Phil Lesh's son to host S.F. concert series to honor Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary
The three-night concert series called the Heart of Town is set to run July 31-Aug. 2 in honor of the influential jam band founded in the Bay Area in the 1960s. Fronted by Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995, the band was known for its improvisational style and became emblematic of the era's counterculture movement.
Organized by musical group Grahame Lesh & Friends, the event boasts special guests such as Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of the Los Angeles folk rock band Dawes, Nashville country singer Daniel Donato, Salinas singer-songwriter Jackie Greene and longtime member of the Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals.
Ticket presales begin at 10 a.m. Friday, June 27, with general sales starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 30.
Three-day and single-day passes will be available, as well as a Terrapin Station Experience VIP pass that includes a dedicated entry lane, viewing area, merchandise and more.
'I'm so thrilled to be among the countless Deadheads flocking to beautiful San Francisco to celebrate 60 years of the Grateful Dead,' Lesh said in a statement. 'I know that San Francisco will be filled with that music all weekend (and) I'm honored to contribute to that with all of my friends.'
The series will overlap with Dead & Company's sold-out three-show run at the Golden Gate Park Polo Fields, scheduled for Aug. 1-3. Those concerts will feature surviving Dead members, guitarist Bob Weir and drummer Mickey Hart, playing alongside John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and other musicians of the spinoff band.
This will be the first local gig for Dead & Company since Lesh died in October 2024.
The Heart of Town's first show kicks off at 8 p.m., but subsequent concerts that coincide with Dead & Company's event will start at 11 p.m. to allow Deadheads coming from Golden Gate Park enough time to travel across town to Pier 48.
Other artists slated to appear at the Heart of Town shows include Louisville jazz musician John Medeski, Santa Ana saxophonist Karl Denson and New York indie rock singer Karina Rykman.
The event series is being presented by the San Francisco Giants and Relix Media Group, and produced by Terrapin Station Entertainment and Dayglo Presents.
'The Grateful Dead were birthed in San Francisco 60 years ago, and The Heart of Town is about honoring that legacy — bringing people together through music and the spirit of the city where it all began,' Dayglo Presents Founder Peter Shapiro said in a statement. 'Having Grahame leading the charge with so many incredible musicians makes it magic — it's the next generation carrying the torch and keeping the music alive.'
A portion of proceeds will support the Rex Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1983 by 'members of the Grateful Dead and friends' to provide community support to those in the arts, sciences and education.
This summer's Grateful Dead festivities commemorate the band's 1965 debut as the Warlocks.
Deadheads outside of the Bay Area can also celebrate the band's legacy in theaters, once the newly-announced remaster of the 'The Grateful Dead Movie' hits the big screen. The band's 1977 concert film is scheduled to make its IMAX debut on Aug. 13, with a wide release set for the following day.
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New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
A Tie-Dye Version of Jerry Garcia's Legacy?
To the Editor: Re 'We Could Use More of Jerry Garcia's Politics,' by Jim Newton (Opinion guest essay, July 24): Mr. Newton suggests that Jerry Garcia's musical artistry offers a model of living apart from the world rather than trying to change it by engaging in political life. But this oversimplifies the relationship between Mr. Garcia and his audience. Mr. Newton says Mr. Garcia's music was 'an exploration of what it means to be free.' For some Deadheads that does mean attempting a life with minimal connection to government. Many others, though, find the same music encouraging political action. They see that every work of art rejecting or ignoring societal norms is inherently an act of resistance, because it encourages its audience to break free from those norms and the government that upholds them. Politically engaged Deadheads note that Mr. Garcia rarely played solo. He knew he was best as part of a group — a community in which each member was free, but always carefully attending to, respecting and responding to all the other members of the community. He knew that only this kind of communal relationship could safeguard and enhance the freedom of each individual. Mr. Garcia's music, especially as part of the Grateful Dead, communicated that message to his audiences. Many of us find it a powerful model for the kind of society we hope to live in and for the values we want government to enact. His sheer energy still moves us to keep on keeping on. Ira ChernusLongmont, Colo. To the Editor: Jerry Garcia was one of the greatest improvisational musicians of our time. He was, in my opinion, up there with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. When we celebrate his justly enduring legacy, that's what we should focus on — not his 'political legacy.' The notion of Jerry Garcia as a hippie avatar after the mid-'70s is absurd. Jerry designed ties, for gosh sakes. His family sells everything Jerry-related on a website today. He was, in his own way, a capitalist. That he 'exercised freedom rather than waiting on the government to grant it' is hardly distinctive to any great artist. But his solo on 'Morning Dew' at Cornell '77 — that was distinctive. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
San Francisco Chronicle
11 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Photos: Dead & Company's second night in S.F. unites generations of Deadheads
If the first night of Dead & Company's Golden Gate Park residency celebrated legacy, the second night showcased its endurance — across generations, families and time itself. What became unmistakably clear on Saturday, Aug. 2, was how deeply intergenerational the Grateful Dead 's following has become. Some 60,000 fans once again packed the Polo Field for the second of three concerts marking the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary. Teenagers danced beside their parents. Grandparents clapped along with toddlers. Some attendees had seen guitarist Jerry Garcia perform live with the band in the 1960s. Others were born years after he died in 1995. 'My parents are a total big influence for all the good music I listen to,' said Siren Talbot, 19, of Grass Valley, who attended the show with her parents. 'It's definitely a reflection of just spending time together and listening and hanging out in the backyard.' Long before the band took the stage, the field buzzed with activity. Veteran Deadheads roamed the edges of the crowd handing out homemade stickers and swapping stories. Others stretched out on picnic blankets under the evening sky. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie took the stage to introduce the first set shortly after 6:15 p.m. — and to acknowledge the moment's emotional weight. 'Listen, what you all have brought to our city over the last week and here tonight — you've brought joy, you've brought energy, you've brought love,' Lurie, clad in a tie-dye T-shirt, told the crowd. 'It's just what San Francisco needed.' Then, with his hand over his heart and the crowd roaring, he added: 'I am the mayor of the greatest city in the world, and it is my privilege to welcome Dead & Company.' Up front, the energy was high — swirling, packed and kinetic — as fans rushed to grab refreshments just as the music began. The band — featuring Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir and drummer Mickey Hart, alongside guitarist and vocalist John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, and drummer Jay Lane — was more vibrant and cohesive than it had been on opening night. They kicked off with a tight, groove-heavy take on 'In the Midnight Hour,' setting a festive tone before launching into a rollicking 'Bertha' and a twangy 'Jack Straw' featuring a sunny tease of the Allman Brothers' 'Blue Sky.' A soulful 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' melted into the coda of 'Hey Jude,' followed by a punchy 'Passenger' and the crowd-pleasing 'Brown-Eyed Women.' The first set closed on a high, emotional note with a powerful rendition of 'Morning Dew,' featuring a guest appearance by country singer and opening act Sturgill Simpson. The second set leaned fully into the Dead's psychedelic roots. 'Uncle John's Band' opened with an unexpected jam on 'The Other One,' leading into the classic 'Help > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower' suite, complete with playful teases of 'Ghostbusters' and 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.' Grahame Lesh retuned to join the band for 'St. Stephen,' which nodded to 'The Eleven' before giving way to a hypnotic 'Drums' and 'Space' sequence, laced with a tease of Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond.' Momentum continued to build with 'Spanish Jam' and a stirring 'Days Between,' before the band launched into a late-set 'Truckin',' featuring a jazzy nod to Miles Davis' 'All Blues.' The evening wrapped with a raucous 'Cold Rain and Snow' and a tender, harmony-laced 'Brokedown Palace.' Between sets, the stage screens lit up with archival interviews from Grateful Dead members, grounding the present-day crowd in the band's original spirit. Late bassist Phil Lesh described Dead shows as places to 'test your limits' and 'experience a little danger' in a warm, welcoming space. 'The Grateful Dead show is a perfect place to do that,' he said. Reflecting on the venue, Weir added simply: 'It just feels right to go back to the park there and play for folks and just have a musical ball.' That spirit — of gathering, improvising, and sharing — was alive and well among the thousands who came not just for the music, but for the sense of belonging it brings. 'My dad and my mom have been taking me to Dead & Company shows since I was 3,' said Coral Mines, 16, from Trinity County. 'It's so life-changing to have that experience when you grow up. The music is peaceful. It's just such a vibe.' Eric Dugoni, 28, of Napa, said he's been to nearly 20 shows with his father. 'Last night was actually the first one without him,' Dugoni said. 'He would've been here, but he's hiking in Canada with his siblings. Still, I wore his old shirt. We've always connected through the music.' Some, like Ever Epshaw, now bring their own children. 'Last night I was with my daughter. She's 22, and he's 14,' said Epshaw, in his 50s. 'There were grandparents dancing everywhere — people with their kids, little kids, everyone just having fun.' Dead & Company may have concluded its so-called 'final tour' in 2023, but if this weekend is any indication, the music — and the culture built around it — shows no signs of fading. 'I wish more of my friends would come with me,' Mines said. Chronicle staff writer Anna Connors contributed to this report. Dead & Company – Golden Gate Park Setlist Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Show – Friday, Aug. 2, 2025 Set 1 'In the Midnight Hour' (Wilson Pickett cover) 'Bertha' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Jack Straw' (Grateful Dead cover) (with 'Blue Sky' tease) 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' (Traffic cover) 'Hey Jude' (The Beatles cover) (coda only) 'Passenger' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Brown-Eyed Women' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Morning Dew' (Bonnie Dobson cover) (with Sturgill Simpson) Set 2 'Uncle John's Band' (Grateful Dead cover) (with 'The Other One' jam) 'Help on the Way' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Slipknot!' (Grateful Dead cover) (with 'Ghostbusters' teases) 'Franklin's Tower' (Grateful Dead cover) (with 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds' tease) 'St. Stephen' (Grateful Dead cover) (with Grahame Lesh and 'The Eleven' tease) 'Drums' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Space' (Grateful Dead cover) (with 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' tease) 'Spanish Jam' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Days Between' (Grateful Dead cover) 'Truckin'' (Grateful Dead cover) (with 'All Blues' tease) 'Cold Rain and Snow' (traditional cover)
CBS News
14 hours ago
- CBS News
Deadheads flock to Golden Gate Park for second day of Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary celebrations
Tens of thousands of Deadheads packed San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Saturday for the second day of a three-day concert series honoring the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary. Fans traveled from across the country—and some from overseas—to take part in the milestone celebration. The show kicked off just after 4 p.m. on the Polo Field, which quickly filled as more concertgoers streamed in through the evening. Country rocker Sturgill Simpson opened the day's performances, with Dead & Company slated to headline later in the night. "Nothing's more important than going to a Dead show, man. It's the bomb," said Frank McGloin, a local fan from the Bay Area. The festivities extended well beyond the main stage. Earlier in the day, hundreds gathered in the city's Excelsior District—where Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia grew up—for the 23rd annual Jerry Day at McLaren Park. At the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, musicians filled the air with bluegrass and rock music, while fans danced barefoot in the grass and celebrated his legacy. "It's medicine music," said Antonio Aversano, a Deadhead from Sebastopol. "It's very spiritual—it's like going to church. It totally takes me out of my head and brings me into a connection with the divine." For Aversano, the entire weekend has been transformative. "The energy of the Summer of Love, the whole counterculture in the '60s—peace, love, community, celebration," he said. Many fans who attended Friday night's opening show planned to immerse themselves in every event throughout the weekend. "I think the Deadheads are probably the nicest, kindest people you'll ever meet in your life," said Maria Pruss, a fan from Southern California. "Huge community, big hearts." Deanna Neiers, who traveled from New York City with her two children, ages 7 and 9, brought a personal touch to the celebration. She and her kids designed and handed out custom-made stickers to commemorate the anniversary. "We made this special sticker to hand out to commemorate the 60th anniversary," Neiers said. "We've printed a bunch of them and we love the community. So we're just handing them out for free to everybody." A Deadhead for 35 years, Neiers said she attended Jerry Garcia's final concert in Chicago in 1995. "We wouldn't miss the chance to celebrate the 60th anniversary," she added. The concert series is also giving San Francisco's economy a welcome boost. City officials said hotels, restaurants, and local shops are seeing increased business from the influx of visitors. "When people come from all 50 states, all around the world, and they have a great time, which they are, they go home, they tell their friends, and those friends come back to San Francisco," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "And we're going to welcome them with open arms." For Serena Cisco, who flew in from Nashville, the city's warm welcome stood out. It was her first visit in three decades. "Happy to be here. Thank you, San Francisco, for putting this on. The city has been so welcoming," she said. Though decades have passed since the Grateful Dead first took the stage, their music—and its messages of resilience and hope—continue to resonate deeply with fans. "The legacy of Jerry Garcia is certainly a message of positivity and hope," said Henry Wimmer of Open Mind Music. And for many Deadheads, like Aversano, the gathering is about more than just music. "This is about community. It's about getting along together. It's about celebrating life," he said. For those in attendance, there's little that compares to the feeling of being at a Dead show.
