The Fillmore
The Verdict
"The legendary Fillmore has hosted everyone from Hendrix to modern indie bands. The free poster at the end of each show is a tradition worth staying for. The balcony has the best views. Arrive early to check out the upstairs gallery of vintage concert posters."
What you need to know
The Fillmore has been hosting live music since 1912, but Bill Graham made it matter. Starting in 1966, he booked the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin into this Western Addition ballroom and accidentally invented the San Francisco sound. The venue still operates as a concert hall, and it still hands out free apples and concert posters at the end of every show.
What to Expect
The room holds about 1,150 people standing. The floor is general admission with no assigned seats, which keeps the energy high but means you should arrive early if you want to be close to the stage. Sightlines are good from most spots. The sound system is loud and clear without being punishing.
The walls are covered in original concert posters from the 1960s through today. The upstairs balcony bar is worth visiting before the headliner starts. The poster collection on the second floor amounts to a free museum of rock history that most concertgoers walk right past.
Shows typically start at 8pm with an opener. The headliner usually hits the stage between 9 and 9:30. On the way out, grab a poster from the barrel and an apple from the basket by the door. Both are free. It is one of the few venue traditions in the country that actually means something.
Visiting
1805 Geary Boulevard, Western Addition. Ticket prices vary by artist, typically $30 to $75. Buy through the Fillmore website or Live Nation. Shows sell out for bigger acts, so check early.
The box office opens at 10am on Sundays for in person purchases with no service fees. This is the cheapest way to buy tickets.
Getting There
The 38 Geary bus stops right outside. From downtown, the ride takes about 15 minutes. Street parking on Geary and the surrounding blocks is usually available on show nights. The neighborhood is safe but not scenic. Grab dinner in Japantown, two blocks south on Post Street, before the show.
📍 Location: This activity is in Japantown. Explore the neighborhood →
