The Barn (Peoria)

In the early 1970's, concert promoters Bill Love of Love, Inc and Jay Goldberg, then owner of Budget Tapes & Records in Peoria, organized a series of rock concerts at the Barn (9201 N. Galena Rd., Route 29) just north of Peoria, Illinois.  These shows featured some of the top touring rock bands of the era along with various local groups.  Nearly two dozen shows have been identified over a one year period but there were likely several more.   

We need your help documenting this short-lived but important venue in central Illinois' rock history!  If you attended a show at the Barn in '71-'72 and can add to the list of shows or just have a story to tell we'd love to hear it.  Also, if you have any photos, posters, flyers or recordings of any kind we'd love to see and hear them.  Please reach out to us at: downstatesounds@gmail.com 

THE CONCERTS

• May 22, 1971  Canned Heat
• Jun 4, 1971 Bloodrock
• Jun 19, 1971 Spirit
• Jul 9, 1971 The Byrds, Sunday, Godzilla
• Jul 16, 1971 Edgar Winter's White Trash, Morning Morning, All Star Frogs
• Jul 23, 1971 Alice Cooper, Brownsville Station
• Aug 14, 1971 Crow, Fanny, Podipto
• Aug 21, 1971 Teagarden & Van Winkle (Bob Seger), Brownsville Station
• Aug 27, 1971 Sugarloaf, Remedy, Morning Morning
• Sep 4, 1971 Black Oak Arkansas, The Mackinaw Valley Boys
• Sep 11, 1971 Mason Profitt, Wilderness Road
• Sep 22, 1971 Alice Cooper, Mike Quatro Jam Band
• Nov 9, 1971 Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes, Savage Grace
• Dec 31, 1971 Edgar Winter's White Trash

• Jan 23, 1972 Uriah Heep
• Feb 20, 1972 Allman Brothers, REO Speedwagon
• Feb 25, 1972 James Gang, Point Blank
• Mar 10, 1972 King Crimson, Black Oak Arkansas, Sweathog
• Mar 17, 1972 Ajax Maggot, Mannish Boy
• Mar 24, 1972 Mike Quatro Jam Band, Finchley Boys
• Mar 31, 1972 Saylor, Smack Water Rye
• Apr 8, 1972 Cactus, Bloodrock, Pot Liquor
• Apr 20, 1972 Ten Years After  (CANCELLED?)
• May 7, 1972 Quicksilver Messenger Service
• May 13, 1972 Fleetwood Mac, McKendree Spring, Ashton Gardner & Dyke

RECORDINGS

An incomplete live recording of the King Crimson set from March 10, 1972 has been released by the band in several different formats over the years.  One track from the set, "Peoria" aka "Groon Peoria," was included on the band's 1972 live album Earthbound.   

In 2011, King Crimson officially released more of their set digitally (seven tracks total though several are incomplete) and again in 2017 on CD & Blu-Ray audio as part of their Sailors' Tails box set.

A bootleg recording of the Alice Cooper show from July 23, 1971 can be found on YouTube.

FLYERS & POSTERS

Special thanks to Bill Risoli for sharing these images. 

REVIEWS & ADS (click image to enlarge)

 

HISTORY OF THE BARN

Located seven miles north of Peoria, the Barn was build in 1937 and was originally known as Riverview Stables.  At the time it was one of the best showplaces for horses in central Illinois and was once home to the Peoria Riding Club.   In 1949 it was bought by Max Baty who renamed it Baty's Barn.  In addition to horse shows, the venue hosted farm auctions, hog and cattle sales as well as tractor, boat and RV shows.  

By September of 1954, Baty had replaced the arena floor with concrete and started to hold dances and benefit concerts.   Here are some of the shows we were able to identify from 1954-1967:

• Sep 10, 1954 Leo Lukehart & His Band w/ Barbara Waldron
• Sep 11, 1954 Bill Reardon & His Rambling Playboy Entertainers
• Sep 17, 1954 Joe Evanick & His Orchestra w/ Sharon Evans
• Sep 26, 1954 Leo Lukeheart & His Band
• Nov 12, 1954 The Rhythm Rascals w/ Dusty Rhoads
• Nov 20, 1954 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Nov 27, 1954 The Rhythm Rascals w/ Dusty Rhoads
• Dec 18, 1954 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Jan 22, 1955 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Jan 30, 1955 Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm
• Feb 5, 1955 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Feb 12, 1955 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Feb 15, 1955 Buddy Moreno & His Orchestra
• Feb 16, 1955 Leo Peeper & His Orchestra w/ Judy Martin, Penny Kunard and Jackie Jay
• Feb 22, 1955 Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
• Mar 12, 1955 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Mar 19, 1955 Ted Lewis, His Orchestra & Revue
• Mar 26, 1955 Rudy James & His Orchestra
• Apr 8, 1955 Jimmy Palmer & His Orchestra w/ Julio Maro
• Apr 17, 1955 WPEO Barn Party: Oklahoma Wrangers, Tommy Sosebee, Buddy Wright and Viola Trussley
• Apr 23, 1955 Art Mooney & His Band
• Apr 24, 1955 WPEO Barn Party: Oklahoma Wrangers, Tommy Sosebee, Buddy Wright and Viola Trussley
• Apr 30, 1955 Jerry Mercer with David Carroll & His Orchestra
• May 13, 1955 Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra
• May 14, 1955 WPEO Barn Party: Oklahoma Wrangers, Tommy Sosebee, Buddy Wright
• May 21, 1955 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• May 28, 1955 Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
• Jun 3, 1955 Oklahoma Wranglers, Kay Clark, Tommy Sosebee
• Jun 4, 1955 Johnnie Kaye & His Orchestra
• Jul 9, 1955 Pee Wee Hunt & His Band
• Jul 23, 1955 Webb Pierce w/ His Wondering Boys, Red Sovine, Peach Seed Jones
• Jul 30, 1955 Ray Anthony & His Orchestra
• Aug 6, 1955 Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys
• Aug 13, 1955 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• Aug 18, 1955 Billy May Orchestra
• Aug 27, 1955 Leo Lukehart & His Orchestra
• Sep 2, 1955 The Crew Cuts
• Sep 10, 1955 Pat Boone, Ernie Rudy & His Choral Recording Orchestra
• Sep 17, 1955 Jan Garber & His Orchestra
• Sep 23, 1955 The Commanders w/ Eddie Grady
• Sep 24, 1955 Harry Cool w/ Freeddy Stevens Orchestra
• Sep 30, 1955 Night Beat Record Hop w/ DJ Johnnie Coy
• Oct 1, 1955 Ralph Marterie & His Downbeat Orchestra
• Oct 8, 1955 Buddy Moreno & His Orchestra
• Oct 23, 1955 Blue Barron & Orchestra
• Nov 4, 1955 Wayne King & Orchestra
• Nov 12, 1955 Jimmy Palmer & His Orchestra
• Nov 26, 1955 Freddy Barnes & His Orchestra
• Dec 10, 1955 Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
• Dec 18, 1955 Les Elgart & Orchestra w/ Don Forbes
• Dec 31, 1955 Freddy Barnes & His Orchestra
• Jan 21, 1956 The Crew Cuts, Bill Hardesty Orchestra
• Feb 4, 1956 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• Mar 3, 1956 Jimmy Palmer & His Orchestra
• Mar 24, 1956 The Hilltoppers w/ Jimmy Sacca, Bill Hardesty Orchestra
• Apr 21, 1956 Freddie Barnes & His Orchestra
• Apr 28, 1956 Ted Weems & His Orchestra
• May 19, 1956 Bill Viehmeyer & His Orchestra
• Jun 9, 1956 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• Jun 23, 1956 Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
• Jun 30, 1956 Buddy Moreno & His Orchestra
• Jul 28, 1956 Ted Weems & His Orchestra, Phyllis Powell
• Sep 2, 1956 Ray Anthony & His Orchestra  (CANCELLED)
• Sep 8, 1956 Ray Pearl & His Musical Gems
• Sep 22, 1956 The Four Aces
• Sep 29, 1956 Dick Jurgen's Orchestra (CANCELLED)
• Oct 6, 1956 Chuck Foster & His Orchestra
• Oct 20, 1956 Bill Wimberly & His Country Rhythm Boys
• Oct 21, 1956 Dixieland Jam Session
• Oct 29, 1956 Chuck Willis & Roy Gaines
• Dec 31, 1956 The Crew Cuts, Tommy Allen & His Orchestra
• Jan 18, 1957 WIRL Night Beat w/ DJ Johnny Coy, Freddie Stevens Orchestra
• Jan 19, 1957 Fred Dale & His Orchestra
• Feb 1, 1957 WIRL Night Beat w/ DJ Johnny Coy, Cary Robards Jr. & His Orchestra
• Feb 2, 1957 Chuck Foster & His Orchestra
• Feb 23, 1957 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• Mar 17, 1957 The Hilltoppers, Jimmy Featherstone & His Orchestra
• May 21, 1957 WSM Grand Ole Opry: Marty Robbins, Louvin Brothers, Lee Emerson, Smiley & Kitty with Rita Faye, George McCormick and the Teardrops
• May 25, 1957 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Aug 20, 1957 Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys, Wanda Jackson, Joe Carson, Buddy Wright
• Oct 19, 1957 Fats Brown & His Rhythm Ramblers
• Nov 9, 1957 Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
• Dec 31, 1957 Bill Viehmeyer & His Orchestra
• Apr 11, 1958 Spring Swing Teen Dance:  DJ Wayne West, Joe Kilton & Band, The Rockin' R's
• Apr 26, 1958 Chuck Foster & His Orchestra
• May 24, 1958 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Jun 8, 1958 Hank Locklin, Jimmy Louis, Buddy Wright, Carl Trantham
• Sep 27, 1958 The Rockin' R's, Clover Club Trio
• Oct 5, 1958 Don Reid
• Dec 31, 1958 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• May 16, 1959 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Dec 31, 1959 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• Apr 2, 1960 Bill Carver's Orchestra
• May 14, 1960 Walt Coughlin's Band
• May 20, 1960 WSM Grand Ole Opry: Kitty Wells, Marvin Rainwater, Bobby Helms, Johhny & Jack, Bill Phillips, Tennessee Mountain Boys, Webb Pierce
• May 21, 1960 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• May 28, 1960 Zeke Sanders & His Orchestra
• Aug 28, 1960 Bill Carver's Orchestra
• Nov 12, 1960 Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra
• Dec 31, 1960 Paul Wireman & His Orchestra, w/ Carol Jackson
• May 6, 1961 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Sep 9, 1961 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Dec 31, 1961 Paul Wireman & His Orchestra
• Feb 3, 1962 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• May 26, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Jun 2, 1962 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Jun 16, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Sep 15, 1962 Ray Price & Band
• Sep 22, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Sep 29, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Oct 13, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Nov 10, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Nov 24, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Dec 8, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Dec 23, 1962 Booker T. & The MGs (CANCELLED)
• Dec 31, 1962 Biddie Biddison's Orchestra
• Nov 15, 1963 Ralph Flanagan & His Orchestra
• Jun 13, 1964 Freddie Stevens' Orchestra
• Jan 23, 1965 Jackie Wilson & His Upsetters
• Aug 28, 1965 Seven Sounds, Lee Brown, Miss Joanne Baker & The Harvey Scales Revue
• Sep 8, 1967 Tiny Hill & His Orchestra
• Sep 23,1967 Bud Sherman & His Orchestra
• Sep 29, 1967 Bill Hardesty & His Orchestra
• Oct 7, 1967 Gary Newton Orchestra

Exact dates for other shows from the 1960's such as James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Ike & Tina Turner  have not yet been identified.

In 1962, Max Baty passed away and the Barn was sold to E.T. Biddison who renamed it the Riverview Ballroom.  The number of musical events at the venue declined greatly in the years that followed. One notable dance in particular, sponsored by the Challengers Club of Peoria, had disastrous results.    

When Booker T. & The MGs failed to show up for their performance on December 22, 1962 a riot ensued.   A crowd of 400 angry customers began breaking windows and plumbing fixtures.   The police responded in force with shotguns and tear gas resulting in at least one patron being treated for a head injury.    

In 1967 the Barn was sold again and remained Donovan's Ballroom.  Other than a few dances that year music did not return to the Barn until the rock shows of 1971 and 1972.   

After 1972, music at the location seems to have stopped for good.  Around 1990, the Barn returned to its original purpose, a place for horse shows and auctions.   It is currently the Heart of Illinois Arena.

This story was updated on 5/26/23.