Run by a collective called the Amazingrace Family, it was known for its welcoming atmosphere, eclectic menu, excellent sound system, and respectful audiences.

[1] Performers from a wide variety of genres (including blues, bluegrass, folk, funk, rock, jazz, comedy, spoken word, and theater) played at Amazingrace from its beginning on the campus of Northwestern University until its final incarnation at The Main on Chicago Avenue in Evanston.

In May 1970, participants in the Campus Strike ran a spontaneous food service to student protesters from Scott Hall, in addition to holding organizing meetings and providing music.

The idea for a permanent student coffeehouse coalesced when, post-Strike, university officials finally closed the Scott Hall Grill.

The venue received its name when folk duo Norman Schwartz and Carla Reiter started ending their set with an a cappella rendition of the well-known song, "Amazing Grace".

Amazingrace began to book touring national acts such as Phil Ochs, David Bromberg, Mimi Fariña, Jaime Brockett, John Hartford, Norman Blake, Ry Cooder, Mike Seeger, and Vassar Clements.

While the famous Dead "wall of sound" did not formally debut until March 1974 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, many of its elements were already being used at this concert, including McIntosh 2300 and 3500 amplifiers, noise-canceling vocal mics, and plentiful JBL drivers.

In addition, Amazingrace's loose policies regarding "bring your own" beer and marijuana led University President Robert Strotz to worry about "a situation that would lead to the place being busted".

[9] Then, on November 6, 1973, the City of Evanston added additional pressure when it warned the University that by allowing Amazingrace to carry on, Northwestern was in violation of a zoning regulation that prohibited commercial business operations on University-owned land.

A dozen people resided at Colfax Street, in addition to the frequent touring musicians, poets, and yippies who could always find a meal and a bed in the basement.

However, both parties agreed to drop the effort in April 1974, when the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of this type of ordinance in the similar case of Village of Belle Terre v. Boraas.

It had neither kitchen facilities for food service nor a liquor license, but its good location, reasonable prices ($2.50-$3.50 admission for one of the two nightly sets), "non-nightclub" atmosphere, and "all-ages welcome" policy grew the audience.

The sound system featured Electro-Voice Sentry III studio monitor speakers, Dynaco Stereo 400 amplifiers, an Allen & Heath soundboard, and Amazingrace’s own house-brand Earworks 24-band graphic equalizer.

Amazingrace also became the go-to venue for the next generation of upcoming jazz artists, including pianist Keith Jarrett, the Paul Winter Consort, Anthony Braxton, Jack DeJohnette, Simon & Bard, Miroslav Vitouš, Oregon, vibraphonist Gary Burton, bassist Steve Swallow, drummer Bob Moses and guitarist Pat Metheny.

Amazingrace hosted national acts from the folk, country, blues, funk, soul, rock, swing, and bluegrass traditions.

"[14] Continuing the coffeehouse tradition established at Scott and Shanley Halls, Amazingrace at The Main also presented film, lecture, theater, comedy and poetry.

Charles Bukowski, Anne Waldman, and US Poet Laureate Mark Strand appeared as part of the No Mountains Poetry Project readings and broadsides series.

Lack of liquor and food sale income made it hard to have sufficient cash flow to pay rent, electricity, advertising, and performers.

[16][17] Amazingrace at The Main put on its last show on July 31, 1978, in a raucous 4-day weekend featuring Jim Post, Corky Siegel, Tom Dundee, and Steve Goodman, with fans, musicians, and former collective members attending from all over the country.

[18][19] The final song, sung from the stage with audience participation, was “Amazing Grace.”[20] The Evanston members continued on as Amazingrace and produced several shows in other local venues such as the Varsity Theater and Pick-Staiger Concert Hall through the early 1980s.

In 2011 there was a full-week, multi-site 40th anniversary celebration at Northwestern University Library,[24] the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, and Evanston S.P.A.C.E.

Live concerts included the Siegel-Schwall Band with Jim Schwall, Rollo Radford, Corky Siegel and Sam Lay; Megon McDonough; Bonnie Koloc, and Johnny Burns with Paul Nebenzahl.