This weekend Creme Tangerine will be taking to a rooftop in downtown Kirkland to celebrate the Beatles final concert in London.
Creme Tangerine, headed by Kirkland Performance Center Executive Director Jeff lockhart, will perform on the rooftop balcony of the Livengood Alskog building at 121 3rd Ave on Saturday at noon.
The free 45-minute event is put on by the KPC and the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce to benefit Northwest Harvest and will include well-known, memorable Beatles songs, including those performed during the last concert.
Previously, the rooftop concerts were held at Pike Place Market in Seattle starting in 2009 in tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Beatles last concert. This year, Lockhart said, they are holding the performance in Kirkland after they decided to play at Pike Place during the summer to accommodate the large crowds.
“We just decided as long as people wanted to keep coming out we’ll keep doing it,” he said.
“It’s been so cool over the years to see streets packed, shoulder-to-shoulder with people celebrating the music of the Beatles on the last weekend of January,” Crème Tangerine’s leader singer Byron Prather said in a press release. “This music truly is a common bond people share together.”
Lockhart said originally they had no plans to perform until fellow Beatles fan David Alskog, lead partner of Livengood Alskog law firm, suggested they hold the performance on the Kirkland building.
“We thought, ‘the merchants will love it after the holiday lull, we’re based out of Kirkland, and the Seahawks lost,” he said. “That’s where this is all born from.”
Crème Tangerine’s performance can be viewed from downtown Kirkland’s Central Way and Lake Street shopping district at street level for free. Those attending the performance can donate canned food or cash on site to support Northwest Harvest, which distributes food to 300 food banks, hot meal programs and elementary schools in the state.
Formed in 2003, Creme Tangerine plays Beatles hits, though the band members don’t try to recreate or replicate either the legendary musicians themselves or how they perform. Besides the rooftop concert shows, they also perform the Beatles most recognized hits from albums such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “the White Album” and “Abbey Road” in their entireties.
“That was the intention from the beginning,” Lockhart said. “We just wanted to play the music for people. Let’s bring that to a show and not an impersonation. There are plenty that imitate them. I think that has added to our longevity, focusing on the spirit and the humor and the fun. That’s the culture of our band.”
For those worried about poor weather, Lockhart said they will be playing, rain or shine.
“When the Beatles played it was really cold,” he said. “If the Beatles can do it so can we.”
