Fest For Beatles Fans To Be Held at The Mirage

Ever since Cirque du Soleil’s “LOVE” opened last year at The Mirage, Las Vegas has become a new epicenter for Beatles fans. So it makes sense that the long-running “Fest for Beatles Fans” festival would finally make its way to town.

The festival first began in 1974, to commemorate the Beatles arrival in the United States, ten years earlier. John Lennon himself blessed the first event by donating a signed guitar for a charity raffle.

Thirty-three years later, “The Fest for Beatles Fans 2007: Las Vegas Fest” will take place at The Mirage from July 1st through the 3rd.

The event will feature headline concerts from former Beatles drummer Pete Best and his band; Peter & Gordon, one of the most successful duos in rock history whose repertoire includes songs written by Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney; and three members of McCartney’s former rock supergroup, Wings – founding member Denny Laine, plus Denny Seiwell and Laurence Juber.

Also appearing will be Beatles tribute band Liverpool, as well as actor Victor Spinetti (who co-starred in three Beatles movies), Ringo Starr’s former producer Mark Hudson and broadcaster Larry Kane who toured with the Beatles in 1964 and 1965.

Master of Ceremonies for the festival will be leading Beatles scholar, humorist, writer and producer Martin Lewis, along with Dennis Mitchell host of radio show “Breakfast with The Beatles,” Tony Perkins formerly from “Good Morning America,” and Joe Johnson from the nationally syndicated radio show “Beatle Brunch.”

Of course, the event can’t be held at The Mirage without including “LOVE,” and in a special arrangement with Cirque du Soleil, cast members from the show will take part in panels talking about their experience with the show, as well as showing costumes and props the use every night.

And of course, what would a fan fest be without a huge dealer room and an auction? There’s sure to be plenty to complete your collection of Beatles memorabilia.

The Fest will also celebrate four major Beatles anniversaries:

• The 40th anniversary of the band’s landmark “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, with Liverpool performing the album in its entirety on Monday, July 2
• The 50th anniversary of the birth of the Beatles, honoring the day in July 1957 when Lennon and McCartney first met
• The 40th anniversary of the first-ever global TV satellite link-up in which the Beatles gave a live performance of their new Summer of Love anthem “All You Need is Love” to 400 million TV viewers
• And of course, the one-year anniversary of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage.

Whew! Sounds like if you’re a Beatles fan, this is one event you won’t want to miss.

Ticket for “The Fest for Beatles Fans” are priced at $45 for a day pass, $80 for a 2-day pass and $100 for a full 3-day pass, if purchased by June 15. From June 16th to 28th, tickets rise in price to $55 for a day pass, $90 for a 2-day pass and $115 for a full 3-day pass. After June 28th, only the $55 daily pass will be available at the door.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit thefestforthebeatlesfans.com. At the bottom of the web page is information on booking rooms at The Mirage for the festival, on the event’s group rate.