California Ballroom

The California Ballroom, nicknamed "Cali" and "Soul City", was a 2000-capacity music venue,[1] being one of the United Kingdom's best-known soul music venues outside London.[2] Located in Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, the venue was open from 1960 to 1979.[3]

The opening act in 1960 was pop singer Russ Sainty.[4] Soul artists appearing included Stevie Wonder, Ike & Tina Turner,[5] Roy Ayers, Brass Construction and Grover Washington, Jr.[citation needed] It also hosted rock acts including The Detours (later named The Who),[6] The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Clash and The Damned,[3] Killing Floor, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull, Chicken Shack and The Herd.[7]

References

  1. ^ Johnston, Robert K. (2007). Reframing theology and film: new focus for an emerging discipline. Baker Publishing Group. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-8010-3240-0.
  2. ^ Watts, Derek; Eric Clapton (2008). Country boy: a biography of Albert Lee. McFarland. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-7864-3658-3.
  3. ^ a b Frame, Pete (1999). Pete Frame's rockin' around Britain: rock'n'roll landmarks of the UK and Ireland. Music Sales Group. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-7119-6973-5.
  4. ^ "Dunstable California Ballroom favourite dies aged 85", Luton News Herald & Post, 30 November 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022
  5. ^ Goodman, Chris (Dec 18, 2005). "Rocking at the Cali Club". Sunday Express.
  6. ^ McMichael, Joe; Jack Lyons (2004). The Who Concert File. Omnibus Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-84449-009-7.
  7. ^ Bryan Thomas. "Killing Floor | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-12.

51°52′41″N 0°32′10″W / 51.8780°N 0.5360°W / 51.8780; -0.5360


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