Image Via Professor Poster
For many years, the Fairgrounds Grandstand Arena held huge concerts with famous performers like Big Brother and the Holding Co, Ravi Shankar, the Doors, Creedence Clearwater, Santana, Taj Mahal and Rickie Nelson.
The Fairgrounds was also home to the two Northern California Folk-Rock Festivals held in 1968 and 1969.
The ’68 festival featured:
Country Joe and the Fish, The Grateful Dead, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Youngbloods, The Electric Flag, Kaleidoscope, Taj Mahal, and Ravi Shankar.
The ’69 festival featured:
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Jefferson Airplane, The Chambers Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon, Spirit, Canned Heat, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Youngbloods, Steve Miller, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal, Noel Redding, Lee Michaels, Blues Image, Santana, Aum, Elvin Bishop, Poco, People!, Lynn County, the Loading Zone, Sweet Linda Divine, Cat Mother, Doc Watson and the New Lost City Ramblers.
The venue also hosted the Aquarian Family Festival, which was a free three-day music festival held here on May 23 – 25, 1969. Some of the performers included Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Moby Grape, Joy of Cooking, Chocolate Watchband, Throckmorton, and Boz Scaggs.
Other Notable Concerts Played At The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds:
6/15/2019 – Suicidal Tendencies
8/4/2018 – Eddie Money
10/10/1999 – Sammy Hagar
8/2/1999 – John Kay & Steppenwolf
7/31/1991 – Stray Cats
8/9/1990 – The Guess Who
8/3/1990 – Tower of Power
7/29/1990 – Joe Cocker
8/10/1989 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
8/28/1988 – B.B. King
8/11/1988 – The Turtles
8/10/1985 – The Tubes
2/9/1974 – Lynyrd Skynyrd
11/17/1973 – Foghat
10/19/1973 – Sly & the Family Stone
6/17/1972 – The Doobie Brothers
2/26/1972 – Fleetwood Ma
1/29/1972 – Deep Purple
11/26/1971 – Cat Stevens
7/12/1971 Chicago
5/1/1971 – Badfinger
2/12/1971 -Van Morrison
4/26/1970 – Jethro Tull
4/5/1970 – The Moody Blues
5/25/1969 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5/24/1969 – Jefferson Airplane
4/26/1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/1/1969 – Iron Butterfly
5/19/1968 – Eric Burdon & The Animals
5/19/1968 – The Doors
5/19/1968 – The Youngbloods
5/18/1968 – Big Brother & the Holding Company
2/11/1967- Love
7/30/1965 – The Beach Boys
7/30/1965 – Sonny & Cher
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
344 Tully Rd.
San Jose CA 95111
me and several of my college friends & girlfriends attended the 1969 affair. it was a two day thing, we camped at a state park ( big bend? ) absolutely gorgeous weather for the festival, picture perfect the first day. second day was good, too, but late in the day phalanxes of santa clara county sheriffs rioted and were clubbing people with long wooden batons.
Wow..no mention of the late rocker Rick Nelson. Talk about limited info. Anyone remember the actual date he performed outdoors there?
Well, it does say “Other Notable Concerts” not ALL concerts.
I could not find any references to him playing at this venue….
My mom was at one of the Santa Clara county hendrex concerts ,more likely San Jose 1969.she managed to walk pass jimis security on stage with jimi.hendrex.,afew words were said between him and my mom and she was escorted offstage rite away.ihave found very little live footage of those concerts.Does anyone have any Video filmage of the San Jose concert with my mom walking onto the stage??pleas share
Yes, you are right that there is no mention of Rick Nelson. Would like to know too. If anyone tells you what year he appeared, could you let me know? Thanks
Yes, would like to know year Rick Nelson appeared at the Fairgrounds. If you find out, please let me know. Thanks
My mother and I saw Rick Nelson at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds. Year unknow my mother passed away in 2015. I believe it was the late nineties.