The Beatles returned to Liverpool from their respective holidays on 9 May 1963, and two days later performed their first concert since 27 April.
They performed at the Imperial Ballroom on Carr Road in Nelson, a town in east Lancashire. Around 2,000 teenagers saw The Beatles play, with the more enthusiastic fans held back by bouncers at the foot of the stage.
The Beatles appeared at The Imp, as the venue was known, on one other occasion, on 31 July 1963. Other acts to perform at the ballroom, which burnt down in 1976, included Otis Redding, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Tom Jones.
Last updated: 27 May 2011
Also on this day...
- 2011: Paul McCartney live: Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile
- 1970: US single release: The Long And Winding Road
- 1969: George Harrison performs on a Jack Bruce session
- 1968: Lennon and McCartney promote Apple in New York
- 1967: Recording, mixing: Baby You’re A Rich Man
- 1965: Filming: Help!
- 1964: US EP release: Four By The Beatles
- 1962: Live: Star-Club, Hamburg
- 1961: Live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
The position for the Imp is way wrong.
Could you possibly help any more?
The Imp’s position was between Norfolk Street and the canal bridge (on Carr Road). It was where the courtyarded building is now.
Thanks David. I’ve moved the map point but I’m still not sure I’ve got it quite right. I’m relying on Google Street View and can’t see a courtyarded building, though some were under construction when the Google car visited. Can you tell me if I need to move the point north/south/east/west? Am I on the correct side of the canal?
The only one I could see that might be courtyarded is the medical centre. Is that the one?
You’re nearly there. Just move it across Carr Road – over the 4 sided building (sheltered accommodation) with the garden in the centre.
It’s called “Imperial Gardens”.
Got it! Thanks for your help David.
We “chatted” to two of them when they called in at the local “chippy” on their way home !
I remember this night. It is my one call to fame that I danced to the sound of live Beatles. We couldn’t hear the music for the screaming and it was the first and last time that I was frightened of being crushed against the pillars as the crowd surged backward and forward. Great memories
I was a young journalist on the local evening paper. Together with my photographer we attended all the amazing shows at the Imp. When the Beatles were there, as usual, we had no problem with accessing backstage. What was different was that during the first set we were called on-stage to join them – helping carry (usually knickerless) young ladies across the stage from the crush at the front so they could be helped by St John Ambulance. My place was about six feet from Ringo, who kept laughing at me.
During the interval we were invited to join them for drinks (!) and supper in a specially constructed security room back stage. They were such nice guys, easy to talk to.
I was later back stage at The Cavern in Liverpool – but for the Four Pennies, not the Beatles. But the atmosphere there was amazing.