Events

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution: Watch the video!

Events | Featured

2026 Bills Bash Photos!
ByBGMF January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Photos by Tommy Lau. If you would like a large high-res copy of any photo, please contact Bonnie Simmons bon@billgrahamfoundation.org

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Events | Featured

Bill’s Bash Brunch 2024 Photos!
ByBGMF January 10, 2024January 12, 2024

Click the title to see lots of great photos of the Bash.

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Events | Featured

Bluecoat Reunion Nov 1 2025
ByBGMF November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

Bluecoat Reunion Nov 1 2025 at Coventry Grove – a fine time was had by all Thanks to Steve Rigney, Anne Scheer, Robin Nasatir, Rita Gentry, Danny Scher, Brian Auger, Dog Beaver, the Bluecoat Blues Band and everyone who showed up and pitched in to make it such a great day. Thank you to John Taber…

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Events | Featured | News

PERRY FARRELL AT THE FILLMORE FOR THE INAUGURAL BILL GRAHAM FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
ByBGMF October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

PERRY FARRELL’S KIND HEAVEN ORCHESTRA TO DEBUT NEW MUSIC IN SPECIAL PERFORMANCE AT THE FILLMORE FOR THE INAUGURAL BILL GRAHAM FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Musical Super-Group to Headline Gala Celebrating Bill Graham Menorah Day in San Francisco December 2, 2018 at The Fillmore Tickets on sale Friday, October 19 at 10:00 a.m. SAN FRANCISCO (October 17,…

Read More PERRY FARRELL AT THE FILLMORE FOR THE INAUGURAL BILL GRAHAM FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Events | Featured

The Bill Graham Menorah returns to Union Square
ByBGMF November 23, 2021November 23, 2021

Happy holidays! The Bill Graham Menorah returns to Union Square with much festivity, starting on Sunday, November 28. From 2 to 6 p.m., there’s music, family fun, and lighting of the first candle, all part of Bill Graham Menorah Day. Get the details:
http://www.billgrahammenorah.org/schedule

Read More The Bill Graham Menorah returns to Union Square
Events | Featured

Find Yourself in Find Yourself in the Group Photo 2026 Bill’s Bash
ByBGMF January 22, 2026January 22, 2026

Click to open a page with three large group photos; you can zoom in to find yourself.

Read More Find Yourself in Find Yourself in the Group Photo 2026 Bill’s Bash

Nelson Mandela for a Free South Africa 1990

After his release from prison in February of 1990, Nelson Mandela traveled extensively, making several trips to the United States. He came to the Bay Area in June 1990, where he was honored at a sold-out concert at the Oakland Coliseum.

For Bill Graham, it was important that the show reflected the supporters of Mandela and the makeup of the greater Bay Area. During a press conference Bill said that he felt strongly about what the Bay Area stands for having been the home of the free speech movement and so supportive of the labor movement, and that recognition should be given to those factors. In addition to that “the music at the event must be roots music that emanated from Africa extending into gospel and jazz and blues and r&b.”

Ticket prices were kept to $5.00 to make the event available to as many as possible and performers included Zulu Spear, John Lee Hooker & Bonnie Raitt, the Oakland-based Vukani Mawethu Choir, Baba Olatunji and Mickey Hart, Tramaine Hawkins, Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia, Gospel Hummingbirds, John Lee Hooker, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, John Santos, Kotoja, as well as Bay Area drum and dance troupes.

At the event, acknowledging the Bay Area’s role as a U.S. center of activism against apartheid, Mandela told the crowd: “You must remember that you are our blood brothers and sisters. You are our comrades in the struggle. Remember that we respect you, we admire you and, above all, we love you. ‘We are at a crucial historical juncture,” he told a cheering crowd of 58,000 people, ”We shall not turn back. Despite my 71 years, at the end of this visit I feel like a young man of 35. I feel like an old battery that has been recharged. And if I feel so young, it is the people of the United States of America that are responsible for this.”

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert

OUR BOYS STEEL ORCHESTRA
OPENING INVOCATION AND MASSED DRUM PROCESSION FEATURING: BABA OLATUNJI / MICKEY HART / LADZEKPO BROTHERS / MANDELEO INSTITUTE / JONI HAASTRUP / JOSE LORENZO WITH BATUCAJE I MICHAEL PLUZNICK / MOTHERSTONE / HINTIL KUU KA POMO CHILDREN DANCERS / PLUS BAY AREA DRUM AND DANCE TROUPES / WITH SPECIAL GUESTS JERRY GARCIA AND BOB WEIR
TRAMAINE HAWKINS
THE CAST OF SARAFINA
GOSPEL HUMMINGBIRDS
JOHN LEE HOOKER WITH BONNIE RAITT
BAY AREA JAZZ ALL-STARS WITH: FAVE CAROL / JOHN HANDY / BOBBY HUTCHERSON / ED KELLY/ TROY LAMPKIN / PHAROAH SANDERS / E.W. WAINWRIGHT
OAKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHOIR
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK
MACHETE ENSEMBLE FEATURING: DAVID BELOVE / JOHN CALLOWAY / BILL ORTIZ / JOHN SANTOS / WAYNE WALLACE
BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS
ZULU SPEAR
KOTOJA
VUKANI MAWETHU
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MASS CHOIR

Audio: Bill Graham at the Press conference for the Nelson Mandela event

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution: Watch the video!

2026 Bills Bash Photos!

Bill’s Bash Brunch 2024 Photos!

Bluecoat Reunion Nov 1 2025

PERRY FARRELL AT THE FILLMORE FOR THE INAUGURAL BILL GRAHAM FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

The Bill Graham Menorah returns to Union Square

Find Yourself in Find Yourself in the Group Photo 2026 Bill’s Bash

Info for Grant Seekers

Events & News

Photo Credits

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert

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Nelson Mandela for a Free South Africa 1990

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert