This mailer, dated April 1969, promotes events at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago, Illinois, a notable venue for music and counterculture during the late 1960s. Measuring approximately 8½ x 5½ inches, the mailer is printed on white heavyweight poster paper with green ink, giving it a distinct and visually striking appearance.
The Velvet Underground is prominently featured as one of the headline acts for April 25-27, 1969, sharing billing with other major performers such as The Grateful Dead and SRC. The mailer also highlights a diverse lineup for the month, including acts like Ten Years After, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Aynsley Dunbar, Albert King, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. A special mention is made of the Buddy Rich Orchestra and performances by Spirit, Muddy Waters, and Big Mama Thornton later in the month.
The design includes hand-drawn typography and borders, which lend the mailer a personal and grassroots aesthetic, emblematic of the 1960s countercultural art style. Ticket prices are noted as $2 for Tuesday auditions and jam sessions, with weekend show tickets priced at $3.50 to $3.75. Information about ticket outlets, including Ticket Central, Field’s Stores, and Chicago Guitar Gallery, is printed at the bottom of the flyer, along with venue details such as opening and closing times (7:30 PM to 3:00 AM).
This mailer serves not only as a historical document of a pivotal period in rock and roll but also as an artifact showcasing the vibrant music scene and creative marketing of the era.