Bringing live music back to the birthplace of the Beatles

At 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool, four friends found their sound and became the Beatles. The music born in this house went on to shape a generation, creating a legacy of creativity and freedom of expression that still endures today.

Winners of The Forthlin Sessions

We launched a search in April to look for new artists to perform in a live music event at 20 Forthlin Road, the birthplace of the Beatles. Thank you to everyone who applied. We received many entries and every one was carefully reviewed by our selection panel.

The winners have been chosen and the four unsigned music acts will now get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write a song inspired by the Beatles' legacy, and perform it in the McCartneys' own front room. 

The winners are:

  • Singer-songwriter Serena Ittoo from Enfield
  • Folk duo HUMM from Bath
  • Singer-songwriter Emily Theodora from Richmond
  • and singer-songwriter Dullan from Wrexham.
Winners of The Forthlin Sessions, left to right: Singer-songwriter Serena Ittoo from Enfield, singer-songwriter Dullan from Wrexham, folk duo HUMM from Bath, and singer-songwriter Emily Theodora from Richmond
Singer-songwriter Serena Ittoo from Enfield, Folk duo HUMM from Bath, Singer-songwriter Emily Theodora from Richmond and singer-songwriter Dullan from Wrexham
Winners of The Forthlin Sessions, left to right: Singer-songwriter Serena Ittoo from Enfield, singer-songwriter Dullan from Wrexham, folk duo HUMM from Bath, and singer-songwriter Emily Theodora from Richmond

Entries were reviewed by a selection panel including Sir Paul McCartney’s brother and fellow musician, Mike McCartney; independent Beatles expert Pete Paphides; and representatives from the National Trust. This exciting competition is based on an idea by musician and producer Alan Boyd.

These successful applicants will be given access to a wide range of memories, thoughts and stories about the Beatles supplied by the public via the social media campaign #TheForthlinSessions. From these, the artists will have the opportunity to create a new song to perform at 20 Forthlin Road on 17 June 2022.

This performance will be broadcast free on YouTube and our social channels on 18 June 2022. Unfortunately, due to the size of the venue audiences will be remote only. Finally, the artists will receive mentoring from experts at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts for six months after this performance. The full terms and conditions and the participation agreement are available online. 

Not a musician? You can still join in

Inspire a song for The Forthlin Sessions. Tell us your thoughts, memories or stories about what the Beatles mean to you, and add your voice to the legacy of 20 Forthlin Road. Maybe you saw them, grew up listening to them or perhaps there’s a special memory of their music that you’d love to share? Whether you were there, or you wish you had been, we’d love to hear from you. 

Tell us what the Beatles mean to you either by using the hashtag #TheForthlinSessions on social media, or by emailing us at beatles@nationaltrust.org.uk with the subject line: 'Beatles Story'.

" I have spent all my life trying to say thank you to the Beatles, who made succeeding generations believe that, yes, you can achieve your dreams. There were no trappings, no luxury in the young McCartneys’ home, in Forthlin Road. But there was music, and inspiration. They were saying…if we can make our dreams come true … so can you."
- Annie Nightingale CBE

The house where the Beatles began

Down a suburban street in Liverpool sits an unremarkable house, with a truly remarkable legacy. This is 20 Forthlin Road, the home of the McCartney family. Here, 60 years ago, four teenagers were given permission to create, allowed to dream and made music that helped themselves, and a generation, forge their own identity. At 20 Forthlin Road, the Beatles were born.  

2022 is an important year for Beatles fans. It’s Sir Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday, 60 years since ‘Love Me Do’ became their first single, and 65 years since a teenage Paul first met a young John Lennon. To celebrate these anniversaries and the house where it all began, we’re bringing live music back to 20 Forthlin Road and giving you the chance to add to its incredible story.

The legacy of 20 Forthlin Road

A young John Lennon and Paul McCartney sit in the front room of 20 Forthlin Road wearing black polo necks and playing guitars. They are looking across at each other, in the process of composing 'I Saw Her Standing There'
A teenage Paul McCartney sits on the floor in the front room of 20 Forthlin Road, lost in playing his guitar as the sun falls through the curtains onto his face.
Left to Right, George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney face the camera wearing grey suits and playing guitars. They are playing as 'the Quarrymen' at at Paul's cousin's wedding reception at his Auntie's house, 8 March 1958
Paul McCartney composing in the back bedroom at 20 Forthlin Road
A teenage Paul McCartney gets ready for a gig in 20 Forthlin Road. He's shirtless, about to comb his hair.

The front room of music history

John Lennon and Paul McCartney writing 'I Saw Her Standing There' in the front parlour of 20 Forthlin Road, November 1962 – a month after ‘Love Me Do’ had been released.
© Michael McCartney

From grief came creativity

Paul playing his guitar in the front parlour of 20 Forthlin Road, with sunlight falling through the curtains his late mother had hung. After she died, Paul would often lose himself in music.
© Michael McCartney

The band before the Beatles

Before there were the Beatles, there were the Quarrymen who also rehearsed at 20 Forthlin Road. Here John, Paul, and a 15-year-old George Harrison play a Quarrymen gig in 1958.
© Michael McCartney

A house of musical hits

Paul writing in the back bedroom of 20 Forthlin Road. Many early Beatles hits were written in this house, including 'She Loves You', 'I Saw Her Standing There', and 'Love Me Do'.
© Michael McCartney

Backstage at 20 Forthlin Road

Paul getting ready at 20 Forthlin Road. Before they were international superstars, the Beatles were local legends, playing all-night gigs across Liverpool.
© Michael McCartney

A terrace of houses behind a low hedge. 20 Forthlin road in the central house. Play Video
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The Forthlin Sessions


From a family home to the front room of music history, 20 Forthlin Road has left a unique legacy. 60 years on from the release of the Beatles' first single, ‘Love Me Do’ and in the year of Sir Paul McCartney's 80th birthday, let's come together to celebrate the remarkable story of this ordinary, extraordinary house.