California Ballroom

The California Ballroom, nicknamed "Cali" and "Soul City", was a 2000-capacity music venue,^[1] being one of the United Kingdom's best-known soul music venues outside London.^[2] Located in Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, the venue was open from 1960 to 1979.^[3]

The opening act in 1960 was pop singer Russ Sainty.^[4] Soul artists appearing included Stevie Wonder, Ike & Tina Turner,^[5] Roy Ayers, Brass Construction and Grover Washington, Jr.^{[citation needed]} It also hosted rock acts including The Detours (later named The Who),^[6] The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Clash and The Damned,^[3] Killing Floor, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull, Chicken Shack and The Herd.^[7]