Al Kominek is looking for a little help from his friends
when he brings North America’s foremost Paul McCartney tribute band, “The McCartney Years,” to Chatham’s Cultural Centre for a performance May 24.
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Kominek is organizing the concert as a fundraiser for the Old Czech Hall in Dresden, an institution that’s been part of that community for nearly 70 years.
“We need some renovations at the hall and we thought we might as well have a good time raising the money,” he said.
The McCartney Years brings three decades of Sir Paul’s music to the stage from the Beatles hits through Wings.
“This is the closest you can get to hearing Paul McCartney himself,” Kominek said. “They’ve been featured on CNN, CBC, CTV and the BBC.”
Yuri George Van Pool, frontman for The McCartney Years, has set out to make the show a complete and accurate re-enactment of Paul McCartney’s extensive touring career of the 1970s.
Featuring faithful renditions of McCartney’s music with all the original instruments and wardrobe, the show has been hailed by original Beatles promoter Sid Bernstein as the most authentic presentation of McCartney’s legendary career.
Kominek said funds raised will be used to refurbish the hall, which he called a Dresden landmark.
“Virtually everyone in Dresden has attended a wedding reception, New Year’s Eve party, a stag-and-doe or some other function at the Czech hall,” he said.
As president of the board of directors, Kominek said the John Street East facility is one of a kind in the community.
“We’ve got the beautiful dance floor and a great building” he said. “We’re a non-profit organization and we want to update some facilities.”
The hall was built by Czech immigrants after the Second World War, and is the last of its kind in Chatham-Kent.
“It’s part of our culture, but it’s also become a part of Dresden as a whole.”
Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert are $37.50 or $35 for those 55 and older.
“We’re urging people to make their reservations through cktickets.com so they can pick out their individual seats,” he said.
