The effort to establish The Ash Grove on the Santa Monica Pier seriously began in 1991. The club opened in July of 1996 and lasted slightly less than one year. A listing of many of the outstanding artists who performed there is provided below, as well as a brief analysis of the period.

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Ash Grove Performers
at the Santa Monica Pier
July, 1996 thru June, 1997
(* indicates cancelled by closure)

Singer-Songwriters Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Tom Russell, Arlo Guthrie,
Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Jimmie Dale Gilmore,
Richard Buckner, Freedy Johnston, John Doe, Laura Love,
David Olney, Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks,
Townes Van Zandt, Butch Hancock, Guy Clark, Terry Allen, 
Michael Fracasso, Jimmy LaFave, Dan Bern, John Wesley Harding , Amy Rigby, Bob Neuwirth, Victoria Williams, 
Mark Olson, John Gorka, Eric Andersen, Vonda Shepard, David Baerwald

Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Jack Elliott,
Gillian Welch, Katy Moffat, Mare Winningham, Howe Geib,
Mary Lou Lord, John McCutcheon, Ian Tyson, John Fahey, Spider John Koerner, James Keelaghan, Si Kahn, Kimmie Rhodes, Kris Mackay, Ry Cooder, Jane Siberry, Chris Whitley, Martin Simpson, David Baerwald, Marvin Etsioni, Rickey Skaggs*, Ralph Stanley, Laurie Lewis, Del MeCoury, Ronnie Dawson, The Cox Family*, Chris Hillman, Mark O'Connor, Kathy Kallick, Peter Rowan, Wayne Hancock, Kate Mackenzie, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Austin Lounge Lizards, Playboys II, w/J. Gimble/Leon Rausch, Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Tony Rice-Norman Blake*, Jim Lauderdale, Richard Green, Howe Gelb, Herb Pedersen, Pete Anderson

Smokey Wilson,Kim Wilson,Coco Montoya, R.L. Burnside,
Joe Lewis Walker, Charles Brown*, The Persuasions,
Bernie Pearl/Harmonica Fats, Corey Harris,
Don & Dewey, Kelly Jo Phelps, Long John Hunter,
Pinetop Perkins, Ann Peebles*, Sonny Landreth, Guy Davis,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, Sapphire Uppity Women Band,
Rory Block, Maria Muldaur, Chris Cain, Vonda Shepherd,
Mickey Champion, Beto Lovato, Duke Robillard*, 
James Harmon, Ronnie Earl*, Cephas & Wiggins, Ricky Skaggs, Denny Freeman
 
 

Cubanismo w/Jesus Alemany, Ray Barretto, Olatunji,
Susanna Baca*, Los Papines, Ozomatli, Latin Jazz All Stars, 
Pete Escovedo*, Afro-Cuba de Matanzas, Jerry Gonzales & Fort Apache Band, Ray Barretto, Marta Sebastyen & Musikas*,  Mighty Diamonds*, Huayucaltia, Brave Combo,
Lee Ritenour, Tarika, Klezmatics, Klazzj, Solas, Makina Loca,
Pete Escovedo*, Cafe Noir, Prince Eyango, Azteca*, Ellis Island, Bauls of Bengal, Dervish, Abby Lincoln* Alistair Frazier*, Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache, Abbey Lincoln,

Charlie Hunter Quartet, Quetzacoatl, Tabu Ley Rochereau,
Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Hassan Hakmoun, Wandering Tribes (Gypsy), Don Byron*, Begley & Cooney, Boozoo Chavis Beausoleil*, C .J. Chenier Balfa Toujours,
Steve Riley & Mamou Playboys

Peter Buck & Mark Eitzel, David Lindley*, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Galactic, Reiner Tarnation, The Robert Shimmel, 
Paul Krassner, Solas, Tribute to Townes Van Zandt, Cordelia's Dad, 8 1/2 Souvenirs Durst, S.F. Mime Troupe*
Gillian Welch, Richard Buckner, Corey Harris, Guy Davis, Solas, Dervish, Cousin Lovers, Cordelia's Dad,Vonda Shepherd, Laura Love, Amy Rigby, Cafe Noir, Kelly Jo Phelps, Alvin Youngblood, Charlie Hunter, Wayne Hancock,
Mary Lou Lord, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Dan Bern Hart, 
Don Byron, Balfa Toujours, Galactic, 8 1/2 Souvenirs, The Negro Problem, Will Durst, Silos, Gillian Welch with David Rawlins

Cancellations

(Booked for July. August. September)

Ann Peebles, Ronnie Earl, Beausoleil Orchestra, Charles Brown, Ricky Skaggs, S.F. Mime Troupe, Don Byron,
David Lindley, Abby Lincoln, Aragon, Marta Sebastyen & Musikas, Mighty Diamonds, Duke Robillard, Susana Baca, 
Five Blind Boys, Sierra Maestra, Azteca, Pete Escovedo, Orchestra Aragon

The Pier project actually began in the early '90's. It eventually opened in summer, 1996 and lasted just less than one year. There were two, very positive aspects of the effort. First and foremost was the astounding variety and quality of artists we presented (see the roster above.) We also earned remarkable plaudits from audiences and reviewers; proving once again that all of us can be both educated and thrilled by the great music that all cultures produce, if presented properly. We won the "New Times L.A." award as the best, all-around music club of 1996, out of the hundreds of clubs in the area, and despite our being open only since July of that year! Shortly after we closed in, July of 1997, the Los Angeles Times Robert Hilburn told me the Ash Grove was the only place he would unqualifiedly recommend to visiting family and friends, knowing they'd enjoy the company of our audiences and, of course, the music, whoever and whatever was on stage