Bootleg Beatles 14/12/24
Invited| Review by Michael Dunwell
There’s no band more iconic or universally recognized than The Beatles—so much so that they almost feel like an enigma to anyone who never had the chance to see them live. Trying to imagine what it must have been like to experience one of their concerts is almost like stepping into a dream: the gigs delayed because the crowds were too massive to control, the endless lines of fans, the sound, the energy, the look. These visceral elements aren’t captured in their albums, but last Friday, Newcastle had the rare chance to come as close as possible to witnessing The Beatles’ legacy live on stage.
Held at Newcastle’s City Hall—a 2,000-capacity venue ideally located near the university campuses and just off Northumberland Street, the city’s lively shopping hub akin to Edinburgh’s Princes Street. Inside, the venue offers outstanding views of the stage from nearly every seat, but for me, the true standout is its phenomenal acoustics. Renowned for its accessibility, City Hall provides wheelchair spaces and welcoming, attentive staff, ensuring an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all. Among Newcastle’s venues, City Hall stands out for its truly unparalleled sound quality, elevating every performance to something truly unforgettable.
The Bootleg Beatles were formed by Andre Barreau, Neil Harrison, and David Catlin-Birch, all former cast members of the West End musical Beatlemania, after its final performance. With what little money they had left, they invested in two guitars—an Epiphone and a Gretsch—along with two Vox amplifiers, four black polo necks, and a set of wigs. From these modest beginnings, the band grew into one of the world’s most renowned Beatles tribute acts. Over the years, they’ve shared stages with iconic artists like Oasis, Tom Jones, and David Bowie. They’ve even met some of the real Beatles, with George Harrison joking, “You probably know the chords better than I do,” and adding, “Where’s the Bootleg Brian Epstein? Because he’s got all the money!” One of the band’s newest members, Adam Hastings, hails from Newcastle.
This year’s tour focused on the Beatles’ films, covering their five major releases: A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine, and Let It Be. For each film, the Bootleg Beatles donned costumes that reflected the distinct look of the era. For A Hard Day’s Night, they wore the classic grey suits and Beatles wigs, while for Help!, they sported the black outfits. The Magical Mystery Tour section got delightfully eccentric, followed by the even more surreal Yellow Submarine segment. The tour culminated with a tribute to the rooftop concert, where the band performed in the iconic outfits the Beatles wore during that legendary unannounced show—now regarded as one of the most memorable live performances of all time.
One of the highlights of the show for me was the added context displayed on the screen behind the band. Before each film segment, they played short snippets from other films that were released during the same year as the Beatles’ movies. This, combined with the band’s extraordinary skill in recreating the Beatles’ sound, truly immersed me in the experience. It almost felt like I was seeing the Beatles live! In fact, it has made me an even bigger Beatles fan, as I can now more vividly imagine what it must have been like to witness them perform in person.
Another standout for me was how each band member perfectly captured the essence of their respective Beatle. They nailed the Scouse accents and even introduced each song in the same manner as the Beatles did during their live performances. The jokes were spot on too, with Paul Canning‘s John Lennon offering up impeccable comedic timing that had the crowd in stitches.
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend catching these guys live as soon as you can. It was the perfect show to see at Christmas time, with the whole audience in high spirits, singing and dancing along to every song. I spoke to another concert-goer who mentioned that seeing the Bootleg Beatles in Newcastle has become a family tradition for them every Christmas. After this experience, I can definitely see myself making it my own tradition too. Don’t miss out—they’re an absolute must-see!