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BEATLES FEST FELIXSTOWE 2025 OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

BEATLES FEST FELIXSTOWE SPA PAVILION TO HOST EAST ANGLIA’S FIRST EVER THREE DAY BEATLES FEST EVENT

Beatles Fest Felixstowe
Beatles Fest Felixstowe

LAUNCH DAY LATEST

WHEN IS IT?

This Fabulous event, the first of its kind in the Anglia Region,  is to be held on the weekend of June 20th – 22nd 2025, and what an event it promises to be!!

The lasting influence and legacy of The Beatles shows no signs of dimming, in fact it continues to grow, with new issues of their brilliant catalogue, that will forever it seems burn bright and inspire.

WHERE IS IT?

The Felixstowe Spa Pavilion Theatre – Situated right on the coastline, this 88 year old Art Deco building is nationally famous and well established in entertainment history is the venue for this innovative event designed to celebrate both the 1960’s and The Beatles. Along with the fab four, the 1960’s still remains the most popular decade for art and music the world over.

By bringing the two together – Felixstowe is primed to explode into a joyous celebration of the Fab Four and this most brilliant decade.

WHAT IS HAPPENING? FRIDAY NIGHT

THE KORGIS

It all begins on Friday Night (20th June) with a performance from the 70s and 80’s Supergroup The Korgis. Led by frontmen James Warren and Al Steele, the group will perform a stunning package of their well known hits , including ‘If I Had You’, ‘I Just Can’t Help It’, ‘If It’s Alright With You Baby’, and ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime’. The group members themselves are also linked with many other bands including Tears for Fears, and will perform some of their songs as well as a special section paying homage to The FAB 4 as well!- What a way to start things off!!!

WHAT IS HAPPENING? SATURDAY

INSIDE NUMBER 3

Saturday unveils a great line up with a great ‘Inside no3’ presentation to include an audio and visual presentation of many of the products from Apple Records, the legendary Label, that at its time became the centre of musical influence. Artists such as Badfinger, Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Hot Chocolate, The Plastic Ono Band, and others including Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Splinter, all contributed to the success story. – This will be presented along with a video wall and some artefacts.

THE APPLEJACKS

There will be a video wall of Beatle Hits in the early afternoon along with a presentation by author Andrew Phillips on the meetings and working together of Decca Group, The Applejacks and The Beatles, this will prove to be very illuminating!!

THE QUARRYMEN

The Quarrymen
The Quarrymen

The evening promises a real slice of history with a Q and A session and a performance from The Quarrymen and Friends. Two of the original Quarrymen band are to be found here with assistance from others in performing the original songs that they played along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, which laid the foundations to become The Beatles – What a treat to behold and experience!! 

WHAT IS HAPPENING – SUNDAY

JOEY MOLLAND AND GARY VON SCYOC

Sunday sees more with a special presentation of solo Beatles hits from 1970 and beyond with the presentation of some interviews by solo Apple artists including the late Joey Molland from Badfinger  and Gary Van Scyoc from Elephants Memory, who played and recorded with John Lennon in the early 1970’s.

NICKY HORNE

The afternoon sees Ex- Capital Radio DJ and Presenter Nicky Horne explain and play his interviews that he obtained with John Lennon and George Harrison in the early 70’s, and with a Q and A session to boot!!

THE UPBEAT BEATLES

The evening then sees a very special tribute concert performance by The Upbeat Beatles, taking us through those fabulous hits that you can sing and dance to and bring those memories of those great times back again. – What a great weekend and time to relive and feel those wonderful years, that still holds so much magic for the entire world !! 

There will also be trade stands and licensed replica Beatles musical instruments and much more memorabilia on display. There are also some FREE EVENTS being organised around the fee paying ones in order to keep attendees occupied and in order to jam pack the weekends events! 

WHERE CAN I GET MY TICKETS?

All events can be visited separately with a ticket or an ALL SHOWS WEEKEND PASS can be obtained offering a discount value deal, for only £126.40. To book this special offer call 0800 107 5291 and Hotel Bookings can also be made on this number. There are some free events as well within the weekend. So BEATLESFEST 2025 is the place to be for this unique weekend. You’ll have a brilliant break with great music and opportunities to explore the wonderful town of Felixstowe, – Go on, you know won’t regret It!!

PRESS QUOTE:
RAY ANDERSON SAID “This first of its kind event in East Anglia is quite unique. It traces everything from the very start when John met Paul in the 1950’s with The Quarrymen and beyond to the Apple days and to when the band disbanded. People are booking from all over the world for this event. It’ll be BEATLES wall-to-wall and an event not to be missed!”

For further quotes and details PLEASE check out the BEATLESFEST website:  www.beatlesfest.co.uk

EVENT ORGANISERS:
Feel free to call for press quotes
Call Nigel Pearce on 07388 638719, Email contact is redleadernigel@hotmail.co.uk
or Ray Anderson on 07774 801945  – Email eapstudios123@gmail.com or ray.anderson@spapavilion.net
Show Booking, Trade Stands & Hotel specially negotiated Deals – 0800 107 5291

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EARLY BEATLES VENUES AROUND MERSEYSIDE

As stated numerous times on this blog, it is often the independent Beatles book publications that hold the most fascination for me as a collector. They are issued in much lower quantities, are more difficult to find and purchase, and often they have pictures and/or stories that are not available in the mass market books. I love these three titles written by author, Ray O’Brien. The first two were independent publications and the third book was published by Bluecoat Press. If you are interested in looking for these titles for your collection, they can often be found either on Ebay or at Abe Books!

Independently published by Ray O’Brien

Publication Year-2001

There are Places I’ll Remember The Beatles Early Venues in and Around Merseyside

Early Beatles Venues
Early Beatles Venues

AND VOLUME 2There are Places I’ll Remember Volume 2 The Beatles Early Venues – Ray O’Brien

published by Ray O’Brien in 2003

Volume 2 Early Beatles Venues
Volume 2 Early Beatles Venues

Bluecoat Press consolidated the independent publications into a 2005 release shown below:

There are Places I’ll Remember The Beatles Early Venues in and Around Merseyside

published by The Bluecoat Press in 2005:

There Are Places I’ll Remember
There Are Places I’ll Remember

Great books from Ray O’Brien!

Buzz

Our Featured Book of the Week

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THE BEATLES IN NEW ZEALAND – A CONVERSATION

As stated numerous times on this blog, one of my favorite items to collect are the more obscure Beatles-related books, like this one about The Beatles in New Zealand..

This one published in 2015 features a previously unpublished interview with John Lennon done in New Zealand, in 1964. Tony Taylor conducted the interview. The Amazon description is provided below for your convenience. I bought this title a few years ago on Amazon and was thoroughly happy that I was able to add it to the collection. Though small in the number of pages, it represents yet another piece to the jigsaw puzzle that makes up part of the Beatles story!

The Beatles Tour in New Zealand
The Beatles Tour in New Zealand

JL CONVERSATION – YouTube Tony Taylor reflects in a piece on YouTube

John Lennon speaks in rare NZ interview | RNZ

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop (28 April 2015)

John Lennon in Conversation: An interview with Professor Tony Taylor Paperback – 28 April 2015

by Michael O’leary (Author), Tony Taylor (Author)

Amazon UK description of the book and link to order it if you so desire:

A unique interview with John Lennon which was recorded when The Beatles were in New Zealand in 1964. It was recorded by Psychology Professor Dr Tony Taylor who was at the time doing a study into Beatlemania. It gives a remarkable insight into Lennon’s thoughts regarding fame, music and life generally at a time when the group was still new to all the world-wide adulation they were receiving. I have included an attachment of both the covers and the text for you to enjoy and to quote from if you think it will help the posting for your blog.

I think this is something of a coup for a New Zealand publisher as it must be one of the last unpublished interviews with John Lennon and it has been an honour to work with Dr Taylor on the project. You will note that my poem ‘The Flipside of the Ballad of John and Yoko’ appears at the end of the book as an antidote to the effects of fame.

John Lennon in Conversation: An interview with Professor Tony Taylor: O’leary, Michael, Taylor, Tony: 9781869421533: Amazon.com: Books

Also an Abe Books link:

John Lennon in Conversation: An interview with Professor Tony Taylor – O’leary, Michael; Taylor, Tony: 9781869421533 – AbeBooks

A conversation with John Lennon | Stuff

The book is small in size but it is also relatively inexpensive. Being an academic, the interview is superior to most Beatles-related interviews from that time period!

BUZZ

OUR FEATURED BOOK OF THE WEEK

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THE LIFE OF BRIAN – BOOKS ABOUT BRIAN EPSTEIN

Brian Epstein has been given a primary credit for the Beatles rise to the summit of worldwide fame in addition to their phenomenal musical talent and abilities. Unfortunately, he died prematurely in 1967 at the age of 32. His death has been described as being under mysterious circumstances. He died of a combined alcohol and barbiturate overdose ruled as accidental, at the age of 32. It was known, however, that he had been severely depressed, being sad at his declining influence with the band he loved.

An interesting note about Brian is that there are some critics that claim he made a lot of financial mistakes in the early years regarding the merchandising side of Beatles memorabilia. Even John Lennon felt that they had been short-changed. However in Brian’s defense, he was also learning the business ropes along with the band he managed!!!

Ghostwritten by Derek Taylor

Title: A Cellarful of Noise

Publisher: Souvenir Press, London

Publication Date: 1964

Brian Epstein - A Cellarful of Noise
Brian Epstein – A Cellarful of Noise

Have a signed copy of this book obtained from collector Pete Nash who jokingly speculated that the copy was dedicated to journalist, Don Short.

Brian Epstein Signature
Brian Epstein Signature

Kevin Roach was instrumental in developing a fundraising campaign to build a statue dedicated to Brian Epstein in Liverpool, and making that a reality. He has produced many Beatles-related books.
The print copy of this book is sold out. Recently learned of some controversy surrounding the release of this title.

Hide Your Love Away: An Intimate Story of Brian Epstein as told by Larry Stanton Hardcover – 2 Dec. 2020

by Robin Bragg-Marcelli (Author), Rick Marcelli(Author), Larry Stanton (Author)

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Trine Day (US) (2 Dec. 2020)
  • A very interesting book that deals with the private life of the Beatles manager. The authors suggest through one of Brian’s close friends that Brian was associating himself with many shady characters that were also contributing to his depressed state prior to his premature death. Copies of this book were available on Amazon, eBay and Abe Books.

I enjoyed this book by Debbie Geller, published in 2000.

The Brian Epstein Story

by Debbie Geller

Published by Faber and Faber Ltd, 2000

Alternate cover of the Geller book published by St. Martin’s Press:

The Fifth Beatle The Brian Epstein Story – Limited Edition

Vivek J. Tiwary

Published by M Press, 2013

This limited edition of this groundbreaking graphic novel features a signed tip-in sheet by creators Vivek J. Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson, and Kyle Baker, along with a bonus section including unique Beatles and Brian Epstein memorabilia and behind-the-scenes sketches, a unique, textured cover, and a slipcase. Limited to 1500 signed and numbered copies. Vivek has been working on a television series based on his book for quite some time. Hope to see it become a reality soon. This is an excellent graphic novel type book which is a worthwhile addition to any Beatles collection!

This book has some built-in credibility as it was written by Beatles friend and well-known journalist, Ray Coleman. Coleman was a good writer who was not prone to tabloid journalism.

Brian Epstein: The Man Who Made “The Beatles”

by Ray Coleman

Published by Viking, 1989

A book by Epstein friend, the late Joe Flannery:

Standing In the Wings: The Beatles, Brian Epstein and Me

Published by The History Press, 2018

Joe Flannery with Mike Brocken

Business associate and partner of Brian Epstein

I Should Have Known Better: A Life in Pop Management–The Beatles, Brian Epstein and Elton John

by Geoffrey Ellis

G. Ellis spent forty years in the music business, working closely with the Beatles and Brian Epstein during the 60’s.

Published by THO, 2004

Alistair worked for Brian Epstein and was affectionately known as Mr. Fix-It. He accompanied Brian Epstein to the Cavern when Brian was checking out the band. And the rest as they say….is history!!!

With the Beatles

Alistair Taylor

Published by John Blake, 2011

Derek Taylor tells some of his interactions with Brian in this book

As Time Goes By: Living in the Sixties with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Brian Epstein, Allen Klein, Mae West, Brian . Los Angeles, New York City, and on the Road

Published by Straight Arrow Books, San Francisco, 1973

A film which featured Ian Hart as John Lennon (Ian had also played Lennon in the “Backbeat” film.)

This film deals with the speculation that John and Brian had an affair in Barcelona, Spain.

An hour long interview with Joanne Petersen who worked for Brian and was at his house when his body was found.

Joanne Petersen: The Beatles, Brian Epstein and me | ABC Conversations Podcast – YouTube

An unpublished book that was intended for release by one of Brian’s assistants, Joanne Petersen.

It is rumored that Joanne decided not to publish the book after consulting with and abiding by the wishes of the Epstein family. Once again, the interview with Joanne above seems to contradict the sensationalistic premise that was about to be used to promote the book if it was going to be published.

This is the photo of the cancelled book as it originally appeared on Amazon.

In closing, would like to present a special book by author Terry Crain who talks about Brian Epstein’s company NEMS (North End Music Store/s) and the products officially licensed by NEMS and the Beatles for merchandising. This is truly a fabulous book intensively researched by the author. First edition was published in 2019 by Terry Crain. An updated 2nd edition has also appeared of this fine book.

Is Brian the Fifth Beatle? What do you think?

Which is your favourite Brian Epstein book?

Just received news that author Philip Norman has completed and submitted his own Brian Epstein book for publication! The wagon train continues…

Buzz

GET TERRY CRAIN’S FANTASTIC BOOK ON NEMS