The Ash Grove

Former Location –
Ash Grove Poster For Albert KingFormally a furniture factory and showroom, the site was converted into the Ash Grove in 1958 and later, The Improv. Ed Pearl, who was a 21 year-old music enthusiast, opened the club for the emerging folk and rock musicians of the 1960’s. The Ash Grove would go on to help usher in a progressive culture that shaped the era.

The Ash Grove was probably the greatest folk/blues club of the sixties. In 1965 it  hosted The Rising Sons, a blues/rock ensemble with Taj Mahal.

Ash Grove Poster Taj MahalRegular performers that played here include:
Ed Cassidy,  Lightnin’ Hopkins, Canned Heat, The Byrds, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf, Albert King, Freddie King, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Johnny Guitar Watson, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, The Chambers Brothers, Maria Muldaur, and many others.

The great L.A. Band Spirit made its public debut here as did Ry Cooder.

The Byrds Live At The Ash GroveA lot of great performances were recorded here including:

Live At The Ash Grove 1967 – Vol. 1 by Spirit
Live At The Ash Grove 1969 by The Byrds
Live at The Ash Grove by Jimmy Witherspoon & Robben Ford

A fire in 1973 left nothing but the shell of the building, it was remodeled into the Improv, which is there today.

The Ash Grove
8162 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles CA 90046