Monday 4th June

The BOOTLEG BEATLES - ‘All the classic Lennon McCartney hits in one spectacular multi-media production'

Re-live the sights and sounds of sixties as the world's premier Beatles band comes to the Peel Bay Festival with their spectacular and colourful stage production. Join them as they trace the history of the Fab Four from Liverpool's Cavern through Sgt Pepper to The Apple Rooftop in what has
become one of the 'not to miss' shows.

Formed in 1980 the BBs were offered a six-week tour of The U.S.S.R. in 1982, becoming the first western rock group ever to tour the Soviet Union. Almost true Beatle-like scenes of hysteria greeted the Bootleg’s sold out concerts in Moscow and Leningrad. The world beckoned the group as they toured India, The Middle East, The Far East (playing to 18,000 fans at the Areneta Coliseum, Philippines) and in 1984, to the USA (leaving London on Pan Am flight 01A on the 7th February – exactly twenty years to the day after The Fab Four).

In the late 80s The Bootleg Beatles decided to recreate the Fab Fours Final British Tour (1965). This is now an annual Christmas Tour which regularly sells out at performances including the Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium and The Liverpool Empire.

Having seen the Bootlegs' storming set at the '94 Glastonbury Festival, Brit Pop band Oasis caught the BB's show again that Christmas at Southampton's Guildhall. Noel and Liam Gallagher were so enamoured with the group that they asked them to be the support act for their record-breaking 1995 Earl's Court shows - culminating with both bands sharing the stage for 'I Am The Walrus' - and then the following summer joining Oasis again for their massive outdoor tour. These gigs and an appearance on the cover of the NME, heralded the Bootleg Beatles' breakthrough to a new contemporary audience, something unheard of for a 'tribute' act. Since becoming regulars on the Europ ean festival circuit The Bootlegs have played Wembley with Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, The Corrs, Elton John, Manic Street Preachers and Iggy Pop and filled Tokyo's Budokan Hall in their own right.

Over the years The Bootleg Beatles have performed in front of many, many thousands of people including such notable luminaries as Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison, George Martin and Her Majesty, The Queen during the Golden Jubilee. Of all the venues they have played perhaps none (aside from Buckingham Palace!) was more auspicious than their appearance on the rooftop of the Apple Building in London. On the freezing morning of 30th January 1999 the BB's performance commemorated the Fab Fours' farewell gig exactly 30 years ago to the day, the event transmitted on news channels across the globe.

Now into their 26th year The Bootleg Beatles have set the standard for all those hundreds of ‘tribute bands’ who have followed in their footsteps as they continue to keep the spirit and magic of the greatest pop group the world has ever seen well and truly alive. The Peel Bay Festival is extremely pleased to present the Bootleg Beatles.

The COUNTERFEIT STONES

Their energy driven take on the Rolling Stones is a colourful and extremely entertaining show.

The Counterfeit Stones fans include celebrities such as Phil Collins, Prince Edward, Joan Collins, Mick Jagger’s ex-wife Jerry Hall who described them as “hilarious” and there is even a rumour that Mick himself snuck into a show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

The Counterfeit’s have played for Status Quo, Motorhead, Chelsea Football Club, Buckingham Palace to name just a few. They were also booked to play in St Moritz after the Prince of Hanover, after being suitably impressed by a few renditions of his favourite hits. The audience included Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Ivana Trump and even the original Stone’s bassist Bill Wyman.

The Counterfeit Stones plays songs from 1963 to 1965 and then 1966 to 1980. They have performed worldwide including playing in front of 30,000 bikers. After playing a farewell party for the former Radio 1 DJ Simon Bates, many BBC executives reportedly believed they were the real Stones.
And some reviewers claim they sound better than the real thing.

The ‘Independent’s’ review after the Counterfeit’s had appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in 2005 sums it all up: “Why go to a Rolling Stones concert when you can enjoy the Counterfeit Stones for half the price confident you won’t have to sit through 10 new album tracks before they will play Satisfaction?…. The Counterfeit Stones may even capture the spirit of the age as accurately as their subject once did”.

Therefore it is with great pleasure that the Peel Bay Festival presents the Counterfeit Stones.