Show Topic: The Beatles Spotlight – Liverpool, Legendary Collections & Inside the Recording Studio

This Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, we’re dedicating another special edition of The Beatles Spotlight to the music and remarkable legacy of the Fab Four. Throughout the program, you’ll hear nothing but Beatles classics as we continue exploring the people, places, and stories that made John, Paul, George, and Ringo the most influential band in music history.

This week’s guests offer unique perspectives on every stage of the Beatles’ incredible journey. We’ll travel back to Liverpool to discover the city’s rich Beatles heritage, visit one of the world’s finest Beatles museums, learn about a tribute band dedicated to preserving every corner of the Beatles’ catalogue, and step inside Abbey Road Studios to uncover the recording techniques and musical innovations that forever changed popular music.

We’ll also take an in-depth look at Recording the Beatles, the definitive study of the group’s studio sessions, and explore George Martin: The Scores, the landmark publication that reproduces Sir George Martin’s original handwritten orchestral scores and reveals the creative brilliance behind many of the Beatles’ greatest recordings. It’s a fascinating look at how innovation, musicianship, and collaboration combined to create timeless music.

Whether you’re fascinated by Liverpool history, rare Beatles memorabilia, the band’s recording sessions, or simply love the music of the Fab Four, this promises to be another unforgettable Beatles celebration. Mark your calendars and join us for this special edition of The Beatles Spotlight. Don’t miss it!

Guest(s) for our show:

Date: Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

🎤 Mike & Bernadette Byrne

Mike and Bernadette Byrne are the founders of The Beatles Story, the world-famous Beatles attraction located at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock. Since opening in May 1990, the museum has welcomed millions of Beatles fans from around the globe and has become one of Liverpool’s premier destinations.

Mike was a Merseybeat musician and knew members of the Beatles during their early years, while Bernadette was a regular at the Cavern Club and developed a close friendship with the band, including dating George Harrison in the early 1960s.

They’ll share personal memories of Liverpool, Beatlemania, and the creation of one of the world’s greatest Beatles attractions.

🏛️ Harlen Brown

Harlen Brown is the curator of the Penny Lane Beatles Museum, home to more than 1,600 Beatles artifacts collected over four decades. His remarkable collection preserves the history and legacy of the Fab Four through rare memorabilia and unique historical pieces.

We’ll discuss the museum’s exciting reopening in St. Petersburg, Florida, this August and hear some of the fascinating stories behind the collection.

https://pennylanebeatlesmuseum.com/

🎸 Apple Jam

Formed in Seattle in 2005, Apple Jam has earned a reputation as one of America’s premier Beatles tribute bands. Rather than relying on costumes or impersonations, the group focuses on faithfully recreating the Beatles’ music with exceptional musicianship.

The band is especially celebrated for performing deep album cuts, solo recordings, rare material, and songs written by the Beatles but never officially released, giving audiences a fresh appreciation of the Fab Four’s remarkable catalogue.

https://applejamband.com/home

🎼 Brian Kehew

Musician, producer, historian, and author Brian Kehew returns to the program to continue our conversation about the Beatles’ revolutionary recording techniques.

As co-author of the acclaimed Recording the Beatles, Brian has spent years researching every aspect of the band’s work at Abbey Road Studios.

We’ll explore the recording equipment used during the Beatles’ sessions—including microphones, mixing consoles, tape machines, speakers, and outboard gear—and discuss George Martin: The Scores, the extraordinary collection of Sir George Martin’s handwritten musical scores and archives that offers an unprecedented insight into the work of the Beatles’ legendary producer.

Show Topic: The Beatles Spotlight – From Liverpool to the Recording Studio

This Monday, July 20th, 2026, we’re devoting the entire show to the music and remarkable legacy of The Beatles. Throughout the program, we’ll feature classics from every era of the Fab Four’s extraordinary career while exploring the stories, people, and places that helped shape the world’s most influential band.

From their beginnings in Liverpool to their groundbreaking studio recordings, this episode offers a fascinating look at the history behind the music.

Joining me is an outstanding panel of Beatles historians, authors, researchers, and recording experts. We’ll visit the historic streets of Liverpool where the Beatles began, examine Beatlemania’s lasting impact in Canada, explore fascinating “what if” moments that could have changed music history, and take an in-depth look at George Martin: The Scores—the extraordinary three-volume collection that opens the door to George Martin’s original handwritten arrangements and offers an unprecedented glimpse into the musical genius behind the Beatles’ recordings.

We’ll also discuss the Quarrymen, the Beatles’ impact on Canada during the height of Beatlemania, the group’s timeless recordings, and the meticulous musical arrangements that helped redefine popular music.

Whether you’re interested in Beatles history, songwriting, recording techniques, or the cultural impact of the Fab Four, this episode offers something for every Beatles fan.

From Penny Lane to Abbey Road, and from Liverpool to the recording studio, this program celebrates the music, innovation, and enduring legacy of the greatest band in rock history.

Mark your calendars for this special Beatles edition. Don’t miss it!

Guest(s) for our show:

Date: Monday, July 20th, 2026

📚 David Bedford

Liverpool historian, Beatles author, and respected tour guide David Bedford returns to share his remarkable knowledge of the city where the Beatles’ story began.

Through his guided tours, David introduces fans to iconic landmarks including Penny Lane, St. Peter’s Church, and the Casbah Coffee Club, bringing Beatles history vividly to life.

We’ll discuss his acclaimed book What If: What Could Have Happened, which explores more than 300 fascinating “what if” scenarios that could have dramatically changed Beatles history. We’ll also talk about his work with the Quarrymen and his continuing efforts to preserve Liverpool’s rich Beatles heritage.

davidabedford.com
beatlestours.co.uk

🍁 Piers Hemmingsen

Canadian Beatles author Piers Hemmingsen joins us to discuss his latest book, The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964–1970, the second volume in his acclaimed series documenting the Beatles’ enormous influence on Canadian music, culture, media, and society.

We’ll also explore the Beatles’ visits to Canada, their impact on Canadian fans, and John Lennon’s memorable performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Festival, one of the defining moments of his post-Beatles career.

thebeatlesincanada.com

🎙️ Brooke Halpin

Los Angeles-based Beatles author and broadcaster Brooke Halpin has spent decades researching and celebrating the music of the Fab Four.

He is the author of several Beatles books, including Experiencing the Beatles: A Listener’s Companion, Do You Really Know The Beatles?, and A Magical Mystery Time.

Brooke also hosts the radio program Come Together with The Beatles, where he continues to share his passion and extensive knowledge of the band’s music and legacy with listeners around the world.

🎼 Brian Kehew & Kevin Ryan

Music historians, producers, and audio engineers Brian Kehew and Kevin Ryan are internationally respected as the co-authors of Recording the Beatles, widely regarded as the definitive reference on the recording techniques, equipment, and studio innovations behind the Beatles’ groundbreaking music.

We’ll focus on their remarkable three-volume publication George Martin: The Scores, which reproduces Sir George Martin’s original handwritten orchestral and musical scores.

The collection offers an unprecedented look into Martin’s genius as arranger and producer, revealing how he helped shape many of the Beatles’ most celebrated recordings.