The Beatles: Sir Paul McCartney's old home inspires artists

Getty Images Beatles in 1964Getty Images
After The Beatles formed in Liverpool in 1960 they became the most famous band of all time

Musicians are drawing inspiration from the house where The Beatles first came together as a band to pen a song.

Sir Paul McCartney's former family home, 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool, is where the band wrote several hits.

The four winners of the National Trust competition have visited the house to draw inspiration for their own music.

Those four, from Wrexham, London and Bath, Somerset, will perform their songs live in the living room of the house on 17 June.

Dylan John Elis, from Wrexham, said: "It's quite stunning and surreal. I'm not quite registering it all but it's fantastic to be here.

"Today myself and other musicians have been invited by the National Trust to write a song about this house and so we are going to be spending the day here, soaking it in and drawing inspiration from it."

The National Trust, which owns Sir Paul's old home, is running the competition this year as 2022 marks several anniversaries, including Sir Paul's 80th birthday, 60 years since their first hit Love Me Do was released, and 65 years since Sir Paul met a young John Lennon.

Mike McCartney John Lennon and Paul McCartneyMike McCartney
2022 marks 65 years since Sir Paul McCartney met John Lennon
PA Media Mike McCartney, brother of Sir Paul McCartney (centre left), outside 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool, their childhood home, with artists (left to right) Serena Ittoo, Dullan, Humm who are Carys Lewin and Arty Jackson, and Emily TheodoraPA Media
The four finalists with Mike McCartney outside 20 Forthlin Road

The winners of the competition are:

  • Serena Ittoo from Enfield, London
  • Emily Theodora from Richmond, London
  • Dylan John Elis from Wrexham
  • HUMM a folk duo from Bath, Somerset

Simon Osborn from the National Trust said: "We had hundreds of superb applicants, it's never been done before by the National Trust."

National Trust Dullan in the Forthlin Road houseNational Trust
Dullan in Sir Paul's childhood bedroom in Forthlin Road

He added that 20 Forthlin Road was "a very popular house, it's a very ordinary house in a very ordinary street, but what happened her was extraordinary".

PA Media Front room of Forthlin RoadPA Media
The four finalists will be performing live in the front room on 17 June

The winners' performances of their original songs will be livestreamed and judged by Sir Paul's brother and fellow musician, Mike, Beatles expert Pete Paphides and representatives from the National Trust.

The four finalists will also be mentored by the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which was co-founded by Sir Paul, before the performance and for six months afterwards.

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