The Jacaranda Club in Liverpool is a legendary music venue, opened in 1957 by Allan Williams. This man was one of the most active initiators of the Merseybeat music movement in the 1960s. It was right here, in the club’s basement, that young John Lennon, Stuart Sutcliffe, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney rehearsed and performed at the beginning of their careers, even paying for practice time by painting the walls. We delve into more fascinating details about this historic venue on liverpool-trend.com.
How It All Began for The Jacaranda Club
So, The Jacaranda Club opened its doors in 1957 thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of Allan Williams – a man who would later be known as The Beatles’ first manager. At that time, it was a new bar on Slater Street, a gathering spot for students, artists, and musicians. But The Jacaranda soon transformed into a true hub for the musical revolution that swept the world under the name Merseybeat.
By the late 50s, regular visitors to the club included art college students John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe, as well as George Harrison and Paul McCartney. The young musicians spent a lot of time here, discussing ideas and looking for performance opportunities. To show their gratitude to the venue for its support, Sutcliffe and Lennon personally painted murals on the walls of the basement room. Parts of these original wall paintings are still preserved today – they are true artefacts of a grand history.
In 1960, Allan Williams helped The Beatles gain traction in the early stages of their career by organising their first tour in Hamburg. It was there that the band had the opportunity to hone their stage skills and began to find their unique sound.
Through Williams, the lads also met Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr, who was then playing in the popular local band Rory Storm & The Hurricanes. He would later become an indispensable part of The Beatles’ classic line-up. However, the collaboration with Williams didn’t last long. A dispute over finances led to the musicians and their first manager parting ways. Soon after, Brian Epstein became their new mentor, guiding the band to international stardom.
The summer of 1960 marked a true historical milestone for The Jacaranda. It was here, in August, that one of the young band’s first performances took place with its original line-up: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best on drums. This concert became a symbolic start on their journey to global fame.
Since then, even after many decades, The Jacaranda hasn’t lost its significance. The club continues to be a platform for young talent and remains an important part of Liverpool’s musical heritage.
The Jacaranda Club: Interesting Facts
The Jacaranda Club has long since become a true Liverpool legend. This is partly explained by its connection to The Beatles, and partly by some innovative ventures. Here are a few facts that confirm this:
- The Beatles’ First Club. The Jacaranda is officially commemorated with a plaque as the place where the legendary Fab Four first performed publicly. The Cavern Club, on the other hand, became their second home – a little later on.
- The wall murals by Lennon and Sutcliffe, mentioned earlier, still fascinate Beatle-maniacs from all over the world.
- Immersive Audio – A UK First. In 2019, The Jacaranda opened the UK’s first studio for creating immersive audio on its upper floor. This cutting-edge technology allows listeners to literally “immerse” themselves in the sound, creating an effect of complete presence.
- Vintage Vinyl Pressing Machine. The club houses a unique vinyl pressing machine that was manufactured back in 1948. With this retro apparatus, visitors can record their own track directly onto a record – and take it home as a musical souvenir.
The Jacaranda is a living history that never stands still. Here, you can daily feel the spirit of the old city while simultaneously listening to contemporary performances by young bands. It’s a place where past and present resonate in unison.
The Jacaranda Today: More Than Just a Club
The Jacaranda is a club that has brought together tradition, innovation, and business. The venue actively supports young musicians and is itself a part of a larger industry that shapes Liverpool’s identity on the global map.
In 2018, the club’s owners founded Jacaranda Records – an independent label and network of music stores that quickly gained popularity far beyond Liverpool. One of the top figures in the music industry, Liverpool native Ray Mia, who previously held a senior position at Universal Music, created Jacaranda Records Ltd. This company will unite a modern recording studio, a vinyl record manufacturing plant, and a label under one brand.
Ray Mia is bringing this ambitious project to life together with The Jacaranda team. According to Mia, this initiative should elevate Liverpool’s music scene to a new level, attracting new talent to the city and creating modern infrastructure for musicians. Consequently, the club continues to be a platform for experimentation: it regularly hosts showcases for new bands, themed parties, artist meet-and-greets, and even special educational events for young people. If such learning had existed in ancient times, perhaps Liverpool’s first schools and gymnasiums would have had a completely different format.
