Wednesday 29 July 1964 | Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
On 29 July 1964, The Beatles performed two concerts at Johanneshovs Isstadion in Stockholm, Sweden — their second consecutive night at the venue, following two shows the previous evening. The performances took place at 6.45pm and 10pm. The band also made an appearance on Swedish television that day, during which John Lennon recited his poem ‘Good Dog Nigel’ from his 1964 book In His Own Write.
The Shows
The Beatles topped a bill that also featured:
- The Kays
- The Moonlighters
- The Streaplers
- Jimmy Justice
- The Mascots
- The Shanes
The double-show format — two performances per evening — was standard practice for The Beatles throughout their touring years, allowing promoters to maximise audience numbers at a time when demand for tickets vastly outstripped supply. The Johanneshovs Isstadion, an indoor ice hockey arena in the Johanneshov district of Stockholm, was one of the largest indoor venues in Scandinavia and a natural choice for a band of The Beatles’ drawing power in 1964.
The Swedish Television Appearance
Alongside the two concerts, The Beatles made an appearance on Swedish television on 29 July 1964. During the interview, the band discussed their plans for the future — a standard question for a group that had conquered Britain and America in the space of a few months and showed no signs of slowing down.
The most memorable moment of the television appearance came when John Lennon recited his poem ‘Good Dog Nigel’ from his book In His Own Write, published in March 1964. The book — a collection of comic verse, short stories, and drawings in the tradition of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll — had been a critical and commercial success, demonstrating that Lennon’s literary ambitions extended well beyond pop songwriting. ‘Good Dog Nigel’ is a darkly comic poem about a dog who is told he is to be put down — typical of Lennon’s absurdist, subversive humour.
The decision to recite from In His Own Write on Swedish television was characteristic of Lennon’s determination to be taken seriously as a writer, not merely as a pop star. The book had been published to considerable critical acclaim, with the Times Literary Supplement comparing Lennon favourably to Edward Lear.
In His Own Write
In His Own Write was published by Jonathan Cape on 23 March 1964 — the same day The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the third time. It sold out its first print run of 50,000 copies on the day of publication and went through multiple reprints. A second book, A Spaniard in the Works, followed in June 1965.
The book’s publication during the height of Beatlemania gave it an enormous platform, but its reception was not merely a function of Lennon’s fame: critics genuinely admired the writing, and In His Own Write has remained in print and in critical esteem ever since.
Johanneshovs Isstadion
Johanneshovs Isstadion — also known as the Stockholm Globe Arena’s predecessor as the city’s primary indoor arena — was situated in the Johanneshov district of southern Stockholm. Built as an ice hockey venue, it served as Stockholm’s principal large-capacity indoor entertainment venue through the 1960s and beyond, hosting major touring acts as well as sporting events.
The venue’s connection to the McCartney family extended beyond 1964: Paul McCartney performed solo concerts at Johanneshovs Isstadion on 29 and 30 September 1989, as part of his first solo world tour following the Wings years.
The 1964 World Tour
The Stockholm dates were part of The Beatles’ extraordinary 1964 touring schedule. Having conquered America in February — the Ed Sullivan appearances, Carnegie Hall, the Washington Coliseum — the band spent much of the year on the road, playing dates across Europe, North America, and Australasia. The Scandinavian leg of the summer 1964 tour took in Denmark and Sweden, with the Johanneshovs Isstadion shows among the most significant European dates of the year.
Key Facts: 29 July 1964
| Date | Wednesday 29 July 1964 |
| Venue | Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Shows | Two: 6.45pm and 10pm |
| Support acts | The Kays, The Moonlighters, The Streaplers, Jimmy Justice, The Mascots, The Shanes |
| TV appearance | Swedish television — Lennon recited ‘Good Dog Nigel’ from In His Own Write |
| McCartney at same venue | 29–30 September 1989 (solo concerts) |
Johanneshov, Stockholm — where The Beatles performed two shows at Johanneshovs Isstadion on 29 July 1964.
The Beatles: American Tour 1964
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The Beatles: Tour ’64 – Carnegie Hall
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did The Beatles play in Stockholm?
Yes. The Beatles performed at Johanneshovs Isstadion in Stockholm on 28 and 29 July 1964, playing two shows each night. On 29 July they also appeared on Swedish television, with John Lennon reciting his poem Good Dog Nigel from In His Own Write.
What is In His Own Write by John Lennon?
In His Own Write is a book of comic verse, short stories, and drawings by John Lennon, published by Jonathan Cape on 23 March 1964. It sold out its first print run of 50,000 copies on publication day and was critically acclaimed, with the Times Literary Supplement comparing Lennon to Edward Lear. Lennon recited the poem Good Dog Nigel from the book on Swedish television on 29 July 1964.
What is Good Dog Nigel by John Lennon?
Good Dog Nigel is a darkly comic poem from John Lennon’s 1964 book In His Own Write. It concerns a dog who is told he is to be put down — typical of Lennon’s absurdist, subversive humour. Lennon recited it on Swedish television during The Beatles’ visit to Stockholm in July 1964.
Did Paul McCartney also play Johanneshovs Isstadion?
Yes. Paul McCartney performed solo concerts at Johanneshovs Isstadion on 29 and 30 September 1989, as part of his first solo world tour.
→ 29 July in Beatles History
→ July in Beatles History
→ John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ Paul McCartney: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ George Harrison: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ Ringo Starr: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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