Sweetwater

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This day-by-day diary of Sweetwater's live, studio, broadcasting and private activities is the result of three decades of research and interview work by Bruno Ceriotti and Mike Stax, but without the significant contributions of other kindred spirits this diary would not have been possible. So, we would like to thank all the people who, in one form or another, contributed to this timeline: Jeff Watt, Alex Del Zoppo, Nancy Nevins, Fred Herrera, Ross Hannan, Corry Arnold, Logan Janzen, Steven M. Finger, Domenic Priore, Bill Mankin, Ron Domilici, George Elanjian, Dan Sallberg, Dennis Donley, Christopher Hjort, Joe Jupille, Tom Wendt, Greg Vick, Brad Kelly, Hank Zevallos, Julie Arnold, Larry Smith, Los Angeles Free Press, Village Voice, The East Village Other, The Seed, Herald-Tribune, Miami News, Great Speckled Bird, Ann Arbor Argus, The Concert Database, Fifth Estate, Dean Chapman, Mike Delbusso, NOLA Express, Splatt Gallery, Independent Press-Telegram, Los Angeles Times, San Bernardino Sun, Ann Arbor Argus, and Rock Tour Database, Pasadena Independent Star News, The Desert Sun, The Daily Tar Heel, The Robesonian.

February 1967 (?)
Mostly known as the first band to play at Woodstock Festival, Sweetwater emerged from a mid-60's jazz-improvisation large, "multi-cultural" band called Jay Walker and The Pedestrians. The band was formed by bassist Robert 'Bob' Barboza (b. 1948) when he was a student at Hope High School in his home town Providence, Rhode Island, along with other school mates, the most famous one was singer Jeffrey Osborne (b. March 9, 1948, Providence, RI). In September 1966, after high school, Bob Barboza moved to Los Angeles, California, to study music at Los Angeles City College. He soon formed a new version of his old high school band, Jay Walker and The Pedestrians, along with other college mates including Mario Parker on drums. The new Pedestrians were a very fluid lineup whose membership often included, by early 1967, future Sweetwater members Alex Del Zoppo (b. Alesandro Delzoppo, Saturday, November 11, 1944, Los Angeles) on keyboards (who was recently released from active duty in the USAF), Andy Friend on guitar, Albert B. Moore on flute (who used to be a policeman and who learned to play the flute while in Morocco with the Air Force), and his friend Elpidio 'Pete' Cobian on congas (b. Puente de Agua Dulce, Cuba), who was once imprisoned by Fidel Castro's revolutionary forces when he complained about having to drill two hours after each long work day (he was freed some 48 hours later by revolutionary friends who told him it would be wise for him to live the nation-island, and so he moved to L.A. where he found a job at a gas station). The band mainly played in Hollywood's coffee houses on the weekends. The membership for this group was decided on who would show up on any given night, sometimes as little as three or four players, or as many as nearly 30! (although no one of them singing). The band had only a vague idea of what was to be played each time on each night, depending on who showed up to play.

JAY WALKER AND THE PEDESTRIANS #? (FEBRUARY 1967 (?) - JUNE 1967)
1) Robert 'Bob' Barboza (aka Jay Walker) bass
2) Mario Parker drums
3) Alex Del Zoppo keyboards
4) Albert B. Moore flute
5) Elpidio 'Pete' Cobian congas
6) Andy Friend guitar
7) ??????? and many, many more.....

April 1967: Bonesville, 7369 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Jay Walker and The Pedestrians played some dates at this noted LA jazz club for "Night People" and "Show Biz Hippies". Being a prestigious gig, around 20 Los Angeles City College instrumentalists, many still learning their instruments, came to play, many strictly faking every minute of their performance. A review by Leonard Feather, said [sic] “...appropriately, their sound is, indeed pedestrian.”

Sunday, April 30, 1967: ‘Freedom of Expression Concert’, The Hullabaloo, 6230 Sunset Boulevard, Downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: UFO, W.C. Fields, Canned Heat, Yellow Brick Road, The Blues Express, The Knack, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Daily Flash, The New Generation, East Side Kids, The Ladybirds, The Factory, The Doors (canceled), Clear Light, Barry McGuire, Taj Mahal, Hamilton Street Car, Robert Baker, Hearts & Flowers, The Rain, Rick Martino, Biff Rose, The Poor, Lovin' One, Grateful Dead (in attendance but unable to play for lack of time), Kaleidoscope (in attendance but unable to play for lack of time), International Brick (in attendance but unable to play for lack of time), Satisfied Sponge (in attendance but unable to play for lack of time). Elliot Mintz of KPFK was the master of cerimonies for the early part of the evening until he had to leave to do his radio show, and Art Kunkin, editor of the Los Angeles Free Press, and Rusty Ward, manager of the Omnibus Coffee House, introduced the bands after Elliot left. Sponsored by The F.O.E. Committee, The Los Angeles Free Press, and The Omnibus Coffee House, these evening shows - one from 7:00pm to 10:00pm, and one from 10:30pm to 2:00am - were held by The F.O.E. (Freedom of Expression) Committee to collected funds that will be used for legal fees to defend the sale of 'The Love Book' at the Freepress Book Store and to permit singing in coffee houses.

May 1967: The Scarab, East Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
One night during a set by Jay Walker and The Pedestrians at The Scarab, a coffee house located few blocks from Los Angeles City College, while they played yet another long series of chords for each of them to jam over in turn, Albert Moore, the tall, slender flutist of the band, noticed in the audience a long-haired girl who was standing in the middle of the room, uninhibitedly singing along to the many-songed music. The girl in question was a Glendale High School senior called Nancy 'Nansi' Nevins (b. Wednesday, October 12, 1949, Los Angeles County), who drifted into it, together with her boyfriend, on her way home from another coffee house (they were too high to drive). Albert beckoned her up to the stage, to his microphone. She does so and was soon belting out her interpretation of the folk traditional, 'Motherless Child', knocking everybody out. When she finished, she returned to her seat next to her male companion, while the band continued non-stop with this ever evolving flow of musical excitement. When they finished some fifteen minutes later and went out to look for her, she was gone. They were often loaded out of their gills in those days, but it all seemed like a dream. They didn’t even know her name! Alex Del Zoppo recalled that night a year later in a interview with Hank Zevallos of the Los Angeles Free Press: "Wow, it was really something! We were all involved in this long thing when Albert noticed her. Then she blew our minds with her singing and returned to her boyfriend while we kept going on. We saw them get up and leave, but we were still too involved with what we were doing to stop. When we finally did finish, it blew our minds further to realize none of us knew who she was or how we could get in touch with her."

May 1967
After their above mentioned initial encounter, the search was on for Nansi Nevins. After two weeks of looking, Alex Del Zoppo finally located her by chance when he walked into The Omnibus, another Hollywood's coffee house, and was surprised to find her sitting there, softly strumming a guitar. "It's you! It's you," he said, soon finding out it was Nansi Nevins. However, since she was just leaving for San Francisco then, it took another month before she was re-united with the band she had once sang with.

June 1967
Back in Los Angeles after a month, Nansi Nevins, or 'Chicken' as Albert Moore used to call her, finally joined the band.

JAY WALKER AND THE PEDESTRIANS #? (JUNE 1967 - JUNE 30, 1967)
1) Jay Walker
2) Mario Parker
3) Alex Del Zoppo
4) Albert B. Moore
5) Pete Cobian
6) Andy Friend
7) Nancy 'Nansi' Nevins (aka 'Chicken') vocals
8) ??????? and many, many more.....

Friday, June 30, 1967: Bonesville, 7369 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
One show, from 9:00pm to 2:00am. Supposedly this was the first and only gig the band did with Nansi singing.

Saturday, July 1, 1967
Jay Walker and The Pedestrians broke up, or actually some of The Pedestrians split from Jay Walker and form a new band. Alex Del Zoppo suggested to Albert Moore, Pete Cobian and Andy Friend that the possibilities the four of them and Nansi Nevins had were boundless, and that they would not be able to reach their full potential in the current configuration of the band. So Alex recommended that they aim toward rock, using a rock bass player and rock drummer, for starters. They agreed. Since Bob Barboza was not interested in rock (and quite happy with what he had going) Alex told them about a versatile and inventive bass player (who knew orchestration, and mostly importantly, well versed in rock) called Fred Herrera, whom he'd played off and on with for years in different frat/bar gigs. Soon after they also found the two last piece of the puzzle, 17-year old wildly ambitious and fairly together drummer Alan Malarowitz (b. Alan Henry Malarowitz, March 20, 1950, Los Angeles - d. August 2, 1981, San Bernardino, California), the son of a former employer of Albert's, and Wesley Lloyd Radlein, a solid cellist whom they had briefly known. Last but not least, a local 18-year-old violinist named Larry Chaplan, who had been playing violin for 13 years and had “sat-in” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, also played with the fledgling band for a while before he went to play with the Quintet de Sade. The nine-piece lineup started rehearsing in Alex Del Zoppo's parents' living room, which was so small that Nansi Nevins remembers having to sing in the kitchen! It was also in Del Zoppo's kitchen that they'd been having band meetings to choose a name. They would stand around reading dictionaries wondering what to call themselves, and finally they settled with the name of the Los Angeles Psychedelic Rock Orchestra.

THE LOS ANGELES PSYCHEDELIC ROCK ORCHESTRA (JULY 1, 1967 - DECEMBER ?, 1967) / SWEETWATER #1 (DECEMBER ?, 1967 - EARLY 1968 (?))
1) Alex Del Zoppo keyboards, vocals
2) Albert B. Moore flute, vocals
3) Pete Cobian congas, other percussions
4) Nansi Nevins lead vocals, acoustic guitar
5) Fred Herrera bass, vocals
6) Andy Friend guitar, vocals
7) Alan Malarowitz drums
8) Wesley Lloyd Radlein cello
+
9) Larry Chaplan amplified violin

Sunday, July 2, 1967: 'Love-In', Merry-Go-Round area, Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Feliz, Central Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
The Los Angeles Psychedelic Rock Orchestra's first unpaid gig was at a local 'Love-In' that lasted from dawn to dusk. Also on the bill: Iron Butterfly, The Fraternity Of Man, Phil Ochs, Merry Go Round, West Coast Branch, and many more. Elliot Mintz of KPFK was the master of cerimonies. There were perhaps 10,000 people all over the place, all hippies! They went on in the late afternoon, and went over amazingly well, getting encores. Ron Moller, a guy who seemed to know everybody then, acted as a stand-in manager a few times, at leat until they found a real manager, fearless Bruce Glatman, few months later.

Wednesday, July 26, 1967: 'KPFK-FM 8th Anniversary Birthday Party', The Cheetah, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Steve Miller Blues Band, Hearts and Flowers, The Rainy Daze, Ian Whitcomb, Phil Ochs, Shelly Manne and His Men, Taj Mahal, The Gentle Soul, East Indian Autumn. The great late journalist and writer Derek Taylor - best known for his work as press officer for The Beatles and for his work as publicist and spokesman for the 'Monterey International Pop Festival' - and deejay Reb Foster of KRLA were the master of cerimonies. One show, from 8:00pm to 2:00am.

Los Angeles Free Press (July 21, 1967)

Saturday, August 19, 1967: 'Diggers Creative Society Benefit', Hollywood Beverly Christian Church, 1717 North Gramercy Place, Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The New Disciples, The Mugwumps. Lights by Etherial Illumination. One show, started at 8:00pm.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (August 18, 1967)

Sunday, October 29, 1967: 'Gary Berwin's Annual Artist's and Model's Ball', Grand Ballroom, Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
The Los Angeles Psychedelic Rock Orchestra's first paid gig. Also on the bill: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Sue Rainey, Mike Clifford, Rowan and Martin (MCs). This annual internationally event, which started at 8:00pm, was promoted by Gary Berwin, who was a well-known figure on the Sunset Strip scene, and with his partner Bruce Glatman he became the band's manager right after this gig.

Friday, November 17, 1967: The Rest Of It, 45 West Union Street, Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California

Los Angeles Free Press (November 17, 1967)

December ?, 1967
The Los Angeles Psychedelic Rock Orchestra changed their name to Sweetwater. According to Nansi Devins, the new name actually came out back in June when they attended the 'Monterey International Pop Festival'. They spent the weekend (June 16-18) in the cars they drove there. The guys were so nice to give Nansi one car to sleep in herself while they all slept in the other car and on the ground of the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Nansi slept in Alex’s dark green panel truck. Anyway, one morning, Albert and Nansi wandered off the road and into the woods. At a little creek, Albert took off his hat and splashed his face. Then he drank some of the water. "Albert, don't drink that water!" Nansi said grossed out, "Oh, Chicken," Albert replied, "Chicken, this water’s good! It’s Sweetwater.” Boing! They stared at each other. “Sweetwater!” They ran back to the cars and told everybody.

Monday, December 11 - Saturday, December 23, 1967: Whisky à Go Go, 8901 Sunset Boulevard at Clark Street, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Sweetwater debuted at the legendary Whisky à Go Go on the Sunset Strip, along with Topanga Canyon (11-13), Steppenwolf (11-14), Big Brother and The Holding Company (15-17, 20), Iron Butterfly (17), and Moby Grape (17-19, 21-23). Lights by Jerry Abrams' Headlights (15-17). At the time Big Brother with the great late Janis Joplin, was just breaking out of the Bay Area so everybody in the recording industry was there when Sweetwater opened for them on the weekends. This was just like a perfect showcase for Sweetwater. Twelve major record labels wooed them at that show. They drew Mo Ostin's interest and soon after, they signed a very good deal with Reprise Records (a division of Warner Bros.) for that period of time (the label snatched them up for a $15,000 advance).

Friday, December 22 - Saturday, December 23, 1967: 'Strange Nights Are Coming - Dance In An Infinite Array Of Mind Mesmerizing Opti-Sonic Stimuli', Shrine Exposition Hall, 700 West 32nd Street at Figueroa Street, South Los Angeles, California
Also on the bill: The Doors, The Iron Butterfly (maybe only 23), Bluesberry Jam. These shows, which starts at 8:30pm and with approximately 2,000 people in attendance for each day, were promoted by Pinnacle Presents. By the way, chairs are not present at this venue and the audience is required to stand or sit on the floor.

Los Angeles Times (December 10, 1967)

Los Angeles Times (December 17, 1967)

Los Angeles Free Press ad (December 15, 1967)

Thursday, January 4 - Saturday, January 6, 1968: Fillmore Auditorium, 1805 Geary Boulevard at Fillmore Street, Fillmore District, San Francisco, California
Sweetwater opened (unbilled because they were added to the bill after the poster for that show it had been in the works) for Vanilla Fudge, Steve Miller Band, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. Lights by Holy See. These shows, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am each day, were promoted by 'Bill Graham Presents In San Francisco'. According to the poster only the January 4 show was at the Fillmore, while the January 5 and 6 shows were at the Winterland, but a contemporary listing in the Berkeley Barb (January 5) listed all the three nights at the Fillmore, while a fourth night, January 7, was added at last minute and this one was held at the Winterland.

Sunday, January 7, 1968: Winterland, 2000 Post Street at Steiner Street, San Francisco, California
Sweetwater opened (unbilled because they were added to the bill after the poster for that show it had been in the works) for Vanilla Fudge, Steve Miller Band, and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. Lights by Holy See. The show, which lasted from 9:00pm to 2:00am, was promoted by 'Bill Graham Presents In San Francisco'.

Friday, January 12, 1968: dorm cafeteria, Northridge Hall, San Fernando Valley State College campus, just across Zelzah Avenue by the tennis courts, Northridge, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Bluesberry Jam. Lights by Castle Lights Inc. One show, started at 9:00pm.

Valley State Daily Sundial (January 12, 1968)

Saturday, February 3, 1968: Earl Warren Show Grounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, California 
Also on the bill: Big Brother and The Holding Company, Electric Flag. Lights by Omega's Eye. The show was promoted by Jim Salzer Presentation.

Saturday, February 10, 1968: Berkeley Community Theatre, 1930 Allston Way, Berkeley, Alameda County, California
Also on the bill: The Doors, Iron Butterfly. Two shows, 7:30pm and 9:30pm, presented by KYA, a Bay Area radio station.

Berkeley Barb (February 9, 1968)

Early 1968 (?)
Wesley Lloyd Radlein leaves the band because he couldn't perform any longer due to his being a Seventh Day Adventist, and was replaced on cello by August Burns, a UCLA student whose prime involvement has been with classical music.

SWEETWATER #2 (EARLY 1968 (?) - MAY ?, 1968)
1) Alex Del Zoppo
2) Albert B. Moore
3) Pete Cobian
4) Nansi Nevins
5) Fred Herrera
6) Alan Malarowitz
7) Andy Friend
8) August Burns cello

Early 1968: unknown studio, in or around Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Reprise Records' in-house producer Richard Perry at one point tried his hand on the group, demoing one session with them for their eponymous debut album, but nothing clicked. Warner Bros. was ok with that and recommended veteran sound engineer Dave Hassinger as their new producer.

Friday, March 1, 1968: Valley Music Theatre, 20600 Ventura Boulevard, Woodlands Hills, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Eric Burdon and The Animals, Steppenwolf, Eire Apparent.

Friday, March 22 - Saturday, March 23, 1968: The Cheetah, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Country Joe and The Fish, Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band.

Sunday, March 24, 1968: 'Benefit for Radio Strike fund for KMPX and KPPC djs', The Kaleidoscope, 6230 Sunset Boulevard at Vine Street, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Sweetwater were on the bill along with Clear Light, Buffalo Springfield, Steppenwolf, Jefferson Airplane, Tiny Tim, H.P. Lovecraft, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Firesign Theatre, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and Genesis. This was an afternoon show. The Kaleidoscope used the rotating stage to great effect, apparently managing set changes in 16 seconds. Disc jockeys on KMPX-fm radio in San Francisco, the first underground rock station in America, had gone on strike. The staff on their sister station KPPC (Pasadena) had joined them. There were a couple of events in San Francisco as well.

Saturday, April 6, 1968: 'Teen Time USA', Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, Orange County, California
Sweetwater played on the first day of this nine-day event promoted by Tommy Walker Presents. Also on the bill: Love, The Sunshine Company. Two shows a day, 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9, 1968: ‘First Annual Palm Springs Easter “Pop” Festival (aka An Out-Door Concert Under The Stars The Palm Springs Pop Festival),’ Sunair Drive-In Theatre, 68050 Highway 111, Cathedral City, Riverside County, California
Also on the bill: Eric Burdon and The Animals, The Collectors, Blue Cheer, The Dirty Blues Band. Lights by Picadilly Light Show. The festival, which started at 8pm, was presented by Gary Berwin.

The Desert Sun (April 8, 1968)

Sunday, April 14, 1968: 'The Great & Joyous Festival of Chauli - The Gathering of The Tribes for a Romp in the Forest', Tapia Park, Malibu Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County, California (Sweetwater canceled)
A loving, glorious, and peaceful 2-day joy parade (April 13) and festival (April 14), organized by a committee featured Joe Dana, Elliot Mintz, Marti Anderson, Peter Bergman, 'Supermother' Bryan, Mrs. Beverly Coburn (wife of actor James), Jeff Flaherty, Bill Greenwood, Chesley Millikin, Hugh Romney, and Ed & Sue Zamoro, and sponsored by Los Angeles Free Press, Oracle of Southern California, KPPC, The Hog Farm, Los Angeles Free Clinic, Diggers Creative Society, West Hollywood Presbyterian Church, Fred La Mont, Open City, and Robert Hubbell Associates. The live music on the day of the festival was provided by: Sweetwater (canceled), Quicksilver Messenger Service (canceled), The Hook (canceled), The All Star Jazz Band (canceled), Kaleidoscope, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Fraternity Of Man, Canned Heat, Lollipop Shoppe, Watts 103rd Street Band, Bluesberry Jam, Lee Michaels, Process, Evergreen Blue Shoes. Lights by Thomas Edison, Hi-Torr, and Northern Flames.

Los Angeles Free Press (April 5, 1968)

Sunday, April 14, 1968 (?): 'The First Annual Gene Youngblood Super-Sincerity Awards', unknown venue, Los Angeles, California
Also on the bill: Hook, Iron Butterfly, Bert Prelutsky (MC), and more.

Los Angeles Free Press (April 19, 1968)

Saturday, April 27, 1968: 'Dance and Light Show', Swing Auditorium, Orange Show Fairgrounds, 689 East Street, San Bernardino, California
Also on the bill: Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy. The show, which started at 8:00pm, was promoted by Scenic Sounds Productions Presents.

Sunday, May 5, 1968: 'Pledge Your Allegiance With Benefit A Folk-Rock', The Blue Law, 19840 South Hamilton Avenue, Torrance, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Steve Miller Blues Band, Blue Express, Hunger, Chapter 6, Pacific Gas & Electric, Genesis, and many more. The show, which lasted from 2:00pm to 1:00am, was presented by a non-profit organization called The Traditional Indian Land & Life Committee.

May ?, 1968
Impressed by a standing ovation performance of the band at The Blue Law few days before, Roger Gregory 'Rick' Carlyle (b. Sunday, May 18, 1947, Fresno County, California), a folk-rock musician who had long sought deeper fulfillment in his music, and who had also jammed with top San Francisco musicians at The Ark, a Sausalito boat-club he had managed, soon joined the band as guitarist, bongo player and vocalist, replacing Andy Friend who leaves them for unknown reasons.

SWEETWATER #3 (MAY ?, 1968 - AUGUST 1968 (?))
1) Alex Del Zoppo
2) Albert B. Moore
3) Pete Cobian
4) Nansi Nevins
5) Fred Herrera
6) Alan Malarowitz
7) August Burns cello
8) Rick Carlyle guitar, vocals, bongos

Sweetwater #3, 1968

Friday, May 10 - Saturday, May 11, 1968: 'Dance Concert', Shrine Exposition Hall, 700 West 32nd Street at Figueroa Street, South Los Angeles, California
Apparently, according to an eyewitness named Dan Sallberg, Sweetwater didn't show up for unknown reasons on May 10, and another band named the Ceyleib People filled in for them at last minute. Also on the bill: The Mothers Of Invention, Charlie Musselwhite Blues Band. 360° Lights and Cinema by Thomas Edison Castle Lighting. These shows, which lasted from 8:00pm to 2:00am, were presented by High Torr.

Valley State Daily Sundial (May 10, 1968)

Sunday, May 12, 1968: 'In Concert', Gymnasium, San Fernando Valley State College campus, just across Zelzah Avenue by the tennis courts, Northridge, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Big Brother and The Holding Company, Taj Mahal and The Great Plains Boogie Band. The show, which started at 7:30pm, was promoted by S.F.V.S.C. and A.M.S. Presents.

Valley State Daily Sundial (May 10, 1968)

Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19, 1968: 'Hearye Public Notice Blue Law Survival Benefit', The Blue Law, 19840 South Hamilton Avenue, Torrance, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill (the acts will perform on the night according to their availability): Strawberry Alarm Clock, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Pacific Gas and Electric, Genesis, Love Exchange, Hour Glass, Things To Come, Albert King, Red Beans & Rice, Spirit, Touch, Mothers Of Invention, H.P. Lovecraft, Triangle, East Side Kids, Copper Leaf, Fair Befall. One show each day, started at 8:00pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 2:00pm on Sunday.

Sunday, May 26, 1968: 'Hearye Public Notice Blue Law Survival Benefit', The Blue Law, 19840 South Hamilton Avenue, Torrance, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Strawberry Alarm Clock, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Things To Come, Red Beans and Rice, Spirit, Genesis, Touch, Mothers Of invention, H.P. Lovecraft, Triangle, East Side Kids, Fair Befall.

Sunday, May 26, 1968: 'Benefit Event for The Venice Service Centre And Theatre Venice', The Cheetah, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Big Black, Wayne Henderson & the Freedom Sounds. One show, started at 8:00pm.

Los Angeles Free Press (May 24, 1968)

June - August 1968 (?): American Recording, 11386 Ventura Boulevard, North Hollywood and The Sound Factory, 6357 Selma Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Sweetwater's new eight-piece lineup recorded their eponymous debut album over the summer, initially at the American Recording studio, and then at The Sound Factory, a studio owned by their producer Dave Hassinger. The album was arranged by Alex Del Zoppo and Fred Herrera.

Monday, June 17, 1968: 'Happening Benefit', Ash Grove, 8162 Melrose Avenue, Fairfax, West Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Collectors, Zone 26, The New Breed, Pacific Gas & Electric. One show, started at 8:00pm.

Los Angeles Free Press (June 14, 1968)

Friday, June 28 - Sunday, June 30, 1968: The Cheetah, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Mothers Of Invention, A.B. Skhy. Lights by Thomas Edison-Castle Lights. The show was promoted by High Torr Presents. One show a day, from 8:00pm to 2:00am.

Sunday, June 30, 1968: 'Phantasmagoria III - A Community Effort', Wrigley Field, 425 East 42nd Place, Los Angeles, California
Sweetwater appeared on the last day of this 4-day (June 27-30, but originally scheduled for June 13-16) benefit concert for the Black Congress, L.A. Free Clinic, and local radio station KPFK. Also on the bill: Them, Jeanette White (canceled), Billy Stafford (canceled), Simms Jurns (surname illegible on the ad), Jerry Brown and the New Breed, Peter Bryant, Marie Adams, John Hartford, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Illinois Speed Press, Electric Flag, Murray Roman (MC). One show, from 4:00pm to 1:00am.

Los Angeles Free Press (June 14, 1968)

Los Angeles Free Press (June 28, 1968)

Los Angeles Free Press (May 17, 1968)

Friday, July 26 - Saturday, July 27, 1968: 'In Dance-Concert', The Kaleidoscope, 6230 Sunset Boulevard at Vine Street, West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Hook, Fraternity Of Man, Public Bubble (late show). Lights by Bob Holt. One show each day, from 9:00pm to 2:00am, presented by Greg McKay.

Los Angeles Free Press (July 26, 1968)

Sunday, August 18, 1968: 'The Free Press Presents On The Beach: Brucemas Free - The Second Free Press Summer Celebration', outside The Cheetah, Pacific Ocean Park Amusement Pier, 1 Navy Street, Santa Monica (actually just over the line in Venice Beach), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Alice Cooper, Kaleidoscope (cancelled), Dino Valente (cancelled), Pacific Gas & Electric, Black Pearl, Illinois Speed Press, Outlaw Blues Band, Sherwood, Fields, Gypsy Wizard, Bluesberry Jam, Mt. Rushmore (cancelled), Chicago Transit Authority, and Murray Roman (MC). The show, which lasted from 12 noon to 8:00pm, was promoted by the Los Angeles Free Press and was a celebration marking the birth, life, death and existence of Lenny Bruce.

August 1968 (?)
Rick Carlyle leaves the band right after the completion of their eponymous debut album, supposedly to once again start a group of his own. Officialy the band never replaced him, but unofficialy their equipment manager Harvey Gerst, formerly of The Men and co-author of a couple of songs recorded by The Byrds, played guitar with them from time to time as "guest" (his guitar sound had a more mellowed jazz influence).

SWEETWATER #4 (AUGUST 1968 (?) - 1971)
1) Alex Del Zoppo
2) Albert B. Moore
3) Pete Cobian
4) Nansi Nevins
5) Fred Herrera
6) Alan Malarowitz
7) August Burns
+
8) Harvey Gerst guitar

September 1968
Sweetwater's eponymous debut album, 'Sweetwater' (Reprise RS 6313), was released in the US. The album was also released in Germany in 1969 for Reprise Records (Reprise RS 6313), and in France maybe that same year for Disques Vogue (CRV 6102). The album was later reissued on CD in 2005 (US) and 2009 (UK).

The Corsair (October 9, 1968)

Sunday, September 22, 1968: 'Bringing It All Back Home - Gathering of the Tribes In Commemotation of the Autumnal Equinox - The Third Free Press Celebration', Section 9, Elysian Park, Solano Canyon Drive, Central Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Sweetwater's equipment manager Harvey Gerst played guitar with the band at this free outdoor event which lasted from 6:00am to 9:00pm and that was promoted by the Los Angeles Free Press with the help of local radio stations KRLA-AM and KPPC-FM, The Free Clinic, and Green Power. Also on the bill: Peanut Butter Conspiracy (cancelled), Lee Michaels (cancelled), Blues Image, T.I.M.E., Joe Byrd Group Genisus (cancelled), Taj Mahal (cancelled), Diehard Trippers, Evening Sun, Tarantula, Mary Aldin (cancelled because she was sick), Kim Fowley, Notes From The Underground, Chicago Transit Authority, WIld Man Fisher, The Rockets, The Holy Modal Rounders, The Outlaw Blues Band. Sound courtesy of KTC and Acoustical Control Amplifiers.

Los Angeles Free Press (September 27, 1968)

Friday, September 27 - Saturday, September 28, 1968: Melodyland Theatre, across Harbor Boulevard from Disneyland, Anaheim, Orange County, California
Also on the bill: The Beach Boys, Grass Roots. One show on Friday, started at 8:30pm, and two shows on Saturday, started at 7:00pm & 10:00pm.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (September 13, 1968)

Saturday, October 5, 1968: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 West McDowell Road, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Sweetwater were on the bill along with Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, The Standells, and The Byrds. The show was promoted by 'Scenic Sounds Productions Presents'.

Thursday, October 24, 1968: Amphitheater, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California

The Corsair (October 23, 1968)

Friday, October 25 - Saturday, October 26, 1968: The Bank, 19840 South Hamilton Avenue, Torrance, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Black Pearl, Fields. One show each day, started at 8:30pm.

Sunday, October 27, 1968: 'Annual Artist's and Model's Ball', Grand Ballroom, Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Sweetwater played along with The Standells, Seven Souls, and Taj Mahal.

Wednesday, October 30, 1968
Sweetwater's debut single, 'What's Wrong / Two Worlds' (Reprise 0787), was scheduled to be released today only in the US but was finally withdrawn.

Thursday, November 7, 1968: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 West McDowell Road, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Sweetwater were on the bill along with The Doors, Albert King, The Sunshine Company, and Hamilton Streetcar. The show, which was promoted by 'Scenic Sounds Productions Presents', start at 8:00pm. Approximately 10,000 people were in attendance.

Wednesday, November 20, 1968
Sweetwater's debut single, 'What's Wrong / My Crystal Spider' (Reprise 0787), was released only in the US.

Thursday, December 5 - Sunday, December 8, 1968: Fillmore West, 10 South Van Ness Avenue at 1545 Market Street, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
Sweetwater were on the bill along with Jeff Beck Group, Spirit (5-6 only), and Linda Tillery "Sweet Linda Divine" (7-8 only). Lights by Brotherhood Of Light. The shows were promoted by 'Bill Graham Presents In San Francisco'.

Saturday, December 14, 1968: The Fabulous Forum, 3900 West Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: The Doors, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tsun-Yuen Lui. The show, which started at 8:30pm, was promoted by Scenic Sounds Presents.

Los Angeles Free Press (December 20, 1968)

Friday, December 27 - Saturday, December 28, 1968: Fillmore East, 105 2nd Avenue at East 6th Street, East Greenwich Village, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: Butterfield Blues Band, Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Super-Session “Mike Bloomfield-Al Kooper and Friends (one of them was B.B. King)". Lights by Joshua Light Show. The shows were promoted by 'Bill Graham Presents In New York'.

The East Village Other (December 14, 1968)

The East Village Other ad (Decembwer 20, 1968)

Monday, December 30, 1968: 'Miami Pop Festival', Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino, 901 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, Broward County, Florida
Sweetwater played on the final night of this 3-day (December 28-30) pop festival produced by Tom Grounds, and they even received a standion ovation after their performance! Also on the bill: Jose Feliciano, Iron Butterfly, The Turtles, Canned Heat, The Grass Roots, Jr. Walker and The All Stars, Ian and Sylvia, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Sweet Inspirations, and The Joe Tex Revue. One show, from 1:00pm to 10:00pm. 99,000 people were in attendance (for all the three days).

Sweetwater #3, Miami Pop Festival, December 30, 1968 - from left: August Burns, Fred Herrera, Nancy Nevins, and Albert Moore (© Bill Mankin)

Tuesday, December 31, 1968: 'A New Years Eve Extravaganza', Shrine Exposition Hall, 700 West 32nd Street at Figueroa Street, South Los Angeles, California
One show, from 8:00pm till exhaustion, promoted by Scenic Sounds Present. Also on the bill: Canned Heat, Poco, Lee Michaels, Black Pearl, Love Army.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (December 8, 1968)

Friday, January 31, 1969: Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Sweetwater opened for Jethro Tull (although some sources claims that Mitch Ryder actually opened for them). The show was promoted by Russ Gibb Presents In Detroit.

Saturday, February 15, 1969: Swing Auditorium, National Orange Show Grounds, 689 South East Street, San Bernardino, California
Sweetwater filled in for Steve Miller. Also on the bill: Iron Butterfly, Pacific Gas & Electric, Blues Image, Davy Jones (MC). The show, which started at 8:00 (or 8:30)pm, was presented by Tom Nieto's Scenic Sounds.

San Bernardino Sun (February 14, 1969)

Wednesday, February 19, 1969
Sweetwater's second single, 'Motherless Child [single edit] / Why Oh Why' (Reprise 0816), was released in the US. The single, released also in Japan later that same year with a picture sleeve, was their only single released in a foreign country.

US release

Japan release

Friday, February 28, 1969: Oxnard Recreation Center, 305 3rd Street, West Wing, Oxnard, Ventura County, California
Also on the bill: Evergreen Blues Band, Strange Brew. The show was presented by the late promoter Jim Salzer in partnership with KACY, a local radio station.

Friday, March 14 - Saturday, March 15, 1969: Aaron Russo’s Kinetic Playground, 4812 North Clark Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Sweetwater opened for the Jeff Beck Group, and Van Morrison.

Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 23, 1969: Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Also on the bill: Jeff Beck Group (21-22), Dick Rabbit (21-22), The Red, White & Blues Band (23), Sky (23). These shows were promoted by Russ Gibb Presents In Detroit.

Friday, March 28 - Sunday, March 30, 1969: Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River at Beverly, 1 Block South Of Joy Road, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Also on the bill: The Nice (28), The Frost (28), Wicked Religion (28; canceled), Ebony Tusk (29), The Flower Company (30). These shows were promoted by Russ Gibb Presents In Detroit.

Ann Arbor Argus (March 28, 1969)

Sweetwater #3, Grande Ballroom, Detroit, March 28 or 29 or 30, 1969 - from left: Alex Del Zoppo, August Burns, Fred Herrera, (hidden on drums) Alan Malarowitz, Nansi Nevins, Albert Moore, and (almost hidden) Pete Cobian

Sweetwater #3, Grande Ballroom, Detroit, March 28 or 29 or 30, 1969 - from left: Alex Del Zoppo, August Burns, Fred Herrera, Nansi Nevins, and Albert Moore

Sunday, March 30 or Monday, March 31 or Tuesday, April 1, 1969: 'First Annual Fort Lauderdale Easter-Rock Festival', Lockhart Park by Yankee Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida
Also on the bill: Creedence Clearwater Revival (31), MC 5 (31; cancelled), Canned Heat (31), Grass Roots, Steve Miller Blues Band (maybe 31), Strawberry Alarm Clock, Chuck Berry (31), 3 Dog Night, Buffalo Springfield, Morning Glory, Fruit Of The Loom, Tiny Tim, Super Session, Pacific Gas & Electric, Chambers Brothers (cancelled), Richie Havens (cancelled), Blood, Sweat & Tears (cancelled), Traffic (cancelled), Jeff Beck Group (cancelled), and many others groups. The festival, from 5:00 or 6:00pm to 12 midnight, was sponsored by WSRF Surf Radio station.

Tuesday, April 1 - Thursday, April 3, 1969: 'The Expanded Spiritual Music Concert', Dinner Key Auditorium, indoor arena inside one of Pan American Airways System Terminal Building's hangars, 3500 Pan American Drive, Dinner Key, Coconut Grove, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida (cancelled)
A three-day happening from April 1-3, 1969 at the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami was canceled after the March 1st onstage antics and subsequent arrest for lewd and lascivious behavior, indecdent exposure, and other charges of the Doors' Jim Morrison. The decision to deny permission for the event was made by one George MacLean, lessee of the auditorium from the city, who noted that participants proposed for the happening were "the same type people and the same type music as The Doors". 'The Expanded Spiritual Music Concert' was to involve a showing of the Jeebus-themed film The Greatest Story Ever Told and musical performances by "groups such as" the Grateful Dead, Country Joe and the Fish, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steve Miller Band, Sweetwater, Joe Smith and the Believers, and the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet. The Easter Rock event promoters ('Together Productions') sought an injunction to allow the show to proceed, but were denied in March by a Dade County Circuit Judge. It seems not to have helped that at least one of the promoters had an outstanding warrant for illegal drugs possession.

Friday, April 4 - Sunday, April 6, 1969: Electric Factory, 2201 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Also on the bill: Ten Years After (4-6), The Gun (4-5).

Monday, April 7, 1969: 'Detroit Pop Festival', Stage B, Olympia Stadium, 5920 Grand River Avenue at McGraw Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Also on the bill (Stage A): Frijid Pink, Unreleated Segments, Bob Seger System, Plain Brown Wrapper, Frost, Wilson Mower Pursuit, Ted Lucas, SRC, Red White and Blues Band, Third Power. Also on the bill (Stage B): H.P. and The Grass Route Movement, UP, Savage Grace, Fruit Of The Loom, Castle, Train, MC-5, Amboy Dukes. Sweetwater played on the stage B from 7:15pm to 8:00pm.

Sweetwater #3, April 7, 1969, Olympia Stadium, Detroit - from left: Alex Del Zoppo, Alan Malarowitz, Nansi Nevins, and Albert Moore

Tuesday, April 8, 1969: 'Grand Rapids Pop Festival', Civic Auditorium (aka Welsh Auditorium), 245 Monroe Avenue Northwest, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
Also on the bill: The Amboy Dukes, Caste, Frijid Pink, Frost, Fruit of the Loom, H. P. & the Grass Route Movement, Mandala, MC5, Plain Brown Wrapper, The Rationals, The Red, White & Blues Band, The Bob Seger System, SRC, The Third Power, The Train, The Unrelated Segments, The Up, Wilson Mower Pursuit.

Wednesday, April 9, 1969: 'Saginaw Pop Festival', Saginaw Auditorium, 235 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan (Sweetwater cancelled)
Also on the bill: MC5, Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger System, SRC, Frost, Frijid Pink. Sweetwater were originally scheduled to appear at this festival, but it was unlikely that they were able to keep this booking as well because they played in Boston that same day (see below).

Wednesday, April 9 - Thursday, April 10, 1969: Boston Tea Party, 53 Berkeley Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachussets
Sweetwater opened for Jethro Tull.

Friday, April 11 - Sunday, April 13, 1969: Boston Tea Party, 53 Berkeley Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachussets
Sweetwater opened for Family.

Fridary, April 18 or Saturday, April 19 or Sunday, April 20, 1969: Boston Common (aka the Common), Charles Street Side, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachussets
Sweetwater played an outdoor free festival at this central public park in downtown Boston.

Saturday, April 19, 1969: The Silverbell (Hideout), Bald Mountain Road, Clarkston, Oakland County, Michigan
Also on the bill: The Geyda, Toby Wesselfox.

Sunday, April 27, 1969: Minneapolis Labor Temple, 117 South East 4th Street, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Sweetwater opened for Muddy Waters.

Friday, May 9, 1969: University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida

Wednesday, May 14 - Thursday, May 15, 1969: Ungano's, 210 West 70th Street, b/w Amsterdam and West End Avenues, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: Elephant's Memory.

Village Voice ad (May 1, 1969)

Village Voice ad (May 8, 1969)

Village Voice ad (May 15, 1969)

The East Village Other (April 30, 1969)

The East Village Other ad (May 7, 1969)

The East Village Other ad (May 14, 1969)

Friday, May 16 - Sunday, May 18, 1969: Fillmore East, 105 2nd Avenue at East 6th Street, East Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: The Who, It’s A Beautiful Day. Lights by Joshua Light Show. These shows were promoted by Bill Gaham Presents In New York. Two evening shows on Friday and Saturday (8:00pm and 11:30pm, although on Friday the second show was canceled due to the fire next door), and one afternoon show on Sunday (3:00pm).

The East Village Other (April 30, 1969)

The East Village Other ad (May 9, 1969)

The East Village Other (May 21, 1969)

Monday, May 19 - Thursday, May 22, 1969: 'Dancing Concert', Steve Paul’s The Scene, 301 West 46th Street, Theatre District, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: It's A Beautiful Day (19-20).

Village Voice ad (April 24, 1969)

Village Voice ad (May 8, 1969)

Village Voice ad (May 1, 1969)

Village Voice ad (May 15, 1969)

Village Voice ad (May 22, 1969)

The East Village Other ad (May 7, 1969)

Saturday, May 24, 1969: 'Big Rock Pow-Wow', Seminole Indian Reservation, Route 441 & Stirling Road, West Hollywood, Broward County, Florida
Also on the bill: Grateful Dead, The Youngbloods, Joe South, Aum, Sun Country. The three-day festival (May 23-25) was promoted by 'Together Productions'.

Great Speckled bird ad (May 19, 1969)

Tuesday, June 10, 1969: 'New Sound', TV Show, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
"I seem to remember that we did it live and had enough time on that show to do several songs and some jamming (very unusual for TV in those days)". Alex Del Zoppo recalls, "I believe our set included most of the songs from our first album, our standard set at the time." "It was an experimental show that televised us playing almost half an hour worth of live music." Fred Herrera adds, "They actually recorded us video and audio live at the same time, which was never done at that time. All of the other TV shows we did in those day either took the feed directly from the album which we then lip-synched to, or recorded the band offstage beforehand. Then they would come in and 'stage' us according to the music to allow for correct camera angles. It was refreshing that they didn’t care what we did. They just turned on the camera and said, 'Go!' It was a lot different than just about everything else on TV that was going down then."

Wednesday, June 18, 1969
Sweetwater's third single, 'For Pete's Sake / Rondeau' (Reprise 0835), was released only in the US.

Saturday, June 21, 1969: 'Newport 69', Devonshire Downs (aka The Downs), southwest corner of Devonshire Street and Zelzah Avenue, east of Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, San Fernando Valley (aka The Valley), Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Love, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jethro Tull, Steppenwolf, Eric Burdon (maybe backed by The Blues Image), Buffy St. Marie, Friends Of Distinction, Charity, Womb, Cat Mother, Lee Michaels, Albert Collins, Jerry Lauderdale, Brenton Wood. Lights by Thomas Edison. The show lasted from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (June 6, 1969)

Wednesday, June 25, 1969: 'Rock Concert - Benefit for Dawn Today', Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Pacific Gas & Electric, Fields, Buffington Rhodes, Courtney Grove. One show, started at 8:00pm.

Los Angeles Free Press (June 20, 1969)

Friday, June 27 - Sunday, June 29, 1969: 'Denver Pop Festival', Mile High Stadium, 2755 West 17th Avenue, Denver, Colorado (Sweetwater canceled)
A three-day music festival promoted by Barry Fey. Sweetwater were originally advertised to play on June 27, then they were rescheduled for June 28, then they were rescheduled again for June 29, but finally they dropped out at last minute for unknown reasons! Also on the bill: Iron Butterfly (27), Big Mama Thornton (27), Taj Mahal (27; canceled), The Flock (27), Three Dog Night (27), The Mothers Of Invention (27), Creedence Clearwater Revival (28), Tim Buckley (28), Crosby, Stills & Nash (28; canceled), Johnny Winter (28), Poco (28), Aorta (28), Zephyr (28, then filled in for Sweetwater on 29), Aum (29), Rev. Cleophus Robinson (29), Joe Cocker (29), Three Dog Night (29), The Jimi Hendrix Experience (29), Chip Monck (MC) (27-29).

Friday, June 27, 1969: '2nd Annual The Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park', Wollman Memorial Skating Rink, 5th Avenue and 59th Street, South Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: Tiny Tim. Two shows, 8:00pm and 10:30pm.

Saturday, June 28, 1969: 'Good Vibes', Magic Circus, Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Boulevard, Downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Lonnie Mack, "Big Mama" Willie Mae Thornton, The Pulse Of Brent Lewis. One show, from 9:00pm to 2:00am.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (June 27, 1969)

Tuesday, July 1, 1969: Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 West McDowell Road, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Also on the bill: Three Dong Night.

Friday, July 4 - Saturday, July 5, 1969: '1st Annual Atlanta International Pop Festival', Atlanta International Raceway, 1500 Tara Place, just outside Hampton, south of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
The festival was organized by Alex Cooley and promoted by 'International Pop Festival Inc. Presents'. Sweetwater played both days (Friday show started at 2:00pm, while Saturday show started at 11:00am) along with Ten Wheel Drive (4-5), Pacific, Gas & Electric (4-5), Dave Brubeck & Gerry Mulligan (4), Ian & Sylvia (4), Paul Butterfield Blues Band (4), Delaney, Bonnie & Friends (4-5), Johnny Rivers (4), Johnny Winter (4), Al Kooper (4), Canned Heat (4), Creedence Clearwater Revival (4), Staple Singers (5), Tommy James & The Shondells (5), Booker T. & The M.G.’s (4), Chuck Berry (5), Blood Sweat and Tears (5), Spirit (5), Chicago Transit Authority (5), Joe Cocker (5), Led Zeppelin (5), Janis Joplin (5). Sound by Bill Hanley (4-5).

The Rag (June 12, 1969)

Los Angeles Free Press ad (June 20, 1969)

Los Angeles Free Press ad (June 27, 1969)

The Spectator (July 15, 1969)

NOLA Express (July 4, 1969)

Sunday, July 6, 1969: 'Dancing - Concert', Ungano's, 210 West 70th Street, b/w Amsterdam and West End Avenues, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: Hamilton Face Band.

Village Voice ad (June 25, 1969)

Village Voice ad (July 3, 1969)

The East Village Other ad (June 25, 1969)

Friday, July 25, 1969: '1st Annual 3 Day Midwest Rock Festival', Grand Stand, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 South 84th Street, West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
One show, started at 5:00pm. Also on the bill: SRC, Led Zeppelin, Shag , Buffy Sainte Marie, First Edition, Pacific Gas & Electric. Lights by Pablo Light Show.

Sweetwater #4, Midwest Rock Festival, July 25, 1969

Friday, July 25 - Saturday, July 26, 1969: Aaron Russo's Kinetic Playground, 4812 North Clark Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Also on the bill: Richie Havens, Spooky Tooth.

Thursday, July 31, 1969: 'Madison Pop-Rock Festival', Camp Randall Stadium, University of Wisconsin campus, 1440 Monroe Street, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
Also on the bill: 5 high school pop-rock groups from around the country. One show, started at 8:00pm.

Friday, August 1 - Saturday, August 2, 1969: Eastown Theatre, 8041 Harper Avenue, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Also on the bill: Head Over Heels (1), The Attack (1), Frut Of The Loom (2). Lights by Magic Veil Light Show (1-2).

Friday, August 15, 1969: 'Woodstock Music & Art Fair presents An Aquarian Exposition - 3 Days Of Peace & Music' (aka 'Woodstock', aka 'Woodstock Festival'), Max Yasgur’s dairy farm, White Lake, Bethel, Sullivan County, Woodstock Valley, New York
Also on the bill: Richie Havens, Swami Satchidananda, Bert Sommer, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez. Sweetwater played on the first day, third on the bill, from 7:30pm to 8:10pm.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (July 25, 1969)

Saturday, August 23, 1969: Starlight Bowl, Balboa Park, 2005 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, California
Also on the bill: Lee Michaels, Taj Mahal. The show, which started at 8:30pm, was promoted by KPRI Presents.

Monday, September 1, 1969: 'Texas International Pop Festival', Dallas International Motor Speedway, east side of Interstate Highway 35 E, across from the Round Grove Road, Lewisville, Denton County, Texas
Also on the bill: Johnny Winter (filled in for the early advertised Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, B.B. King, Nazz, Sly and The Family Stone, Spirit, Ten Years After, Tony Joe White. Lights by Joshua Light Show. One show, started at 4:00pm.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (August 15, 1969)

The Rag (July 31, 1969)

Sunday, September 7, 1969: 'Thunderbird Peace Festival', Capilano Indian Reserve, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (canceled)
Also on the bill: The Band, John Mayall, Taj Mahal, Sly and The Family Stone, Spirit, Youngbloods, Albert Collins, Buddy Miles Express, Southwind, Crow. The two-day (September 6-7) festival was canceled because when it came time to pay deposits on artists and other related expenses, Libra Promotions did not have enough money to cover them.

Saturday, October 4, 1969: Titan Gymnasium, CSUF (California State University, Fullerton) campus, 800 North State College Boulevard, Fullerton, Orange County, California
Also on the bill: Taj Mahal, Wheatstone Bridge. The show, which started at 8:00pm, was promoted by Associated Students Presents.

Friday, October 31, 1969: 'Black Magic & Rock n' Roll Festival (aka A Black Arts Festival)', Olympia Stadium, 5920 Grand River Avenue at McGraw Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Although they were not billed, Sweetwater played a "surprise" set tonight. One show, from 6:00pm 'till the weee hours of the morning. Also on the bill: SRC, Arthur Brown (canceled), Dr. Tim Leary (canceled), MC5 (canceled), Bonzo Dog Band (canceled), Coven (set censored), Pink Floyd (canceled), Peter Hurkos (Mystic), Ralph Adams (Modern Houdini) (canceled), Plum Wine, Kim Fowley (canceled), Alice Cooper (canceled), Sky (canceled), Pluto, Ted Lucas, Frijid Pink, Früt, Satan (Himself) (canceled), Teegarden & Van Winkle, Bob Seger System (canceled), All The Lonely People (canceled), Pleasure Seekers (canceled), Stooges, Savage Grace (set aborted), The Frost (appeared, although they weren't permitted to play), and The Amboy Dukes (appeared, although they weren't permitted to play). WABX deejay Jerry Lubin was the master of ceremonies. The festival was promoted by Mike Quatro, Russ Gibb & Mike Keener.

Saturday, November 1, 1969: 'Homecoming '69', University Events Building, 333 East Stadium Boulevard, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Also on the bill: Laura Nyro, Richie Havens. One show, started at 8:30pm.

The Michigan Daily (October 17, 1969)

The Michigan Daily (October 24, 1969)

The Michigan Daily (October 30, 1969)

The Michigan Daily (October 15, 1969)

The Michigan Daily (October 19,1969)

The Michigan Daily (October 25, 1969)

The Michigan Daily (October 28, 1969)

Sunday, November 9, 1969: Meredith Field at Harder Stadium (aka Soccer Heaven), UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara) campus, Stadium Road, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California
Also on the bill: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Dayspring, Steve Miller (cancelled). The show, which started at 1:00pm, was presented by Westcoast Promotions. Crowd rushes gates and breaks in; there will not be another stadium show until 5/20/1973. Stage is set up at west end of stadium, the only time that configuration was used; from here on in, stage will be at the east end of the stadium. Steve Miller was scheduled, and did not play. I think he was late, and was originally scheduled to come on after CSNY, but did not do so, probably because of the crowd control issues. The CSNY set was memorable for Neil Young blurting out "Let's do a Grateful Dead song" during the acoustic set (they didn't).

Los Angeles Free Press (November 7, 1969)

Friday, November 28, 1969: 'Palm Beach Pop Festival (aka First Annual Palm Beach International Music Festival)', Palm Beach International Raceway, 17047 Beeline Highway, Jupiter, Palm Beach County, Florida
Sweetwater appeared on the first day of this 3-day (November 28-30) pop festival. Also on the bill: Iron Butterfly, Chambers Brothers, Pacific Gas & Electric, Country Joe & The Fish, Johnny Winter, and more. By the way, 33,000 people were in attedance that first day.

Great Speckled Bird ad (November 10, 1969)

Great Speckled Bird ad (November 17, 1969)

Saturday, December 27 - Monday, December 29, 1969: 'Miami Rock Festival - Last Rock Festival of the 60's', Miami-Hollywood Speedway Park, 16661 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, Broward County, Florida (Sweetwater cancelled)
A 3-day festival presented by Miami Rock Festival Inc. and Edcoe Productions. Also on the bill: Santana, Crow, Smith, Canned Heat, Grateful Dead, Butterfield Blues Band, B.B. King, Hugh Masekela, Vanilla Fudge, Tony Joe White, Biff Rose, Amboy Dukes, Turtles, Motherlode, The Band, Johnny Winter, Cold Blood.

Saturday, December 27 - Monday, December 29, 1969: 'Indian Creek Celebration and Music Appreciation Seminar', San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California (cancelled)
Also on the bill: Bycycle, Blues Image, Blue Mountain Eagle, The Byrds, Chambers Bros., Country Joe and The Fish, Iron Butterfly, John Savages, Eric Mercury, Pacific Gas & Electric, Rotary Connection, Spirit, Vanilla Fudge, Johnny Winter, Bobby Womack, Youngbloods, Zephyr, and others. A local Los Angeles organisation of promoters calling itself Mid-Winter Pop Festival Inc. books several acts for a three-day festival, the 'Indian Creek Celebration and Music Appreciation Seminar', to be held in a wooded area of rolling hills just north-east of San Luis Obispo, CA, a couple of days before New Year's Eve. The promoters reputedly shell out £300,000 to reserve at least 18 acts, including Sweetwater exactly, and expect attendance in the region of 200,000-300,000. By the weekend of December 20-21, people arrive at Indian Creek with tents and sleeping bags. The recently Altamont disaster has left local California authorities unwilling to give permission for any gathering of large crowds, and lawmen practically see red when a gathering equals a rock festival. Despite clever attempts to draw attention away from the bad image that festivals have gained or hide the festivities under a different guise (the Indian Creek Festival, for example, is a "seminar"), the San Luis Obispo project is doomed. The local sheriff, the governor's office, the state disaster office, and nearby city and county authorities join forces to stop the organisers. On December 24, County Supervisors unanimously adopt an ordinance forbidding assemblies of more than 5,000 persons for a period of three months - and that's the end of the seminar.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (December 19,1969)

Los Angeles Free Press (January 9, 1970)

Saturday, January 24, 1970: 'A Benefit Concert for Long Beach Free Clinic', Long Beach Arena, 300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Love, Eric Burdon, The Frantics, Taj Mahal. The show, which started at 8pm, was promoted by CWS Productions presents.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (January 16, 1970)

Friday, March 6, 1970: Florida Gymnasium, University of Florida, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida
Also on the bill: Johnny Rivers, Celebration.

Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29, 1970: 'Southwest '70 Peace Festival', Floyd L. Reynold's farm, 10 miles East of Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas
Due to weather problems, the Thursday opening is postponed until the following day - extending the festivities until Sunday instead of the planned end on Saturday. Also on the bill: The Byrds (28; canceled), Barry McGuire (27), Johnny Winter, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Vanilla Fudge (canceled), Flock, Zephyr, Canned Heat, Muddy Waters, Truth (28), Sundance, Freddie King, Bloodrock (27), Joe Kelly Blues Band, Bangor Flying Circus (28), Blue Mountain Eagle, Beast, Frantics, and more. The festival was promoted by Atlantis Productions.

Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29, 1970: 'Winter's End Festival', outdoor area close to the Bithlo Speedway, Bithlo, Orange County, Florida (cancelled)
Also on the bill: Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly, Joe Cocker, Grand Funk Railroad, B.B. King, Richie Havens, The Kinks, Little Richard, John Mayall, Sly & The Family Stone, Ten Years After, Ike & Tina Turner, Steve Miller Band, Country Joe and The Fish, Mountain, Johnny and Edgar Winter, The Hog Farm, Wavy Gravy (MC).

Great Speckled Bird (March 16, 1970)

Billboard (February 28, 1970)

The Seed (February 1, 1970)

Saturday, March 28, 1970: Cobo Arena, 301 Civic Center Drive, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
One show, started at 8:30pm. Also on the bill: Three Dog Night, John Mayall, Frost.

Wednesday, April 22, 1970: 'The Fabulous Earth Night Concert', Pauley Pavilion, U.CL.A. (University of California, Los Angeles) campus, 301 Westwood Plaza, Westwood, Los Angeles County, California
A free concert, which started at 8:30pm, held to celebrate life. Also on the bill: Sandy Baron, Hoyt Axton, Pure Love and Pleasure, Gary Burghoff, Song of Earth Chorale, Bob Newhart.

UCLA Daily Bruin (April 16, 1970)

Saturday, May 2, 1970: ‘Jubilee,’ Kenan Memorial Stadium, 78 Stadium Drive, Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina
Also on the bill: Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen. One show, started at 4pm.

Saturday, May 16, 1970: Golden Gymnasium, California Western University campus, Point Loma, San Diego, San Diego County, California
Also on the bill: Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Saturday, May 16, 1970: 'Super Show', Florida Field (aka The Swamp), University of Florida campus, 157 Gale Lemerand Drive, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida
Also on the bill: Sly and The Family Stone, Grand Funk Railroad, The Youngbloods, Genya Ravan and Ten Wheel Drive, Mecki Mark Men, James Cotton Blues Band, Ewing St. Times, Crow.

Tuesday, May 19, 1970: Bovard Field, University of Southern California campus, Los Angeles, California
About 10,000 people gathered at the Bovard Field for a peace concert featuring Sweetwater, Steppenwolf, Zephyr, and Earth Disciples. All groups performed for free, and Sweetwater, Steppenwolf and Zephyr were called back for well-deserved encores (Sweetwater, who played without the injured Nansi Nevins, closed the show). Joe Cocker and Phil Ochs were also originally listed among the performes but they did not appear. Los Angeles Free Press staff member John Carpenter and USC Strike Committee co-founder Denny Thompson were the emcees.

Los Angeles Free Press (May 29, 1970)

Saturday, June 13, 1970: 'Cosmic Festival', Atlanta Stadium, 521 Capitol Avenue Southwest, Atlanta, Fulton County, GA (Sweetwater canceled)
Sweetwater were advertised to play at the Cosmic Festival with an onstage time of 1:00pm but they canceled at the last minute for unknown reasons. Also on the bill were: Love (canceled), Third Rail, Funk Inc., Sun Country, Shelly Isaacs, Baby, Majester Ludi, Sabudi, Ten Years After (canceled), Ike and Tina Turner (canceled), Albert King (canceled), It's A Beautiful Day, Traffic, Allman Brothers, Mothers Of Invention, Fat Jessie, Sabudi, Mountain, and Murray Roman (MC). Sound by Bill Hanley. The festival was promoted by An Aftermath-Pure Cane Productions Presentation.

Great Speckled Bird ad (June 15, 1970)

Friday, July 3, 1970: Swing Auditorium, Orange Show Fairgrounds, 689 East Street, San Bernardino, California
Also on the bill: Traffic, Blues Image, Silver Metre.

Monday, July 6, 1970: WREK-FM (91.1), Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Some members of Sweetwater, along with some members of It's A Beautiful Day, did an interview for WREK, a radio station staffed by the students of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, that aired today at 8:30pm.

Wednesday, September 23 - Sunday, September 27, 1970: Thee Club, 8409 Santa Monica Boulevard, 2 blocks east of La Cienega Boulevard, Downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Judy Mayhan.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (September 18, 1970)

Saturday, October 10, 1970: Jenison Fieldhouse, Michigan State University campus, 248 Jenison Field House, East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan
Also on the bill: Pacific Gas & Electric. One show, started at 8:00pm.

October 1970
Sweetwater's second album, 'Just For You', was released in the US.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (November 27, 1970)

The Michigan Daily (January 16, 1971)

The Spectrum (November 13, 1970)

Great Speckled Bird (December 14, 1970)

Sunday, November 15 - Wednesday, November 18, 1970: Palladium, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Also on the bill: Booger, Hydra.

Sunday, November 22, 1970: 'Benefit for So. Cal. Free Clinic', Hollywood Bowl, 2301 North Highland Avenue, downtown Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly.

Friday, December 11 - Saturday, December 12, 1970: The Warehouse, 1721 South Manchester Avenue, just off the Santa Ana Freeway near Katella Avenue, Anaheim, Orange County, California

December 31, 1970: 'New Year's Eve Show', Eastown Theatre, 8041 Harper Avenue, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Also on the bill: Illusion, Catfish, Mutzie, Head Over Heels, Elephant.

Friday, January 8 - Saturday, January 9, 1971: Fillmore East, 105 2nd Avenue at East 6th Street, East Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Also on the bill: Buddy Miles, Big Brother and The Holding Company. Lights by Joe's Lights. These shows were promoted by Bill Gaham Presents In New York.

Saturday, February 13, 1971: Clarkson Alumni Gymnasium, Clarkson University campus, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York
Also on the bill: Steve Miller Band. One show, started at 3:00pm.

Friday, April 2, 1971: Lobero Theatre, 33 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, California
Also on the bill: Goldstreet.

Sunday, April 4, 1971: 'Easter Vacation', Long Beach Arena, 300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Chambers Brothers, David T. Walker. The show, which started at 7:30pm, was produced by Continental Concerts Inc.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (March 19, 1971)

Tuesday, May 4, 1971: 'Mayflower', Cromwell Track & Field, University of Southern California campus, 850 West 37th Street, Los Angeles, California
A memorial rock festival held at noon to commemorate the slayings of four students by National Guardsmen at Kent State University last spring. The festival was co-sponsored by The Mayflower Passenger Committee with the ASSC. Also on the bll: T.C. Alantic, Zephyr, Ballin' Jack, Six-Penny Opera, Flag.

Daily Trojan (April 29, 1971)

Daily Trojan (May 4, 1971)

Wednesday, May 5, 1971: 'A Salute To Cinco De Mayo - An Open Party For Peace', football field, California State College campus, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, California
A free music festival and Cinco de Mayo celebration presented by Cal State Los Angeles A.S.B. (Associate Student Body). The event, which lasted from 12:00am to 12 midnight, featured in order of appearance: Rabatee (12:00pm to 1:00pm), Douglas Dillard Expedition (1:00pm to 2:00pm), Fondiler & Snow (2:00pm to 3:00pm), Christopher Milk (3:00pm to 4:00pm), Doodle-E-Doo-Do (4:00pm to 5:00pm), Sweetwater (5:00pm to 6:00pm), Scott McKenzie (6:00pm to 7:00pm), Rattlesnakes & Eggs (7:00pm to 8:00pm), Crabby Appleton (8:00pm to 9:00pm), Ballin' Jack (9:00pm to 10:00pm), formerly Anthrax (10:pm to 11:00pm), Spencer Davis & Peter Jameson (11:00pm to 12 midnight). Sound by Tycho Bahe. Stage Manager: Howard Carper. By the way, Mark Almond and Timber were also originally scheduled to appear but they cancelled because Mark Almond were not able to obtain the necessary extension of their visa (they were a British band), while Timber were in Canada to play some gigs there during the same time so they weren't available.

Los Angeles Free Press (April 30, 1971)

Saturday, May 15, 1971: ‘Guilford County Festival of the Arts - Festival One Rock Show,’ Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, Guildford County, North Carolina
Also on the bill: Spirit, Sugarloaf, Cold Blood, Edgar Winter’s White Trash, Chuck Berry, Force, Kallabash Corporation, Villagers, Shadows of Love, Baccus, Fred, Partly Cloudy, Paul Sebo (chairman). Two shows, from 12:30pm to 4:30pm (Rock Show One) and from 7:30pm to 11:30pm (Rock Show Two). This show was a reunion for Sweetwater and Nansi Nevins, the lead singer badly injured in an auto accident a year ago which changed her voice. Still not strong, Nansi flew to Greensboro to sang three songs with the band on the occasion of Festival One.

Thursday, June 24, 1971: 'Concert And Live Recording Session', Gynasium, California State College at Los Angeles campus, 5151 State University Drive, University Hills, Eastside Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Also on the bill: Invaders Underground, Truth, Prophets, Folk, L&M Jazz, Free Road, Cold Duck, Chico David Blues Band, Pollution, Alcorn 3 Plus 1, Watts 103rd Street Band, Carla Thomas, Bobby Womack, Max Baer. The show, which started at 7:00pm, was presented by ZBT and Sounds Of Young L.A., Inc.

Los Angeles Free Press ad (June 18, 1971)