Let's go: Vegas
Advertiser Staff
JULY
1-3
The Fest for Beatles Fans 2007: Celebrating all things Beatles, the festival invites fans worldwide with concerts from Peter & Gordon, former Beatles drummer Pete Best and his band; Paul McCartney's former group, Wings and Beatles tribute band Liverpool. Victor Spinetti, actor in three Beatles movies, will appear as will Ringo Starr's former producer Mark Hudson and broadcaster Larry Kane, who toured with the Beatles in 1964 and 1965. Martin Lewis is emcee. Dennis Mitchell, host of radio show "Breakfast With The Beatles"; Tony Perkins, formerly from "Good Morning America" and Joe Johnson from the nationally syndicated radio show "Beatle Brunch" will also appear. The Giant International Beatles Marketplace offers more than 75 tables of memorabilia; Paul Saltzman photography and documentation of the Beatles in India; Bruce Spizer, the leading expert on Beatles U.S. recordings; a Battle of the Beatles Bands, sound-alike, trivia, art and "Name That Tune" contests. A live/online Beatles auction is July 3. The event began in 1974 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of The Beatles' arrival in the U.S. The 2007 Fest will celebrate:
Show hours 2 p.m.-midnight July 1 and noon-midnight July 2-3, at The Mirage's Grand Ballroom Complex.
Advance tickets are $45 per day. Combination advance tickets are $80 for two days or $100 for three days, until June 15. Tickets at the door cost $55 per day. Tickets are half price for 12 years and younger; entrance is free for children 5 and under. American Airlines is offering a 5 percent discount to attendees flying to and from The Fest. www.thefestforbeatlesfans.com.
AUGUST
24
Best in the Desert Las Vegas to Reno off-road race: Off-road fans can sign up for this 585-mile dusty frontier drive through the desert and mountains of northern Nevada. The race attracts more than 175 teams, in cars, trucks and on motorcycles. An early morning start has winners finishing late that evening. Organized by the Best in the Desert Racing Association. Registration begins 10 a.m. Aug. 23 at the South Point Hotel & Casino. Spectators welcome to view motorcycles, quads, cars and trucks. (702) 457-5775, www.bitd.com.
ONGOING
Looking for Mohawks in the desert? Head for HB's Saloon. Bad Town Wreckords, a collective of Vegas musicians, had no venue for its shows but the struggling Italian restaurant and bar (HB stands for Handle Bars) invested in a new sound system and a bigger stage to host up to 200 punk kids clamoring to see their favorite bad bands. HB's Saloon, 6820 W. Flamingo Road.
