Abbey Road on the River

Last updated
Abbey Road on the River
Abbey Road on the River Poster.png
Genre The Beatles
Location(s) Jeffersonville, Indiana (2017–present)
Louisville, Kentucky (2005–2016)
Cleveland, Ohio (2002–2004)
Years active2002–present
Founded by Gary Jacob
Website AROTR.com

Abbey Road on the River (AROTR) is a five-day, multi-staged music festival which was initially created to honor the music and spirit of the Beatles. The festival took place in Louisville, Kentucky over Memorial Day weekend but moved across the Ohio River to Jeffersonville, Indiana starting in 2017. Tribute bands, as well as internationally recognized bands, perform over the course of the festival, playing the music of the Beatles, as well as the music of other artists. Abbey Road on the River is a four-time winner of the Kentucky Travel Industry Association's Top 10 Spring Festivals. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Abbey Road on the River was founded and is produced by Cleveland resident Gary Jacob, who has produced the show since its inception. [3] [4] [5]

Abbey Road on the River began with three events in Cleveland in 2002, 2003 and 2004. [4] Following the 2004 event, Abbey Road on the River moved its main location to Louisville; [4] it continues to be held annually in that area over Memorial Day weekend. During its tenure in Louisville, the festival took place primarily on the city's Belvedere, within and around the Muhammad Ali Center and within the event's host hotel. [6] In 2017 it was moved across the Ohio River to Jeffersonville, Indiana, now taking place on that city's riverfront.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of Abbey Road on the River was first postponed til the Columbus Day long weekend in October, with its cancellation announced in August. [7] The 2021 edition of Abbey Road on the River is currently scheduled for the Labor Day long weekend in September, a scaled-down Penny Lane at the Park festival having been mounted on Saturday and Sunday on the 29th and 30th of May. [8]

Event activities and attendees

The types of tribute bands that perform at Abbey Road on the River vary greatly. Some bands look, sound and act like the Beatles, while others simply play Beatles' music or the solo music of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. [6]

The festival also features other Beatles-related activities, ranging from speakers, discussion panels, and film screenings, to the annual parade complete with costumes and yellow submarine, as well as Beatles merchandise for sale, along with food and drink options on the Belvedere grounds. [5]

Speakers, musicians and guests

Pete Best autographs drum stick at AROTR DC Pete Best at Abbey Road on the River.jpg
Pete Best autographs drum stick at AROTR DC

Abbey Road on the River has over the years featured hosted such guest speakers and musical acts as:

Music

Since its beginnings as a small tribute festival, Abbey Road on the River has evolved into mixed genre and mixed media event, with some concerts targeting full albums of the Beatles and various artists such as the Who, to entire concerts devoted to the music of artists of the era, such as Bruce Springsteen. In recent years, other top bands of the era have joined Abbey Road and have performed their own music. These include Jefferson Starship, Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits, Leon Russell, the Beach Boys, Ambrosia, and the Orchestra, with Felix Cavaliere's Rascals and the Zombies joining in 2016.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Beatles' Festival Buzz : GoToLouisville.com Official Travel Source". Gotolouisville.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
  2. ↑ "Tourism groups recognize Louisville events - Louisville - Louisville Business First". Louisville Business First. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
  3. ↑ Jacob, Gary (2005-05-18). "Interview with Gary Jacob". Cool Cleveland (Interview). Interviewed by Thomas Mulready. Retrieved 2015-10-29.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 3 Greenberg, Rudi (2011-08-31). "Fabricated Fours: Abbey Road on the River". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  5. 1 2 "Abbey Road on the River brings the essence of The Beatles to the Belvedere [Music]". Louisville.com. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  6. 1 2 Greenberg, Rudi (2011-09-01). "Fabricated Fours: Abbey Road on the River". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  7. ↑ Brooke McAfee. "Abbey Road on River festival canceled for 2020". News and Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Penny Lane At The Park Promises Safe Fun During The Last Gasp Of The Pandemic". Leoweekly.com. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Moran, Catlin (2010-08-26). "Yellow Submarine docks at National Harbor". The Gazette . Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  10. 1 2 Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (2015-05-19). "Beatles festival throws party for John Lennon". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  11. ↑ "Abbey Road on the River | Georgina Flood | Ireland". Arotr.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Archive years". Abbey Road on the River: May 26–30, 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (2014-10-23). "Festival welcomes Paul McCartney to Louisville". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  14. ↑ Fulton, Robert (2012-08-29). "Jefferson Starship headlines this year's Beatles festival". The Washington Examiner . Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  15. ↑ Mora, Christina (2013-05-24). "Thousands head to waterfront for Abbey Road on the River". WLKY . Retrieved 2015-10-29.
  16. ↑ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (2014-05-21). "Memorial Day weekend: Abbey Road on the River". The Courier-Journal Company. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
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