BEATLEMANIA: Variety show spotlights the Fab Four
Published 7:07 pm Monday, July 23, 2018
- SHAKE IT UP, BABY: The Flatland Zingers, Bob Daw, Jay Costello and Keane Warren will perform an all-Beatles lineup for this month’s variety show hosted by the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association. (Flatland Zingers)
Beatles fans will get a walk down memory lane Thursday night with an all-Beatles tribute at Arts of the Pamlico’s Turnage Theatre.
The Fab Four-themed variety show hosted by the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association is slated for Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the theater’s gallery. Featuring musicians Jay Costello, Bob Daw, Keane Warren and Rob Cuthrell and Linda Boyer of the Flatland Zingers, the set lists are comprised of Beatles-only tunes.
“Since we’re more traditional, this is a real challenge and a stretch for us,” Boyer laughed. The Flatland Zingers will tackle “Yellow Submarine,” “Something,” “Octopus’s Garden,” “Rocky Raccoon,” Ringo Starr’s “Don’t Make Me Blue,” and hope to get the crowd up and dancing with “Twist and Shout,” Boyer said.
Warren is the special guest of the event, and according to Boyer, the 14-year-old Washington native will fit right in with the more experienced musicians.
“He performed at our Youth Showcase in March. He showed up with a black suit on and a narrow black tie and a white shirt and darned if he couldn’t sing and play all these Beatles songs,” Boyer said. “And those chords are difficult on those Beatles songs.”
BCTMA has been hosting the monthly variety show for about eight years, first at their original space, the Union Alley Coffeehouse, then at the Turnage. What started out as an open mic night has evolved over the years to the variety show in which, once a year, each BCTMA board member is responsible for hosting the showing and lining up the acts.
“A lot of times they’re BCTMA members using that as an opportunity for us to perform,” Boyer said. “Sometimes they have a theme, and sometimes they don’t — it just depends on who’s putting it out.”
The theme-based shows have allowed the traditional to branch out to rock and country — Willie Nelson was Daw’s chosen theme when he hosted last July’s show and January’s Guitar Fest grew from a variety show—and allows artists such as bassist/guitarist Costello to join in the fun, according to Boyer.
“He loves more rock ‘n’ roll than traditional, so this Beatles show is right down his alley,” Boyer said.
BCTMA’s mission is to preserve traditional music and educate the public about its roots through live performances. The group extends an open invitation to musicians and music lovers to its Thursday evening and Saturday morning jam sessions, and asks only for donations for organized shows.
“It’s a free show,” Boyer said. “Donations are appreciated, but it’s a free show.”
The Turnage Theatre is located at 150 W. Main St. in Washington. For more information, visit bctma.org or call 252-946-2504.