PUNTA GORDA — Don’t bother asking the lead singer of the Nowhere Band which is his favorite Beatles song. For Chuck Noonan, choosing one song is more difficult than selecting his favorite child.

“I always say Mark because my other son, T.J., is such a pain in the butt,” Noonan joked.

The Nowhere Band is a Beatles tribute band based out of Fort Myers that will be headlining the 17th annual Edison Pops at Sunset on Oct. 13.

“With Edison State celebrating its 50th anniversary serving Southwest Florida, we wanted to do something special,” said Keith Callahan, campus development coordinator. “Then, once we realized this year also marked the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first single, it just made sense for us to invite the Nowhere Band to come to the event.”

Edison State College Charlotte Campus President Patricia Land is also a huge Beatles fan. She said that when she was 9 years old, she dressed up in heels and a skirt and went down to the Tampa Theater to see “A Hard Day’s Night.” She immediately started weeping.

“I called my mother from a pay phone and told her, ‘Mom, I’m in love. I’m staying all day,’ and I watched it over and over again,” said Land.

It took three years of experimentation after the initial introduction of two talented teenagers, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, for the Beatles to evolve into a music-making legacy. However, it only took four black coats and matching ties from JC Penney for Nowhere Band to begin impersonating the Beatles.

“After the initial wardrobe purchase, we started getting a little obsessed,” said band member Dave Radford. “We started buying the same type of instruments they had, the same outfits, styling our hair the same, and it has just escalated from there.”

Noonan portrays Lennon, Steve Lavalley is Paul, Donovan Christenson plays George Harrison, and Radford mimics Ringo Starr. The quartet covers a full spectrum of the Beatles’ long and varied career, with each performance blending period costumes and authentic instruments.

“The concert is a retrospective from the beginning of the Beatles’ career to the end,” said Noonan. “We first come out in the gray suits the Beatles wore at the end of ‘Hard Days Night.’ We will change into the Shea Stadium outfits that they so famously wore for their last concert. Then we move on to Rubber Soul. We even grow mustaches at one point.”

The Nowhere Band is only the third band to headline the Edison Pops concert. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has played 14 times, with the BoogieMen twice headlining the program.

“Pops is one of those special events when entertainment and purpose come together for a special night,” said Land. “The concert has really come to symbolize education and the tremendous philanthropic spirit of Charlotte County. And this year, Pops has the potential to be bigger than ever, as the music of the Beatles touches every generation.”

Tickets are available at EdisonPOPS.com, and also can be purchased at Edison State College Charlotte Campus, the Charlotte Sun, Palm Auto Mall and Charlotte State Bank & Trust (Murdock, Midtown and Punta Gorda offices).

Reserved table seating is $35 per person, with general admission tickets $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Proceeds benefit scholarships at Edison’s Charlotte campus.

Email: mfavorite@sun-herald.com