On 23 June 1962 the Beatles took a short break from playing at the Cavern Club, and headed down south to Northwich, about 40 km from Liverpool.
They had an appointment to play at the Victory Memorial Hall. It had been opened 2 years earlier (in 1960) and was supposed to be an upmarket venue, but locals referred to it as "the Morgue".
Brian Epstein had contacted music promoter Lewis Buckley (who organized several "beat" dances around the country, and this venue was seen as a kind of audition for The Beatles. If they performed well, Buckley would hire them for other venues. Apparently the concert was a success, because not only were they allowed to play another 5 gigs at this location, but Lewis Buckley also promoted many other NEMS artists in the years to come.
We can't be 100% sure what the set list was, but based on other similar concerts, the set lists of the Cavern Club and memories of people who were there. If anybody has more info, please do share this with us
Tentative Set List for the 23 June 1962 Northwich Victory Memorial Hall concert by The Beatles
The Hippy Hippy Shake
Sweet Little Sixteen
Love Me Do
The Sheik of Araby
Slow Down
Ask Me Why
September in the Rain
Dizzy Miss Lizzie
Take Good Care of my Baby
'Till There Was You
Memphis Tennesee
Like Dreamers Do
Money
Young Blood
The Honeymoon Song
A Picture Of You
Hello Little Girl
So How Come (No One Loves Me)
Ooh My Soul
To Know Her Is To Love Her
Besame Mucho
Roll Over Beethoven
Love of the Loved
Searchin'
I saw all the Beatles 6 shows at 'The Morgue' in 1962/3. One followed their crowning of the 'Rose Queen' at the local fete in the park. The 24 songs listed above are probably way too many for one show. These were the days of short set lists and other artists on the bill. But as I recall it, they certainly did the Chuck Berry stuff [Memphis Tennessee, Sweet Little 16 for example], Roll Over Beethoven, Money, Ask Me Why, Love Me Do [obviously]. And you don't have Twist and Shout which I seem to remember John strangling his vocal chords with at the end of each concert. They're golden memories but much as they were VERY popular locally, none of us realised just HOW big they were to become.
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