Free Concerts
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Another well-researched post, this one about the Dead's history of free concerts.....
First Free Grateful Dead Concert In Every City (Business Innovations)
http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/
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Some of the most fun free shows that I attended in San Francisco were in the 80s with John Cipollina bands - Dinosaurs, Zero, Thunder/Lightning, etc. at the Bandshell. Most notable being the one that Jerry played at in 88.
And there was a good run of Haight Street Fair shows back then, too (led by Merl Saunders; one year with Bobby and Brent, I think). Then as I recall, some free GG Park shows sponsored by Ben and Jerry's (The Band, Jefferson Starship- Sep 20, 1992 - Polo Fields). And the 20th anniversary Summer of Love
Besides the Bill Graham memorial show (300,000 people), I think the largest free concert I ever attended was in DC on July 4th, 1982...600,000 people for the Grass Roots and other bands?... but some were there mostly for the fireworks, of course. I happened to be working that show shooting video on a scaffold above the soundboard. It was quite a trip to be surrounded by so many people.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
Date: 04 July 1985
Date: 04 July 1985
Artist: The Beach Boys
Support Acts: The Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Page, Christopher Cross, Joan Jett, Robert Hazard, Joe Ely, The Neville Brothers, Sons Of The Beach, Mr. T, John Stamos
Venue: Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Probably the largest crowd for any show I've attended, over one million people
Ben Franklin Parkway Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
July 4, 1985
This concert was broadcast on FM radio in Philadelphia. It is not known whether this was the entire concert. Joan Jett, Christopher Cross, Jimmy Page, and the Oak Ridge Boys (how's that for a variety of genres?) were featured guests for this concert, and performed on one song apiece.
Beach Boys present:
Mike Love
Al Jardine
Bruce Johnston
Carl Wilson
Backup band included:
Mr. T (drums on #16-20)
John Stamos (drums on #13-15)
Joan Jett (on "Barbara Ann")
Jimmy Page (on "Lucille")
The Oak Ridge Boys (background vocals on "Come Go With Me")
Christopher Cross (lead vocal on "Good Vibrations")
SETLIST
1. California Girls
2. Getcha Back
3. Sloop John B.
4. Wouldn't It Be Nice
5. Do It Again
6. Little Deuce Coupe
7. I Get Around
8. Surfer Girl
9. God Only Knows
10. Come Go With Me
11. Rock & Roll Music
12. Good Vibrations
13. Rockin' All Over The World
14. Lucille
15. Help Me Rhonda
16. Surfin' Safari
17. Surf City
18. Surfin' USA
19. Barbara Ann
20. Fun Fun Fun
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
^ Neville Bros were pretty
^ Neville Bros were pretty good in 85, but two reasons to miss that: Philly and a buh-gazillion people... three reasons: summer tour just ended (Berkeley to Pittsburg) and who needed more music? Well maybe for Mr T cause he looks like a hallucination, and at that point nothing in the "civilian world" was real anyway
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Some free music in San
Some free music in San Francisco (sorry no picture credits): Jerry 1969, George Harrison 1967 (one song Here Comes the Sun), Hendrix 1967
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
This would have been an
This would have been an interesting show if it had come to pass:
From the 6/10/68 Hayward Review -
CUB SCOUTS BEAT 'THE AIRPLANE'
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Police argued for three hours Sunday in Golden Gate Park with the Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.
In the end, the Cub Scouts won out.
As more than 3,000 people waited for sounds that never came, police stood firm on their demand that the rock musical groups have a concert permit.
"This is not a concert," said Bill Thompson, the Airplane's manager. "It is a wake for the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, and the Cub Scouts would like the music."
Finally the people left and turned Speedway Meadows over to the Cub Scouts, who had a permit.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
"No, it wasn't the Airplane -
"No, it wasn't the Airplane - it was Cub Scouts that killed the Dead."
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
My favorite freebee was Jorma
My favorite freebee was Jorma Kaukonen & Vital Parts, Fireman’s Memorial Park, Hempstead NY 7/28/1981.
Dave Mason played a great fee show in Sayville about 10 years ago.
Blue Öyster Cult is playing a free concert at Tanner Park in Copiague, NY - 7:30pm, 8/4
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lucky Day
https://www.vivalazone.org
https://www.vivalazone.org/other-stuff/zma-sacramento-psycho-genius-july...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
>>>>>turned Speedway Meadows
>>>>>turned Speedway Meadows over to the Cub Scouts, who had a permit.
Blue Speedway Noogie.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
"...Date: 04 July 1985
"...Date: 04 July 1985
Artist: The Beach Boys
Support Acts: The Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Page,..."
I was actually "at that one" but not really,,,
A high school pal had some freeby Phillies - Reds baseball tixx at the Veteran's stadium ultra last-minute. "Wanna catch the game today, it's Free."
So I asked Mom & Pop if I could borrow the station wagon. It was a '74 Pontiac with faux-wood paneling and four unmatched tires. On the way out of the driveway it got not one, but TWO flat tires which I changed with the onboard spare and a spare spare in the garage
So we were running a bit late for the Game. Of course we stopped on the way to grab a Six-Pack. When we got to the Vet all gates were closed except the very top-most one, and walking up there we found a USA Hundred-Dollar bill on the pavement. Then we get our seats and watch Chollie Hustle ground out to third base. It's the seventh inning.
But of course we are now Filthy Rich and head to downtown Philly, where we pay to park in the Underground Garage, and there happens to be a Beach Boys concert outdoors. We never got that close to the masses but drank our (second) six-pack and enjoyed the Lovely Summer Day. From our vantage point, we could see the nearby City Jail and the inmates all watching the show from the windows.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sideshow Bob
George Clinton & P-Funk, next
George Clinton & P-Funk, next Fri 7/7, Hamden CT, hope it doesn't rain
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
NICE Jimi Pic above ! thanks
NICE Jimi Pic above ! thanks !!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
>"No, it wasn't the Airplane
>"No, it wasn't the Airplane - it was Cub Scouts that killed the Dead."
it was the airplane that killed lynard skynyrd
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
8-20-74 - New Riders of the
8-20-74 - New Riders of the Purple Sage
5-12-75 - Jefferson Starship
9-13-80 - Elton John
9-19-81 - Simon and Garfunkel
All in Central Park NYC
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
^
^
Central Park thread reminded me of last 'Big Name' free show I attended there. It was Neil Young (headliner) Black Keys, and another band, a few years back.
Free but you needed a ticket to scan in. A kind Zoner turned me on to one.
About July 4 1990 (( ?? )) there was a Sun Rah & Sonic Youth show also at Central Park Manhattan, but not "The Great Lawn" coinciding with a Tall Ships sail on the Hudson. That one was Groovy
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: My Name is
I saw a free Starship Outlaws
I saw a free Starship Outlaws show in Central Park in the 70's. It started raining, Grace came out really drunk with a inflatable tiger singing Ride the Tiger with a Champagne bottle in hand, just being sloppy as ever. Must of been 500,000 people there.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
http://www
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2016/headlines/2017-dates-announced/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Faye Dunaway
Yay Music !!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay
Music
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
Junior Marvin & the Wailers
Junior Marvin & the Wailers will be putting a free concert, this Friday, July 7th at Tanner Park in Copiague, NY - Long Island
http://www.copiaguechamber.org/explore-copiague/discover-tanner-park/concerts-tanner-park
Also free:
Taj Mo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band / Jontavious Willis / Dante Ross - August, 13, 4PM-8PM, Central Park, NYC
http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/event/taj-mo-taj-mahal-keb-mo-band-jontavious-willis/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Simon and Garfunkel in
Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park ^^^^ was just an insane amount of ppl.
Bunch of us drove from Ct...by the time we got there..(got lost, hit waaayy too many licquor stores)....we shouldve parked in New Haven and took the train, because it seemed like we walked forever to get close to it....but, it must have been on fm radio...at least locally on a ny station, because we found a spot...where all cars parked along one border street of central park had their radios tuned to concert....everybody cranked their radio....we kept hearing rumors of close to a half million ppl in park...so we just found a spot nearby, and listened to show thru a dozen or so car speakers....lol...we couldve stayed home, but , we would have missed the fun of walkin thru park afterwards and meeting tons of great people....the vibe and energy in NY that whole night...everywhere in city...was mellow...
It was nice....saw Paul Simon years later do a benefit at MSG...not free...but, guests were springsteen, billy joel, dion, james taylor, lou reed (w blondie and grace jones singing back up on wild side), even ron darling from mets and don mattingly from yanks came out on stage and threw a wiffle ball, ...chevy chase on sax for You Can Call Me Al...another epic night in the city....but, nowhere near the vibe that that Central Park show brought to city....thanks for reminder , cb
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Patrick H.
Junior Marvin & the Wailers
Junior Marvin & the Wailers will be putting a free concert, this Friday, July 7th at Tanner Park in Copiague, NY - Long Island
http://www.copiaguechamber.org/explore-copiague/discover-tanner-park/con...
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Interesting. It does not say Ashton Barrett and the Wailers it says Jr Marvin and the wailers. Say them in jan and ashton needed a cane and be assisted to the chair and could not really move well. Took him minutes to walk across the stage. Wonder is he is no longer in the band and Jr took over. Jr and many of the original wailers were in that show in Jan.
Maybe changing up the lineup...
Let us know if you go Bluelight Odysseus?
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Saw the Fabulous Thunerbirds on friday night at a free show.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _
Yo La Tengo is playing for
Yo La Tengo is playing for free in Central Park this year. I've never seen them, and I really like the band that's in the support slot.
Summerstage, Celebrate Brooklyn (at Prospect Park), and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival all have a slew of really great events on their calendar this summer.
Maybe Boston will have the Spin Doctors or whatever play again this year.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind
http://www.maplewoodstock.com
http://www.maplewoodstock.com/
Los Lobos is headlining Maplewoodstock July 8th & 9th this year. It's a great 2 day free Festie (no camping) in the town Park in Maplewood, NJ. Right across from train station, lots of food & Craft vendors. Family friendly...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
FREE Friday Night Bands on the Beach
TWO FREE SHOWS • 6:30pm & 8:30pm
June 16 - September 1, 2017
2017 Concert Schedule
June 16 Eddie Money
"Two Tickets to Paradise"
June 23 Bad Company former lead singer Brian Howe
"Can't Get Enough"
June 30 Great White
"Once Bitten, Twice Shy"
July 7 Quiet Riot
"Bang Your Head (Metal Health)"
July 14 Blue Öyster Cult
"(Don’t Fear) The Reaper"
July 21 Eric Burdon And The Animals
"The House Of The Rising Sun"
July 28 Los Lobos
"La Bamba"
Aug 4 Y & T
"Summertime Girls"
Aug 11 Pablo Cruise
"Love Will Find A Way"
Aug 18 Gin Blossoms
"Hey Jealousy"
Aug 25 Smash Mouth
"All Star"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
The free Jr Marvin and the
The free Jr Marvin and the Wailers show is still on tonight at Tanner Park, LI. (The showers should pass this afternoon)
Nick Lowe's Quality Rock 'n' Roll Revue - starring Los Straitjackets will be putting on Free concert Saturday, August 5th at 7:30 pm at the very pretty Damrosch Park, next to Linclon Center, NYC.
Should be a great show!
http://www.lincolncenter.org/out-of-doors/show/nick-lowes-quality-rock-n-roll-revue-starring-los-straitjackets
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
los lobos at the boardwalk is
los lobos at the boardwalk is a no-brainer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Spikenyc
Caught Los Lobos last night
Caught Los Lobos last night at a fantastic new venue in NYC, for the Battery Park City River Blues Fest.
Robert Wagner Park down by the Battery. On the Hudson with a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Lobos played a killer set including a One Way Out with Taz.
Also, an awesome fireworks display after the show.
Here is most of the encore with Taz. Just missing the Mas y Mas at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfCwdJ3GDzg
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
Los lobos is the headliner at
Los lobos is the headliner at Maplewoodstock tomorrow night. Free show.
Check out the Maplewoodstock thread...
Maplewoodstock this weekend
Vivalazone.org - The Zone Phansite Community Discussion Board : Other Stuff : Maplewoodstock this weekend
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skifurthur
AMSaddler on Friday, July 7, 2017 – 10:38 am
One of my favorite small festivals. Solid headliners and surprisingly excellent support artists each day. I never walk away from a Maplewoodstock without finding at least 2 acts that I wasn't aware of that wow me.
And it's free!
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Noon — PTW Voices ... Current and former students of a performing arts school in Maplewood, under the direction of Dean Kravitz, singing a variety of styles from jazz to pop to musical theatre ...
12:42 — Cold Weather Company ... a NJ-based independent folk band, rich with vocal harmonies and instrumental builds ...
1:24 — Shakey Ground ... presenting the best mix of classic R&B, rock, Latin, blues, and funk ...
2:06 -- Velvet Rose Band ... a young alernative band from Morris County who has exploded onto the NJ/NY performance circuit; the band recently released its first EP of original songs ...
2:48 -- Cosmic Brotherhood ... groovin' exotic, Indian-fusion, rock, psychedelic, multi-dimensional, multi-cultural ...
3:30 — Laredo ... seasoned local scene songers adding salt to the sound ...
4:12 -- Julie's Party ... 5 instruments and 5 vocalists; funky, bluesy, bayou, rock, and soul ...
4:54 -- Carl Brister ... eclectic blend of soul, pop, and uplifting lyrics of love ...
5:36 — Brother Valiant ... 6 piece indie folk rock band that blends nuances of other genres into a unique sound of their own ...
6:18 — Queen Blue Nile ... funky, soul, energetic, melodic, eclecticaly groovy, goose-bump sensational ...
7:00 — Annie Minogue Band ... a gutsy rock attitude with great pop sensibility and a hint of the blues reminiscent of some of rock's greatest female icons ...
7:42 -- Above the Moon ... female-fronted indie-alternative band with pop hooks ...
8:45 — Headliner Los Lobos ... after celebrating their 40th anniversary with the cleverly titled 2013 live album Disconnected In New York City, the hard working, constantly touring band leaps headfirst into their fifth decade with an invitation to join them as they open fresh and exciting new Gates of Gold, their first full length studio album since 2010’s Tin Can Trust (a Grammy nominee for Best Americana Album) ...
Sunday, July 9, 2017
noon — Shark Hat ... shake it up with songs from the local groove-rockers' brand new Maplewood-tracked album, Another Fable, and other fun tunes ...
12:42 — Whitney Jackson ... a young vibrant ecentric vocalist whose melodies and movements feel like a smooth sultry fusion of R&B, jazz, soul, and hip hop ...
1:24 —Sister Monk ... soul-rocking and djembe-driven, Sister Monk is a joyful sunny sound brimming with celestial ectasy -- a perfect tribal world fusion with a funky beat ...
2:06 — Bellehouse ... female-fronted folk-Americana with luscious harmonies and foot-stomping rhythms ...
2:48 — Tomas Doncker and the True Groove All-Stars ... a fusion of soul, funk, rock, and blues -- global soul at its finest ...
3:30 — The Matt Mattheiss Band ... a singer/songwriters from South Orange and his band performing classic covers and original songs from his just-released CD Living in the Grey ...
4:12 — The New Watchdog Blues Band ... performing classic and eclectic R&B and blues; wll all of them singing -- including 3 female vocalists ...
4:54 — The Martays ... slamming, greasy, bluesy, soulful, boldly-inventive arrangements of classic tunes! ...
5:36 — Wedeya ... original roots, rock, reggae from Jamaica to NYC! ...
6:45 — Featured Act The Hip Abduction ... sometimes inspiration strikes from the immersion of living in a far away place; sometimes, inspiration stems from a place that everyone can relate to, but maybe no one’s actually been. This is the music of The Hip Abduction, the vibrant St. Petersburg, FL-based collective that formed over a mutual appreciation for West African and early Jamaican reggae/dub music. ...
8:15 — Headliner Ruthie Foster ... described by Rolling Stone as “pure magic to watch and hear,” her vocal talent was elevated in worship services at her community church. Drawing influence from legendary acts like Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, Foster developed a unique sound unable to be contained within a single genre; that uniqueness echoes a common theme in Ruthie's life and career -- marching to the beat of her own drum ...
http://www.maplewoodstock.com/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Spikenyc
Robert Wagner Park NYC
Robert Wagner Park NYC
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Across
These are the ones I remember
These are the ones I remember...
George Clinton- University of Maryland College Park 1995 or 96
Levon Helm/Amy Helm band at the time- Washington Park Tulip Fest (Albany) 97,98, or 99
P-Funk All Stars (w/o Clinton) -University of Albany free concert at some rural park in the capitol region, NY 1999
CR/RR- Fox Theater Boulder CO 8/12/2006- Free tickets for buying a summer shed tour ticket
Leon Russell- The Cannery, Las Vegas NV 2006- given two free tickets by some dude while walking up to ticket window
Dumpstaphunk- Lafayette Park weekly free concert, NOLA 4/2007-
Les Claypool Fungi Band (I believe)- House of Blues, Las Vegas NV 2009 same circumstance as Leon Russell show
George Porter Jr. and Runnin Pardners (among others)- Brews and Funk Fest, Squaw Valley CA 2012 (donation made to Truckee Humane Society so maybe not 'free' free but technically free)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Spikenyc
More Lobos from last night:
More Lobos from last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqcKk6j-qA0