The Beatles’ fourth and final show at Liverpool’s Grafton Rooms took place on 2 August 1963. They had first performed at the venue almost a year to the day earlier, on 3 August 1962.
The Beatles topped a bill which also featured The Undertakers, Sonny Webb & The Cascades, The Coasters, and The Dennisons. Advance tickets cost 7’6, and the Grafton Rooms opened from 7.30pm to 12.30am.
The Beatles’ fee of £100 for this show was agreed between promoter Albert Kinder and Brian Epstein on 14 January 1963. By the time it took place, however, the group was able to command much higher fees.
They honoured the booking regardless, although a contractual clause preventing them from playing elsewhere in Liverpool in the run-up to the show led to their final booking at the Cavern Club on the following night.
Also on this day...
- 2015: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr lead tributes to Cilla Black
- 2014: Paul McCartney live: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 1969: Paul McCartney produces The Iveys’ Come And Get It
- 1968: Mixing: Hey Jude
- 1967: George Harrison meets Ravi Shankar in Los Angeles
- 1966: George and Pattie Harrison holiday in Devon
- 1964: Live: Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Hello,
Another band that played on the evening of 2nd August 1963 at the Grafton Ballroom was ‘The Dominant Four’ which was also known as ‘Carl Francis and The Dominant Four’. which was a local band from Widnes.
The drummer for The Dominant Four, was Barry Eaton, who introduced his 16 year old younger brother Colin Eaton, to the Beatles who were in the back room. Colin (now my husband) recalls how he had wanted to hear the Beatles play but the music was drowned out by all the screaming of the girls.
I’m still trying to find a poster for that 2nd August 1963 concert.