As Dark Star Orchestra steadily marches towards 3000 shows performed, continuing the celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead since 1997, today the band announces its New Year’s Eve run along with a dozen and a half additional dates tacked on to the Fall Tour.

Proving that the Grateful Dead’s community and spirit prevails, LOCKN’s line-up weaves a colorful tapestry of tributes to the Dead and beyond. Renowned for its collaborative sets that put the biggest names in the jam scene together on one stage, next weekend will see Bob Weir and our favorite tributes to the Grateful Dead come together at Infinity Downs & Oak Ridge Farm in Nelson County, Virginia August 22 – 25.

What is fair to say and what is hyperbole? Is it overstating things to say the Grateful Dead have become so much more than just their music? They define pieces of us. Times with friends. Discovery. They have become an institution reaching further than just recordings of their shows. But no matter what, for all of us, it still starts there; with the music. The music was and is a driving force in us. But since it has ended, and it has ended, what we are left with are new branches growing from roots sewn in the 60’s.

This year, to honor Jerry Garcia on his Aug. 1 birthday, the Jerry Garcia Foundation is happy to announce that it has partnered with Seven Seas Music to produce its first musical release, “Annapurna’s Song, Music of the Himalayas,” a compilation of music from the Himalayan region consisting of 12 recorded tracks. “Annapurna’s Song, Music of the Himalayas” is planned for release on Sept. 28, 2019 and will be available through regular digital platforms. 

Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir refuses to stay stagnant, and his latest occasional side project, the Weir & Wolf Bros trio, set up camp for a three-night, hometown residency August 1 to 3 in Marin County’s idyllic Mill Valley. Reports that tickets for these performances at the 300-capacity Sweetwater Music Hall sold out in 30 seconds are probably not exaggerated. Grateful Web was lucky enough to attend the first show of the run.

On Sunday be sure to wake up early to catch the barefooted, Keller Williams lead LOCKN in some Grateful Dead tunes with his “Grateful Gospel” group. If you’re looking for some soul, then St. Paul & The Broken Bones are the ticket at the 5:30 PM slot on The Main Stage. Closing out the seventh annual LOCKN Festival will be Bob Weir & The Wolf Bros. (Jay Lane & Don Was) featuring Susan Tedeschi & Mikaela Davis.

By 1987, the Grateful Dead had lived many of their nine lives but were about to embark on one not a soul had seen coming. In The Dark , their first studio album in seven years, had spawned a hit (A TOP 10 SINGLE FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD?!) and "Touch Of Grey" begat a new generation with their fanny packs and their MTV and their undeniable quest to join the party already in progress. And boy, did the Dead let them in! But not without fine-tuning their sonic vibes to meet the new demand.

The 35th Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival had many highlights, most notably the omnipresence of the hottest talent on the Bluegrass circuit, Billy Strings.

However, one of the main "subplots" that many wondered about was the status of "The Grateful Ball" given the recent, sudden and tragic passing of mandolin genius and original Grateful Ball participant, Jeff Austin.