Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles' First North American Concert


Did you know that today is the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles' first North American Concert? They played just down the street at the Uline Arena (then known as the Washington Coliseum). Check out this terrific pictorial history of the space, and its varied uses over the decades. To celebrate the anniversary, a few groups have teamed up to organize a reenactment (along with special features) of the original concert. Full details after the jump.




Beatles Love Returns to Uline Arena

WASHINGTON, DC, February 7, 2014: Love is all you need, right? Fifty years ago, the Beatles brought that message on a train from New York during a massive snowstorm to play their first North American concert in NoMa’s historic Uline Arena. In celebration of that world-changing event, there are a slew of Beatles events this week and even a 1960s-inspired projection on the roof of the building that was bursting with great music and screaming fans half a century ago.

Starting tonight and weeknights through February 14, look for the message “All You Need is Love,” on the rooftop of Uline Arena that resonates with Valentine’s Day and the legacy of the building.

Tuesday, join thousands of adoring Beatles fans at an exact reenactment of the February 11, 1964 concert, featuring:
·      The 1964 set list performed by tribute band Beatlemania Now;

·      Tommy Roe opening the concert, as he did in 1964;

·       The original start time of 8:31 p.m. will be preceded by a 15-minute historic documentary featuring the history of The Washington Coliseum/Uline Arena from its concept and construction through its current and future incarnation.

·       Doors will open at 6 pm; with a selection of goodies from local food trucks and live music performed by Something Wild.

·       An exhibition of Mike Mitchell’s iconic, grainy photographs from that 1964 evening encapsulate the birth of a generation.


Tickets are on sale at www.beatlesyesterdayandtoday.com at $45 for general admission standing tickets and $100 for seated. All proceeds benefit the DC Preservation League.

The projection is organized by the NoMa Business Improvement District with special thanks to One NoMa Station and Jones Lang LaSalle at 131 M Street, NE. The concert and surrounding activities are organized by the DC Preservation League and Douglas Development Corporation.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a good time but $45/$100 is too steep.

If they don't sell out it's because they targeted well-off benefactors instead of the general concert-going, music-loving public.

Ann said...

I definitely agree. I obviously don't have any idea how many tickets they've sold, but drop it to $25 and you would pull in quite a few more people.

party pooper said...

The Uline Arena has holes in the roof and the walls. Can't I just stand outside and hear the concert?

Anonymous said...

they sold out

Anonymous said...

We went last night and it was pretty neat. Don't know if it was $45/ticket neat, but I think it was cool that quite a few people who went to the original show were there. It was obviously a big deal to a lot of people so that made it pretty special. Also was pretty cool to experience the Uline as a concert venue before it gets turned into retail and apartments.

Anonymous said...

IMO the show to see last nite was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Lincoln Theater. She rocked the hizzy as anyone who was there can attest.