PRESS RELEASE: The Legendary Cabooze will officially turn 40 years old July 31st, 2014, and in celebration the venue will be hosting a series of “40th Anniversary Concerts” featuring some of the bands that have helped to build the club over the years.
The concert series will begin in July 2014 and will run through December 2014. Some of the Artists that will be featured as part of the 40th Anniversary Concert Series are as follows:
■ Sunday, July 13th – Greazy Meal Reunion
■ Saturday, July 19th – Ipso Facto Reunion
■ Friday, August 1st – Cabooze Official 40th Anniversary Party featuring Lost Highway & Hitchville
■ Saturday, September 13th – Lamont Cranston & Friends
■ Friday, October 17th – International Reggae All-Stars – Tribute to Peter Tosh
■ Friday & Saturday, October 31st & November 1st – Wookiefoot
■ Thursday, November 27th – The Big Wu
■ Wednesday, November 26th – Butane’s Soul Revue Thanksgiving Eve Bash
■ Friday, November 28th – Mango Jam Reunion
■ Friday, December 27th – White Iron Band Annual Xmas Bash
Other Artists that will also be performing include The Gooneybirds, Willie and the Bees and many more! Dates and tickets prices for additional dates will be announced shortly.
Here are some of the clubs highlight’s from over the years…
The Cabooze officially opened Wednesday, July 31st, 1974. The opening featured the “Friends Road Show”, described as “a 13-member European troupe that combines rock and roll with mime, including jugglers, clowns, magicians and a fire eater.”
Some of the Artist’s that performed regularly during 1974 & 1975 include City Mouse, The Flamin’ Oh’s (formerly the Flamingos) and Lamont Cranston. Wayne Cochran & the C. C. Riders also performed at the Cabooze in 1975.
In 1978, Peter Tosh and his reggae band played at the Cabooze on July 9th. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones were in attendance and climbed on stage, but didn’t actually play.
In an advertisement in 1979 noting the club’s fifth anniversary, The Cabooze listed some of the artists who had appeared there including John Lee Hooker, Papa John Creech, Mighty Joe Young, B.B. King, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, City Mouse, Dave Ray and Snake, Willie Murphy and the Bumblebees, Luther Allison, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Gary Busey, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson. On the weekend of October 13 & 14, 1979 The Nighthawks, a well know blues, boogie band from Washington, D.C. served as the opening act for The Lamont Cranston Band.
The early 80’s brought more legends and “soon to be legends” to The Cabooze stage including Mighty Joe Young, The James Cotton Blues Band, Luther Allison, Sam and Dave, Johnny Holm & the Traveling Fun Show, Mary Jane Alm and the Metro All Stars.
On October 7th, 1981, The Replacements mad their first of many appearances at The Cabooze. On February 17th, 1982 the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown performed at the Cabooze and blues legend Albert King appeared on June 3rd, 1982.
The late 80’s and early 90’s saw the rise of many local bands to National acclaim including Soul Asylum, who made their debut at The Cabooze on July 17th, 1987. Other local bands like The Suburbs and Trip Shakespeare also called The Cabooze home for many years. Other Artists included The Gregg Allman Band, Elvin Bishop, Dave Matthews Band,Dickey Betts, Buddy Guy & Jr. Wells, Johnny Winter and many, many others
The early 90’s also found The Cabooze holding down a Wednesday night gig that has since become a cherished part of local lore: the 10 strong Butanes Soul Revue brought southern soul to the Cabooze bar every Wednesday night.
In the 2000’s, The Cabooze has continued the tradition of building new local Artists, as well as featuring the best new National artists, including Greazy Meal, Eric Church, Alabama Shakes, Wookiefoot, Snoop Dog, The Big Wu, Govt’ Mule, Joe Nichols and countless others
For details on every show taking place at The Cabooze, and for tickets click HERE.