Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. The Most Complete Listing of Shows from the 60s thru the 90s
Ah the Aragon Ballroom. This is a fun listing for the old Rock ‘n’ Rollers that visit the Cool Album of the Day site. Here’s a list of just about ever show that was held at the Aragon Ballroom in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. If you went there, have fun looking thru this list. Look for the shows that you saw. Feel ‘bummed’ about the ones you missed. Be angry about the ones that you would have checked out but you didn’t know about, until now.
I’ve combined different listings to form this list. I’ve even contacted band members and did poster research to find others. It’s the best list on the ‘net!
If you were never at the Aragon (it’s still up and running by the way.) it’s still fun to see the shows that were held at the 4500 capacity ‘brawl-room.’ In the old days that would put strung-together folding chairs on the floor. I think they just pack them in now.
Tell us your tales about the Aragon Ballroom below!
VIEW BY DECADE: *********60s // 70s // 80s // 90s **********
The 60s
Make sure you click on all four decades to view all four pages.
- January 5-7, 1968: The American Breed / The Troys / The Y-Nots
- March 22 -24, 1968: Big Brother .. Holding Co./Bob Seger and the Last Heard /Purple Cucumber
- April 5: 1968: The Turtles / The Regiment / The Bubble Gum Machine (Cancelled)
- April 6-7, 1968: The Turtles / The Regiment / The Bubble Gum Machine
- April 12-14, 1968: The Chicago Loop / Gene & Debbe / The CTA / The Circus
- April 19-21, 1968: Traffic / The Circus / The Loved Ones
- April 26-28, 1968: The Dells / The Hip Pocket / The Valves
- May 3-5, 1968: Siegel-Schwall Blues Band / The Mandala
- May 10-12, 1968: The Ohio Express (10), Dyke & The Blazers (10-12)
- May 17-19, 1968: The Grass Roots / Howlin’ Wolf / The Rush Hour
- May 24-26, 1968: The Mitch Ryder Review (24-25), The Bubble Gum Machine (24-26), Disciples of Mayhem (24-26)
- May 31 and June 1-2, 1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Circus
- June 7-9, 1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Circus / The Epics
- June 14-16, 1968: The Fenders / Joyce Kennedy & Her Soul Men (featuring Glen Murdock) / Creation
- June 21-23, 1968: J.J. Jackson / The Bangor Flying Circus / Disciples of Mayhem
- – Aragon Ballroom –
- June 28-29, 1968: The Scott Brothers Revue (featuring Little Miss Irene) / The Shape
- July 5-6, 1968: closed for repairs
- July 12-13, 1968: Harvey & the Seven Sounds (12-13) / The Home Juice (12-13 / Shadows of Knight (12)
- July 17, 1968: Arthur Conley Revue
- July 19-20, 1968: The Mauds / Shadows of Knight / The Home Juice / Sunshine Sequence
- July 26-27, 1968: Carl Holmes & the Commanders (with Ruth McFadden)
- August 2,1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters
- August 3, 1968: Herman’s Hermits / Sunshine Sequence
- August 9-10, 1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / The Fenders / The Weaker Sex
- August 16-17, 1968: Big Brother & The Holding Company/The Nazz/Love Castle/Hello People
- August 23-24, 1968: Carl Holmes & the Commanders (with Ruth McFadden) / The Green Men / The Weaker Sex
- August 30, 1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / The Fenders / Wild Honey
- August 31, 1968: The Fenders / The Real Blues / Wild Honey
- September 6-7, 1968: Ballroom dancing with the orchestras of Griff Williams and Jose Bethancourt
- September 13, 1968: The Dontays / The Chicago Soul Sextet / Wild Honey
- September 14, 1968: Latin Carnival with Orchestra Tampico and Raul Garca Company
- September 20-21, 1968: Wilson Pickett
- September 27, 1968: The Fenders / The Apocryphals / Wild Honey
- September 28, 1968: Merengues / Carmen Rivero “Queen of the Cumba”
- September 29, 1968: Bob Kirk orchestra / Jose Bethancourt / Hal Pearl on the organ
- October 4, 1968: The New Colony Six / The Real Blues / The Dontays
- October 5, 1968: Ricardo Rey and the Orchestra Tropical Mocambo
- October 6, 1968: Orchestra Perales, Carlos Guzman y Los Fabulosos Quatro
- October 11, 1968: Tommy James & The Shondells / M.H. Royals / Chicago Soul Sextet
- October 12, 1968: Blacio Jr. & His Grand Spectacular Orchestra
- October 18-20, 1968: Oktoberfest
- October 25-27, 1968: Oktoberfest
- November 8, 1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters
- November 15, 1968: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Aorta
- November 22, 1968: Jefferson Airplane / Creedence Clearwater Revival / Blue Cheer
- November 29, 1968: Wilson Pickett / Baby Huey & The Babysitters (postponed)
- December 13, 1968: New Colony Six
- December 14, 1968: Serendipity Singers / The Chips / Wild Honey
- December 28, 1968: Wilson Pickett / The Fugs / Baby Huey & The Babysitters
- January 10, 1969: Illusions & The North Syde / Baby Huey & The Babysitters
- January 11, 1969: Rotary Connection / Litter / Conqueror Worm
- January 17, 1969: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Generation Gap / Wild Honey
- January 18, 1969: Buckinghams / Operation Soul / Baby Huey & The Babysitters
- January 24, 1969: Byrds / The Flock / Litter
- January 25, 1969: Stevie Wonder / Motown Sound / Soul Machine
- February 7, 1969: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Motown Sound / West Side Story / Rush Hour
- February 8, 1969: Mardi Gras with music (Rheinescher Gesang Versin) and beer
- February 14, 1969: General Assembly / Motown Sound / Four Days and A Night
- February 15, 1969: Cryan’ Shames / Operation Soul / United Nations
- February 21-22, 1969: Wayne Cochran / Operation Soul / Wild Honey / Soul Machine
- February 28, 1969: Jr. Walker & The Allstars (Martha & The Vandellas cancelled)
- March 1, 1969: Marvin Gaye
- March 2, 1969: Gary Puckett & The Union Gap / Green Lyte
- March 7-8, 1969: Mitch Ryder / The Trends / Chicago Soul Sextet
- March 9, 1969: Mario Zelanotti / Baby Huey & The Babysitters / United Nations
- March 14, 1969: Howlin’ Wolf / Rotary Connection / Conqueror Worm
- March 15, 1969: Sam The Sham / Baby Huey & The Babysitters / United Nations
- March 21, 1969: Steppenwolf / Bangor Flying Circus / Three Dog Night
- March 22, 1969: Procol Harum / Howlin’ Wolf / Litter / Little John Blues Band
- March 28, 1969: Spencer Davis / Howlin’ Wolf / Albert Smith Blues Band
- March 29, 1969: Ricardo Rey
- April 4-5, 1969: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Sounds of Dawn
- April 11, 1969: Iron Butterfly / Steve Miller Band
- April 18-20, 1969: Bill Haley & The Comets (18-20), Magic Sam & The Magic Grease Band (18) / El Gran Combo (19) / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (20)
- April 25, 1969: Chuck Berry / Rhinoceros / Conqueror Worm
- April 26, 1969: Latin band
- April 27, 1969: Red Saunders Jazz Band “Bachelors and Benedicts ball”
- May 16, 1969: Bobby (Blue) Bland Band / The Serfs / Coloured Rain
- May 17, 1969: Latin band
- May 23, 1969: Chubby Checker / P.C. Ltd. / Yesterday’s Children
- May 24, 1969: Trini Lopez / Sonora Matsanara
- May 26, 1969: Harry James and his orchestra
- June 13, 1969: Ike & Tina Turner / Four Days & A Night / Dee Dee Turner
- June 14, 1969: Latin band
- June 20, 1969: Von Ryan Express / Bob Kuban & The In-Man / Matt King & The Ideal /Hartford Connection
- June 21, 1969: Von Ryan Express / Buckinghams / Baby Huey & The Babysitters
- June 27, 1969: Baby Huey & The Babysitters / Five Stairsteps & Cubie / Spot & The Slotters
- July 4-5, 1969: Edwin Hawkins Singers (4-5) / Buddy Guy (5) / Jim Schwall Blues Band (5)
- July 11, 1969: Four Days & A Night / Soul Machine / West Side Story
- July 12, 1969: Xavier Cugat and his orchestra
- July 18-19, 1969: Jefferson Airplane (18-19) / The Ventures (18) / Dillard & Clark (18) / Blue Cheer (19) / Hello People (19)
- July 25-26, 1969: John Mayall / Jonah Jones / Jr. Wells / Rotary Connection
- August 1-2, 1969: Mothers of Invention (1) / Chuck Berry (1-2) / Howlin’ Wolf (1-2) / Fats Domino (2)
- August 8-9, 1969: Mongo Santamaria / (8) Bob Cuban (9) Ricardo Ray
- August 15-16, 1969: Dillard & Clark / Tim Buckley / Linda Ronstadt
- August 22, 1969: Moody Blues / Mickey, Larry & The Esiters / Conqueror Worm
- August 23, 1969: Buck Owens & The Buckaroos / Merle Haggard
- August 27, 1969: Joan Baez
- August 29-31, 1969: Jerry Lee Lewis
- October 17, 1969: Stevie Wonder
- November 21, 1969: Arlo Guthrie
- November 26, 1969: Beach Boys
- December 5, 1969: Wayne Cochran & C. C. Rider
- December 20, 1969: Herbie Mann / Four Tops
- December 29, 1969: Pacific Gas & Electric / John Lee Hooker / Howlin’ Wolf / Coven / MC5 / Alice Cooper / Rotary Connection / Hot Set Up / Littler / The Stooges / Bob Seger / Mason Proffit / Bangor Flying Circus / Baby Huey “Chicago Pop Festival”
TO VIEW BY DECADE: 60s // 70s // 80s // 90s **********
Posted by Larry Carta
You missed dates from the Creation/Sunshine Sequence in 67 and 68!
If someone can get me confirmed, actual dates I’d be more than glad to add them Lynda. Thanks
We played when Hermans Hermits did – have the ad from the tribune!
Love this. I went to so many shows there. Thank You so much for putting this together!
You’re welcome Vickie. It is a fun list. Please share the page if you’d be so kind. I’ll love for as many people to see it as possible.
I know I saw John Paul Hammond, Hot Tuna and Howlin’ Wolf on a Thanksgiving night (or a day before or after) in what I remember as 1972-74 time period. It was an amazing concert and they all jammed together at the end. Any help?
You still have not added Sunshine Sequence to the Herman Hermits Concert at the Aragon!
Not much but still something to be proud of! I supplied ad from the Tribune.
Lynda
Your messages have been confusing that’s why. I was supposed to know who ‘we’ are? Clear that up and I’ll add it right way. Thanks. Please give me band name, date of gig and anyone one else that played that day. Thanks.
Larry, here messages are confusing to you because they are directed to me and my Aragon concert archive site that you lifted most of your 1968-1969 list without mentioning where the information actually came from. http://home.comcast.net/~gv0000/Aragon%20Ballroom%20Tour%20Archive.htm
Some one sent me the basework and I added a bunch to it. Give me some info on yourself etc and anyone else that deserves credit and I’ll be more than happy to give you your due. You can email me the info at CoolAlbumoftheday@gmail.com
Wasn’t Nov.22,68.Jefferson Airplane,Blue Cheer, Fraternity Of Man & Uncle Dirty?
Do you have some evidence that that was true? Let me know and I’ll make a change. Thanks Eddie.
Yes Eddie you are correct, although Uncle Dirty was not mentioned in the review of the show that I have from the Chicago Tribune. Fraternity of Man opened, followed by Blue Cheer and then Jefferson Airplane. Here is a more complete Aragon list for 1967 – 1970: http://home.comcast.net/~gv0000/Aragon%20Ballroom%20Tour%20Archive.htm
Hi. Larry.I have a couple pictures somewhere.It was my first concert. I’ll look for the as the have the date on them.
sometime between 1972-1975 I saw 2 concerts at the aragon, chubby checker,coasters,and vince vance and the valiants was one. the other was john mayall,delbert and glen,and big walter Horton. I have no dates on either show. any info would be appreciated.
I attended the Slayer show in ’97 I think, and all the folding chairs ended up in 2 huge piles in the center and people were moshing with them. I don’t think they used chairs after that! Skully
Sometime in the early 1970s, an entire weekend of nonstop live music. Can’t remember much. Good drugs back then!