Beatles Day sees record crowd raising highest amount ever

The day long event - which has now become a Hastings institution - attracted its biggest audience ever this year and raised an incredible record-breaking £25,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Beatles Day saw 500 musicians, singers and dancers of all ages giving their time for free to perform material by the Fab Four.

It ranged from theatre arts groups to a recorder consort and everything between, giving their own interpretations of Beatles number ones and less obvious songs.

Organiser Pete Prescott said: “All three stages were popular with the crowds throughout the day as 95 different acts played their songs to delighted audiences.

“As well as popular local acts taking part, it was also a year that saw twenty nine acts playing for the first time.

“Later in the day on the main stage, we saw the great diversity of Beatles Day with a fantastic dance routine from the Cinque Ports Lindy Hoppers followed by the Hastings Stage Studio giving their best performance to date; then a show stopping stunning set from Blair and friends, just before Led Zeppelin tribute band, CODA showed how Zeppelin would have played it. Swedish band the TAXMEN flew over especially for the concert. They will be back next year.”

“Many volunteers, sound engineers stage hands and officials who worked all day without a break staggered into the night. Shattered but very happy. Next year’s Beatles Day is April 2. Put it in your diary.”

Pictures by Frank Copper.

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