North America's largest and longest running Beatles tribute festival, Abbey Road on the River (AROTR), has announced the locations and dates for the 2011 shows - and Louisville is on the list.
The festival will once again bring five days of peace, love and rock-n-roll to Louisville, Kentucky over Memorial Day Weekend from May 26 to May 30 and to Washington D.C. over Labor Day Weekend from September 2 to 5. This year marks the 10th anniversary of AROTR, which brings together more than 75 bands and thousands of fans from around the world to celebrate the music of the greatest rock band of all time – The Beatles.
"The Dallas Morning News described AROTR as a ‘small but mighty' music festival, and we thought that struck the perfect chord, says event producer Gary Jacob. "Once fans experience the magical vibe of the festival, they are hooked and it becomes the weekend they mark their year by."
Payton Kemp, a 19-year-old from Nashville, TN, said "I have met my best friends - my second family as I call them - through AROTR, and I am so lucky to have these wonderful people scattered all over the world. When you are young and love the music that I do, it is so difficult to connect to anyone your own age - except at AROTR."
Both 2011 festivals will feature a full reenactment concert of the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack album LOVE, which was produced as a re-mix of over 130 Beatles songs for the Cirque Du Soleil show of the same name.
Abbey Road on the River originated in Cleveland, Ohio in 2002 and moved to Louisville 2005, where the Belvedere Festival Park and Galt House Hotel & Suites welcome a crowd of 25,000 people each year. The festival has an economic impact on the city of approximately $1.5 Million annually.
For the second year in a row, the festival will give Beatles fans a reason to "come together" in our nation's capitol at the stunning Gaylord National Resort, which will host five indoor and outdoor stages on the banks of the Potomac River during this Fab Four weekend. The Gaylord National Resort is the crown jewel of National Harbor, Maryland, which is a new development that boasts a variety of shops, restaurants, entertainment opportunities, and waterfront attractions, and it's located just a short ride from The White House, Mount Vernon, and other popular area attractions. Families can take advantage of another money saving incentive by purchasing their festival tickets prior to arrival at the festival box office, because advanced tickets include free admission for one 21 and under guest with each regular ticketholder.
The Beatles tribute bands, from Mop Tops to Sgt. Peppers, will play both shows and represent more than eight countries including Germany, Italy, England, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and the USA. They will perform the entire discography of The Beatles from 1963's "Please Please Me" through John, Paul, George and Ringo's final album together, 1970's Abbey Road. Both festivals will feature special concerts dedicated to their solo careers, seminars, and a Beatles merchandise marketplace as well.
Visit Abbey Road on the River to purchase tickets, make reservations, and get more information.
----wave3.com
