Tickets are now on sale for two concerts in October in Herculaneum by American English, a Beatles tribute band.
Proceeds from the two shows, sponsored by the Herculaneum Fire Department, will help build Kade’s Playground, a recreation site for children of all abilities to be constructed at Herculaneum City Park.
American English, which headlined the Herculaneum Bicentennial celebration in 2008, will return to town for concerts Oct. 10-11 at the Dunklin R-5 Theater on the Herculaneum High School campus.
Shows will begin at 7 p.m. both nights.
“I spoke with the band, and they’ll have separate sets (of songs) they’ll perform each night, so there’ll be separate shows,” Fire Chief Bill Haggard said.
Tickets will be priced at $25 each show. Tickets will be sold on a reserved-seat basis.
Haggard said tickets have yet to be printed up, but orders are now being taken. Tickets will then be mailed out once they are printed.
The theater seats 568 people.
American English, which plays hits from the Beatles’ entire career as well as some songs from their solo careers, has played all over the world, including several venues where the Beatles appeared in their early days. In 2001, American English headlined a George Harrison tribute held at the House of Blues in Chicago, where they were joined by several artists that had been involved with either the Beatles or Wings, including the Beatles original drummer, Pete Best.
In 2002, American English headlined International Beatles Week in Liverpool, performing for a crowd of more than 50,000. The band also recorded a concept album at Abbey Road Studios in London. The album, titled “What If,” features songs that might have ended up on the next Beatles record had they stayed together longer.
Kade’s Playground has been named in memory of Kade Bauman, the son of Josh and Annette Bauman, who died at the age of 3.
According to the family’s website, Kade started having seizures when he was five months old and was diagnosed with epilepsy, Cortical visual impairment, global developmental delays, development encephalopathy and a suspected mitochondrial disease. During his short life, he was confined to a wheelchair.
His parents and family have been working to establish a playground that is accessible to all children somewhere in Jefferson County, and Haggard and other city officials are working to establish it in their city.
To order tickets by telephone, call 636-475-4447.
Mail orders can be sent to 151 Riverview Plaza Drive, Herculaneum, 63048. Tickets should be made payable to the Herculaneum Fire Department.
For more information on Kade’s Playground or to donate, call 636-475-4447, 636-475-5476, 314-852-4964 or 314-550-1550.
