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
- 2008: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
- 2003: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Etess Arena, Atlantic City
- 2001: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Uncas Pavilion, Uncasville
- 1989: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Lake Compounce, Bristol
- 1973: Recording: Intuition, Only People, Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) by John Lennon
- 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: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles 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.
I remember very little about that night all those years ago, I was taken into the band room by my brother where the Beatles were in discussion. My brother mention that “this is my brother” which to my memory elicited little reaction if anything. I was awestruck and didn’t ask for anything. It was all so long ago, I have no evidence to support this if any is needed except my word since Barry passed away in 1983; but the biggest disappointment was that the band I idolised couldn’t be heard for the screaming of the girls! So all I have is that distant memory. Barry played there years later on Friday nights with his band Bad and Co! the Co had nothing to do with me bro.