More details for Oct. 4 Beatle Festival

Tickets are being printed, a poster is in the works and a Web site has been created for the Oct. 4 Benton George Harrison Beatle Festival.

Committee members met Wednesday to continue plans to bring a second Beatle to Benton.

Committee chairman Jim Kirkpatrick said the news is certain to put Benton on the map.

“We have confirmation that Pete Best, an original member of The Silver Beatles, will perform that evening,” he said. “The Pete Best Band: Best of the Beatles will perform at 8 p.m. in the East Gym of Benton Consolidated High School. A visit from Pete Best follows another member of The Beatles. George Harrison visited his sister, Louise, in September 1963, before he was ‘fab.’ I even wrote a book about the visit.”

Vice chairman Tom Herman said the festival begins at noon with activities and music at the Hard Day’s Nite Bed and Breakfast, located across the street from BCHS’ Rich Herrin Gymnasium.

“The former home of Louise Harrison was almost turned into a parking lot before it was saved from ruin by Bob Bartel,” Herman said. “A number of groups will perform throughout the afternoon and evening at the B&B before the headline performance by The Pete Best Band. I am a member of a group called AfterBeat. We are the opening act for Best of the Beatles and will perform at 7 p.m.”

Treasurer Darren Galloway and a member of AfterBeat said tickets are being printed.

“I am also working on a poster,” Galloway said. “We need to confirm all of the acts before the poster is printed. I also created a Web site, www.myspace.com/bentonbeatlefest, and will add more information as it becomes available.”

Herman said Memories Antiques, located at 1104 Public Square in Benton, would serve as one of the ticket outlets.

“Credit card ticket orders may be made through Memories Antiques by calling (618) 439-4650,” he said.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. A surcharge will be added to credit card orders.

Galloway said additional ticket outlets would be added as the day of the event approaches.

“We expect to have tickets available in Carbondale and Mt. Vernon, and through the West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce,” he said.

Kirkpatrick said sponsorships are available at the platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels.

“Platinum sponsorships are $1,000, gold are $500, silver is $250 and bronze are available for $100,” he said. “We are also accepting donations to offset costs associated with the concert.”

Donations may be made at www.beforehewasfab.com. For more information, call Kirkpatrick at (618) 889-2719.

“Vendors and musicians have confirmed they are making a second trip to Benton,” Kirkpatrick said. “The All Beatles Store in Toronto, Canada, will be available to festival-goers, as well as Beatle batiks.”

Batik is an age-old art form in which wax-resistant dye is applied to cloth.

Peter Conrad, who performs a tribute to George Harrison, will also make a return visit.

Officers were appointed during Wednesday’s meeting, including Andrew Hart as director of advertising, audio and lighting.

Music director Warren Batts is fielding telephone calls from musical groups.

“If you perform 1960s and Beatles tunes, I would like to hear from you,” he said.

Batts may be reached by calling (812) 204-4006.

Food is another part of the Benton George Harrison Beatle Festival. Jan Biggs of Christopher, owner of Jan’s Catering Service, said she would provide sandwiches, desserts and more, beginning at 1 p.m. outside Hard Day’s Nite, and would move to the high school at 6 p.m., weather permitting.

Kirkpatrick named Bartel and Gabe McCarty as honorary committee officers.

“We plan to present a plaque to Bob Bartel for his work in saving the former Harrison house,” he said. “Gabe McCarty and George Warren were members of the Four Vests when George Harrison visited Benton in 1963. George performed with the Four Vests at the Boneyard Boccie Ball Club in Benton and at the VFW in Eldorado. We hope Gabe and George Warren will perform at least one song with the Pete Best Band, to add to the nostalgia.”