+ 1

We went to an after wedding party on Saturday evening. The bride and groom probably did not realise how lucky they were to have me there, although to be honest they probably did not know I was. I don't do evening wedding 'dos'. I am OK with people jetting to a beach in the Caribbean, or having a small private event in a registry office and a party later, but if its church, reception and evening, then if I'm not on the 'A' list for the whole day, I would rather do something else.

The entertainment for the evening was the Beatles tribute band ' The Blue Meanies'. They were not in the class of the Bootleg Beatles, but they had main staged at the Matthew Street festival in Liverpool last Summer. This fact generated much discussion , as the suits in Liverpool health and safety departments have decided that to have the festival this year would just be too much of a risk to the general public.

Liverpool, you will recall is due to be the City of Culture in 2008, and this huge annual festival embraces the memory of the Beatles and all they gave to the City. To cancel it now before the biggest year in Liverpool cultural terms, is definitely like shooting oneself in the foot.

Yes there are large scale earth works going on in and around the Pierhead and other parts of the City, but with bands, stewards and other volunteers already in place, as well as bands booked and tourists arriving any time, surely a bit of imagination could have been used?

Local businesses, celebrities and press representatives are striving hard to save something from this bureaucratic mishmash, and I for one hope they succeed.

While the Sunday and Monday of the Bank Holiday weekend are very Beatles oriented, the joy for me is to explore the stages and bars on the Saturday and clock the tribute bands who are not The Japanese Beatles or whatever. The Blue Meanies is definitely a good shout for a Beatles tribute, but I like some of these:

• Nearly Dan
• Banned on the Run
• Urythmix
• Dread Zeppelin
• Pink Fraud
• The Pretend Pretenders
• Me2
• No Way Sis
• The Rolling Clones
• The Beautiful Southwest
• Dire Fakes and
• The Coorz

Here's hoping I can enjoy a few of them this year, otherwise my Bank Holiday might have a DIY feel to it!!