The Cavern had opened on 17 January 1957. Owned by Alan Sytner, it was mainly a jazz club which occasionally hosted 'Skiffle Sessions' evenings. Sytner played at the same golf club as the Quarrymen's manager, Nigel Walley and had heard the group perform at the Childwall Golf Club. It was through this connection that the band got their bookings at the venue.
The Quarrymen's set didn't go down well. They began with Come Go With Me, followed by Hound Dog and Blue Suede Shoes. Rod & John argued on stage about performing rock n roll songs. John Lennon was then passed a note and he said to the audience, 'We've had a request'. He opened it up and it was Alan Sytner saying, 'Cut out the bloody rock 'n' roll.'