilia in the world. Fans can spend hours here browsing through thousands of original items to a backdrop of Beatles music, played on an original 1962 jukebox.

We went to The Mathew Street Art Gallery next door...

Classic, Rare & Unseen photos as published in MOJO magazine

With the Gold Package wristband we were now ready to enjoy a whole week with lots of wonderful music.

And here are the ticket to the main events...

We started at The Cavern Pub...

Hal Bruce

HAL BRUCE from Nova Scotia, Canada celebrated his fifth consecutive appearance at Beatle Week this year. His acoustic performances are outstanding. I just say 'A Day In The Life' - Magic!

We went over to The Cavern Club...

Johnny Silver & The Lost Weekend

JOHNNY SILVER and his bands have played at all major Beatle Week events since 1998 with great success. They come from Germany. One of the very best Lennon interpreters in the world! So also this year. Thank you, Johnny!

We went back to the Cavern Pub...

Hal Bruce - another great perfomance!

HAL BRUCE can perform 209 Beatles songs! A record?

Back to The Cavern Club...

'62

'62. This was pure rock and roll!! This American band captures the look, sound and energy of the Hamburg/Cavern era with great success.

Los Blackbird

LOS BLACKBIRD. This band from Argentina was selected during the Latin American Beatle Week 2003 as one of the two winning bands to play at Liverpool Beatle Week 2004. The other band being The Quarrymen. (See them a little later tonight.) A dream came true for both these bands!

Back to the Cavern Pub...

Yar Band

Alena & Yar Band

Alena

YAR BAND are from Chelyabinsk in Russia. Back in 2000 frontman and Russian rock star Valery Yarushin successfully campaigned for Lenin Street in their hometown to be renamed Lennon Street. This year the band were in Liverpool together with Valery's daughter Alena. A charming singer!

Time for today's Main Event at The Cavern Back...

First a Norwegian band...

The Norwegian Beatless

Kjetil & Håvard

Håvard - 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'

THE NORWEGIAN BEATLESS, the world's most nothernmost Beatle Tribute band, from Alta, Norway. Guitar-player Håvard Pedersen gave us an unforgettable performance of  'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. Other members being Björn Conrad Berg (guitar), Kjetil Linnes (bass) and Kai Henning Skimelid (drums). A great band.

The Quarrymen

THE QUARRYMEN - one of our favourite bands this year!!! From Argentina. The band (together with Los Blackbird) won the prize to play at Liverpool Beatle Week 2004 at the Latin American Beatle Week 2003. A young, enthusiastic, rocking band. Their version of John's 'I'm Loosing You' was outstanding! One of the week's highlights!

And now - an original Beatle - PETE BEST!!

A bow - Roag, Phil, Paul, Chris, Mark and Pete

PETE BEST BAND has toured all over the world with his successive band consisting of brother Roag Best (drums), Mark Hay (lead guitar), Phil Melia (rhythm guitar), Chris Cavanagh (vocals) & Paul Parry (bass). A wonderful band playing the same songs The Beatles once played when Pete was a member, which gives an authentic feeling. Fantastic to stand just in front of the stage and meet this legend!! Pete, not only still being an excellent drummer, but also a very nice and humble person. Thank you Pete, and the band, for an unforgettable evening!

All photos and text by Bengt Wärmlind.

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