The Fillmore

The Fillmore is a famous San Francisco concert hall. The building on Geary Boulevard opened in 1912 as the Majestic Hall, became a dance hall and then a roller rink, and took the name Fillmore Auditorium in 1954. In December 1965 the promoter Bill Graham used the hall for a benefit for the San Francisco Mime Troupe and went on to book shows there, turning it into a centre of the city's 1960s music scene.

The venue's later history has had its ups and downs. Graham moved on to Fillmore West in 1968, the building went through several names and uses, and in the early 1980s it hosted punk shows. The Loma Prieta earthquake of October 1989 damaged the hall and forced it to close. After Graham's death in 1991, his associates carried out his wish to retrofit and reopen it, and the Fillmore returned on 27 April 1994 with a surprise show by The Smashing Pumpkins. Since 2007 it has been leased and operated by Live Nation.

Traditions are what make a night here memorable. A greeter welcomes guests with "Welcome to the Fillmore!", and a tub of free apples sits near the entrance. The venue is known for psychedelic concert posters by artists such as Wes Wilson and Rick Griffin, and at selected sold-out shows fans are handed a free copy of the night's poster as they leave.

The hall holds 1,315 people for a standard show, so it feels intimate compared with an arena. Check the official website for the calendar and buy tickets there; you can also text APPLE to the venue's number to receive updates. Arrive early for a good spot near the stage, and read the venue's visit and accessibility pages for bag rules, age limits and access arrangements before you go.

The Fillmore is at 1805 Geary Boulevard, on the edge of the Fillmore District and the Western Addition. Book dinner nearby before a show, for example at State Bird Provisions at 1529 Fillmore Street. After a late concert, taxis and ride-hailing are the simplest way back to downtown hotels. Hang on to your ticket and poster in a bag or tube if you want to take them home in good condition.