Memories of a legendary British band will joyously bounce around the venerable Memorial Opera House.
MegaBeatles is a large conglomerate of local rock musicians who will get a Valparaiso audience to “Twist and Shout” to Beatles music at a 7:30 p.m. Saturday concert.
Dating back to the 19th century, the intimate — yet grand — opera house is providing a unique setting for approximately two hours of music that was made famous by the Liverpool quartet, which broke up in 1970 after rocking pop culture.
“It’s gorgeous; it’s a historic venue,” singer Chad Clifford said of the Indiana Avenue theater that seats about 360.
Aside from handling many of the lead vocals, Clifford also will play acoustic guitar for what he said will be a nine-member MegaBeatles group. Clifford is part of the CrawPuppies, a popular Northwest Indiana rock quartet that will have its full membership at Saturday’s show. The Memorial Opera House’s website states that a cash bar will be available.
The night’s song selections will basically focus on the Fab Four’s post-1965 era when recording-studio production was more layered and sophisticated.
To that end, MegaBeatles will perform 1967’s “A Day in the Life,” a lush piece of psychedelic pop recorded with full orchestration.
“You really need a big, big sound,” Clifford, a Portage resident, said.
Likewise incorporating elaborate elements is “All You Need is Love,” which MegaBeatles will deliver, along with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Hey Jude” — two classics from 1968.
“Those tend to be fan favorites,” Clifford noted.
Besides the CrawPuppies, the Chris and Lou Band also are ready to churn out songs and be incorporated into MegaBeatles. Chris Sulcer and Lou Samaniego are the frontmen for the Chris and Lou Band.
The MegaBeatles concert is a fundraiser for the opera house, as was the band’s 2015 show at the venue. Opera house programming was aided by money from last January’s concert. “It sold out,” LuAnne Pezel, business director for the opera house, said.
“MegaBeatles is well received in this area,” she assured. Pezel said she expects the band to “fill the theater” Saturday, as they dip into the voluminous hits catalog of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
“They do a super job of representing them,” Pezel, a Portage resident, said. MegaBeatles are set to deliver melodic punch with no less than four guitarists.
The band has created a buzz outside of the region. It has been invited to play Memorial Day weekend at Abbey Road on the River in Louisville, Ky.
Running May 26 through 30, the large-scale event has been an annual affair featuring numerous Beatles tribute bands and other retro music from the ’60s. This year, some 60 bands and eight stages are scheduled to be part of the extravaganza.
More Top Picks Stands Plants
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance writer.
MegaBeatles
Where: Memorial Opera House, 104 E. Indiana Ave., Valparaiso
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $35, plus $2 processing fee
Information: 219-548-9137; www.memorialoperahouse.com