From March 1987 to March 1, 1994, Nirvana performed a variety of shows and concerts.
Early gigs Date City CountryVenueOther Performers Attendance Early April 1987 Aberdeen United States Unknown *First show according to Slim Moon April 18, 1987 Tacoma Community World Theater Soylent Green, Yellow Snow, & Nisqually Delta Podunk Nightmare May 1, 1987 Olympia GESSCO Hall Danger Mouse, Landsat Blister, & Nisqually Delta Podunk Nightmare May 6, 1987 Olympia KAOS (FM) June 12, 1987 Tacoma Community World Theater My Name, & Killdozer June 27, 1987 Hell's Kitchen, Soylent Green, & Silent Treatment July, 1987 Raymond 17 Nussbaum Road *It's speculation that this show was in July, it could've been August or slightly later, we'd need confirmation from someone in attendance. August 9, 1987 Tacoma Community World Theater Inspector Luv and the Magnet Men, & Sons of Ishmael January 23, 1988 Happy Dead Juans, Moral Crux & Soon *Dale Crover played drums. March 12, 1988 Olympia The Caddyshack *First show with Dave Foster on drums. March 19, 1988 Tacoma Community World Theater Lush & Vampire Lezbos March 26, 1988 Olympia The Witch House April 10, 1988 Seattle The Central Tavern April 24, 1988 The Vogue (Sub Pop Sunday) Blood Circus May 14, 1988 Olympia The Glass House Lansdat Blister & Sister Skelter *Last show with Dave Foster. May 21, 1988 Evergreen State College Herd of Turtles, Lansdat Blister, The Speds & Telefunken *First show with Chad Channing on drums. May 27, 1988 The Glass House Sister Skelter May 29, 1988 Seattle The Vogue June 2, 1988 Central Tavern (Toe Jam 88) Chemistry Set June 17, 1988 Ellensburg Hal Holmes Community Center King Crab, Lush & Millions of Dead LeninzJune 29, 1988Seattle Moore Theatre July 3, 1988 The Vogue (Sub Pop Sunday) Blood Circus & Fluid July 23, 1988 Central Tavern Leaving Trains July 30, 1988 Squid Row Tavern Skin Yard August 20, 1988 Olympia Capitol Lake Park (Capitol Lake Jam) My Name, Soundgarden & Swallow August 29, 1988 Seattle The Vogue Treacherous Jaywalkers October 23, 1988 Bainbridge Island Birthday Party (Skate Ramp) October 28, 1988 Seattle Union Station Blood Circus & Butthole Surfers October 30, 1988 Olympia Dorm K208, Evergreen State College Lansdat Blister & Lush First single, Love Buzz, released two days later. November 23, 1988 Bellingham Speedy O'Tubbs Rhythmic Underground Coffin Break & Skin Yard December 1, 1988 Seattle The Underground Coffin Break & D.O.A. December 21, 1988 Hoquiam Eagles Hall/FoE Aerie 252 Attica & Psychlodds December 28, 1988 Seattle The Underground, Sub Pop 200 release party Blood Circus, Jesse Bernstein, Swallow, Tad & The Thrown Ups January 6, 1989 Portland Satyricon Mudhoney January 21, 1989 Dharma Bums February 5, 1989 Olympia Dorm K208, Evergreen State College (dorm party) Helltrout & Psychlodds *First show with Jason Everman on guitar. February 10, 1989 San Francisco Covered Wagon Saloon Melvins & Amorphous Head February 11, 1989 San Jose Marsugi's Mudhoney & Vomit LaunchFebruary 25, 1989SeattleHUB Ballroom, University of WashingtonSkin Yard, Girl Trouble, The FluidFebruary 26, 1989OlympiaDorm K208, Evergreen State College (dorm party)April 1, 1989Reko/MuseHelltrout, S.G.M. & Treehouse *Photo from Bleach cover art is from this show.April 7, 1989SeattleAnnex TheatreLove BatteryApril 14, 1989EllensburgHal Holmes Community CenterApril 26, 1989SeattleThe VogueSupporting: The Flaming Lips. Supported by: Steel Pole Bath Tub100May 26, 1989AuburnLindbloom Student Center, Green River Community CollegeSkin Yard & Bible StudJune 9, 1989SeattleMoore TheatreMudhoney & Tad1,400/1,400June 10, 1989PortlandThe Blue GalleryThrillhammerJune 16, 1989OlympiaReko/Muse June 21, 1989 Seattle The VogueGasoline & Mad Hatter
Bleach club tour Date City Country VenueOther Performers Attendance June 22, 1989 San Francisco United States Covered Wagon SaloonBad Mutha Goose June 23, 1989 Los Angeles Rhino Records June 24, 1989 Al's BarClaw Hammer & Stone By Stone June 25, 1989 Tempe Sun ClubCrash Worship & Sun City Girls June 27, 1989 Santa Fe Rockin' T.P.27 Devils Joking & Monkey Shines June 30, 1989 San Antonio Alfred'sHappy Dogs & Swaziland White Band July 1, 1989 Houston The AxiomBayou Pigs & David Von Ohlerking100 July 2, 1989 Fort Worth The Axis ClubDave Daniels Band July 3, 1989 Dallas Electric Jungle July 4, 1989 Carbondale 611 Pizza<10 July 5, 1989 Iowa City Gabe's Inc.Blood Circus10–15 July 6, 1989 Minneapolis Uptown Bar July 7, 1989 Madison O'Cayz Corral The Tragically Hip40 July 8, 1989 Chicago Club Dreamerz Precious Wax Drippings July 9, 1989 Wilkinsburg The Sonic Temple, Masonic Temple Worm Art20 July 12, 1989 Philadelphia JC Dobbs Napalm Sunday July 13, 1989 Hoboken Maxwell's Tad July 15, 1989 Jamaica Plain Green Street Station Cheater Slicks & Death of Samantha July 18, 1989 New York City The Pyramid Club (New Music Seminar) Cows, God Bullies, Lonely Moans & Surgery *Last show with Jason Everman. July 20, 1989The remainder of the tour was cancelled after the NY show. Toronto Canada TBA July 21, 1989 Newport United States Top Hat July 22, 1989 Detroit Garden Bowl @ The Majestic Theatre July 23, 1989 Champaign Trito's Uptown July 26, 1989 Denver The Garage July 28, 1989 Salt Lake City Raunch Records July 29, 1989 Boise The Zoo August 11, 1989 Anacortes Eagles Hall August 12, 1989 Everett Veterans of Foreign War Hall August 13, 1989 Olympia Washington Center for the Performing Arts August 26, 1989 Seattle Center on Contemporary Art The Black Supersuckers, Cat Butt & Mudhoney August 28, 1989 The Vogue Dickless & Knife DanceSeptember 9, 1989ChicagoThe Cabaret MetroSeptember 13, 1989EnglewoodGothic TheaterSeptember 26, 1989SeattleThe Vogue September 28, 1989 Minneapolis Uptown BarSeptember 29, 1989Nirvana missed both shows due to Kurt being sick. Milwaukee BMU Grill The Flaming Lips, Steel Pole Bath Tub The Unicorn September 30, 1989 Chicago The Cabaret Metro Eleventh Dream Day October 1, 1989 Champaign Trito's Uptown Steel Pole Bath Tub30 October 2, 1989 Kalamazoo Club Soda Steel Pole Bath Tub15–20 October 3, 1989 Ann Arbor Blind Pig The Flaming Lips & Steel Pole Bath Tub October 6, 1989 Cincinnati Murphy's Pub Grinch October 7, 1989 Lawrence The Outhouse 24-7 Spyz & Piston Grind100–150 October 8, 1989 Omaha Lifticket Lounge Mousetrap20 October 11, 1989 Denver The Garage The Fluid October 13, 1989 Boulder Penny Lane Coffeehouse Dog Bite10–20October 14, 1989Salt Lake CitySpeedway Cafe October 23, 1989 Newcastle upon Tyne England Riverside The Cataran & Tad100–150/400 October 24, 1989 Manchester Students' Union, Manchester Polytechnic The Cataran & Tad50–100 October 25, 1989 Leeds The Duchess of York The Cataran & Tad October 26, 1989The show was cancelled so the band could record a John Peel session. Reading Studio 21 Tad October 27, 1989 London Students' Union, The School of Oriental and African Studies The Cataran & Tad October 28, 1989 Portsmouth Ents Hall, Portsmouth Polytechnic The Cataran & Tad October 29, 1989 Birmingham Edward's No. 8 Filler & Tad October 30, 1989 Norwich The Wilde Club, Norwich Arts Centre Tad November 1, 1989 Hilversum Netherlands Villa 65 (Nozems-a-GoGo) November 1, 1989 Rotterdam Nighttown Tad66 November 2, 1989 Groningen Vera Tad95 November 3, 1989 Utrecht Tivoli Tad125 November 4, 1989 Apeldoorn Gigant Tad35–50 November 5, 1989 Amsterdam Melkweg Tad200 November 7, 1989 Mönchengladbach West Germany B-52 Tad 20Klas Libuda, Andreas Gruhn: Nirvanas erstes Deutschland-Konzert war in Mönchengladbach. In: rp-online.de, 5. April 2024. November 8, 1989 Cologne Rose Club Tad November 9, 1989 Hanover Bad Tad November 10, 1989 Enger Forum Enger Tad November 11, 1989 West Berlin Ecstasy Tad November 12, 1989 Oldenburg Kulturzentrum Tad November 13, 1989 Hamburg Fabrik Tad November 15, 1989 Heidelberg Schwimmbad Musik-Club Tad November 16, 1989 Nuremberg Trust Tad November 17, 1989 Gammelsdorf Circus Tad November 18, 1989 Hanau Kultur-Basar Tad November 20, 1989 Linz Austria Kapu Tad November 21, 1989 Budapest Hungary Petőfi Csarnok Tad200 November 22, 1989 Vienna Austria U4 Tad November 23, 1989 Graz Cafe Pi Tad7 November 24, 1989 Hohenems Konkret Tad12 November 25, 1989 Fribourg Switzerland Fri-Son Tad November 26, 1989 Mezzago Italy Bloom Tad November 27, 1989 Rome Piper Club Tad November 29, 1989 Geneva Switzerland l'Usine Tad November 30, 1989 Zürich Rote Fabrik TadDecember 1, 1989Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceEspace IcareBloody and Heavy, TadDecember 2, 1989GhentBelgiumDemocrazyTad December 3, 1989 London England London Astoria Lame Fest UK '89Mudhoney & Tad January 6, 1990 Seattle United States East Ballroom, Husky Union Building, University of Washington Crunchbird, The Gits & Tad January 12, 1990 Portland Satyricon Melvins & Oily Birdman January 19, 1990 Olympia Rignall Hall Melvins & Beat Happening January 20, 1990 Tacoma Legends Melvins, Machine & The Rhino Humpers February 9, 1990 Portland Pine Street Theatre Screaming Trees, Tad, The Legend & Rawhead Rex February 11, 1990 San Jose Cactus Club Tad, Plastic Jungle & Vegas Voodoo February 12, 1990 Sacramento Cattle Club Tad & ThornucopiaFebruary 14, 1990 San Francisco Rough Trade Records San Francisco Kennel Club Tad, The Legend & Dickless February 15, 1990 Los Angeles Raji's Tad & Distorted Pony February 16, 1990 Long Beach Bogart's Tad & Haywire February 17, 1990 Tijuana Mexico Iguana's Tad February 19, 1990 Phoenix United States The Mason Jar Tad February 21, 1990 Chico Blue Max Tad & Captain Crunch25 February 27, 1990This planned UK tour was cancelled. London England Marquee Club February 28, 1990 Newcastle Riverside March 1, 1990 Birmingham Edward's No.8 March 12, 1990 Vancouver Canada The Town PumpTad & The Bombshells March 20, 1990 Olympia United States Evergreen State College April 1, 1990 Chicago Metro Chicago Bhang Revival & God's Acre April 6, 1990 Madison Club Underground Tad & Victims Family April 8, 1990 Milwaukee The Unicorn The Rusty Halos April 9, 1990 Minneapolis First Avenue Tad & Victims Family143 April 10, 1990 Ann Arbor Blind Pig Tad & Victims Family April 16, 1990 Toronto Canada Lee's Palace Rocktopus & Heimlich Maneuver April 17, 1990 Montreal Les Foufounes Électriques Huge Groove Experience April 18, 1990 Cambridge United States Manray The Bags April 20, 1990 Swarthmore Olde Club, Swarthmore College 25–30 April 21, 1990 Cambridge Senior House, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Little Debbie & Slaughter Shack April 26, 1990 New York City Pyramid Club Barkmarket, Cop Shoot Cop & Rat at Rat R April 27, 1990 Amherst SAGA, Hampshire College 3 Merry Windows, BGOCK!, Cordelia's Dad, GobbleHoof, Mr. Softee, New Radiant Storm King & Sweet Lickin' Honey Babes April 28, 1990 Hoboken Maxwell's The Jesus Lizard & Sulkweed April 29, 1990 Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club Loop & Thud April 30, 1990 Philadelphia J.C. Dobb's Raw Ltd. May 1, 1990 Chapel Hill Cat's Cradle 100 May 2, 1990 Charlotte The Milestone Eclipse May 4, 1990 Tampa The Masquerade Forgotten Apostles May 5, 1990 Jacksonville Beach Einstein a Go-Go May 6, 1990 Atlanta The Masquerade May 9, 1990 Columbus Stache's Barbed Wire Dolls May 10, 1990 Cincinnati Shorty's Underground National People's Gang May 11, 1990 Tulsa Mimi's May 12, 1990Nirvana missed the show. However, Angry Son still performed. Norman Rome XC Angry Son May 13, 1990 Lincoln Duffy's Tavern Cellophane Ceiling May 14, 1990 Denver The Garage Jux County May 17, 1990 Boise The Zoo 24-7 Spyz *Last show with Chad Channing.
Sliver club tour When Nirvana were interviewed at the Reading Festival in 1991 and asked what the biggest concert they had played before the Reading Festival in 1991 was, bassist Krist Novoselic said that it was supporting Sonic Youth in Los Angeles. This was the August 17, 1990 concert at the Hollywood Palladium which had a capacity of 4,400 people.