1963 JANUARY
Friday 25 January Co-operative Hall, Market St, Darwen, Lancashire
A dance promoted by the local Baptist church youth club.
Wednesday 30 January Lunchtime Cavern Club, Liverpool
Thursday 31 January Lunchtime Cavern Club, Liverpool Night Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
Such was the ticket demand for the Majestic date that the Beatles gave two entirely separate "houses", at 8.00 and 11. 00 pm. Though standard practice in theatres/cinemas, this was an unheard-of arrangement for a ballroom.
Friday I February Assembly Rooms, Corporation St, Tamworth, Staffs and Maney Hall (St Peter's Church Hall), Maney Hill Rd, Maney, Sutton Goldfield, Warwickshire
Another double engagement in the Midlands, the venues this time eight miles apart.
Saturday 2 February Gaumont Cinema, New Victoria St, Bradford, Yorks
Saturday 26 January El Rio Club, El Rio Dance Hall, Queen Victoria St, Macclesfield, Cheshire and King's Hall, Glebe St, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Twenty-one miles separated this double booking. At the El Rio dance, first arranged for 19 January but subsequently moved to this date, the Beatles were supported by local combo Wayne Fontana and the Jets, Fontana later finding fame with the Mindbenders. Backstage at Stoke, John and Paul began writing `Misery', a song they intended donating to Helen Shapiro, whom the Beatles would meet a week later. On stage, they performed a song this night for the first and only time, a cover of `Walk Right In', just breaking in Britain as a hit for the US act the Rooftop Singers, and already a number one in their homeland.
The opening night of the Beatles' first nationwide tour, bottom of a six-act bill headed by 16-year-old Londoner Helen Shapiro, voted Best British Female Singer in 1961 and 1962. The Beatles' repertoire on this first night was `Chains', ` Keep Your Hands Off My Baby', `A Taste Of Honey' and ` Please Please Me'. Two others, `Love Me Do' and `Beautiful Dreamer', were used during the remaining dates as prepared alternatives. After this date, the tour resumed on 5 February.
Sunday 3 February Night Cavern Club, Liverpool
The Beatles headed an eight-hour eight band "Rhythm And Blues Marathon".
Monday 4 February Lunchtime Cavern Club, Liverpool
Sunday 27 January
The Beatles' last lunchtime session at the Cavern.
Three Coins Club, Fountain St, Manchester, Lancashire
Tuesday 5 February A return visit to the club part-owned by radio disc-jockey Jimmy Savile (first played by the Beatles soon after it opened in late-1961 – see Other Engagements Played appendix).
Monday 28 January Majestic Ballroom, Westgate Rd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland 98
Gaumont Cinema, Hallgate, Doncaster, Yorkshire
Resumption of the Shapiro package tour.
Wednesday 6 February Granada Cinema, St Peters Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire