Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-06-16
Sweetwater Music Hall will mark the Days Between with five events celebrating the life and music of Jerry Garcia from August 1 through August 9, 2026.
The annual period stretches from Garcia’s birthday on August 1 to the anniversary of his death on August 9, and Sweetwater’s schedule brings together Bay Area history, Grateful Dead music and longtime members of the surrounding community.
The celebration opens Saturday, August 1, with Big Brother and the Holding Company. The band remains closely tied to the San Francisco sound of the 1960s and the musical world that helped shape the Grateful Dead’s earliest years.
Moonalice follows with a Sunday matinee on August 2. Known for its deep connection to Bay Area psychedelic music and the extended Grateful Dead family, the group has long carried that tradition forward through its live performances.
On Monday, August 3, drummer Brian Melvin will lead Brian Melvin’s Grateful Jam. Melvin, who played extensively with Jaco Pastorius and has worked across jazz and improvisational music, will bring his own approach to the Grateful Dead songbook.
The series continues Tuesday, August 4, with First Tuesday Mill Valley featuring Big Steve Parish and “all things Jerry.” Parish served for decades as a Grateful Dead roadie and stage manager and later worked closely with the Jerry Garcia Band, giving him a firsthand view of the music and history surrounding Garcia.
The celebration concludes Saturday, August 9, with See What Love Can Do, a Jerry Garcia Band tribute.
Saturday, August 1
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Sunday, August 2
Moonalice Matinee
Monday, August 3
Brian Melvin’s Grateful Jam
Tuesday, August 4
First Tuesday Mill Valley with Big Steve Parish and all things Jerry
Saturday, August 9
See What Love Can Do
Jerry Garcia Band tribute
All events take place at Sweetwater Music Hall, located at 19 Corte Madera Avenue in Mill Valley, California. The venue is all ages and operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization.
For schedules and event information, visit sweetwatermusichall.org.
