The Museum of Liverpool will open a new exhibition in 2027 commemorating 70 years of The Cavern Club, charting the venue’s journey from a post‑war jazz cellar on Mathew Street to one of the city’s most globally recognised music venues.
From jazz cellar to global stage
The exhibition, produced in partnership with The Cavern Club, will map the venue’s transformation since it first opened on 16 January 1957. Originally founded by Alan Sytner as a jazz club, the basement venue quickly attracted prominent jazz musicians before becoming a focal point for local acts and the burgeoning Merseybeat scene.
The site’s association with The Beatles is central to the story. The club provided early performance opportunities for musicians who would later form the band: Ringo Starr drummed with Rory Storm’s Hurricanes, while John Lennon played with The Quarry Men—line‑ups that later included Paul McCartney and George Harrison. The Beatles became resident performers at the Cavern, developing their sound and reputation in the venue before achieving international fame.
"My brother John always said his happiest times as a band were playing in the Cavern. He wasn’t alone in his love of this wonderful club and what a great opportunity to get those stories and memories together in one place. Here’s to another seventy years!"
— Julia Baird, John Lennon’s sister and Cavern co‑owner
Legacy and continuing relevance
The Cavern’s influence stretches beyond the 1960s. It drew international stars such as Chuck Berry and a young Stevie Wonder, and over subsequent decades has hosted artists including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen and Elton John. More recently, acts like Oasis, Adele and The Arctic Monkeys have performed there, while local performers including Jamie Webster have kept the venue embedded in Liverpool’s contemporary music scene.
- Exhibition opening: 2027 at the Museum of Liverpool
- Venue founded: 16 January 1957 by Alan Sytner
- Highlights to be covered: early jazz era, The Beatles residency, 1960s international acts, continued contemporary programming
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Club opens as a jazz venue on Mathew Street |
| Early 1960s | Emergence as a centre of Merseybeat and home to The Beatles |
| 1966 | International performers including Stevie Wonder appear |
| 2027 | Museum exhibition marking 70 years |
Organisers say the exhibition will assemble stories, photographs and memories that connect the venue’s history with the wider social and cultural developments of Liverpool. For the city, the Cavern’s story is entwined with its post‑war fortunes and global cultural reputation.
Further details on the exhibition programme, ticketing and opening dates are expected to be published by the Museum of Liverpool in due course. In the meantime, the announcement underlines the Cavern Club’s continuing role as both a living venue and a touchstone of the city’s musical heritage.
