Carlisle residents braved the weekend’s adverse weather to experience a fantastic performance by The Bootleg Beatles at The Sands Centre.

Still going strong after more than 40 years, the world’s most authentic tribute performed 38 of the Fab Four’s classics in just over two hours.

After completing the challenge of getting to the Centre along the icy road, fans of all ages waited to be entertained as the venue played some of the band’s back catalogue in the waiting area.

The show was split between four periods of the band’s timeline, with a montage of some of pop culture’s most memorable moments appearing during that specific era.

Some members of the audience took this time to nostalgically reflect on what they may call the better days.

The band kicked off with I Saw Her Standing There. The resemblance between the members of the band and The Beatles is scarily uncanny. Steve Hall, who performs as Paul McCartney, had earlier told the News & Star that he taught himself how to play the bass guitar left-handed.

From hits including In My Life, which Tyson Kelly (John Lennon) had dedicated to those who we have lost during the pandemic, to lesser-known numbers like Another Girl, the performance was that impressive, it was as if you were watching the actual group.

The closing song of the first half, Twist and Shout, had those in the stalls up on their feet.

Act two began with a selection of songs from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, with the band encouraging the audience to sing along to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Afterwards, The Bootleg Beatles performed a like-for-like performance of the iconic concert on the roof of the Apple headquarters, the last time the public saw The Beatles perform together.

Hall’s vocal performance of I’ve Got a Feeling was a personal highlight of the evening.

The main show ended with the Abbey Road hits Come Together and Here Comes the Sun before Hey Jude had everyone on their feet.

Calls for more were duly received as the band came out to perform Rock and Roll Music and Long Tall Sally before taking their final bow in front of a standing ovation.

The Bootleg Beatles are continuing their tour into December, with dates in Newcastle and Manchester included.

If you missed out on their Cumbrian visit, you’d be a fool (on the hill) to avoid them again.