John Fahey Concert History

John Aloysius Fahey (February 28, 1939 – February 22, 2001) was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who played the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitive Guitar, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the self-taught nature of the music and its minimalist style. Fahey borrowed from the folk and blues traditions in American roots music, having compiled many forgotten early recordings in these genres.

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John Fahey Tours & Concerts

1 Anniversary for October 12th
Date Concert Venue Location
Jun 05, 2023
John Fahey / Gwenifer Raymond / James Blackshaw / Cian Nugent Moth Club London, England, United Kingdom
Mar 05, 2014
John Fahey / Sean Smith The Chapel San Francisco, California, United States
Oct 01, 2000
John Fahey

Flower Booking 10th Anniversary

Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois, United States
Jul 08, 2000
John Fahey Venetian Theater Albany, Oregon, United States
Dec 23, 1999
John Fahey Roseland Theater Portland, Oregon, United States
Sep 30, 1999
John Fahey Brudenell Social Club Leeds, England, United Kingdom
Sep 21, 1999
John Fahey Live Theatre Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Jul 03, 1999
Tren Brothers / John Fahey / Jim O'Rourke

Tracks + Traces

Paradiso Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
May 14, 1999
John Fahey

transmissions 002

Cat's Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina, United States
Jun 13, 1998
John Fahey Randalls Island New York, New York, United States
Apr 11, 1998
John Fahey Freight & Salvage Berkeley, California, United States
Dec 04, 1996
John Fahey The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Dec 03, 1996
John Fahey Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, Massachusetts, United States
Nov 08, 1996
John Fahey

Table of the Elements Festival No. 2: Yttrium

  Setlists
Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois, United States
Aug 02, 1996
John Fahey / Gastr del Sol / Smog Spaceland Los Angeles, California, United States
Jul 30, 1996
John Fahey Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California, United States
Feb 07, 1992
John Fahey Capitol Theater Olympia, Washington, United States
Apr 15, 1990
John Fahey / Ted Bird Post and Beam Coffeehouse Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
Dec 09, 1989
John Fahey The Palms Playhouse Davis, California, United States
Dec 20, 1987
John Fahey Poor David's Pub Dallas, Texas, United States

Latest Photos View All Photos

Poco / Seatrain / John Fahey on May 2, 1970 [386-small]

Poco / Seatrain / John Fahey
May 2, 1970
 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Poco / Seatrain / John Fahey on May 1, 1970 [385-small]

Poco / Seatrain / John Fahey
May 1, 1970
 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Poco / Seatrain / John Fahey on Apr 30, 1970 [384-small]

Poco / Seatrain / John Fahey
Apr 30, 1970
 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

John Fahey / Paul Pena @ Ash Grove - 4.21.72 to 4.23.72, tags: John Fahey, Paul Pena, Advertisement - John Fahey / Paul Pena on Apr 21, 1972 [141-small]

John Fahey / Paul Pena @ Ash Grove - 4.21.72 to 4.23.72

John Fahey Paul Pena Advertisement

John Fahey / Paul Pena
Apr 21, 1972
 Los Angeles, California, United States
  Uploaded by southland
Credit: - Source Link

Request to Use
John Fahey on Dec 21, 1982 [557-small]

John Fahey
Dec 21, 1982
 Duvall, Washington, United States
  Uploaded by Andrew Penta

Request to Use
Goldrush Festival on Oct 4, 1969 [768-small]

Goldrush Festival
Oct 4, 1969
 Stockton, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Goldrush Festival on Oct 4, 1969 [754-small]

Goldrush Festival
Oct 4, 1969
 Stockton, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Goldrush Festival on Oct 4, 1969 [722-small]

Goldrush Festival
Oct 4, 1969
 Stockton, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Genres:

Folk
Experimental
Classical
Blues
Instrumental
Guitar
Psychedelic Folk
American Folk Revival
Avant-Folk
Fingerstyle
Drone Folk
American Primitive
American Primitivism
American Primitive Guitar
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Latest Setlist (11/08/1996):

Play YouTube Playlist
  1. Hard Time Empty Bottle Blues I
  2. Hard Time Empty Bottle Blues II
  3. Hard Time Empty Bottle Blues III
  4. Hard Time Empty Bottle Blues IV

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Concerts Per Year:

2023 1 concert
2014 1 concert
2000 2 concerts
1999 5 concerts
1998 2 concerts
1996 5 concerts
1992 1 concert
1990 1 concert
1989 1 concert
1987 6 concerts
1986 1 concert
1985 3 concerts
1984 2 concerts
1983 3 concerts
1982 3 concerts
1981 1 concert
1980 1 concert
1979 3 concerts
1978 9 concerts
1977 1 concert
1976 7 concerts
1975 2 concerts
1974 6 concerts
1973 5 concerts
1972 17 concerts
1971 13 concerts
1970 8 concerts
1969 16 concerts
1968 6 concerts
1967 2 concerts
1966 1 concert
1965 3 concerts

Comments & Reviews:

Mar 02, 2026

Fairly certain(!) I saw Fahey play The Matrix in SF in 1970. It was the first show I saw after arriving in the City from the east coast.
He was mesmerizing.
That I do remember.

Oct 29, 2025

I saw Fahey live in Vancouver early to mid '70s at a venue not listed here. When I remember its name I'll get back here. It wasn't a memorable performance; Fahey was drinking and got disappointingly drunk.

Oct 29, 2025

Is there more than one John Fahey? The one I'm seeking died in 2001 and I doubt he played the two later concerts listed in the archive.

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