The Electric Factory is a historic Philadelphia music venue that originally operated from 1968 to 1970 at 22nd and Arch Streets, hosting Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and The Chambers Brothers. A second incarnation opened in 1995 at 7th and Willow Street in a converted General Electric plant. In 2018, the venue was sold and renamed Franklin Music Hall, with a capacity of 2,500 to 3,000.
Green Day recorded their November 14, 1997 show at the Electric Factory as a live album, sat on the recording for over 25 years, and released it in January 2023 as part of the Nimrod 25th Anniversary Edition. The 20-song set was posted on the band's official YouTube channel. Here is "Nice Guys Finish Last" from that performance:
History
The original Electric Factory and Flea Market opened in 1968 in a converted tire warehouse on the northwest corner of 22nd and Arch Streets. It was owned by Sheldon Kaplan, Herbert Spivak, and his brothers Jerry and Allen Spivak. Larry Magid was hired to book shows and became a partner after the Atlantic City Pop Festival in 1969.
The original venue hosted performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and The Chambers Brothers until 1970. The building was torn down in 1973 and replaced by condominiums. Electric Factory Concerts, the promotion company born alongside the venue, continued as a major concert promoter under Larry Magid.
In 1995, Magid and Spivak reopened the Electric Factory in a converted building from the General Electric Switchgear Plant on 7th and Willow Street. The new venue quickly became Philadelphia's primary mid-size concert room. In 2016, Consequence of Sound named it the 16th best venue in the United States.
In September 2018, the Electric Factory was sold to The Bowery Presents. Because the trademarked name was owned by rival Live Nation, the new owners held a public naming contest that received over 5,000 submissions. In October 2018, the venue was renamed Franklin Music Hall.
Notable Performances
The original Electric Factory (1968-1970) hosted Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Chambers Brothers, and other major acts of the era during its brief two-year run.
The 1995 reincarnation hosted a wide range of artists across rock, hip-hop, electronic, and indie genres. The venue's two-level layout (first floor all ages, balcony 21 and older) made it accessible to diverse audiences. Electric Factory Concerts, the promotion arm, grew into one of Philadelphia's largest concert promoters, producing shows at venues across the city and region.
Notable Performances Here
- Jimi Hendrix (February 22, 1968) - The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the original Electric Factory on 22nd and Arch Streets during their First North American Tour 1968
- The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Frank Zappa - All performed at the original Electric Factory during its brief 1968 to 1970 run, along with bluesman Muddy Waters and trumpeter Miles Davis
- Green Day (November 14, 1997) - Recorded their full 20-song set as a live album, released 25 years later on the Nimrod 25th Anniversary Edition in January 2023. Billie Joe Armstrong told the crowd the album was called "F***ed Up in Philadelphia"
- Bob Dylan with Patti Smith (December 15 to 17, 1995) - Three-night run on the Paradise Lost Tour. Patti Smith joined Dylan for a duet on "Dark Eyes" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," the latter dedicated to Jerry Garcia, who had died months earlier
- David Bowie (September 6, 1996) - Performed at the 1995 reincarnation of the venue on Seventh and Willow Street
- Hole (May 15, 1999) - Brought the Celebrity Skin tour to the Electric Factory. The show was filmed for HBO's Reverb series, with six songs broadcast alongside backstage interview footage
- The Ramones (February 16, 1996) - Performed at the reopened venue shortly after its 1995 launch
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs (September 2018) - One of the final shows under the Electric Factory name before the venue was renamed Franklin Music Hall
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Philadelphia is a major touring market between New York and Washington, D.C., and the Electric Factory (now Franklin Music Hall) is its central mid-size venue. With a capacity of 2,500 to 3,000, it represents a significant step up from club venues. Independent artists who can sell out this room are ready for theater-sized tours.
For independent artists, the Electric Factory's history offers two lessons. First, a venue's cultural impact can outlast its physical existence. The original Electric Factory operated for just two years but its name carried enough weight to justify a reopening 25 years later. Second, building relationships with local promoters like Electric Factory Concerts can open doors to larger venues.
Use our tour revenue calculator to model the financial side of routing through Philadelphia, and read our guide to booking your first tour for practical booking advice.
Related Resources
- How to Book Your First Tour - Step-by-step guide to booking live shows
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Revenue streams including live performance
- Guarantee Glossary Definition - How venue guarantees work
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Estimate your tour earnings
- Bowery Ballroom - A comparable mid-size venue in New York City
- 9:30 Club - Another historic mid-size US concert venue, in Washington, D.C.
- Webster Hall - Another New York City venue in a similar capacity range
- Franklin Music Hall Wikipedia Article - Detailed venue history
