With ‘A Little Help From His Friends’ Craig Martin will bring to life some of the greatest hits of John, Paul, George and Ringo at the historic Spring Hill Reservoir.
Coincidentally, the venue just happens to look like Liverpool’s Cavern Club where The Beatles played before they were famous. A six-piece band and a two-girl backing duo to add some glamour to the line-up, this show is a must for fans of The Beatles, swing music and all things ‘Yesterday’!
These are Craig's Top 5 Beatles swing moments:
The Beatles Swing
In early 2014 I had a dream of rearranging swing style some of The Beatles songs and producing a wholly unique Beatles Show. I spoke to my band about it and a handful of Brisbane’s top arrangers ‘who were in the know’ and told me I had “no chance”! They knew because they had tried to get one or two previously and failed! Unperturbed, I undertook some research and eventually contacted Sony/ ATV with the idea. After going via London and New York with lots of international midnight phone calls and emails to music publishers, very slowly the rearranging and performing rights started to trickle in. Before I knew it, I had my songs. Now all I needed was the perfect venue…. And that’s where the historic Spring Hill Reservoir came in. With its raw brick arches, so similar to The Cavern Club, it was almost as if it was meant to be!The Cavern Club
Every young musician in Liverpool dreams of taking to the stage where John, Paul, George and Ringo made their name. As a teenager I learned the guitar by playing along to my mum’s old Beatles records in my bedroom, and in my late teens started to play the pubs and clubs of Liverpool. I can remember getting the call from the manager of a well-known Liverpool nightspot to say the regular Friday night band had had car trouble on the way to the gig and could me and my band take the booking. A few hours later I was on stage with my band at the world famous Cavern Club singing ‘Twist & Shout’. Definitely something I will remember for a very long time!
Craig Martin with Gerry Marsden
On Tour With Gerry
In the mid 1990s I was introduced to musical theatre and after having performed as Gene Vincent, Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde and Buddy Holly, I got a call to audition for a show playing a young Gerry Marsden (Gerry & The Pacemakers). But this show was going to be different - Gerry himself was in it as the narrator! I was delighted to get the part of course, but also excited to be spending three months on the road with one of John Lennon’s best mates, from back in the day! On the tour of Europe and South Africa, Gerry was very generous with his time and spent many hours telling me stories about the early days in 1960s’ Liverpool when they were all just ordinary boys from the Mersey writing songs and singing them on a Saturday night! Some of those stories I hope to share with my audience at the Reservoir!Liverpool FC
In July 2015 my Football Club Liverpool FC played their first ever game in Queensland and to celebrate and welcome the fans to Caxton Street I performed 'The Beatles Swing' to the crowds after the victorious game. The view from the balcony of the Gambaro Hotel was spectacular with a sea of red and white scarves raised and the fans singing along to the songs which made their hometown so famous. As if that wasn’t enough, I turned around and saw my childhood sporting heroes, Liverpool FC legends Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Craig Johnston standing back stage watching on and singing along. Pure Magic!From Liverpool
In late 2014 I was honoured to become a citizen of Australia along with my wife and three children. It was clear to my family back home that I was here to stay. I am delighted to say that my mum and dad are making the journey to Brisbane to visit me and to share in the excitement of 'The Beatles Swing' at the Reservoir, after all they are the ones that introduced me to the Fab Four all those years ago, it's only right they are here to share this exciting time and to hear my take on our family’s favourite band!'The Beatles Swing' performs the Spring Hill Reservoir 4-6 March.
