Beatles Study strikes a chord as tribute band added to event line-up

Following regional and national media interest in its call for participants, the University of Wolverhampton is adding an extra treat for attendees at its upcoming multi‑sensory Beatles memory event. Beatles tribute act Beatlemania will perform a live 30‑minute set at the event on Sunday 8 February, as a ‘thank you’ to the people already signed up to take part in the study.

The performance – taking place between 3pm and 3.30pm – forms part of a unique public engagement event exploring how sound, sight, touch and even smell can trigger memories of the world’s most famous band.

The event will now take place at a new venue:
Wolverhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN.

Members of the public can still book to attend the performance, even if they are not taking part in the research, at:
https://wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173670906

Unlocking the sound of the Sixties

As part of the Wolverhampton Literature Festival, staff and doctoral students from the University’s School of English Literature and Psychology will lead interactive experiments examining how multi‑sensory cues influence recall and wellbeing, using the cultural phenomenon of the Beatles as a case study.

The research team – led by Dr Tom Mercer (Psychology) and PhD student Megan Powell (English Literature) – is still inviting people to take part in the study, particularly those who attended Beatles concerts in the West Midlands. However, the event remains open to adults of all ages.

The memory study will run between 1pm and 3pm, followed by Beatlemania’s live performance.

Professor Sebastian Groes, Director of the University’s Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research (CTTR), said:

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the public interest in this project, which builds on our ongoing work exploring memory, culture and wellbeing. The Beatles remain a shared cultural touchstone across generations, and we’re excited to combine rigorous research with a celebratory performance that thanks our volunteers and brings people together.”

Background

The research builds on CTTR’s celebrated Novel Memories project and previous Being Human Festival collaborations, including Snidge Scrumpin’: Mapping Smell and Memory in the Black Country. It also draws on doctoral research by Megan Powell (Beatles and the avant‑garde) and Beth Young (autobiographical fictional memories), bringing psychology and literature together to better understand how memories are shaped across a lifetime.

The study supports the University of Wolverhampton’s commitment to innovative research, community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Photo caption: Dr Nicola Allen, Beth Young, Professor Sebastian Groes, Megan Powell from the School of English Literature and Psychology recreate the iconic Please, Please Me album cover as they call on the public to share their Beatles memories.