Issue 316 – Home-grown Beatles magic on New Year’s Eve

2010 hAS been a nostalgic year for fans of The Beatles, with the 70th anniversary of John Lennon’s birth and the 30th anniversary of his death, and Frome will be paying its own tribute with a lively New Year’s Eve night at the Cheese and Grain by the Frome-based tribute Sgt. Pepper’s Only Dart Board Band.

Often playing in front of audiences of thousands in other parts of the world, the band like to play once a year in Frome so they can spread some Beatles magic in their home town.
“Auld Lang Syne” will certainly feature alongside less traditional seasonal fare such as “All You Need is Love”; “Hey Jude” and “Let it Be.”
The Beatles theme has proved popular on New Year’s Eve in previous years, courtesy Sgt. Pepper’s Only Dart Board Band. This year the band will be supported by a Sixties disco featuring Will Angeloro.
Setting the mood in their colourful psychedelic Sgt. Pepper costumes, the band is inviting the audience to attend in Sixties fancy dress. The theme is already proving popular, with tickets selling quickly.
“We tend to only play one public event in Frome per year,” says Rob Waller who plays “Sgt. Pepper” himself in the band. “New Year’s Eve is the ideal opportunity for us to play close to home, and celebrate with family and friends at the same time.”
Rob has been keyboard player with the Dart Board Band since it started in 1996, but has just returned to this well known tribute this year after a two-year sabbatical. “I’m really looking forward to playing at the Cheese and Grain again. New Year’s Eve is a special night for us all.”
Rob will be joined by the regular John, Paul, George, and Ringo line up of Martin Dimery, John Freeman, Colin Holley, and Marc Bendell.
As “Sgt. Pepper,” Rob’s piano and keyboard arrangements enable the band to recreate Beatles songs from all phases of their career, not just the early hits. As Martin Dimery explained, “We have made a point of tackling some of the more complex Beatles’ songs live, including the entire “Sgt. Pepper” and “Abbey Road” albums in concert tours. For New Year’s Eve we’ll need to keep the audience dancing, so early hits like “She Loves You” and “Help!” will definitely be played.”
The Dart Board Band’s humorous and musically diverse take on the Fab Four, has won them a worldwide reputation. Earlier this year they performed before an audience of 3,000 in an outdoor festival in the city of Verviers, Belgium, and participated in two concerts in London and Poole to celebrate the 70th anniversary of John Lennon’s birth. Previously they have played at the Cavern and the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool; the Glastonbury Festival, in venues throughout the UK and Europe. In 2007 they headlined a Beatles Festival in Montgomery Alabama.
The New Year’s Eve show will begin with the sixties disco as doors open at 8.00pm. The bar will be open throughout. A discount family ticket is available but advanced booking is advised through the Cheese and Grain box office on 01373 455420.