If you’re in the mood for something nostalgic, you may be in luck. Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center in North Park is putting on a concert of local bands playing Beatles music 7 p.m. Friday.
The event's organizer, Alma Rodriguez, said the concert isn’t just about enjoying the oldies. She loves Beatles music and wants to be sure younger generations get to experience its effects.
"It was the beginning of something we’re never going to see again," she said. "There was no internet back then, so all the young people were all inspired by the music."
The concert is a kickoff to a larger Beatles Fair, which Queen Bee’s will host in March.
"The mission statement is to cultivate in future generations what Rock ‘n Roll did to us," Rodriguez said. "The young generation needs to know the history of our grandparents and myself, that I grew up listening to such a positive beautiful music."
She's owned Queen Bee’s for the last five years and wants it to be a cultural hub in North Park. She uses the space to help young, local musicians get exposure.
That includes 19-year-old Francisco Gomez, who's in the band Bird Room and will play in the Beatles concert.
"These days making music is becoming really hard," he said. "A lot of people would just rather watch videos online of bands playing than going to see them play live. What (Rodriguez) is doing is bringing together the community of artists and music."
While too young to have seen The Beatles first hand, Gomez said he knows the challenges that come with their music.
"It can be really hard with the harmonies sometimes," he said. "The Beatles are really good with harmonies, but it’s really refreshing and it’s really fun music to play."
He practiced on stage at Queen Bee's this week, running through "Across the Universe" a few times. With his soaring vocals and even a believable British accent, he sounded ready to perform.
