NEWBURYPORT — After rain postponed Beatles tribute band BeatleJuice’s Yankee Homecoming gig in July, hundreds of fans followed the sun and got back to Waterfront Park on Sunday for dozens of classic songs and deep tracks from the Fab Four.
The show covered all periods of The Beatles catalogue from “Twist and Shout” on their first album, 1963’s “Please Please Me,” all the way to “I Me Mine and “Get Back” from “Let It Be,” released after the band officially disbanded in 1970.
“We love it, man, it’s our favorite show of the year,” bass player Joe Holaday said to the crowd while one of his bandmates was tuning his guitar.
Many of those who filled most of Waterfront Park, and they ran the gamut from those in their 70s and 80s to those in elementary school, weren’t content to sit in lawn chairs or lie on top of blankets and had to groove to the music. Among them were plenty of folks were wearing Beatles T-shirts, again representing different Beatles eras.
The soothing sounds of “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “Hello, Goodbye,” “All My Loving,” and “Lady Madonna” could be heard hundreds of yards away into Market Square and further along the Clipper City Rail Trail.
“Beautiful day and fabulous music. Thank you so much,” Elaine Manfriedi said on a Daily News Facebook post regarding the show.
Sunday’s time warp back to the 1960s was made possible by several sources who donated more than $5,000. Among them were Mike and Kelly Doyle who made an initial contribution of $2,500, Mayor Sean Reardon, Arthur S. Page Insurance and Spada Law Group, according to Yankee Homecoming official Dennis Palazzo.
BeatleJuice’s show, which kicked off about 3:15 p.m., was part of a full day of events scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. that included raffles, opening bands and food trucks.
“I made kind of a day out of it with vendors and crafters and food trucks. It should be a great family-friendly event,” Palazzo said earlier this month.
Daily News reporter Matt Petry contributed to this story.
Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.