Beatles fever hits Shrewsbury

By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter

Shrewsbury – Mother Nature provided a picture perfect backdrop for a fun, family friendly evening of pure Beatles enjoyment July 18 at Dean Park in Shrewsbury with a concert featuring tribute band Beatles for Sale. The evening was sponsored by Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation and the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

Library Director Ellen Dolan estimated that there were about 600 residents who came out to enjoy the evening. It was a multi-generational gathering of young families, teens, young adults and those beyond. People brought blankets, picnics and even their four-legged friends.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the beautiful weather, the great turnout and the happy faces that people have on right now. It’s a good night,” stated Dolan.

This is the third year that the two organizations have teamed up to present the free concert to the community. Core Connection of Northborough provided ice cream treats for all to enjoy.

“It’s a great night for everyone in the community to come together,” noted Angela Snell, director of Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation. “There are people of all ages and everybody is having fun.”

Snell then added, “People thanked me for the weather. I put that order back in December and I’m glad it worked out.”

The band performed for an hour and a half playing fan favorite selections encompassing the Beatles’ early years all the way through their final albums – Abbey Road and Let It Be.

Band members include Joe Budroe as Paul McCartney, Dan Kirouac whose alter ego is John Lennon, Mike Christian also known as “Mingo,” a play on Ringo, and Steve Caisse in the role of George Harrison. They have been together for 11 years and are all from central Massachusetts.

Christian said that it’s the people and the fun that brings them back to Shrewsbury.

“It’s a great park and we’ve worked with the Shrewsbury Library and Parks & Recreation and one of our former members was from Shrewsbury so we’ve always had the central Mass. Connection,” Budroe said. “It’s all about summertime outdoor fun.”