Abbey Road on the River
Encyclopedia
Abbey Road on the River (AROTR) is a five-day, multi-stage music festival honoring the music and spirit of The Beatles
. The festival takes place in Louisville, Kentucky over the Memorial Day weekend. An East Coast version has taken place once to date - in 2010 in the Washington, D.C. area. Over the course of the festival, multiple tribute bands play the music of the Beatles.
The first three events were held in Cleveland, OH in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
In 2005 the event moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it is currently held annually over the Memorial Day weekend.
A second annual East Coast version of the event (AROTR DC) took place in September 2011, held just outside of our Nation's capital in National Harbor, MD.
The venue for Abbey Road on the River in Louisville consists of the Belvedere and Galt House Hotel & Suites in downtown Louisville, KY. The festival utilizes more than 9 stages simultaneously, both indoor and outdoor. The Galt House Hotel & Suites provides indoor venues, mostly for smaller concerts, speakers and film screenings. Outdoor stages are located on the Belvedere, including the Lawn Stage, which is used for featured shows.
Washington, D.C.
The venue for Abbey Road on the River in Washington, D.C. is the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
. The D.C. festival includes two indoor stages and four outdoor stages, as well as additional rooms for speakers and film screenings.
The festival also features Beatles-related speakers, discussion panels, film screenings and the sale of Beatles merchandise.
Among the noted musicians and speakers over the past six years have been:
In 2010, the first year that there were two festivals in one year, the organizers claimed a cumulative audience of 40,000 attendees for the two events.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. The festival takes place in Louisville, Kentucky over the Memorial Day weekend. An East Coast version has taken place once to date - in 2010 in the Washington, D.C. area. Over the course of the festival, multiple tribute bands play the music of the Beatles.
History
Abbey Road on the River is produced by Gary Jacob, a Cleveland resident who has produced numerous events including the National Rib Cook-off, Millennium events for Kodak in 2000 and Easter at the White House for eight years during the Clinton Administration.The first three events were held in Cleveland, OH in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
In 2005 the event moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it is currently held annually over the Memorial Day weekend.
A second annual East Coast version of the event (AROTR DC) took place in September 2011, held just outside of our Nation's capital in National Harbor, MD.
Venues
Louisville, KYThe venue for Abbey Road on the River in Louisville consists of the Belvedere and Galt House Hotel & Suites in downtown Louisville, KY. The festival utilizes more than 9 stages simultaneously, both indoor and outdoor. The Galt House Hotel & Suites provides indoor venues, mostly for smaller concerts, speakers and film screenings. Outdoor stages are located on the Belvedere, including the Lawn Stage, which is used for featured shows.
Washington, D.C.
The venue for Abbey Road on the River in Washington, D.C. is the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is a large hotel and convention center located in National Harbor, Maryland and owned by Gaylord Hotels, a division of Gaylord Entertainment Company...
. The D.C. festival includes two indoor stages and four outdoor stages, as well as additional rooms for speakers and film screenings.
Event activities and attendees
Abbey Road on the River presents many types of tribute bands. Some bands look, sound and act like The Beatles. Others simply play the music of The Beatles. Additionally, some acts focus only on recreating the solo music of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.The festival also features Beatles-related speakers, discussion panels, film screenings and the sale of Beatles merchandise.
Among the noted musicians and speakers over the past six years have been:
- Pete BestPete BestPete Best is a British musician, best known as the original drummer in The Beatles. He was born in the city of Madras, British India...
, the Beatles' drummer prior to Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, was a special guest at Abbey Road on the River in Louisville (2006) and in Washington, D.C. (2010).
- Louise Harrison, George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
’s sister, was a featured guest at Abbey Road on the River 2002, 2003 and 2005. Harrison judged Beatle-themed singing competitions and spoke to an audience about her experiences with her brother and The Beatles.
- Denny Laine, former Paul McCartney & Wings band member, was a featured guest in 2007. Laine performed hits by Wings, and his former band the Moody Blues.
- Terry SylvesterTerry SylvesterTerry Sylvester , was the guitarist/singer with The Escorts, The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Hollies...
, member of The Hollies, was a featured guest in Louisville in 2010.
In 2010, the first year that there were two festivals in one year, the organizers claimed a cumulative audience of 40,000 attendees for the two events.