During the height of 1960s psychedelic rock, the Ambassador Theatre hosted numerous classic rock acts. On October 28, the venue will be honored at Songbyrd.
In 1967, a venue located in Adams Morgan along Columbia Road called the Ambassador Theatre opened and hosted concerts by legendary musicians of the time -- such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Now, 50 years later, the Songbyrd Music Café/Restaurant/Bar and Music Hall is set to celebrate the now defunct music venue’s anniversary. [gallery columns="2" ids="5000,4998"] Those who have never heard of the Ambassador Theatre will likely be surprised to hear that, despite having brought many now-legendary musical acts to town, the venue was only open for a short six-month span during the year of the summer of love. But during the short time that the Ambassador Theatre was open, it became known for having an impressive and stimulating light show called The Psychedelic Power and Light Company and as one of the gathering spots for the March on the Pentagon, with Norman Mailer famously rallying protestors from the venue’s stage during shows in the days leading up to the March.
The Ambassador Theatre’s place in history has just recently become even more significant as a long-forgotten photo of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar for only the third time was revealed by a woman who attended the fifth night of the guitar legend’s five-night stand at the venue in 1967.
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Courtesy of NBC 4/Facebook[/caption]
As for the event to be held October 28 at Songbyrd in the Adams Morgan Neighborhood, there will be lots of rock history artifacts on display, including newspaper clippings, concert posters, and the recently revealed new photo of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar in Washington, D.C. The event will serve as a chance for old friends and peers who visited the venue to reconnect and share stories, while younger attendees will have the chance to learn about a piece of D.C.’s history that is largely unknown to post-Baby Boomer generations. Admission is free and open to all, and DJ NiteKrawler of D.C. Soul Recordings will be on the 1’s and 2’s.
The anniversary celebration begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Songbyrd Café is in Adams Morgan on 2477 18th Street. Street parking is available, and the nearest metro stop is the Columbia Heights Stop on the Green Line.
