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How the music moved us

Popular music was never the same after the “British Invasion” of the 1960s. New artists, with groovy new sounds, flocked to North America – where an adoring public rocketed their music to the top of the charts. It was the start of a great music phenomenon.

Performers like The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Dave Clark Five, The Searchers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Donavon, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Freddy and Dreamers, Spencer Davis Group, The Hollies, and many more started the cultural revolution. Their vibe of British “beat” blended the United Kingdom’s dancehall, pop, and Celtic folk music with American-style rock and roll. The original sound spread rapidly from early 1964 through 1967 as young artists wrote up-tempo pop, powerful rock and roll, and jazzy electric blues.

In Canada and the United States, these radical new artists with distinctive accents, original slang, trendy fashions, and madcap personalities captivated people. England was suddenly the centre of the rock universe as hits streamed across the Atlantic and into homes, radios, and every consumable media. The cultural vibe changed forever, and changed for the better if you ask Canadian writer and director Alex Mustakas.

After a great deal of (enjoyable) research and creative collaborations, Mustakas had completed his musical revue. His tribute is an energetic, authentic, and acclaimed production that recreates the “British Invasion” with a dose of nostalgia and fun.

We’re thrilled to welcome the brilliant artistic team, performers, and audiences for this homage to the great acts that restyled the landscape of music. Get ready to Twist and Shout!