Almost Songs: The Untold Saga of the Stolen Beatles Tapes

Imagine a show featuring Beatles music you never knew existed.

That’s the concept at the heart of Almost Songs: The Untold Saga of the Stolen Beatles Tapes, a genre-bending performance premiering at The Elysian on Saturday, October 4th. The event blends storytelling, immersive visuals, and bold live reimaginings of the Beatles’ most obscure late-era works — drawn from rehearsal tapes stolen in 1971 and sensationally recovered 30 years later.

Far from a covers band or tribute act, Almost Songs invites audiences to experience these rare songs through a cinematic lens, with atmospheric sound design, archival footage, and top artists, including rising indie star Gal Musette.

“People are often surprised to learn this is a true story—and that these songs are real,” says co-creator Brett Lyda. “This is an untold, true-crime tale of love, theft, obsession, and priceless Beatles music that almost didn’t see the light of day.”

100% to FEED THE STREETS

The show also serves a deeper purpose: 100% of profits will go to Feed The Streets, a grassroots nonprofit that provides hot meals to Skid Row, MacArthur Park, and other underserved communities. When the Altadena wildfires hit, Feed The Streets responded immediately with weekly meal drops. They’re also the group that saved Silver Lake’s iconic Café Tropical from closing — a team known for taking direct action and making a lasting impact.

The Band

Andrea Baker – Violin, Grace Freeman (Gal Musette) – Vox, Keys, Grant Jordan – Drums, Jason Chesney – Bass, Ethan Lavenstein – Horn, Keys, Robert Gutierrez – Handpan, Brett Lyda –  Vocals/ Guitar/ Narrator and a special appearance by Evan Arnold. Lighting and Sound by The Elysian Theatre.

Brett Lyda (Writer/Storyteller)

As the creator and storyteller of Almost Songs, Brett Lyda (aka Elvis Orbison) delves into the Beatles’ archives to uncover and reimagine lost tracks from the Get Back sessions. Beyond his musical work, Lyda has built an extensive career in television editing, contributing to long-running series such as Deadliest Catch, Swamp People, Ice Road Truckers, and Storage Wars, among many others. His expertise in crafting compelling narratives, whether through musical or film, brings a unique depth to the Almost Songs project.

Juli Crockett (Director/Writer)

An Alabama-born artist, Juli Crockett is a multifaceted talent: theater director, playwright, singer, songwriter, retired (undefeated) professional boxer, and ordained minister. She leads the alt-country/Americana band The Evangenitals and is known for her adaptations of classic literature and philosophy in theater. Juli’s prolific genre-bending career reflect her dynamic approach to art and storytelling.

Gal Musette (Singer/Songwriter)

A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Southern California, Gal Musette has opened for renowned artists such as Macy Gray, Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainwright, and Donavon Frankenreiter. Her performances showcase unique interpretations of unfinished Beatles songs spanning various genres and eras, from classic standards to modern gems.

Ethan Lavenstein  (Horn/Keys)

A versatile jazz horn player and keyboardist, Ethan Lavenstein is known for his dynamic performances and improvisational skills. Based in Los Angeles, Ethan has collaborated with numerous local bands and artists, contributing his rich, melodic lines to a variety of rare Beatles songs.

Andrea Baker (Violin)

Andrea Baker is a Los Angeles-based violinist and educator whose artistry bridges the traditions of classical music with the energy and diversity of contemporary styles. Equally at home in rock, blues, Americana, Scottish fiddle, and Middle Eastern music, she brings a unique versatility to every performance. Andrea’s career has taken her around the globe, collaborating with bands and ensembles across a wide range of genres, including a national television appearance on America’s Next Great Band. Her work has also been heard on NPR, and for several years she was a featured performer with The Moth Mainstage storytelling series, blending music with the art of narrative. Driven by a passion for using music as a vehicle to explore and express the shared human experience, Andrea believes that music not only entertains but also connects, inspires, and tells the stories of who we are.

Grant Jordan – (Drummer)

Grant Jordan is a drummer and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Over the past decade of professional playing he’s had the opportunity to share the stage and studio with some of the greatest players in LA, pursue his original music and mentor young musicians. Grant’s love of music has been prominent since childhood;  some of his earliest memories include playing his brother’s Pearl Export drum set and listening to Beatles’ and Stevie Wonder records. Throughout his youth he performed in the school orchestra, jazz ensembles and numerous local bands. Music became his primary focus during his 4 years at the University of Redlands, where he studied jazz performance, earned a BS in Music Business and juggled multiple original projects. A Southern California native, Grant moved to LA from his hometown of Redlands to pursue music where he became a full time musician, usually collaborating and performing as a drummer (his primary instrument). He has performed and recorded with many touring and local artists and has extensive experience with entertainment agency groups. Currently Grant, his wife and cats reside in Los Angeles California. He regularly performs in and around LA in various musical capacities and tries to camp in the desert whenever able.

Robert Gutierrez – (Handpan)

Robert Gutierrez is a versatile multi-instrumentalist based in Sierra Madre, California, with over three decades of experience bringing music to life. His journey has taken him across genres, from the rich traditions of Mariachi to the raw edge of indie rock, always blending cultures and sounds with authenticity. Today, Robert is exploring the expressive possibilities of the handpan, weaving its meditative tones into new musical landscapes and discovering fresh ways to connect with audiences.  

Evan Arnold (Himself)

Evan Arnold – L.A. native, UC Berkeley graduate, Actor.  Richie on Growing Pains, Gavin Doosler on Just the Ten of Us, Ned Carlson on The West Wing, Jeffrey Ambor on Close to Home, Chef Alan on Suburgatory, Dr. Ditmer on Masters of Sex. He also gained attention for the brief role of Leonard in the series finale of Mad Men. Recently seen on Chicago Med.

Arnold is married with two children. His father, Newt Arnold, won a Directors Guild of America Award for his work as assistant director on The Godfather Part II. His mother, Judy Arnold, was a theatrical producer. He misses them both.

Darcy Lee  – Producer

Darcy is a rare Los Angeles native. She started her professional career in the arts at age 17 as a working actor and dancer. She worked in television, commercials and theatre projects. Falling in love with the collaborative aspect of these projects, she then became impassioned by producing theatre, running theatre companies and coordinating workshops. She served as the Managing Director for a prestigious Los Angeles theatre; The Met Theatre, where she honed her producing chops with some of the movie industry’s greatest talents. After The Met she went on to become an Independent Producer working on several projects of all kinds at numerous LA Theatres. In recent years Darcy became a producer with Padua Hills Playwrights. They ventured into several Theatre projects as well as Film Projects. Darcy obtained her master’s degree in Positive Psychology as it relates to the well being of Artists and Creatives. She is an Artist Practitioner and facilitates Artist Support Groups where they learn valuable life tools for thriving within their creativity, and their chosen projects.

Ticketing information:

Presented by The Elysian | Written by Brett Lyda & Juli Crockett  | Directed by Brett Lyda & Juli Crockett
Saturday, October 4th | Doors at 6:30 | Show at 7:00 PM | Running Time 75 minutes at The Elysian Theater – 1944 Riverside Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90039. TICKET LINK