Lennon festival announced

A two-month event celebrating the star's 70th birthday...

12:40 25 March 2010

A two-month event celebrating John Lennon's 70th birthday is to take place, it has been announced.

The festival will be held in Liverpool, the star's home town, as fans celebrate his life and music.

Lennon was born in 1940 but was assassinated aged 40 in 1980.

The festival will run from what would have been the late Beatles star's 70th birthday – October 9 – to December 9, the day after the 30th anniversary his fatal shooting outside the Dakota building in New York.

Including music, arts, film and poetry, the climax of the festival will be a major tribute concert called 'Lennon Remembered', which will be held at the Liverpool's 11,000-seat Echo Arena.

A major birthday celebration will also take place, at the world-famous Cavern Club, where the Beatles were first discovered.

This year also marks 50 years since The Beatles formed and 40 years since they split.

Organisers of the cultural programme anticipate that it will bring in tens of thousands of visitors to the birthplace of the seminal rock band, The Beatles.  

Liverpool mayor Mike Storey said: "John Lennon is one of the most iconic figures of the 20th Century and a Liverpool lad who became known in every corner of the globe.

"His enduring message of peace is as important now as ever and continues to be an inspiration to many. The John Lennon Tribute Season will allow us to remember him as a man, celebrate his music, and his overall contribution to our city."