Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-10-06
Two more stops from the Grateful Dead’s Spring Tour 1985 are now streaming in high resolution on Play Dead: April 1 at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine, and April 3 at Providence Civic Center in Rhode Island.
“Ride, ride, ride, at least I’m enjoying the ride!
Tuesday Dead Drops starts with 4/1/85, an April Fools’ finale in Maine. Bertha > Greatest Story starts things off before a liquid West L.A. Bird Song, Phil’s Tom Thumb’s and Looks Like Rain highlight an amazing first set.
Then it’s China > Rider > Estimated > Eyes. After another wild 1985 Drums > Space, a long runway finally explodes into The Other One. Jerry delivers a beautiful Stella Blue, and NFA > Baby Blue sends the love flowing into the Cumberland County streets.
Two days later we’re down I-95 in Providence.
Bucket > Sugaree starts the party before Let It Grow closes a smoking first set. Then — Terrapin opens the second! Women Are Smarter > Ship of Fools leads into a Truckin’ > Spoonful > Drums > Space. Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Sugar Magnolia brings down the house.
Maine to Providence. Spring Tour 1985 is flitting around the Northeast, and our band beyond description is about as free as it gets. Enjoy!” — Martin Knott
Curated by David Lemieux and newly mastered by David Glasser from the original Grateful Dead F1 digital tapes, both shows are available now exclusively on Play Dead.
Set I
Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, West L.A. Fadeaway, Little Red Rooster, Bird Song, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues, Looks Like Rain > Might As Well
Set II
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Around & Around > Not Fade Away
Encore
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
Listen to Cumberland County Civic Center — April 1, 1985
Set I
Hell in a Bucket > Sugaree, Me & My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Ramble On Rose, Down in the Bottom > I Ain’t Superstitious, Row Jimmy, Let It Grow
Set II
Terrapin Station > Women Are Smarter, Ship of Fools, Truckin’ > Spoonful > Drums > Space > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Sugar Magnolia
Encore
Day Job
