Beatles fans from around the world to converge on Orillia for festival

News Release - August 28, 2012

WELCOME BEATLES FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

NEW LOCATION - ORILLIA MARKET SQUARE

 ORILLIA - Visitors to The 6th annual Orillia Beatles Celebration
September 14 and 15 will experience something new as the event is being
held for the first time in the new Market Square beside the historic
Orillia Opera House.

Located between the historic Orillia Opera House
and the beautiful new Orillia Public Library, the Market Square was
designed specifically to accommodate mid-sized community festivals such
as the Orillia Beatles Celebration.

Beatles chair Joanne Pyke says, "We
are very excited to be one of the inaugural events in the square. It's a
great convenience for our visitors who will be able to visit all of the
stages plus the events at the library and the opera house in one central
location."  Moving the event from Mississaga St. into Market Square
means that vendors can be part of the event Friday night as well as
Saturday and don't have to clear the street by 5:00pm. "It should make
for a very animated event in a square that is designed to hold such
community functions", says Marketing Manager Darcy Hoover, "And the
British-style cobble stones in the square are an added bonus in keeping
with The Beatles theme."  Previous events held in Market Square include
Streets Alive and the Bleeker Ridge Block party.

Kicking things off this year is a rocking Double-Bill show featuring
tribute artists Glass Onion and The Kings of Marigold starting at
8:00pm. Come early and enjoy the Beatles marketplace, beer garden and
food vendors on site in the new location which the event is naming The
Beatles Garden.

Apart from the opera house shows, the Main Stage and the Cavern Stage,
the Orillia Public Library will play host to several free film
screenings this year including "A Hard Day's Night", "Help!" and Paul
McCartney's poignant 9/11 documentary "The Love We Make".

The Orillia Opera House will feature two performances of the theatrical
production "Beatlemania Revisited" at 11:30am and again at 5:00pm.
"Beatlemania Revisited" is an exciting production, which captures the
energy and humour of The Beatles during their live shows.
 
The cast consists of Canadian and International musicians with extensive
experience as professionals in the music industry. Colum Henry (John)
was nominated for a Niagara Music Award for Best Theatrical Appearance
in 2011. Yuri Pool (Paul) has shared the stage with Mariah Carey and
with Billy Joel's band. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, TV and Radio shows
and has portrayed McCartney in a UK theatrical production.  Sid
Bernstein, one of the Beatles early promoters, has hailed Yuri as "The
best McCartney vocalist in the world today." Rob Kay (George) has been
an integral part of the Canadian Music scene, playing coast to coast in
many 1960's tribute bands. Mark Matthews (Ringo) is a 2010 Juno award
winning artist, and he was nominated for a Niagara Music Award for Best
Theatrical Appearance in 2011. His uncanny portrayal of Ringo is always
a crowd pleaser!

This production consists of full costume, vintage instruments and
complete character portrayals. There are over 30 songs performed LIVE,
spanning the early touring days of The Beatles to the fantastic Revolver
and Rubber Soul era.  This is a must see for Beatle fans!

The Main Stage is chock-full of performances starting at 10:00am on
Saturday September 15 and features performances by tribute bands: Number
9, Blues Meany, Marc Stacyer, The Beagles, Across The Universe, Milton
Beagle Review and Glass Onion! Later on Saturday night there will be an
All Star Band of tribute artists together for a memorable concert and
another rocking set by our headliners, The Kings of Marigold! 

Also on Saturday don't miss your chance to see performances by an array
of other amazing tribute acts such as Christopher Clause, Yesterday and
Today, Aaron Reid, Stink Beatles, Anwar Khurshid, Gaelen Henderson and
more! 
All the elements you have come to know and love about the Orillia
Beatles Celebration are back including appraiser Andrew Croft, Beatles
art shows, a Kid Zone, The Hare Krishna Temple Singers and the ever
popular Beatles Trivia Decathlon! It's a full day of excitement for
Beatles fans of all ages so come visit the 6th Annual Orillia Beatles
Celebration in its new home at Orillia Market Square.

Wrist bands are only $20 which includes access to all events in the
square Friday and Saturday and the Orillia Opera House presentations of
"Beatlemania Revisited". Passes to the Beatles Garden, which includes
the beer garden Main Stage events are $5.00 per person for the entire
day! To purchase wristbands in advance visit www.orilliaoperahouse.ca.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

For more information contact:
Darcy Hoover
Marketing Manager
Department of Culture and Heritage
City of Orillia
705-325-4283
dhoover@orillia.ca