Beatles lovers are in for a pre-Valentine's Day treat when Kings Heath's All You Need Is Love Festival returns with a special Now and Then theme.

Now: The Beatles have recently returned to the top of the charts with the long lost John Lennon song Now and Then so, to celebrate, Beatles fans will Come Together again over the weekend of 10 & 11 February to celebrate the day in 1963 when Beatlemania first came to Birmingham.

Then: 61 years ago, on 15 February 1963, The Beatles made their Birmingham debut at Kings Heath's tiny, and now burnt down, Ritz Ballroom next to Hare and Hounds. They had originally been booked to appear on 11 January but blizzard like conditions prevented them from arriving so the gig was rearranged for 15 February. Ma and Pa Regan, who ran the Ritz, were delighted because they had persuaded Brian Epstein not to increase their fee even though The Beatles were now number one in the charts for the first time with Please Please Me.

Beatlemania had just started and the Fab Four were only able to enter the ballroom from the rear via a ladder in Milford Place They returned again to the Ritz to play a second hurriedly rearranged gig on 5 July 1963. But the next time they returned to Birmingham they would play the much larger venues of The Hippodrome and the Town Hall. The rest is history!

On Saturday 10 February, doors will open at 7pm at Kings Heath Cricket & Social Club on Alcester Road South for a special show by one of the finest tribute bands around The Beatles Sound. Renowned for creating that perfect sound, gone are the gimicky wigs and costumes and instead the group concentrate on recreating the legendary harmony lead vocals of Lennon & McCartney! Regularly playing at venues throughout the Midlands, The Beatles Sound have also headlined at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. Included in their set will be some of the songs that The Beatles performed at their two 1963 Ritz Ballroom shows plus hit after hit after Beatles hit. Tickets are on sale here.

On Sunday 11 February, doors will open at 2.15pm at Cartlands Independent Tea Rooms at Kings Heath Park House for an afternoon of entertainment showcasing some excellent local musicians who will perform their favourite Beatles songs in a special All You Need Is Love Session. Expect a range of musical styles including the acoustic sounds of Acoustica, jazz soul of Blue Silk, the folk rock of Mr Apollo, plus the solo guitar of Peters plays Lennon. Tickets are on sale here.