There are several truths that I learned over the weekend. Here they are:

1. Beatles Fans are Amazing People
I have met so many people this year at Abbey Road on the River and several other people I have just observed. But what I have noticed is that everyone is smiling. Everyone is helpful. There are hugs exchanged by strangers. Stories told. Memories reminisced. I have heard so many stories of friends that meet year after year at AROTR. It really is fantastic.

2. The Beatles Transcend Generations
This I knew already but this weekend proved my theory. There were people that enjoyed the Beatles the first time around. People in my generation who had no chance to ever really hear them (I was born 3 months before John died) and then there were the kids. Children that are four and five that know all the words to the songs. Sure there parents probably helped introduce them, but they truly loved it too. It really is incredible.

3. Beatles Music is Amazing
What other group could have a 5 day festival dedicated to them in Louisville Kentucky of all places and have the attendance that AROTR has? People from all over the world were here in Louisville this weekend and the only thing they all have in common is their love for the Beatles. Although Louisville is a great city, they were here for the music, not to come to a cool town. Just the Beatles. Simply Spectacular.

4. Louisville is an Amazing Town
Now that I just dogged Louisville—the city has really embraced this festival. And any city that embraces the Beatles is A-OK in my book. Not to mention it is my hometown and there are so many wonderful people, places and events here. But honestly I can't think of a better location for this festival.

I know there are many more truths out there, but these are the ones that really touched me. I hope you all have recognized how special this event is. I really feel honored that I was able to be a part of it!

Summer of Love indeed. Flowers in their hair. Anti-war protest (peaceful of course). It was almost like you stepped back in time. And the music... well the 60's music is definitely one of my favorites so it was amazing as well. Of course I heard some Beatles :) and then there was some CCR, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi and so much more.

What a way to close the weekend. And the weather was so nice and the people were loving the atmosphere so much that they extended the hours.

I spent most of the day with my good friend Joe. It was a great time and I will miss him now that he is on his way back to Atlanta (after he plays a set at Abbey Road in the Mountains of course!) I hope you all enjoyed the weekend as much as I did!

I have not been disappointed yet. All the shows. All the music. All the love. It is amazing.

So I have heard that we have had record-breaking crowds. The official t-shirts were sold out yesterday by 3pm. We almost ran out of the wrist-bands, we held back a couple of them so that we would have some today, but they went fast and everyone has loved them.

It was exciting to have Denny Laine perform yesterday although I have to say I am not as huge of a Wings fan. But Paul McCartney he is my love ;) (Yeah I know me and about half the other ladies here!)

The Love performance was again an awesome show. I am still astonished that they pulled it off. Hal Bruce you are awesome!! It truly is one of the most amazing live shows I have ever seen.

It did rain a bit but hey it rained at Woodstock too!! So today is the day for all the love... all the flower power...

Beates hugs ~ kelley

So people that know me know that I am a bit of the emotional type, but at the beginning of the Love concert yesterday I think that most of us were a bit emotional. Our buddy Mark was inducted into the AROTR Hall of Fame. Mark we all love you and I am so happy for you!

So I am not sure if y'all heard but Ringo had a mishap the other night and was in the hospital. Well our friend Julia was kind enough to make him a get well card and presented it to him at the Ringo all star band show on Saturday night. In her card she said "didn't George tell you here comes the sun!" Ringo presented her with a special shirt and on Sunday she dropped by and had her picture made and I immediately knew who it was. Here's to Julia...

So I am not sure if you got a chance to see the Beatles Bike but it was awesome. It has Yellow Submarine painted on it as well as the Beatles themselves. It has Album names engraved on the chrome plates. And best of all... I got to have my picture taken on it!!

So I am again a little late with this update... but again a very long day. My family came out to AROTR last night. And mom and I had the privilege of seeing the LOVE show at the KY Center. Let me just say that it was one of the most spectacular live performances I have seen. Twice it brought tears to my eyes; once during Something and again when they were showing clips from after John died. I can't wait to see it again tonight but this time I am going to dance my little tail off.


I also saw Abbey Road Live performing the Sgt Pepper album. Also incredible. Front row center me and my mom, it was an amazing experience and a memory I won't soon forget. Of course it didn't stop there. We went in for the midnight show and saw the Ringo All-Star band perform.

There is so much positive energy and love surrounding this festival. It is amazing.

My friend Jillian, me and my friend Ben...

So I am a little late writing this post, but it was a long day.

So one of my favorite things yesterday was Abbey Road Live performing Abbey Road. It is my all-time favorite album and to hear it played in entirety was just phenomenal. My new found best friend, Jillian, and I danced to the entire album, although by the time Her Majesty was played I think it was past her bedtime :)

I also thoroughly enjoyed All You Need Is Love performing the White Album. Also a favorite of mine. Also much fun to dance to. I can only imagine what today and tomorrow will bring.

It still amazes me how many people I have met at Abbey Road. I met a new little buddy named Mark. He has been to all the Abbey Roads, knows all the Beatles songs and can even drum better than Ringo ;)

Today my family is coming down to share in the Beatle love so I am sure that I will have much to talk about there. And the Love recreation is also tonight. What a day!!

Hope y'all are having as much fun as I am... kelley

It's getting on in the day, and I'm about ready to hop in the car and head home. May be back tomorrow ....

Some parting thoughts ....

I wonder if this is the only Beatles festival to serve fried bologna??? (One of the kiosks close to the river sells it ... along with really huge smoked turkey legs.)

We're all getting along in years, we people who grew up with the Beatles (in fact, I'm bailing now because I'm wilting with an evil cold), but I will point out that one of the folks I talked to earlier in the day had a pacemaker and I thought, boy, we've come a long way from when I only knew that word in connection with Gerry and the Pacemakers.

And .... music is such a gift, and having a soundtrack to your life -- whether it's the Beatles or the B-52s or Bobby Darin or Bacharach or James Brown or Bach, or people whose names start with other letters, but I was on an alliterative roll! -- is one of the real blessings of being a human being. I'll be humming, happily, all the way home, clogged sinuses or no.

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

Earlier I heard a couple of Beatles songs being sung in German. Turned out it was a band from Siegen, Germany, called Lucy in the Sky, and they were singing "Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves You)" and "Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand (I Want to Hold Your Hand)."

I talked with Christoph Latsch, 36, who plays guitar and sings with the band. "I do the George," he said.

Lucy in the Sky is a tribute band, but Christoph says they do their own arrangements of Beatles songs. He was energized -- but sweaty -- from a midday set at Abbey Road on the River.

"We try to give it our all. We are not a band that plays note by note. We have several special versions." Such as? " 'Eleanor Rigby' ... we do it in kind of heavy rock style. 'Strawberry Fields' ... we do a faster version. We can't copy the Beatles, we are not able, and we don't want to copy the Beatles."

Lucy in the Sky is not a full-time job for the band. They perform 50 to 60 shows a year, around the world, but they have other jobs -- when Christoph isn't doing the George, he works in an office. For this trip to the States, the band brought their families for a bit of a holiday.

"We love the (Beatles') music, we love the band. We think they create pop music as we know it now. The songs don't get old, they get better with every year. We play a lot of shows, we see not only older people, but 13 and 14 year old kids. They know songs word by word, it's amazing. There is no other band like that."

Christoph is very proud of the fact that the Beatles really worked hard on their act in Germany before they hit it big.

"Hamburg was their school time, everything they learned about rock'n'roll," Christoph said. "They played about 8 hours a night and that's where they learned how the business is going on .... They really worked hard, not what you see on television shows like 'American Idol,' those people just come and sing and become a star in a few weeks. They do not work as hard as the Beatles did. They really worked for their money."

(Speaking of which .... as I write this, another band is playing The Kinks' "You Really Got Me," which reminds me of Sanjaya doing his anemic version of this song on AI the other night.)

Well-said, Christoph!

Lucy in the Sky plays again at 5 p.m. today, as well as 4 and 10 p.m. Saturday, and 5 p.m. Sunday. I think they also play Monday, but someone walked off with my schedule.

For the record, Christoph's favorite Beatles song is "Ticket to Ride" (he likes the harmonies) and he likes the "Revolver" and "Let It Be" albums.

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

So right across from the courier-journal.com tent at Abbey Road on the River, a vendor sells something called Beatwear .... men's fashions from the '60s ... collar-less, Beatles-esque jackets, Beatle boots (ankle boots with a bit of a heel, for guys), skinny ties .... all of which caused me to have a flashback (noooo, not THAT kind) to my old neighborhood in Orlando, Florida, and my neighbors -- Susan, my friend, and Billy, her older brother.

Susan and Billy latched onto the Beatles, big time, right after the Ed Sullivan earthquake. Susan liked Ringo (no argument among girlfriends, I was always a Paulie), and got a Ringo doll, I think. Billy got a Beatles wig, if memory serves. (Billy was practically a teenager, which meant he bought 45-rpm records and knew all the latest stuff ... later on, I remember him playing "GTO," "409" and "Psychotic Reaction" for us ... and that last song is still one of the great R&R songs, in my book). I remember how the British invasion fashion thing played out for girls -- I insisted my mom iron my hair, even though my hair was fine and limp and straight anyway ... and when I was old enough to wear lip stuff, I wanted Yardley frosted lip gloss, the kind that smelled like strawberries ... and when I was way older and got to interview Twiggy, who was then an actress, well, my gosh, that was very exciting for me.

Not quite like Proust and his cookie --- :) --- but seeing those Beatle boots across the way reminded me of all this happy stuff.

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

Just stopped by ... Sir Paul of Livermore -- says he's the best Paul to come out of Livermore, Colo., -- and he has the tousled hair and set of eyes of the Liverpudlian Paul.

Sir Paul of Livermore, now 56, said he first noticed he looked like Paul when he was 40 and started gaining weight. He went to the Chicago Beatles fest in 1999, won the look alike contest and got on Good Morning America -- and so he visits festivals, looking like Paul.

He wanted to share his Web address: www.paulmccartneylookalike.com


-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

In 1993, Nancy and Mike Halloran of Cincinnati saw Paul McCartney in concert at Riverfront Stadium. She was pregnant with their son, Mike, 13 years old. All three of them are at Abbey Road on the River, their fourth time at Abbey Road on the River.

Young Mike likes the Beatles, too.

"Our love of the Beatles was one of the biggest things we had in common when we first met," Mike said of his and Nancy's relationship.

Nancy says she doesn't think she could have been with someone who didn't like the Beatles.

This is the couple's 19th anniversary and for the last three years they've been able to celebrate at Abbey Road on the River.

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

I remember going into work the morning after he was killed, and not knowing he had died. I just remember walking into the office, and being very chipper, and noticing that everyone was very glum, very quiet. I asked what the deal was and someone told me John Lennon was dead. It was like the bottom of the world had dropped out. I think I went back home, and turned on the radio for a while, and listened to the music. I still can't believe he's gone.

Your thoughts about John???

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

Kevin Rowan, with Louisville Metro Corrections, is working security at the festival. He's a Beatles fan. John was his favorite. Kevin didn't like John's ideology on Vietnam, but he liked him because of his great talent.

"I just loved the way he wrote. His voice was great. I just wish the Beatles could have gotten back together before he was assassinated," Kevin said. "There were a were a few songs of his that really talked to me, reminded me of my grandparents and friends I lost in action in the military -- especially 'In My Life.' "

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

Amanda and Al from Cape Coral, Florida, both 19, drove to Ohio to visit their families and then came to Louisville for the festival.

Al likes John Lennon, his messages. Amanda said the Beatles started music as we know it now. Amanda is wearing John and Yoko guitar pick earrings, picturing the famous Rolling Stone cover. Al is wearing an Air Force camouflage jacket with peace and anti-war patches sewn on it. They're both anti-war.

Al says John never held back, never worried about public opinion. Al would like to be like that, especially if he becomes a writer. Amanda says the Beatles were able to express so much through their music, and they almost changed a generation by helping them to stand up for what they believed in. Al says "sadly, no" when asked if a current band has that kind of effect today.

Anyone think of a current band that has that same kind of sway with its fans??? Let me know.

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

Marian Sheath, originally from London but who now lives on the Isle of Wight, was wearing a blue Beatles T-shirt and a button that read, "War Is Over!"

She has been a Beatles fan all her life. She saw them at Wimbledon Palais in November 1963, when she was 14. She was one of the screamers. You couldn't hear one word, she said, and they're still as big today as they were then.

When I asked about the T-shirt, the button, the Beatles festival and world events, she said, "Things do go full circle, don't they?"

When I asked her to explain the Beatles' enduring appeal, she said, "There was never anything like it. They were so original, and fresh. Even your grandparents liked them. They weren't like the bands now, they appealed to all ages. There's never been anyone as big as them since Elvis."

As for their relevance, then and now, she said, "Their sound was so original. And their beliefs, especially John. He was very sincere, George, too, sadly missed."

George was her favorite because of his spirituality.

Anyone know the first Beatles song to feature sitar? I think I know but I'm not sure. Let me know .....

-- Pam Platt, The Courier-Journal

Jim Logie from Glasgow, Scotland, just stopped by. He plays for Itchy-coo Park -- that's a song by the Small Faces -- and he plays bass, they do Beatles and general '60s music.

He's 50. His first Beatles memory is seeing the Beatles on tv -- Morecamb and Wise show, the biggest in the UK at the time -- singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand." He was 7 years old, and he wanted to be a Beatle by the time. "It took me 43 years, but I got here," Jim said.

He played in bands all through the 70s and 80s, but 10 years ago, they started this band. They've played from Sweden to Argentina, the islands, France. They sold out at the Cavern Club, the Beatles' old haunt.

He never gets tired of the music. His favorite Beatles song is "If I Fell" from "A Hard Day's Night" because he watched the movie when he was 7 and saw John singing that song. "I thought, I thought that was it, I'm going to be that guy," Jim said.

As for Paul, the fellow bass player said McCartney is a fabulous bass player, melodic and inventive.

More later .....

-- Pam Platt, the Courier-Journal

Good day, sunshine! Good day, sunshine!

Where have I heard that one before?

Right. The Beatles.

Let me just say that the brilliance of the day has been dimmed just a little by a couple of folks I know who've been pretty chesty about how they like the Stones better than the lads from Liverpool. Are we still fighting that war, even in our AARP years????? Let's move on! Or else, Stones freaks, make some primo arguments now!

Look forward to hearing from you, and seeing you today.

Music's already going, great, bone-rattling bass line!!!

Drop by the Courier-Journal.com tent for photos, Paul bracelets, conversation and more!

Back later.

-- Pam Platt (and Prehistoric Paul Fan Who Also Loves Mick and Keith), The Courier-Journal

The first day is history. In the books. And what a day. A lot of Beatles fans. A lot of good music.

One of the coolest things today was seeing a whole lot of people in the shirts that I designed. It is nice to see the great response that people are having to them, and so great that people want to buy them.

I also got to meet in person for the first time some very cool friends. Joe and I met online October 20 of this year. I know that because it was my birthday and he wished me a happy one. You see I am on myspace, and am one of Abbey Road on the River's friends and he, the true Beatlehead that he is, wanted to spread some Beatle-love. Over the months we have shared our love for the Beatles, and become friends but only today have we actually met each other. And it was great to finally meet him after all this time, and of course we shared a Beatle-hug!

Helen was shopping at the store my mother works in and somehow started talking about the Beatles. My mom, being the proud mother that she is, told her all about me and my love for them not to mention that I was working on AROTR. Helen gave my mom her email and we have exchanged several emails. She had just returned from seeing Sean Lennon and shared some GREAT pics with me. And we also met today for the first time. Helen also embodies the true Beatle-spirit.

And Lisa. Well Lisa works at AROTR hq with Gary and we have worked closely on several of the design projects this year. However it has only been through email that we have communicated as well. Another true Beatle-lover. She and I met and she immediately said I should join her and her friend dancing by the stage. (I promise I will tomorrow!!)

It is truly amazing how the Beatles can bring everyone together. I love it. How many other rock bands can say that.

Much more tomorrow. Beatle-hugs ~ kelley

Paul Moeller is performing at Abbey Road on the River, at the Brian Epstein stage for original acts with the band Digby, whose members live in Louisville. Paul is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist.

Digby is an alt-rock band, and they'll do a lot of their stuff but about 25 to 50 percent of their numbers will be Beatles tunes: "Piggies," "Savoy Truffle," "Free as a Bird," "Paperback Writer" and "She's a Woman."

Paul says they went for the B sides, or unconventional songs.

When asked about how important the Beatles were to him as a musician, Paul said, when he was a kid, any road trips they took, parents played Beatles tunes. He owns a copy of Newsweek the week John Lennon was shot and his picture was on the cover. It's been a part of his life ever since he could remember.

This is his first performance here. Digby has been geared up for the last month and a half.

They'll play Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

Gina, Paul's wife, used to have an enormous crush on George Harrison when she was a kid. She figures that's why she married a musician. She says you can't be a fan of music and not like the Beatles.

Pam Platt

Joe was 15, living in Germany with his parents, an Army kid, and the Beatles were just coming on the world stage. As they arrived in Germany -- Joe and his two brothers -- all had Beatles haircuts, a bit long but cropped across the front. As they stepped off the train, arriving in Germany in Nuremberg, the comments throughout Bahnhoff were, "Look at those three American Beatles."

The next Beatles phase was 1972, and Joe is in the Army, about ready to go to Vietnam, and the psychedelic Beatles were all the rage. Younger brother was already in 'nam, older brother was on a nuclear sub somewhere in the South China Sea and Joe was on his way.

Fast forward, today ... Joe is a retired Army colonel, father of a beautiful 30-year-old daughter and spending the summers listening to summers listening to The Beatles' "Abbey Road."

"Life is great," Joe says, "regardless of the politicans that try to screw it up. And they do."

Pam Platt

We've been amazed hearing the stories of how the Beatles have some how touched the lives of the fans who have stopped by to chat. There are so many stories.

When you're downtown for Abbey Road on the River stop by and tell us your story. There is a courier-journal.com tent near the main entrance. Tell us your Beatles story. Share your memories. And we'll make a photo of you in front of our poster.

Alas, if you are not able to make it to the event, you can still tell your story through this blog. Everyone would LOVE to read your story.

- Kim Kolarik, The Courier-Journal

Bill and Colleen Dickinson are from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, came to Louisville for this ... sixth year for coming to Abbey Road on the River.

They love live Beatles music, and this is where the best bands in the world are, they say. They can see the bands and see other Beatles fans.

They make friends here, and already have run into old friends. Every year they make new friends. "The circle grows," Colleen says.

Bill was the Beatles fan, saw them live in Montreal in 1964 when he was 15. "I saw the Beatles, I didn't hear them. The girls were screaming so hard ... When you see a video, you don't get the reality of what it was like to be at a Beatles concert in 1964. This was in a hockey arena, and from the moment they came out, you couldn't hear a thing except the screaming. It was well worth the $5 and something I paid for the ticket," Bill said.

He's wearing his Abbey road hat (straw with a black band with Beatles faces on it), wears Beatles shirt all the time, have a Beatles plate on their Mustang.

Favorite Beatles songs change ... now it's "Grow Old with Me," performed by Hal Bruce ... Bill says it brought tears to his eyes. They respect the relationship John and Yoko had, she became part of the Beatles.

Colleen says The Return is a new band here, they haven't been here for 3 years, and she says they're worth seeing.

They'll drop back by tomorrow for another update!!!

Pam Platt

If there is any impression that I don't like the Fab Four . . .that's just not true. OK, I don't know album names, who played what when and all the other minutia...but I can still listen to the music for hours. Thank you very much.

And, I can't recite player stats for baseball, basketball or football, but that doesn't mean I am not a die hard Kentucky fan. Maybe that says it all.

-- Kim Kolarik, The Courier-Journal

. . . Kelley and I were just talking about Beatles music and how you really can't be unhappy while you're listening to it . . .

.... now we're discussing album art .. and which is the best ...

let us know what you think and we'll talk about it, and share our ideas, too ....

Pam Platt

... it's a little warm, but there's a nice breeze. Sun is shining (here comes the sun!) so you might want to remember to slather on some sunscreen ...

more later ...

Pam

John Mura, Kim Kolarik and I (from the newsroom)are here at Abbey Road on the River ... along with Michelle Avallone, Matt Rountree, Kelley Brown are at the courier-journal.com tent, representing the C-J's circulation and marketing departments ...

All of us are really big Beatles fans, except for Kim, who's a middling Beatles fan.

John says his favorite Beatles album is "Rubber Soul" because that was the last of their real innocence. Kelley's is "Abbey Road" because it puts her in "the zone . . . " she considers it their most cohesive album. Michelle's favorite LP by the Fab Four is a cross between the White album and "Sgt. Pepper" . . . it depends .... Kim says he doesn't have a favorite. Matt likes the White album.

I can still sing an entire side of Abbey Road (the wonderful medley) .....

Here's why the Beatles are still relevant .... a lot of Beatles songs on last night's American Idol, including one of my all-time faves, "I Saw Her Standing There." I was 7 years old, sitting in my living room, ready for bed in my nightgown and I fell in love with Paul that night, first time I heard that song!

Anyway, just an initial post, saying that the public editor and two of our multimedia people are here at Abbey Road on the River, hoping you'll stop by to talk about whatever is on your mind, listen to some GREAT music, that has stood the test of time, no matter what Kim thinks!!!!!

Talk in a bit.

Pam Platt

The long wait is over. Today is the official preview day of Abbey Road on the River. There are going to be some great bands out today and a special showing of US vs. John Lennon. It should be a fun-filled event-packed day!

I can't wait to see all of you out this weekend. Hopefully the weather is going to hold...

It's day one of the greatest Beatle festival on the planet, and everyone is so pumped. Great weather ahead, even better music, and friends and families all having real fun together.

Just wanna pause and thank so much, Lisa P, Jase, Carol G, Hal B, Andrew R, Rachel H, Rachel B, Mark B, Denver C, JB, Larry S, Chuck M, Bob L, Mike M, Ashley C, Robin R, Brad K, and hundreds of others...all the nicest and hardest working event people I know. (if i missed your name, I will get it tomorrow)

It's one thing to plan for a year, and that's fun too, but working so closely on site with all these fine people is the ultimate reward.

Thank you

Gary

who can sleep? the adrenelin is pumping too hard...yesterday we installed tents, some stages, bleachers, concessions and more.

The site is really taking shape. The Belvedere is a world class festival park, and because it has such a rich design, it's an event planner's dream.

Each year, we are able to watch the way people move, where they sit, and then find better ways to accomodate the natural flow they create.

I feel like we have hit the bulls eye this year. Basically, I changed my room routine at the Galt Hotel from the East to the West tower last fall. As I am in the ville one week a month, I would use my time at the Galt house staring at the site from the 21st floor. seeing everything from above gave me a whole new perspective on the site, and it will prove out to be the best site planning tool there is, when the event begins tomorrow.

Everything; box office, stages, bathrooms, concessions, merch, have been moved just enough to create an environment that will truly make a difference in the way people enjoy the festival.

We finished up around midnight, and as we were heading up to sleep (a little), was so happy to run into The Repeatles from Sweden, From Me To you from Liverpool, and Itchycoo Park from Scotland.

Louisville should be proud of the international attention their Beatle show receives. Take my word for this-there is nothing in the world that compares to Abbey Rd On the River..come and enjoy it..things this good (like the beatles themselves) do not last forever.

Well it is really close now... almost surreal actually. I have been working on it for so long and now that it is here I will get to sit back and enjoy it a little. I am really looking forward to meeting all the cool Beatleheads out there. I have already met so many cool people through my involvement in AROTR—from Gary and Lisa who I have worked very closely with, to Joe and Helen who I have met by happen-chance. I know that I will meet many more this weekend and I am just ecstatic. I already know I will have something in common with everyone that I meet, a great love for possibly the best musical group in history (I would argue best).

I will be working the courier-journal.com booth every day (not all day—thankfully I will get to enjoy the festival too) so feel free to come up and introduce yourself. I am going to try to keep the blogs coming, hopefully several a day, to keep y'all up-to-date.

Don't forget to look in Sunday's Courier-Journal for some exciting Abbey Road news. And if you are planning on coming out this weekend, make sure you take advantage of the $5 off coupon on courier-journal.com.

Much Beatle-love!!

Today Tuesday will be one of my favorite days in the 365 day process. It's the big load in day. Tents, fencing, infrastructure all come in, and the site really starts to take shape.

It's like building a small town in 48 hours. And everyone shows up ready to work, and even more ready to help. Metro Louisville is amazing. They provide so much support. Without them we could never do this. From bleachers to stages to power to dumpsters, they have our back on so many important items.

I guess that's why the Derby City produces the greatest festival in the world every year. They simply know how to do it.

Still watching the weather closely, but if and when we see some showers, assuming no lightning, we have plenty of covered areas, and as they say..........the show must go on!

Having great set up weather is also very important. It makes all the physical labor more bearable. All told hundreds of wrokers will be on site between today and thursday morning. I think I will do a time lapse video.

I arrived in the ville yesterday afternoon. We started bringing in food concession trailors. We are going to eat well. I wanted to take a minute to tell you all that the Courier-Journal knows how to be a title sponsor.

For me, they have redefined a participatory partnership.

We moved the event to Louisville 3 years ago, and we were lucky to have a corporation on board who helped underwrite the event, but they moved on, and the CJ stepped right in to fill the void.

And fill it they have. On every level from the Publisher to Circulation to Web designers, there are managers and hard working teams committing all their resources to this festival. And you know why?

Because they love Louisville and its people. Period, paragraph! And because they know they are the media that matters most, they strive to do it better than any of the others....every single day, and they do.

No matter what the outcome this week..rain or shine..I want everyone to know that the paper in Louisville is a great company staffed by even finer people. I come from a town with a good paper (cleveland). Louisville has a great paper. Enjoy it.

Gary

Make sure to stop by the courier-journal.com booth each day of the festival to collect all four Beatles wristbands… John, Paul, George and Ringo.

We are getting a lot of fun stuff together for our booth at Abbey Road. Make sure you stop by and see us; we will have some freebies and best of all get your picture taken in front of our Abbey Road backdrop. We will be posting these pictues online in photo galleries, so don't forget to look them up after the fact. Make sure you cheese it up and make it fun— afterall that is what this is all about, is it not?

Check it out:

wadda day..as is every day..but watching Colbert as I am finishing band hotels. That's a job and a 1/2, organizing 300 rooms..

but where else can a job be this much fun? 9 days left, and wait, its 11;40pm and a band is on the phone. Days begin at 5 am , end at 1..but boy howdy, we are having fun.

I have been producing events for 30 years, and every time, I wonder if it could be any crazier, and somehow, it always is.

like watching sausage being made..just come and ejoy the best music ever written and recorded.

So in a little over a week it will be here. Finally.

I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek at the official AROTR shirt for this year...


There is so much leading up to the event—the Beatles Trivia Contest launches tomorrow at courier-journal.com/abbeyroad. I had a sneak peek at the questions and it is going to take a real fan to get all of them right. Good Luck! As next weekend approaches I will have more exciting news to share with you so keep checking back!

Kelley is right..the excitement is building. Everyone is working double time to make sure everything is in place for our opening 2 weeks from today.

Last week we had rehearsals for Love in Belleville, Ontario, CA, and it is going to be a beautiful show.

Lisa and Kelley are frantically designing ads and event guides. Our production maestros are putting finishing touches on all the band requests, stages, jumbotrons and so much more.

Watch our web site too, for all the event details.

Thanks

gmj

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, the excitement continues to grow. I can't wait to be surrounded by hundreds of Beatles fans listening to Beatles music and feeling the Beatles love - I am not sure it can get any sweeter than that!

I am most excited about the album concerts (I am sure you will find me at the Abbey Road recreation!) and the Love concert. Not to mention all of the new music that is going to be on the Brian Epstein Stage including Louisville's own Digby!

I can't tell you how exciting it is going to be to see this festival come to fruition after so much planing and hard work - not necessarily by me ;)