Tuesday 12 June 1962 | Live Performance | Cavern Club, Mathew Street, Liverpool, England
On Tuesday 12 June 1962, The Beatles gave their 103rd lunchtime performance at the Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool — their 172nd known appearance overall at the venue. It was also the 27th occasion on which they performed both a lunchtime and an evening show at the Cavern on the same day. The lunchtime show ran from approximately 12pm to 2pm, as was typical for the midday sessions.
By June 1962, The Beatles were the undisputed kings of the Cavern. They had been performing at the club since 9 February 1961 and had built a devoted following among the lunchtime regulars — office workers, shop assistants, and students who packed into the low-ceilinged cellar on Mathew Street to watch the group perform in the middle of the working day. The atmosphere was unlike anything else in British popular music at the time: intimate, sweaty, and electric.
The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club at 10 Mathew Street in Liverpool city centre had opened in January 1957 as a jazz venue. By the early 1960s it had transitioned to skiffle and rock 'n' roll, and under the management of Ray McFall it became the epicentre of the Merseybeat scene. The club's distinctive arched brick cellar — originally a warehouse vault — gave it an atmosphere that was simultaneously claustrophobic and exhilarating.
The Beatles first performed at the Cavern on 9 February 1961 and went on to play at least 280 known performances there between that date and their final appearance on 3 August 1963 — comprising at least 155 lunchtime and 125 evening shows. The precise total is not known with certainty, as records from the early period are incomplete.
The Lunchtime Sessions
The Cavern's lunchtime sessions were a distinctive feature of the Liverpool music scene in the early 1960s. Running from approximately 12pm to 2pm, they attracted a different crowd from the evening shows — workers on their lunch break rather than the teenagers who dominated the evening audiences. The Beatles were the lunchtime session's biggest draw, and their appearances regularly filled the club to capacity.
The lunchtime format suited The Beatles' working style. They would often perform a set of covers and originals, testing new material on the Cavern audience before taking it to wider stages. The intimacy of the venue — capacity around 500, with the audience pressed close to the low stage — meant that the group could read the room in real time and adjust their performance accordingly. It was a masterclass in live performance that no formal training could have replicated.
June 1962: A Pivotal Month
June 1962 was one of the most significant months in The Beatles' history. On 6 June 1962 — just six days before this lunchtime show — the group had attended their first recording session at EMI Studios in Abbey Road, London, auditioning for producer George Martin. Martin had been sufficiently impressed to offer them a recording contract, though he had reservations about Pete Best's drumming.
The group were also still managed by Brian Epstein, who had taken over their management in January 1962 and had been working tirelessly to secure them a record deal. The EMI audition on 6 June was the breakthrough he had been seeking. By the time The Beatles returned to the Cavern for their lunchtime show on 12 June, they were, in effect, a group on the verge of a recording career — though none of them yet knew quite how transformative that career would become.
Pete Best was still the group's drummer on 12 June 1962. He would be replaced by Ringo Starr in August 1962, just weeks before the release of their debut single 'Love Me Do'.
The Beatles in June 1962
- John Lennon — vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
- Paul McCartney — vocals, bass guitar
- George Harrison — lead guitar, vocals
- Pete Best — drums
The Beatles' Cavern Setlist
A typical Beatles lunchtime set at the Cavern in 1962 drew heavily on American rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues, alongside an increasing number of Lennon-McCartney originals:
- 'Some Other Guy'
- 'Money (That's What I Want)'
- 'Memphis, Tennessee'
- 'Roll Over Beethoven'
- 'Please Please Me' (in development)
- 'Love Me Do' (in development)
- 'Twist and Shout'
- 'I Saw Her Standing There'
Key Facts: 12 June 1962
- Date: Tuesday 12 June 1962
- Venue: Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, Liverpool, England
- Session: Lunchtime (approx. 12pm – 2pm)
- Lunchtime appearance number: 103rd
- Overall Cavern appearance number: 172nd known
- Double-show days: 27th occasion of lunchtime + evening at the Cavern
- Drummer: Pete Best (replaced by Ringo Starr, August 1962)
- Context: Six days after the EMI Abbey Road audition with George Martin (6 June 1962)
- Total known Cavern appearances: At least 280 (155 lunchtime, 125 evening), 9 February 1961 – 3 August 1963
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times did The Beatles play the Cavern Club?
The Beatles played at least 280 known performances at the Cavern Club between 9 February 1961 and 3 August 1963, comprising at least 155 lunchtime and 125 evening shows. The precise total is not known with certainty as early records are incomplete.
What were the Cavern Club lunchtime sessions?
The Cavern Club's lunchtime sessions ran from approximately 12pm to 2pm and were a distinctive feature of the Liverpool music scene in the early 1960s. The Beatles were the biggest draw at the lunchtime sessions, regularly filling the club to capacity with workers on their lunch break.
When did The Beatles first play the Cavern Club?
The Beatles first performed at the Cavern Club on 9 February 1961. Their final appearance at the venue was on 3 August 1963, by which time they were the biggest group in Britain.
What was happening with The Beatles in June 1962?
June 1962 was a pivotal month. On 6 June 1962 — six days before this lunchtime show — The Beatles attended their first recording session at EMI Studios in Abbey Road, auditioning for producer George Martin. Martin offered them a recording contract, though he had reservations about Pete Best's drumming. Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr in August 1962.
Where is the Cavern Club in Liverpool?
The Cavern Club is located at 10 Mathew Street in Liverpool city centre. It opened in January 1957 as a jazz venue and became the epicentre of the Merseybeat scene in the early 1960s. The original club was demolished in 1973 but a replica was built on the same site in 1984 and remains open today.
Who was The Beatles' drummer at the Cavern Club in 1962?
Pete Best was The Beatles' drummer during most of their Cavern Club performances, including the 12 June 1962 lunchtime show. He was replaced by Ringo Starr in August 1962, just weeks before the release of 'Love Me Do'.
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