Avalon Ballroom – Janis Joplin’s First Public Appearance With Big Brother

Former Location –
On June 10, 1966, Janis Joplin made her first public appearance with Big Brother and the Holding Company at The Avalon.

Chet Helms was the artistic director and between April 1966 and November 1968 you could see Moby Grape, The Steve Miller Band, Country Joe and the Fish, Bill Haley and the Comets and Bo Diddley.

The Grateful Dead played here 29 times from 1966 through 1968, and recorded two live albums here: Vintage Dead and Historic Dead, in the autumn of 1966.

The club lost its lease in November 1968 and faded in to rock and roll oblivion. after hosting a few more notable concerts in early 1969. For a brief period between 2003 and 2006 the venue was reopened and held approximately 70 concerts before closing again.

Notable Concerts At Avalon Ballroom

7/12/2003 – Jefferson Starship
7/1/2003 – Little Feat
4/6/1969 – The Flying Burrito Brothers
4/4/1969 – Grateful Dead
3/26/1969 – Santana
3/2/1969 – Love
2/21/1969 – Steve Miller Band
2/2/1969 – Van Morrison
11/30/1968 – Quicksilver Messenger Service
11/28/1968 – The Velvet Underground
11/21/1968 – The Byrds
10/12/1968 – Lee Michaels
8/16/1968 – Bill Haley and His Comets
8/11/1968 – Steppenwolf
8/4/1968 – Pink Floyd
7/7/1968 – Iron Butterfly
5/5/1968 – Canned Heat
4/28/1968 – It’s a Beautiful Day
3/15/1968 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
8/10/1967 – Moby Grape
6/3/1967 – The Doors
5/27/1966 – The Grass Roots

On January 29, 1967, the Avalon hosted the Mantra-Rock Dance musical event, organized by the local Hare Krishna temple, which featured Hare Krishna founder Bhaktivedanta Swami, Allen Ginsberg, The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape and Janis Joplin With Big Brother and the Holding Company.