FROM THE AROTR WIKI:

Abbey Road on the River (AROTR) is a music festival honoring the music and legend of The Beatles. It takes place in Louisville, Kentucky on Memorial Day weekend and in Washington DC Labor Day weekend at National Harbor, MD, both lasting five days. Attracting over 30,000 attendants to Louisville's Belvedere, Abbey Road on the River is the largest Beatles festival in the United States.

The festival had its start in 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio, then moved to its current location in 2005. Since the move, Abbey Road on the River has expanded greatly, with an average of over 60 bands annually.

Abbey Road on the River hosts many different types of Tribute Bands. Some bands look, sound, and behave like the Beatles. Other bands play Beatles music accurately, but do not dress or act as Beatles. Other bands celebrate the music of Lennon & McCartney and George Harrison without trying to reproduce the Beatles' sound.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

Because John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr made the world a happier place, we promise to extend their vision by creating a welcoming and carefree environment for their fans to come together with friends and family to experience their gift of music, written and performed with peace, love, and non-violence at its heart.

We further pledge to emulate their gentleness and compassion, and as John and George lived on their own terms, so too, do Paul and Ringo continue to live in good health and communicate their unique talents and love for humanity.

It is with great respect and gratitude that we celebrate their music and
the spirit that continues to bring us all together.

In their names, we pledge to have fun.

A LETTER FROM MAYOR JERRY E. ABRAMSON:

Dear Beatles Fans:

Thank you for considering attending Louisville’s fifth annual “Abbey Road on the River”, North America’s largest celebration of Beatles’ music. The event, now five days, will take place Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-31, 2010.

Abbey Road on the River in Louisville has been a huge success, featuring dozens of the best Beatles bands, speakers, collectibles, 25,000 music lovers from Louisville, and thousands more from around the world.

The event is now something my family and I also look forward to. Last year we were able to enjoy the complete performance of “Love” on Saturday, and several of The Summer of Love concerts on Monday, Memorial Day. We have enjoyed seeing so many families from Louisville and meeting so many visitors from near and far. We, like you, can’t wait to see all the new bands, new music, and great attractions the event always offers.

After reading the most recent guest comments and seeing firsthand how much fun everyone had at “Abbey Road on the River”, I encourage you to tell your friends about the event and bring your family to Louisville in 2010.

I hope you will join us in making next year’s weekend of concerts even bigger and better. It’s a terrific, family-fun event for all music lovers and Beatle fans anywhere.

Sincerely,

Jerry E. Abramson
Mayor