Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-02-24
There are rooms that hold music — and then there are rooms that hold history. Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley has been doing both since 1972. Tucked just off 19 Corte Madera Avenue in the shadow of Mount Tam, Sweetwater remains one of Northern California’s most intimate and culturally significant listening rooms — a place where the spirit of Marin County’s musical past meets the next generation of players carrying it forward.
This late February and March lineup reflects that balance beautifully, blending blues, reggae, Americana, rock, tribute acts, youth showcases, and — most importantly for Deadheads — several nights deeply rooted in the Grateful Dead continuum.
The Dead thread begins early with the Next-Gen Dead Jam on Thursday, March 12 — an evening designed to pass the torch. Featuring Spencer Krenz, members of Broken Compass Bluegrass and Deadset805, and special guests, the night includes a 5:30 pm pre-bluegrass jam, a 7 pm open jam, and an 8 pm main show. It’s exactly the kind of community-forward, participatory gathering that feels right at home in Mill Valley, where the Dead’s cultural fingerprints remain part of the air.
The following weekend brings Wicked Messengers (March 14), weaving the music of Jerry Garcia and Bob Dylan into one shared narrative — two songwriters forever intertwined in the Dead universe. And later in the month, Sweetwater welcomes the David Nelson Band for two nights, March 27 and 28. Nelson, a founding member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage and longtime collaborator in the extended Garcia family of musicians, carries with him a direct line back to the early Bay Area days. These are not tribute nights — they are living history.
March 21 adds further roots energy with Dead Winter Carpenters alongside Jimbo Scott, while the Marin Bluegrass Sessions on March 22 keep the acoustic jam tradition alive in open-session format. Together, these shows reaffirm Sweetwater’s role not just as a venue, but as a hub — a gathering place where improvisational music continues to evolve in real time.
Beyond the Dead-adjacent offerings, Sweetwater’s calendar stays eclectic and vibrant. February closes with Ronnie Baker Brooks’ blistering blues (Feb 26), reggae legends The Itals with DJ Sep (Feb 27), and Illeagles’ Eagles tribute (Feb 28). March features Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light (March 5), Petty Theft’s two-night Tom Petty tribute run (March 6–7), Americana rising acts Meels with Give Me A Dollar (March 10), and progressive rock explorers Lespecial (March 19). Latin-funk favorites Los Amigos Invisibles arrive March 20, while Super Diamond (March 13) and Retrospekt (March 26) lean into classic and ‘80s nostalgia.
Sweetwater also continues its commitment to education and access through programming like the WOW Music Studios Showcase (March 1), Open Mic night (March 24), BandWorks’ Live. Learn. Rock. program (March 30), and the Marin School of the Arts Rock Band Showcase (March 31). As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, Sweetwater’s mission goes beyond ticket sales — cultivating creativity, nurturing talent, and ensuring the arts remain accessible across generations.
Doors open one hour before showtime for most events, and the venue remains all ages and wheelchair accessible. In a region rich with musical legacy, Sweetwater Music Hall continues to stand as one of the Bay Area’s most beloved rooms — intimate, community-driven, and still very much alive with possibility.
For the latest listings, tickets, membership information, or to support the nonprofit mission, visit sweetwatermusichall.org.
