International Beatleweek in Liverpool

History of International Beatleweek

International Beatleweek's history extends back to 1977 when the first Beatles Convention was held at Mr Pickwick's club in Fraser Street. The prototype event included musical performances and special screenings and provided the blueprint of its modern incarnation.

Over its history, Beatleweek continued to attract scores of fans and Fab Four admirers, though the event's name, format, and duration has changed and adapted on multiple occasions.

The revival event has consistently welcomed many guests with special links to The Beatles and the most magical era in which they flourished, including the band's early promoters and photographers, their former drummer Pete Best, folk-rock troubadour Donovan, and The Monkees band member, Micky Dolenz.

Where is International Beatleweek in Liverpool?

Throughout its ever-evolving lifespan, this popular music event has been housed in a variety of venues right across Liverpool, including the State Ballroom, Olympia, Empire and Royal Court theatres, Alma de Cuba, Grand Central Hall, and Liverpool Cathedral as well as its current home, the Cavern Club.

The now-legendary Cavern Club first opened in 1957 – initially as a jazz club – before morphing into a home for the more modern rock and roll sound that began to explode in popularity in the late '50s, eventually becoming synonymous with the Merseybeat sound which steadily emerged from Liverpool in the early '60s.

The Beatles began playing at the club shortly after it opened, originally performing as The Quarrymen with their first drummer, Pete Best, who was later replaced by Ringo Starr. It's here that their soon-to-be manager, Brian Epstein, first heard the band play. He would go on to help the band sign their earliest recording contract, and was seen as pivotal to the band's rise to stardom, managing them until his untimely death in 1967.

Good to know about The Beatles

It's impossible to exaggerate the significance of The Beatles' work, both in their initial teen-pop hit records as well as the more experimental musical explorations the band transitioned into over the course of their career.

The band recorded 23 studio albums ad 5 live albums, scoring 20 Billboard number 1 hits in the process. They went on to influence countless bands and artists, from Nirvana to Oasis and beyond, and to this day are routinely name-checked as a reference point from key players in the world of contemporary pop.

The Cavern Club and the city of Liverpool are intrinsically linked with the rise of arguably the UK's most popular band ever, and International Beatleweek is a unique opportunity to join and connect with committed fans from across the world, to discuss, honour, and – perhaps most importantly – joyously celebrate the timeless music the band created.

The event is organised by Cavern City Tours, who arrange special packages to suit the various needs of visitors – including options for accommodation bundles as well as tickets to the shows. As the festival playfully proclaims, “you don’t need to be a Beatle fan to enjoy the festival, though it probably helps!”