Wellington City Libraries

Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui

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The Beatgirls

Decade(s) active:

Elsewhere online:

On our catalogue:

Music we hold — on our catalogue

The majority of our Wellington CD collection is available from our Te Awe Branch in Brandon St, or able to be reserved for free from our Distribution Centre in Johnsonville.

We say:

The Beatgirls has its roots in 1996, the year that guitarist and band leader Billy Watkins landed a regular spot at New Zealand’s hottest venue. He decided on a twist: “It was a Beatles tribute show… but with three girls doing vocals.”

The lead singer – Andrea Sanders – was also a dancer and choreographer, and the show quickly transformed. “Once Andrea brought dance and costumes into the show it was obvious the audiences wanted it.” The repertoire expanded into girl-bands from the 1960s (Crystals, Shirelles, Ronettes etc.) and then into disco, which brought bigger costumes, more dance moves and wilder wigs.

Word spread about this tight, foot-tapping show and Watkins & Sanders formed a management company called Total Entertainment to deal with the corporate bookings. The show would eventually reach from The Andrews Sisters to J-Lo, using hi-tech music tracks pre-recorded in major studios. These days a Beatgirls’ show is a professionally-produced blend of cabaret and rock concert which performs all over the world.


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