NEWS | FEATURES | PREVIEWS | EVENTS

originally published: 03/22/2023 

(LEFT) Peter Asher (Right) Pattie Boyd

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- For anyone who loves The Beatles, The Fest For Beatles Fans is the ultimate annual celebration of those four lads from Liverpool who took America by storm nearly 60 years ago.  Now in its 49th year, The Fest remains the largest and longest running celebration of The Beatles anywhere in the world and will return to the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson for three days of peace, love and Beatles on March 31, April 1 and April 2.

Founded in 1974, the three-day event is packed with Beatles-related special guests, meet & greets, live music, the world’s largest Beatles Marketplace, a Beatles Museum, an auction of rare items, an art gallery, numerous activities and the famous impromptu “fan jam” in the hotel lobby all weekend.  Special guests at the 2023 NY Metro Fest include Peter Asher (Peter & Gordon, Apple Records, producer to the stars) presenting his “Memoir” show, Pattie Boyd (60’s top model, wife and muse to George Harrison and Eric Clapton), British Invasion legends Terry Silvester (The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies) and Joey Molland (Badfinger), Beatles historian and author Mark Lewisohn. Q104.3’s Ken Dashow serves as The Fest’s Master of Ceremonies

Of course, there will be an abundance of great live concerts all weekend long on two stages. See performances by Liverpool all 3 nights, Cellophane Flowers, The Black Ties, Magical Mystery Girls, Blac Rabbit, The Wag, Annie Trezza, Scott Erickson, Jacqui Armbruster and many, many others sharing faithful renditions and creative interpretations of both classic and more obscure Beatles-related songs. And Beatles fans will bring their own instruments to engage in the impromptu jam session in the hotel lobby all weekend long that truly captures the fun spirit of the event.

This is a fully immersive weekend, and fans can participate in a myriad of ways: Dress up for the sixties/lookalike contest. Bring your original Beatles Art to enter in the Art Contest. Battle of the Bands and Soundalike Contest. Make a karaoke music video! Bring instruments of any kind to join in the lobby jams. Bring bathing suits for the indoor pool. Be a contestant in the Trivia and Name that Tune game shows. Bring USBs if you are a DJ with a Beatles remix repertoire! Bring your B(eatles)-game all weekend and be ready for surprises. The activities are endless. There is no better place for the band’s fans to enjoy and celebrate the group’s unyielding popularity. 

With estimated sales of more than one billion physical and digital units sold worldwide, and a record 27 number-one U.S. Chart hits, The Beatles are the best-selling band of all time.  They are also the most influential and groundbreaking musical artists ever and the revolution they began all those years ago still captures our imagination and has inspired generations of fans. 

 

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SOME OF THE SPECIAL GUESTS… MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

PETER ASHER | Half of the duo Peter & Gordon, Apple Records A&R Executive, Producer to stars such as James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, author and SIRIUS XM host.

PATTIE BOYD | One of the top fashion models of the Carnaby Street era in mid-60’s London, married to both George Harrison and Eric Clapton who each wrote songs for her (“Something” and “Wonderful Tonight”) author of new book, My Life In Pictures.

MARK RIVERA | Ringo Starr’s Music Director, legendary sax player for Billy Joel and countless others and author of new autobiography, Sideman. A Fest fan favorite.

TERRY SYLVESTER | Liverpool legend, member of The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Hollies.

JOEY MOLLAND | Liverpool legend, member of Beatles protégé band, Badfinger. Played on George’s All Things Must Pass and The Concert For Bangladesh albums and John’s Imagine album.

MARK LEWISOHN | The world’s foremost Beatles historian and author

LIVERPOOL | World’s Finest Beatles Tribute Band in concert all three nights

CELLOPHANE FLOWERS | Reimagining Beatles classics for string quartet and voice on Sunday.

THE WEEKLINGS | JEM recording artists, America’s most unique celebration of the music and muse of The Beatles. In concert on Saturday.

THE BLACK TIES | Central Jersey quartet presenting a rollicking set of Beatles classics on Friday

MCs KEN DASHOW | Q104.3 DJ and host of Breakfast With The Beatles.

 

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

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TOM FRANGIONE | SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel

Hyatt Regency Jersey City On The Hudson is located at 2 Exchange Place in Jersey City, New Jersey.

EVENT TIMES: Friday, March 31 – 5:00pm - MIDNIGHT; Saturday, April 1 – NOON - MIDNIGHT; and Sunday, April 2 – NOON - 11:00pm.

For tickets, full details and guest bios, go to www.thefest.com OR call 1-866-THE-FEST. 

The Fest For Beatles Fans is the world’s longest-running Beatles fan celebration. Now in its 49th year, The Fest was launched in New York City in 1974 when founder Mark Lapidos thought of the idea for a 10th Anniversary Celebration of The Beatles’ arrival in America. He went to John Lennon and received his blessing who told him, “I’m all for it, I’m a Beatles fan too!” Ever since that first Beatlefest (as it was called then), The Fest has become an integral part of the Beatles fan experience in America, with celebrations in multiple cities and regions throughout the year. The Fest has featured appearances by a huge range of fellow musicians, artists, family members, friends, and associates from the Beatles world. It also carries the world’s largest selection of licensed Beatles merchandise and publishes the only Beatles mail order catalogue in circulation.