En vivo: Odeon Cinema, Romford

This was the last of six ‘Mersey Beat Showcase’ concerts, a format devised by Brian Epstein which consisted of one-off shows featuring his stable of artists. The first took place on 7 March 1963. Also appearing at Romford’s Odeon Cinema were Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, The Vikings with Michael London, and Gerry and the Pacemakers. The compere was Vic Sutcliffe.The line-up was something of a coup for pop fans, with The Beatles, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, and Gerry and the Pacemakers occupying the top three places in the singles charts that week.Unlike the others Mersey Beat Showcase nights, this was promoted by John Smith rather than NEMS Enterprises. Additionally, five further dates in the series, planned for 17-20 and 23 June, were abandoned by Epstein.