A fabulous Beatles Fest is on the horizon!
GET YOUR TICKETS TO RIDE!
All events will take place at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion, a historic venue with its own deep roots in coastal entertainment. Tickets can be booked directly via their official site:
🎟️ Please visit the Spa Pavilion Theatre website here for more information.
Single-event tickets are available
Complete weekend pass: £179 – includes access to all sessions and events
Accommodation is plentiful in the local area — a bonus for anyone hoping to stay the weekend and let the music echo into the night.
Nigel Pearce
You remember certain mornings because they stand out in your memory. The sea exhibited a theatrical stillness while Cromer Pier radiated with warm, golden light. Something is fitting about talking all things Beatles under a sky that feels like a stage set. I had arrived early—early enough to catch the scent of sea air mixing with fresh coffee, waiting to meet a man who lives and breathes the music of the 60s: broadcaster, author, and Beatles historian Nigel Pearce, from Cromer.
I spotted him before he even got close — white jacket, bold red shirt, and the kind of boots that could walk straight out of Carnaby Street circa 1967. Nigel doesn’t just study the era. He wears it, walks in it, and perhaps most importantly, invites others to feel it too. And that’s precisely what he and Ray Anderson are about to do this summer on the Suffolk coast, at the Spa Pavilion, in fact! See the picture.
“There’s good news,” Nigel tells me, the words brimming with excitement. “We’re hosting East Anglia’s first-ever three-day Beatles Fest. It’s happening at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion — and it’s been a long time in the planning.”
Vibrant Nigel Pearce Links Eras on Air
Nigel Pearce is more than a man with a mic. Based in Cromer, his voice is familiar across the UK’s radio landscape, from Future Radio 107.8FM in Norwich – Poppyland FM in North Norfolk – Swindon 105.5FM and even with Go Global Groove Radio FM, beaming out from Chicago, USA.
But it’s his deep connection with Beatles history that truly sets him apart. As the author of Inside No. 3, a richly illustrated book tracing the product of Apple Records, he has established himself not just as a broadcaster, but as a preservationist — someone helping ensure the aura of music’s golden age isn’t lost to time. He’s also a member of Liverpool’s Beatles Bookstore and has spent decades building a collection of memorabilia that could rival small museums.
“The idea isn’t just to remember the Beatles,” he says. “It’s to bring the history alive — to give people a sample of what it felt like all those years ago.”
And from 20 to 22 June 2025, that’s exactly what will happen in Felixstowe.
Fabulous Beatles Fest, Day One: Brilliant Korgis will be Curtain-Raisers
Friday night’s opener is a gem: The Korgis, the British pop band best known for the haunting 1980 hit “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime”, will take to the Spa Pavilion stage.
“They had several hits through the 70s and 80s,” Nigel explains. “And they’re recording these days at Shabby Road Studios — a cheeky nod to Abbey Road. Their tribute session will be something really special.”
The Korgis are no ordinary nostalgia act. Their current performances blend their classics with songs that shaped them — think Tears for Fears, Simon & Garfunkel — each one interpreted through their unique musical lens.
Day Two: Apple Story and The Quarrymen
Saturday kicks off with a rare treat: Inside Number Three, Nigel’s own Apple Records presentation. This is no dry lecture. It’s a sensory, audio-visual journey through the Beatles’ business empire — singles, albums, posters, rare films, forgotten footage. For fans who’ve only seen the highlights, this is a deep dive.
“We’ll have wall-to-wall video hits, some that many fans will have never seen,” says Nigel. “It’s a real chance to step back into 1968 — to really feel it.”
Later in the afternoon, audiences can expect free screenings of Beatles material, along with special inclusions such as footage of the late Joey Molland (the last member of Badfinger, who passed away just weeks ago), and an interview with Gary Van Syoc, who once played and recorded with John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Elephants Memory Band. Their Apple output was the Elephant’s Memory album, the Power Boogie Shuffle single, and John Lennon’s album, ‘Sometime in New York City.
“Gary has agreed to record and share an exclusive interview just for this event,” Nigel tells me, clearly moved.
Andrew Phillips
Author, Andrew Phillips, who has written a fabulous book on the Decca group, The Applejacks called ‘Like Dreamers Do’, will be presenting the story of when the Beatles and The Applejacks met and worked several times during 1963 and 64. Andrew will also chair a Q&A session.
The Quarrymen: From Skiffle Roots to Timeless Legacy
But Saturday evening may be the emotional heart of the weekend. The Quarrymen — the legendary group from which The Beatles emerged — still count three original members among their ranks: Rod Davis, Colin Hanton, and Len Garry. While Len is no longer able to travel, the band’s enduring legacy will be brought to life at Felixstowe by Rod and Colin, joined by a few musician friends, for a personal and intimate performance.
They’ll revisit stories and songs from their days playing with John Lennon in Liverpool — the heady, far-off days that planted the earliest seeds of what became The Beatles.
Their presence in Felixstowe isn’t just a performance; it’s a living, breathing piece of musical history.
“You’ll be seeing and hearing something truly special,” says Nigel. “Those early hits from the late 50s — brought to you by the very men who played them first.”
From Liverpool rooftops to festival stages across the world, The Quarrymen’s story isn’t just one of music — it’s one of memory, friendship, and transformation. These rare photographs, kindly shared by Rod Davis and the group, offer a glimpse into the journey, from their earliest days on the back of a lorry to recent performances that keep the legacy alive.
Day Three Bowie and Beatle Beat Magic
By Sunday, there’s an emotional charge in the air. These aren’t just concerts anymore — they’re moments to treasure. And Nicky Horne’s part, Beatles, Bowie and me, will be very emotional.
Nicky, at one time, thought he had lost the tapes, but he found them in a box in his attic! Even then, he did not know if they would play. When he placed the tapes into the machine to check, he was amazed to find the recordings were crystal clear.
Nicky, a veteran DJ from the glory days of Capital Radio and now with Boom Radio, isn’t just presenting anecdotes. He’s opening his archives. Stories, perspectives, moments in time that haven’t been aired in decades. This offers something so rare — not just what the separate Beatles said, but exactly how they said it.
As the day charges up further, the final act will take the stage — and what a finale it is. The Upbeat Beatles are one of the best Beatles tribute bands. They’ve been on the circuit for over twenty years, known for their pitch-perfect harmonies, tight arrangements, and uncanny ability to channel the Fab Four’s spirit — without slipping into impersonation.
“They’re going to take you through the full journey,” Nigel says, “All eight-and-a-half, nine years of Beatles brilliance — from the Cavern Club to the rooftop.”
It’s the kind of set designed to leave people swaying, singing, and smiling all the way to their beds.
Why It Still Matters For All Generations
The Beatles weren’t just a band, they weren’t just a moment — they were a complete movement — and for the entire world, they still are. That’s why people are travelling to Felixstowe not just from across East Anglia, but from the US, Canada, and Europe.
“We’ve already had enquiries from as far as Canada and America,” Nigel shares. “It’s really exciting.”
Rehashing the past is not the point here. It’s about connecting with it. Younger audiences are discovering the music for the first time. Older fans are coming back to songs that shaped their lives. For three days, Felixstowe becomes a place where hearts beat in 4/4, and memories — even borrowed ones — feel vivid and alive.
There’s something enormously powerful about it all. In a theatre by the sea. Sharing songs that haven’t aged a day in feeling.
Tickets, Access and Final Thoughts
All events will take place at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion, a historic venue with its own deep roots in coastal entertainment. Tickets can be booked directly via their official site:
🎟️ Please visit the Spa Pavilion Theatre website here for more information.
Single-event tickets are available
Complete weekend pass: £179 – includes access to all sessions and events
Accommodation is plentiful in the local area — a bonus for anyone hoping to stay the weekend and let the music echo into the night.
“We are getting older,” Nigel says, smiling. “But our hearts and our heads are not. And our love for the Beatles will remain intact around the world. That will never, ever change”
Further Information and Artist Links
To learn more about the performers and highlights of the Felixstowe Beatles Festival 2025, visit the official website of The Korgis, the acclaimed British pop group best known for “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime”. You can also explore Inside Number Three, Nigel Pearce’s captivating Apple Records presentation, which offers fans a rare glimpse into the Beatles’ creative and commercial legacy.
The origins of the Beatles come to life through The Quarrymen’s official website, where you can read more about the skiffle band that first brought Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison together. For details on Nicky Horne’s rare archival interviews with John Lennon, George Harrison, and David Bowie, visit Jack Up Events, where his show Beatles, Bowie & Me is featured.
To experience the energy and harmony of one of the UK’s top tribute acts, head over to The Upbeat Beatles
Special thanks to Chris Noble of Chris Noble Photography for kindly allowing the use of his live performance images of The Upbeat Beatles, taken at Alexander’s Live. Your lens captured the energy beautifully.
DON’T MISS THIS AMAZING FESTIVAL! IT WILL BE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND
