Tuesday 7 August 1962 | The Cavern Club, Mathew Street, Liverpool
On the evening of 7 August 1962, The Beatles performed at the Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool — their 89th evening show at the venue and their 211th known appearance overall. It was also the 37th occasion on which they performed both a lunchtime and an evening show at the Cavern on the same day, having already played a lunchtime session earlier that afternoon.
A Double-Header in the Final Days of the Pete Best Era
The 7 August 1962 double-header — lunchtime and evening shows at the Cavern on the same day — came at one of the most significant moments in The Beatles’ history. Pete Best had been informed of his dismissal on 16 July 1962, and Ringo Starr would officially join the group on 18 August 1962 — just eleven days after this evening show. The 7 August performances were therefore among the very last Cavern appearances with the Hamburg-era line-up of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Best.
The Cavern’s evening shows drew a different crowd from the lunchtime sessions — less the office workers and students of the daytime audience, more the dedicated fans who would queue on Mathew Street for the chance to see The Beatles in the low-vaulted cellar that had become the spiritual home of Merseybeat. By August 1962, those queues were growing longer.
The Cavern Club — officially licensed Beatles merch
Official Beatles “The Cavern” T-Shirt in black.
The Full Scale of The Beatles’ Cavern Residency
Between their first Cavern performance on 9 February 1961 and their final show on 3 August 1963, The Beatles played at least 155 lunchtime and 125 evening shows at the venue — though the precise total is not known with certainty, as not all appearances were formally documented at the time. The 7 August 1962 evening show was the 89th of those evening sessions, and the 211th known Cavern appearance in total.
The 37 double-header days — on which The Beatles played both lunchtime and evening shows at the Cavern — represent an extraordinary commitment to the venue and its audience. On those days, the group would perform for up to four hours in total, in a cellar with no air conditioning, in front of crowds that regularly packed the venue beyond comfortable capacity.
Key Facts
| Date | Tuesday 7 August 1962 |
| Venue | The Cavern Club, Mathew Street, Liverpool |
| Session | Evening |
| Evening show number | 89th |
| Overall Cavern appearance number | 211th (known) |
| Double-header (lunchtime + evening same day) | 37th occasion |
| Total known Cavern appearances | At least 280 (155 lunchtime + 125 evening), 9 Feb 1961 – 3 Aug 1963 |
| Line-up | John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best (Ringo Starr joined 18 August 1962) |
The Cavern Club, Mathew Street, Liverpool — where The Beatles played at least 280 known shows between 1961 and 1963.
The Cavern Club — officially licensed Beatles merch
Official Beatles “Cavern Shots 1962” T-Shirt in black.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many evening shows did The Beatles play at the Cavern Club?
The Beatles played at least 125 evening shows at the Cavern Club between 9 February 1961 and 3 August 1963. The 7 August 1962 evening show was their 89th known evening performance at the venue.
How many times did The Beatles play both lunchtime and evening shows at the Cavern on the same day?
The Beatles performed both lunchtime and evening shows at the Cavern Club on the same day on at least 37 occasions. The 7 August 1962 double-header was the 37th such occasion.
Who was drumming for The Beatles at the Cavern in August 1962?
Pete Best was still drumming for The Beatles in early August 1962. He had been informed of his dismissal on 16 July 1962, and Ringo Starr officially joined the group on 18 August 1962 — just eleven days after the 7 August evening show.
When was The Beatles’ last Cavern Club performance?
The Beatles’ final performance at the Cavern Club was on 3 August 1963. By that point, Beatlemania had taken hold nationally and the group rarely played in Liverpool again.
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime) – 7 August 1962
→ The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime) – 4 August 1961
→ The Beatles live: Litherland Town Hall, Liverpool – 7 August 1961
→ The Quarrymen first play the Cavern Club – 7 August 1957
→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
→ Ringo Starr: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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