- When: May 24-28, 2007
Hours: Thurs: 6 pm-10 pm Fri-Sat-Sun: Noon-Midnight Mon: TBA
- Where: The Galt House Hotel and Suites (4th and Main) and
The Belvedere Festival Park (5th and Main)
- Host Hotel: Galt House Hotel & Suites, 1-800-The-Galt (843-4258)
(on the festival grounds)
-Confirmation Code: You will receive a confirmation code upon purchase allowing you to make a reservation at our special rate.
- How: For tickets, call 216-378-1980 (Hours: 10 am - 8 pm est Mon - Sat) or e-mail Gary@abbeyroadontheriver.com
- First 250 Ultimate Ticket to Ride purchasers will receive a special discount!
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Ultimate Tickets To Ride and Reserved Seats
On Sale Oct 7, 2007!
Dear Friends
I am very pleased to announce the 6th annual Abbey Road On The River, May 24-28, 2007 on The Belvedere and in the Galt House Hotel in beautiful downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
Wow, did I just write May 24-28? That’s 5 days. That’s right. Besides the three main days of the festival, May 25-27, there will be a big preview concert on Thursday, May 24, and a big Monday, Memorial Day post event concert to send you home happy.
On behalf of Art Director Lisa Pasquale, Musical Director Hal Bruce, Video Producer and Website Supervisor Jason Zucker, bright spark Brooke Jacob, and the Galt House Hotel, I would like to express our deep appreciation to Mayor Jerry Abramson and his staff for all of their support. And on behalf of the Mayor, we all look forward to welcoming you back to AROTR, 2007.
Although we can’t report every detail today, we are busy planning what we promise will be the best AROTR ever. At present, to tempt and tease, these are just a few 2007 FAB FACTS.
Sincerely,
Gary Jacob
Five Fab Days |
If you liked 3 days in 2002-2005, and 4 days in 2006, you’re going to love 5 days in 2007. |
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The 2:00 O’Clock Club |
Named for a 60’s ritual shared by my friends and I at college (details privileged), this coming AROTR, the Archibald Ballroom in the Galt Hotel opens at 2pm, and closes at 2am. In addition to three big midnight concerts starring Jim Ringo Martin’s All-star band, Instant Karma, and Hal Bruce & Friends, the Album shows will be rehearsing all afternoon in the ballroom, and only Ultimate Ticket to Riders will be admitted. (We promise) |
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Fifth Beatle
“Charge of The Rain Brigade” |
No one likes to think about what happens when the rain comes, but this year, we will be better prepared, if we have to deal with a lengthy interruption of the fun, like we did last year on Sunday. Three locations inside the Galt Hotel will be set to begin within 15 minutes of an extended delay. Several of our performers will be deputized as Fifth Beatles, and like Tennyson’s legendary British Cavalry will quickly gallop to their indoor Fifth Beatle stage to keep you dancing, entertained, dry and happy. |
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Main Lawn and Fountain Stage Concerts |
While both of these stages will offer general admission seating, each night there will be a giant concert on the Main Lawn stage at 10:30 PM after the album concerts conclude at Pepperland Park. Friday will be Athens, Greece's The Greek Beats, Saturday will be Athens, Georgia's Abbey Road Live’s tribute to Sgt. Pepper, and Sunday will be an ensemble piece with all of your favorite bands. A special section will be reserved in the front of the stage for Ultimate to ride guests to stand and dance. Otherwise, all viewing will be general admission. |
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Free As A Bird Stages |
They’re not marked and they won’t be on the schedule, but there will be several throughout the park and hotel (maybe even some public spaces, maybe some private ones). Expect to see solos, duets, and sing-a-longs. Bring your guitar; you can play, too! |
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Monday, May 28 |
We can’t tell you everything yet, but if you are flying and hoping to make early arrangements, you might want to consider a late flight home, or stay in Louisville until Tuesday. |
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A 40th Anniversary Tribute to
Sgt. Pepper and the
Summer of Love |
Don’t look at the clock, but it was 40 years ago Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, launching the seminal Summer of Love. The album, perhaps, the most respected and greatest album of all time, and to honor it, we have several events planned. Abbey Road Live!, known for their spot-on recreations of Abbey Road and Magical Mystery Tour, have been commissioned by AROTR to recreate Sgt. Pepper in its entirety, compleat with all its bells, whistles, and special effects. Also planned are inventive group performances of this significant and astonishing work of art. And if you loved Janis, Jimi, the Doors, the Mama’s and Papa’s, and the many inspiring bands who also influenced the Summer of Love, you will love hearing their magical songs performed by Hal, Jay, Andy, Sophia, Tania, and other AROTR artists.
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A splendid time is
guaranteed for all!
Fri: Pepperland Park
Sat: Main Lawn |
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The Compleat Beatles |
For the first time anywhere in the world, the bands of AROTR will recreate all 13 original EMI released albums (plus MMT) recorded by The Beatles, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Pepperland Park from 5pm-10:30. Directed by Hal Bruce, each night 10-15 bands will take you on a musical journey tracing their first unforeseen pop hit album, Please Please Me, recorded exactly 45 years ago at Abbey Road Studios, through the turbulent but brilliant final days that ended with the decisive Abbey Road and Let It Be. On Friday, they will recreate Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Days Night, Beatles For Sale, and Help!. Saturday brings Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, and The White Album. Sunday will bring us Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let It Be. Had enough? We haven’t.
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Fri-Sat-Sun: Only at
Pepperland Park |
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The ”What If“ Album |
On Sunday in Pepperland Park, Hal, Jay, Jimmy Pou, Jim “Ringo”Martin, James Paul Lynch, and others will create a new AROTR super group and perform the album that never was. The one the Beatles, each at the height of their creative powers, might have released in 1971 if they had stayed together. So, if you enjoyed the Concerts for Paul, John, and George last year, expect these album ensemble pieces to set the new AROTR standard.
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Sat: Pepperland Park |
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Pepperland Park |
Get ready to be a real VIP this year. It took a couple years to figure out how best to use the wonderful facilities we have, but we think we have a great plan this year. The entire Upper Belvedere (see map) has been renamed Pepperland Park, and it’s completely private all day, all night for sponsors, guests who purchase Ultimate Tickets To Ride and reserved seat pass holders. There will be a giant 10,000 square foot tent spanning the space, and while it will be open all day for sings-a-long, acoustic shows, meet and greets, enjoying the river, or napping in the sun, at 5 pm each night we present 5 hours of ensemble concerts. |
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AROTR inaugural Hall of Famers Hal Bruce and All You Need is Love lead an impressive line-up of your favorite groups and bands. Many are already listed on the band page, and we continue to scour the world to bring you the most rockin’ Beatle look-a-like and cover bands on Earth. |
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Programming and Bands |
If you don’t see your favorite band listed today, it’s either because we simply haven't had the chance to book them, or maybe it just doesn’t fit this year for either the group or AROTR. We think what separates AROTR from other Beatle events is we do not copy ourselves. Like a good movie with an even better sequel, or a great band with progressively greater albums, we will never be satisfied if last year’s AROTR is next year’s AROTR. While last year we presented produced tributes to Paul, John, and George, this year, the 45th anniversary of their first recording and the 40th of Pepper, signify for us that this year’s produced and ensemble pieces focus on the group, while they were together, with less emphasis on post-Beatle works. Also, when selecting bands we are careful to be sure these are the groups who can play a part in these produced pieces, are available 3-5 days, and understand the appeal of all of the above. |
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What’s Different? |
The main change this year is we will not be using the Kentucky Center. After two years trying to figure how best to use the Center, we decided that there were better opportunities if we added more shows inside the hotel, and made the Upper Belvedere into a covered VIP performance space. |
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Phewww........... |
Lots to share, and more to come. I know you understand that we cannot predict with 100% certainty what may yet have to be modified based on new and better ideas as well as changing circumstances. With international travel uncertain, we cannot guarantee that all of your favorite international bands will be able to secure the required visas and permits. We foresee some shows will get moved, some bands may need to cancel, and/or some stages will be changed. I hope you understand how and why that can happen, but the best answer is to quote John: “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans”. |
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Abbey Road On The River 2007 Site Map |
The Abbey Road On The River Hall of Fame |
Hal Bruce |
Hal first showed up at AROTR 2003, rather inconspicuous, low key, and unassuming... until he played. Wow, was that one guy? And then in 2004, he said, “you know I can sing every Beatle song in the order they were released”, and a beautiful friendship was born. Hal is quite simply a genius. Twice, we have happily watched him perform a 2 ½ hour medley of every Beatle song. I bet when he was a lad, his parent’s thought he was a prodigy. His recordings of Beatle songs are impeccable; simply perfect. On stage he rocks, and rocks, and rocks; but sings a helluva ballad, too. Now musical director of AROTR, Hal Bruce, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, is the 1st member of our Hall of Fame. |
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All You Need Is Love |
In late 2001, a fellow from Belleville, Ont, Canada named Mark Rashotte called me to tell me his band would love to play at the first AROTR. At that time we were more interested in the look-a-like bands, but he convinced me they were great. And he lied. They were spectacular. For five AROTRS, they have blown us away with complex studio pieces from Rubber Soul to Revolver to their two incomparable White Album shows in 2004 and 2006. Our first international group, the first to recreate complete albums, and the main house band for 5 years establishes AYNIL: Mark, Andy, Al, Steve, Vitas, and Francis as AROTR Hall of Fame inaugural members. |
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