Events

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

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,…

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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

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.

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Events | Featured | News | Press

Mural of Promoter Bill Graham to be Dedicated
ByBGMF October 23, 2023

Mural of Promoter Bill Graham to be Dedicated November 6 in the Fillmore District — 58 Years after the first benefit for the San Francisco Mime Troupe in 1965 San Francisco – October 23, 2023 – Several groups are pleased to announce the unveiling of a new city art mural of the late Bill Graham on Monday, November 6…

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Events | Featured

Bill Graham Menorah Lighting 2020 (Virtual!)
ByBGMF December 7, 2020December 7, 2020

Due to the pandemic, we can’t gather in Union Square this year. But the Bill Graham Menorah lighting goes on via Facebook Live. First candle 5 p.m. Thursday–join from wherever you are! http://www.billgrahammenorah.org/schedule

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Events | Featured

Night On The Green
ByBGMF April 28, 2014April 28, 2014

Join us in the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation section At the Oakland A’s -Washington Nationals Game Saturday, May 10th, 2014 For “Night On The Green” To Purchase your seats in the BGMF section and get a commemorative T-shirt featuring the A’s and Journey – www.athletics.com/BGMF We are very pleased to announce that The Bill Graham Memorial…

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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!

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

Bluecoat Reunion Nov 1 2025

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

Mural of Promoter Bill Graham to be Dedicated

Bill Graham Menorah Lighting 2020 (Virtual!)

Night On The Green

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