Beatle Mania

Limber up your voice, brush up on your favorite Beatles tunes and head to the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street, today at 2 p.m. for the tenth annual John Lennon and Beatles Memorial Singalong. Join other Beatles fans in rousing renditions of favorite selections from the Beatles catalogue, along with select material from the post-Beatles solo careers of John Lennon and George Harrison. Lyric sheets will be provided, in case your memory of the second verse of "Eleanor Rigby”" is a bit shaky. Recorded backing tracks will provide accompaniment for most of the songs, but organizer Jimi Bernath says he hopes to have several musicians on hand to provide live backing, too. Participants who know the music well are invited to bring instruments and play along.

Bernath calls it a great way to start the holiday season. "We always end up with John and Yoko singing 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over).' It's always a very emotional thing. It's a solemn and joyous occasion. We're commemorating John's death, and we always reflect on that," he says.

The event is free and open to all ages. E-mail Bernath at jimi99@msn.com or call him at 303-263-0176.
Sun., Dec. 9, 2 p.m., 2007