A few weeks ago, we finally had enough of the memories of Freedom Hall.
Together with Jared and Tom on The Buzzcutz Podcast, we were recalling all of the great rock and roll concerts we attended at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City back in the seventies and eighties and we can’t figure out what happened since then.
It seemed almost every weekend, you could join your friends in Johnson City and see a rock show from one of the nation’s biggest acts. Although we have one concert coming up in a few weeks, the most popular “shows” at Freedom Hall now are Jehovah’s Witness conventions, gospel concerts and church gatherings.
The only other rock show this year was ZZ Top back in May and you have to wonder what’s up at this – our municipal auditorium.
We’re doing some research on that question and before we discuss those ideas, we thought it would be a good idea to put together the definitive list of all the concerts held at Freedom Hall and compare what we had then and what we have now.
If anything, it’s a good index for our memories because it’s hard to recall those dates and times, but having that information connects the dots and more importantly it reveals the difference between then and now.
Perhaps after we get the list, we can all work toward finding out what the deal is at Freedom Hall.
This facility is supposed to be a “Civic Center” and I personally feel the need to wonder why the leaders and marketing department here refuse to culture this complex as an entertainment center and with-hold great cultural opportunities for the citizens in this region..
You can help. Review our list and help us gather any additional dates. Our goal is to have the complete concert calendar for Freedom Hall and we’ll start with what we know. Feel free to chime in with dates or memories.
(Above – Elvis Presley at Freedom Hall in 1976)
Freedom Hall opened on July 5th, 1974
July 5th, 1974
Bob Hope w/Karen Stanton and the Bowers Family
August 10, 1974
Frankie Vali & The Four Season
September 28, 1974
Earl Scruggs Review
October 4, 1974
Mac Davis
October 18th, 1974
REO Speedwagon
J. Geils Band
November 8th 1974
Mountain
Atlanta Rhythm Section
November 26, 1974
Foghat
Black Oak Arkansas
The Stampeders
December 7th, 1974
The Doobie Brothers
January 4th, 1975
Bachman Turner Overdrive
Bog Seger
February 17th, 1975
Joe Walsh
Charlie Daniels Band
March 8, 1975
Marshall Tucker Band
REO Speedwagon
March 11, 1975
Guy Lombardo
March 22, 1975
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sensational Alex Harvey Band
March 28th, 1975
Johnny Winter
James Cotton Blues Band
April 19, 1979
ZZ Top
Status Quo
April 21, 1975
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
April 24, 1975
Kiss
Rush
Fly By Night Tour
May 2, 1975
Porter Waggoner
Barbara Lee
Speck Rhodes
May 10th, 1975
America
May 17th, 1975
Linda Ronstadt
Al Kooper
May 27, 1975
Alice Cooper
Suzi Quatro
May 31, 1975
John Prine
June 25th, 1975
Peter Frampton
Montrose
June 27th, 1975
Sonny Payne Trio
July 4th, 1975
Merle Haggard
Ronnie Reno
Leona Williams
July 15th, 1975
The Electric Light Orchestra
Slade
Pavlov’s Dog
August 4, 1975
Poco
The Eagles
August 21, 1975
Jethro Tull
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
August 30, 1975
Uriah Heep
Blue Oyster Cult
September 19th, 1975
Marshall Tucker Band
Wet Willie
Heartsfield
October 1st, 1975
Aerosmith
October 10th, 1975
Four Seasons
October 13, 1975
Rush
Ted Nugent
Kiss
Artful Dodger
October 15th, 1975
Rod Stewart with Faces
October 22, 1975
Black Oak Arkansas
Foghat
Montrose
November 5, 1975
Edgar Winter Group
W/ Rick Derringer
J Geils Band
Climax Blues Band
November 9th, 1975
The Lettermen
December 6th, 1975
Black Sabbath
Manfred Manns Earth Band
Ruby Star
Grey Ghost
December 27th, 1975
Charlie Daniels Band
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Grinders Switch
January 10th, 1976
REO Speedwagon
Bob Seger
Styx
January 29, 1976
Vienna’s Boys Choir
January 31, 1976
Deep Purple
Ted Nugent
Nazarath
February 13, 1976
Van Cliburn
February 28th, 1976
Bachman Turner Overdrive
REO Speedwagon
Tropper
March 13, 1976
Joe Cocker
Ozark Mountain Daredeviles
Point Blank
March 17th, 18th, 19th, 1976
Elvis Presley
– Video
April 2, 1976
Neil Sedaka
April 20, 1976
The Bruce Springsteen Band
– Bruce at Freedom Hall – Courtesy of D Cortner
May 14th, 1976
President Gerald Ford
May 14th, 1976
Santana
Ted Nugent
Starcastle
May 31, 1976
Yes
Pousette Dart Band
June 22, 1976
Nazareth
Elvin Bishop
Ian Gillan
July 19th, 1976
Kiss
Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
August 16, 1976
Doobie Brothers
Heart
September 2, 1976
Robin Trower
Angel
October 10th, 1976
Donald Byrd and the Blackbirds
Dorothy Moore
Chocolate Milk
October 13th, 1976
Aerosmith
Ted Nugent
October 19th, 1976
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
October 15th, 1976
John Denver
October 29th, 1976
Blue Oyster Cult
Mother’s Finest
The Ramones
November 9th, 1976
Seals and Croft
November 21st, 1976
Leon Russell
Thunderbyrd with Roger McGuinn
December 4th, 1976
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jeannie Pruett
Ronnie Dove
December 10th, 1976
Kansas
Sea Level
Starcastle
January 15th, 1977
Charlie Daniels Band
Elvin Bishop
Cate Brothers
January 29th, 1977
Marshall Tucker Band
Pure Prarie League
February 12th, 1977
Waylon Jennings
February 13, 1977
Stevie Ray Vaughn
February 18, 1977
Boston
Atlanta Rhythm Section
February 19, 1977
Elvis Presley
February 26, 1977
Kiss
Dictators
March 11th, 1977
Willie Nelson
Jerry Jeff Walker
Steve Young
March 19th, 1977
Dolly Parton
Parker McGee
April 2nd, 1977
Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
Starz
April 15, 1977
ZZ Top with Blackfoot
World Wide Texas Tour
April 22, 1977
Lynyrd Skynrd
May 4th, 1977
Tom Jones
May 6th, 1977
Gregg Allman
May 19, 1977
Foghat
Styx
Headeast
May 30th, 1977
Ted Nugent
Michael Stanley Band
Nazareth
June 18th, 1977
Dan Fogelberg
Fools Gold
June 27th, 1977
Emerson Lake and Palmer
July 4th, 1977
Franki Valli and The Four Season Farewell Tour
July 6th, 1977
REO Speedwagon
Judas Priest
Black Oak Arkansas
August 19th, 1977
Bad Company
Climax Blues Band
August 23, 1977
Willie Nelson
Emmylou Harris
September 23, 1977
Jimmy Buffet
Jesse Winchester
October 4th, 1977
Tom Jones
October 8th, 1977
Heart
Sanford Townsend Band
October 13th, 1977
Ferrante & Teicher
October 21st, 1977
Kenny Rogers
Stella Parton
T.G. Sheppard
October 29th, 1977
Robin Trower
Ram Jam
Crawler
November 11th, 1977
The Beach Boys
November 12th, 1977
Tom T. Hall
Jean Sheppard
Jerry Clower
November 19th, 1977
England Dan and John Ford Coley
November 24th, 1977
AC/DC
The Motors
UFO
December 3, 1977
Edgar Winter
Charlie Daniels Band
Wet Willie
December 8th, 1977
Ronnie McDowell
December 10, 1977
Todd Rungren and Utopia
January 27th, 1978
Bob Barker
January 27th, 1978
Bob Barker
February 4th, 1978
Charlie Pride
Dave and Sugar
February 22nd, 1978
Engelbert Humperdink
March 10, 1978
Emerson Lake and Palmer
March 11th, 1978
Waylon Jennings
Jessi Colter
March 15th, 1978
The Lettermen
March 17th, 1978
Rush
The Babys
Pat Travers
March 18th, 1978
Conway Twitty
Loretta Lynn
April 1st, 1978
J.D Souther
April 7th, 1978
Blue Oyster Cult
Angel
Godz
April 14th, 1978
Willie Nelson
Emmylou Harris
April 20th, 1978
Ronnie Milsap
Eddie Rabbit
April 29th, 1978
Journey
Montrose
Leblanc and Carr
May 19th, 1978
Larry Gatlin
June 3rd, 1978
Foreigner
Head East
June 23, 1978
Rainbow
Ronnie James Dio
REO Speedwagon
July 4th, 1978
B.J. Thomas
July 7th, 1978
Johnny Paycheck
R.C. Cannon
July 12, 1978
Kansas
Dudek Finnegan Kruger Band
August 18, 1978
Seals and Croft
Eddie Money
September 1st, 1978
Doobie Brothers
Wet Willie
September 9, 1978
AC/DC
Cheap Trick
The Dictators
October 8th, 1978
Seals and Croft
October 14th, 1978
Outlaws
Pat Travers
October 21st, 1978
Ferannte & Teicher
October 28th, 1978
Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
November 2nd, 1978
Kenny Rogers
Eddie Rabbit
Dottie West
November 3rd, 1978
Charlie Daniels Band
November 9th, 1978
Chicago
December 2nd, 1978
Statler Brothers
Barbara Mandrell
December 26th, 1978
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Ambrosia / Cancelled
Passenger – Played instead
January 6th, 1979
Styx
Cindy Bullens
January 27, 1979
Boston
Don’t Look Back Tour
Sammy Hagar
February 2nd, 1979
Heart
Firefall
February 10th, 1979
Merle Haggard
Marty Robbins
March 3rd, 1979
Sha-Na-Na
March 16th, 1979
Waylon Jennings
Buddy Holly’s Crickets
March 17th, 1979
Rush
Angel
March 23rd, 1979
Charlie Pride
April 5th, 1979
Don Williams
Barefoot Jerry
Charlie McCoy
April 7th, 1979
Eddie Rabbit
April 14th, 1979
Black Oak Arkansas
Stillwater
Brownsville Station
April 17th, 1979
Eric Clapton
Backless Tour
Muddy Waters
April 27, 1979
Cheap Trick
May 5th, 1979
Tom Jones
May 11th, 1979
Mahogany Rush
Blackfoot
April Wine
May 12th, 1979
Willie Nelson
Leon Russell
May 19th, 1979
Oak Ridge Boys
Emmylou Harris
June 5th, 1979
Lawerence Welk
June 16th, 1979
Nazaerth
Mahogany Rush
July 7th, 1979
England Dan and John Ford Coley
July 27th, 1979
Molly Hatchet
August 24th, 1979
Blackfoot
Nantucket
September 14th, 1979
Moe Bandy
Joe Stampley
September 22nd, 1979
Little River Band
September 29, 1979
AC/DC _ Highway To Hell
Mother’s Finest
Sammy Hagar
October 6th, 1979
Johnny Paycheck
Bellamy Brothers
October 20th, 1979
Blue Oyster Cult
Robert Palmer
Rainbow
October 26th, 1979
Peter Frampton
Pat Travers
Mother’s Finest
November 3rd, 1979
Larry Gatlin
November 17th, 1979
Conway Twitter
Ronnie McDowell
November 24th, 1979
REO Speedwagon
Ronnie Montrose
November 30th, 1979
Statler Brothers
Barbara Mandrell
December 8, 1979
Foreigner
Wet Willie
Nantucket
December 14, 1979
ZZ-Top
Point Blank
January 11, 1980
Rex Smith
May 1, 1980
John Denver
June 28, 1980
Alice Cooper
– Flush The Fashion
August 15, 1980
AC/DC – Back in Black Tour
Nantucket
October 25, 1980
Van Halen
November 7, 1980
Frankie Valley and The Four Seasons
July 11, 1981
Iron Maiden
Judas Priest
October 7, 1981
Judas Priest
Point of Entry Tour
September 18, 1981
Foreigner
Billy Squier
December 12, 1981
Rush
April 23, 1982
Ozzy Osbourne
Diary of a Madman
August 20, 1982
Joan Jett and The Black Hearts
Cheap Trick
November 12, 1982
Eddie Money
38 Special
November 23, 1982
Survivor
December 4, 1982
Van Halen
The Bandit Band
January 15, 1983
Judas Priest
February 4th, 1983
Metallica – Video
Saturday, May 28, 1983
Def Leppard
June 1, 1983
ZZ-Top
June 1983
Loverboy
Joan Jett and the Black Hearts
October 18, 1983
Iron Maiden
Quiet Riot
July 6, 1984
Judas Priest
September 30, 1984
Ratt
Blackfoot
November 2, 1984
Rush
March 23, 1985
Sammy Hagar
June 8th, 1985
Bryan Adams
Survivor
December 2, 1985
Autograph
May 2, 1986
Ozzy Osbourne
May 8th, 1985
The Magic of David Copperfield
January 3, 1986
Kiss
February 20, 1986
Kenny Rogers
Lee Greenwood
April 5, 1986
Ted Nugent
Aerosmith
Done with Mirrors Tour
April 11, 1986
Loverboy
May 3, 1986
Metallica
August 3, 1986
Dokken
Krokus
Friday, May 2, 1986
Sunshine Promotions presents
Ozzy Osborne
Metallica
January 20, 1987
Ratt
Friday, January 22, 1987
Def Leppard
February 13, 1987
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble
March 20th, 1987
Bon Jovi
Cinderella
July 6, 1987
Motley Crue
Girls, Girls, Girls Tour
July 8, 1987
NightRanger
January 1, 1988
Kiss
Ted Nugent
January 22, 1988
Def Leppard
Hysteria
April 28, 1988
Aerosmith – The Filming of Rag Doll
April 29, 1988
Aerosmith
White Lion
– Permanent Vacation Tour
October 23, 1988
AC/DC – Soundboard Mix
December 14th, 1988
Poison
March 23, 1990
Motley Crue
May 2, 1990
Aerosmith
– Pump Tour
With Joan Jett
July 19, 1990
Kiss
December 4, 1990
Ratt
Vixen
February 1, 1991
AC/DC
KingsX
September 15, 1991
ZZ-Top
November 8, 1992
Bad Company
February 4th, 1993
Metallica
May 9, 1993
Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey
Party of Two
March 28, 1996
Widespread Panic
April 2, 1993
Metallica
May 1, 1997
Stone Temple Pilots
May 25th, 1998
Government Mule
December 5, 2000
Elton John
November 20, 2001
Widespread Panic
August 30, 2002
Tesla
October 29, 2003
Three Doors Down
Seether
Shinedown
February 26, 2004
Kid Rock
March 11, 2004
John Mayer
Guster
August 23, 2006
Staind
Three Days Grace
Soil
March 8, 2008
Three Days Grace
Breaking Benjamin
Seether
May 30, 2008
ZZ Top
February 5, 2009
Old Crowe Medicine Show – Video
November 20, 2009
Jason Aldean – Video
October 13, 2011
Lee Brice
Luke Bryan – Video
December 4th, 2011
Lorrie Morgan
June 3, 2011
The Association
September 16, 2012
Elton John – Video
March 11, 2016
Elton John
March 20, 2016
Foals
Silversun Pickups – Video
Lazy Eye
April 21, 2016
Lita Ford – Video
Thanks for this great list! My ticket stubs were all lost years ago… now I can remember what bands I saw when. One addition… on February 13, 1987… the Stevie Ray Vaughan concert… it also included Lonnie Mack as the opening act.
@Doyce I remember Duke Williams & the Extremes replacing Little Feat at the last minute at Freedom Hall, due to one of Lowell George’s binges. Not sure which show that was, but it was their first appearance at Freedom Hall.
The july 18th 1990 Kiss show had Danger Danger then Slaughter opening up this was slaughters first tour as a band. The Tesla show from august of 2002 had Skid row,Jackyl, Vince Neil opening up this was a long show!!!!! Still some classic bands at this time it was great!!!!!
The may 25th show 1998 of Government Mule had Lynyrd Skynyrd headlining Peter Frampton and G. Mule then Mike Tramp of White Lion did a acoustic set to open the show it was packed!!!!!!
Kiss and ted Nugent 1988 was my first concert at freedom hall good memories
Here’s at least three or four that’s missing.
I see Brucebase has gone missing, which means that your links to my photos of Bruce Springsteen at Freedom Hall are now broken links. Here you go. (David Cortner)
Wow I was at so many of these concerts and it was fun seeing the dates. F H bring back rock concerts.
Our KISS/KROKUS was 1/4/85. The one he referenced had WASP (86)! Hate I missed that one but loved snowy ’85!
BillKeys That was a Friday the thirteenth & a fulll moon as well. Pat Travers was playing somewhere nearby on the same night. Such a great show, it’s tatooed on my brain
There was a 38 special concert in the 86-88 timeframe
Hey there, my first concert Wet Willie opened for Bad Company,it was ’75or ’76, second show Kiss opened for Bob Seager was maybe in the next up coming year, been rackin my brain trying to pull date together, I was born in ’63 so I wasn’t real old @ either show, thanks for your help
Rick Springfield 8/28/82 and 9/8/85 with the Motels
There was a Ratt (I think Tesla opened) sometime between 1986-1988. The Bon Jovi in April 1987 was cancelled by Bon Jovi.
I’ve kept most of my ticket stubs. Here are a couple more.
38 Special-Eddie money November 12, 1982
Cheap trick – Joan Jett August 20, 1982
Judas Priest January 15, 1983
Triumph 1983
Judas Priest July 6, 1984
Sammy Hagar March 23, 1985
Bryan Adams with (Survivor) June 8, 1985
Aerosmith with (Ted Nugent) April 5, 1986
Ratt January 20, 1987
Poison December 14, 1988
Motley Crue March 23, 1990
Van Halen should be in here for the 80’s.
Hi Kim,
Yes. Van Halen played Freedom Hall on October 25, 1980 and December 4, 1982. Thanks!
Cinderella,Winger and I think Whitesnake was there sometime in 89,I can’t remember the date but Great show
Third Day 3-31-11 , 3- 9-13
Casting Crowns 3-6-14 for king and country opened
11-15-16 Matt Maher opened
Skillet 1-10-08 This was winter jam that year
9-29-09 The letter Black and Decyfer Down opened
Newsboys 4-30-17
Toby Mac 11-8-13
12-12-15 Colton Dixon and Brittney Nicole opened
I don’t know the dates but Winter Jam was there many years and I know there have been pther christian artists that have played these are just the ones I have been to.
The one for government mule also had Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd
I bought 10 Tix for me and my friends buy one get one free. ?
HEART w/ The Heats May 10, 1980. BeBe Le Strange Tour. SOLD OUT !!
Kenny Chesney and Sara Evans on August 25, 2002
This was my very first concert. 15+ years later, I have attended MANY. I did, however, find it VERY difficult to confirm this date via the web. As if it never happened?? Thankful to find this listing. I did happen and I was there!
Dear All
I am an Italian rock fan and gig collectors of many rock bands of the Seventies and Eighties too
I have a question for you all rock fans in Johnson City: did anybody attend SAMMY HAGAR gig played 23rd March 1985 in Johnson City ? Were also on the bill DOKKEN ? As I know DOKKEN played as support act of SAMMY HAGAR gigs played between 20th March 1985 and April 1985
Thanks to everybody for your kindly attention !
All The Best,
Alessandro Borri
Bologna
ITALY
Freedom Hall opened in ’56
Concerts I went to not listed:
James Taylor ’74?
ZZ Topp late 80’s / derby festival
Janet Jackson late 80’s / derby festival
Eagles – April 25, 1977
Pink Floyd – June 17, 1977
Mote as I think of them.
Saw Kansas two different times at freedom hall
Narvel Felts and The Bluff City Boys with special guests Ass Browns and Mike Steve opening 12-23-76
I remember going to Freedom Hall to see BB King and ZZ Top in the late 70s.
@John, there are two different Freedom Halls, one in KY and the other in Johnson City, TN. This is the Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall.
I saw all my shows up in Indy as a teenager. Now I live in tri cities and its BS that some groups are still kickin but not never in tri cities unless it fun fest. What can we do to bring them back?
Is it possible that the ELP concert listed as March 10, 1978 actually took place in early April, perhaps 4/7 or 4/8?