Music: Abbey Road Studios to celebrate 90 years with anniversary festival

Few recording studios are as well known as Abbey Road. Yet nothing destined this 16-room white mansion in the heart of London to become one of the world’s music hotspots when it was acquired by the label in 1929.
Image: Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock

NOTAbout ten years ago, the EMI label opened its own recording studios in London. The place has since become legendary, notably thanks to the Beatles and their 11th album, “Abbey Road”. In November, Abbey Road Studios will celebrate its 90th anniversary with a special festival.

Few recording studios are as well known as Abbey Road. Yet nothing destined this 16-room white mansion in the heart of London to become one of the world’s music hotspots when it was acquired by the label in 1929. It was not until two years later that the Abbey Road studios officially opened.

While it was frequently used by British composer Sir Edward Elgar in the 1930s, the venue gained international fame three decades later with the Beatles. Over the years, John Lennon and his band have recorded 190 of their 210 songs there, including classics like “Help! “,” Come Together “and” Let It Be “.

In recognition of these achievements, Abbey Road Studios will celebrate its 90th anniversary on November 11-12 with its own festival. The studios will host a number of artists, engineers and music professionals for a series of masterclasses, question-and-answer sessions, hands-on workshops and concerts. On the program are producer Steve Mac, guitarist and songwriter Nile Rodgers, singer Olivia Dean, producer and multi-instrumentalist Greg Wells and composers Steven Price and James Newton Howard.

Anyone interested in attending “Abbey Road Amplify” can enter a raffle on the official event website. The festival will also be broadcast live online for music fans around the world.

“As Abbey Road turns 90 this year, our focus is largely on the future and on creating opportunities to inspire and inform the next generation of artists, songwriters, composers and of producers. We were fortunate to welcome 90 years of musical innovation and creativity. within our walls, therefore, with friends in the industry, we share our knowledge and experience to help empower emerging talent early in their journey, ”said Mark Robertson, Brand and Communications Manager at Abbey Road Studios.

In addition to the festival, Abbey Road Studios will host many other arts and music events in November. These include Edith Bowman’s “Soundtracking” podcast, a “Tortoise ThinkIn” special and one of Tim Burgess’ “Twitter Listening Parties”.