GLOBE columnist Peter Grant looks ahead to International Beatle Week and talks to a Dutch group who will be bringing The White album alive at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall on Friday.

Fifty years ago the Beatles made an iconic double album – their ninth which was provisionally called A Doll's House.

They decided on a 'no frills' simple white cover in contrast to its multi-coloured predecessor Sgt Pepper.

It contained a vast array of songs that showed the diversity of the group in 1968 after their spiritual sojourn to India.

Timeless classics appeared such as Back in the USSR, Blackbird, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Martha my Dear, Revolution and Helter Skelter on the four sides.

It saw The Beatles working on some songs without each other.

But the Number 1 album itself remains one of their most iconic in their 13 album collection.

Now The Analogues celebrate it in style.

Taking a break from rehearsals in Holland, drummer Fred Gehring spoke exclusively to the Globe and says their Liverpool debut is extra special. They are serious about their own mission.

He said: "Nervous is not the word, but we are aware we are playing in a city where expectation is so very high.

"We will be playing the entire album over two hours and with some extra songs at the end. We also have back film projections." 

Unlike other Beatle tributes they do not set out to look like the Fab Four. No wigs and 'yeah, yeah, yeahs' ... no attempts at impersonating the Scouse banter. 

But I read the news today and, oh boy, as someone who has reviewed so many tribute bands over the years, the Analogues sound just like real thing.

They are a must-see live act as illustrated by their sell-out gigs across Europe.

The last time the Beatles played live 'in concert' form was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco and their last performance as a group was the 1969 Apple Rooftop showcase.

Since then bands from the Bootleg Beatles and hundreds of other tribute groups have kept the magical history story alive.

Many play the early repertoire while others combine various stages of their career.

The Analogues focus on their later work, songs forged when the Beatles became masters in the studio Sadly the Beatles never toured with this work.

Until now.

The Analogues have an amazing attention to detail using amps and vintage instruments from the period.

They have chosen the Philharmonic Hall to host their first UK White Album performance.

A VIP show in the city where it all began.

Founded in 2014, The Analogues are a collection of superb session musicians who have reverentially recreated a 'note perfect' performance of Beatle studio albums that have never before been performed live.

They have already enjoyed 47 critically-acclaimed sell out dates in the Netherlands and Belgium with full live string and horn sections.

Drummer Fred loves The White Album for being so different from Magcial Mystery Tour and the orchestrated Sgt Pepper.

He said: "There's rawness about some songs. It's like four solo albums in one and then at other times it's a real 'band' album."

Fred also says how important it was to get praise from the actual Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick.

"He came to Holland to see us and we asked him loads of questions about how they did this and that. He was very helpful.

"We have signed with Universal records for our live albums and for an album of original material which we hope he will work with us." 

Geoff is a huge fan.

On hearing them for the first time, he said: "Listening to The Analogues, I have never heard anything come so close to the original records.

"They get these records absolutely perfect. Amazing.

"If you close your eyes you would really be listening to the original recordings sounding the way they are supposed to sound for the first time.

"Even the Beatles couldn't reproduce Sergeant Pepper live."

Now Fred says they will be working on a live version of Abbey Road and Let it Be.

So for now, put John, Paul, George and Ringo on hold and welcome ... Jan, Jac, Bart, Diederik and Fred.

Bringing The White Album home ... with a little help from their friends.

The Analogues Friday, August 24 Philharmonic Hall.