BEATLES – Day By Day – 11/10/61
Friday, 10th November, 1961
The Beatles played at the Tower Ballroom on the Promenade in New Brighton across the River Mersey in Wallasey, Cheshire for the first time. The occasion was “Operation Big Beat” a concert featuring “Merseysides TOP 5 GROUPS” as outlined on the event’s poster. The Beatles recieved top billing followed by Rory Storm & The Hurricanes (featuring Ringo Starr on drums), Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Remo Four and Kingsize Taylor & The Dominoes.
The event was the creation of ambitious promoter Sam Leach who attracted 3000 people at an admission price of 5/- (5 shillings) each. The groups alternated shifts on stage with The Beatles first playing at 8:00pm.
After this set they headed back to Liverpool via the Mersey Tunnel for a gig at the Knotty Ash Village Hall, before heading back across the river to perform a second set at The Tower Ballroom at 11:30pm.
According to some sourcesĂ‚Â after the Tower Ballroom gig was over The Beatles and Rory Storm’s Hurricanes indulged in a highly illegal car race back to Liverpool.
