The Beatles live: Centennial Hall, Adelaide

The Beatles played their second night of shows at the Centennial Hall, Adelaide, Australia, on 13 June 1964. They performed two sets, as on the previous day, each to 3,000 people.

The Beatles with Jimmie Nicol in Adelaide, Australia, 13 June 1964

Around 4,000 fans were camped outside the Hotel South Australia when The Beatles awoke just after midday. In the afternoon they held a small reception for the organisers of their Australian fan club.

Australia was a high moment, like the first time in America: us appearing on every channel and ten records in the charts. This was another one. It’s funny, but there were more people came to see us there than anywhere. I think the whole of Australia was there.

We must have seen a million million people before they let us go. There was good security and everybody was happy and shouting, but we still saw everybody, everywhere we went – and nobody got hurt.

John Lennon
Anthology

Meanwhile, Ringo Starr, delayed from joining the tour by illness, arrived in San Francisco en route to Australia. He gave a press conference at the airport before boarding the Qantas flight to Sydney.

The Beatles’ concerts at the Centennial Hall were compèred by Alan Field. The support acts were Sounds Incorporated, Johnny Devlin, Johnny Chester and The Phantoms.

Each of The Beatles’ Adelaide concerts had the same 10-song setlist: ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘This Boy’, ‘Twist And Shout’, and ‘Long Tall Sally’.

This was Jimmie Nicol’s final appearance as Ringo Starr’s stand-in. The following day The Beatles were reunited, and on 15 June Nicol flew back to England.

Last updated: 24 January 2024
The Beatles live: Centennial Hall, Adelaide
Ringo Starr gives a press conference in Sydney, Australia
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