The Bootleg Beatles wow Reading’s audiences with a trip to the silver screen

Formed in 1980, The Bootleg Beatles have performed more than 4,500 shows… including a return visit to The Hexagon in Reading where they performed the greatest hits of the Fab Four to a packed auditorium.

While the line-up may have changed one thing hasn’t: this is probably the closest you’ll get to seeing the Merseybeat legends in action.

Each of their shows are guaranteed to whisk audiences back in time to the 1960s when Beatlemania ruled the world and then take them on a magical tour through the different stages of their musical journey, accompanied by footage of the era.

Their newest show, celebrating the music of The Fab Four on Film, was performed on Sunday, April 6.

It included tracks that feature on their celluloid opuses including A Hard Days Night, Help!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine and Let it Be. With recreations of the screaming crowds of their early tours through to their rooftop concert at Saville Row, it was all there.

If you closed your eyes you be forgiven for thinking you had time travelled back to the day and were part of a contemporary audience.

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The Hexagon audience included everyone from youngsters to those well into their 80s. The music of the Beatles never gets old.

The camaraderie between the band members, their banter, humour and interaction with the audience are part of what makes this show such a delight.

The experience is enhanced by the addition of the Bootleg Orchestra, a group of seven musicians comprising strings, woodwind, brass and percussion, perfectly replicating the effects used in the band’s more creative phase.

An extra bonus was a performance by ‘George’ on the sitar.

After announcing their final song of the evening, the band needed little encouragement to return to perform two encores: The spotlight on George again for a powerful rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps with the mandatory extended instrumental, and a whole ensemble performance of Hey Jude which had everyone in the audience joining in. Well, it would be rude not to.

The Bootleg Beatles continue to go from strength to strength, and the show really was excellent. See them on a bill? A splendid time is guaranteed for all.