Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-11-05
The spirit of the Grateful Dead is alive and well in Northern California, and Playing The Dead is helping keep the music moving forward with a series of performances throughout November and December. From the historic streets of San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the coastal community of Pacifica and the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, the band is bringing the music of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead to familiar gathering places for Bay Area music lovers.
Known for their improvisational energy and dedication to the Grateful Dead's expansive catalog, Playing The Dead approaches the music with both respect for its roots and a willingness to explore new directions. The band's performances celebrate the musical conversations, unexpected turns, and shared experiences that have made the Dead's music such an enduring part of Northern California's cultural landscape.
Leading the upcoming schedule are two installments of "Grateful First Fridays on Haight Street," a monthly celebration at O'Reilly's Pub in the heart of San Francisco's historic Haight-Ashbury district. The series returns Friday, November 6, with Playing The Dead joined by special guests Jerry Saracini, Tommy Carmine, and others. The band will return to O'Reilly's on Friday, December 4, with another lineup of special guests, including Tim Baker, Jeff Quiglet, and Kyle Fooks.
There's something particularly fitting about celebrating the Grateful Dead's music on Haight Street, where the band's early history became intertwined with the cultural and musical revolution of the 1960s. Decades later, the neighborhood remains an important touchstone for Deadheads, musicians, and travelers drawn to the music and the community that grew around it.
On Monday, November 23, bandleader Jason Movrich brings Jason Movrich & Friends Play The Dead to Winter's Tavern in Pacifica. The special gathering will feature Scott Guberman, Roger Sideman, Justin Wooster, and additional musicians for an evening of Grateful Dead music. The performance is free, offering another opportunity for fans to gather and enjoy the music in an intimate setting.
The holiday weekend brings a particularly interesting pairing on Friday, November 27, when Playing The Dead heads to the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma for a celebration of Jimi Hendrix's 84th birthday. The evening also features Liquid Sky, a tribute to Hendrix, bringing together two of the most influential musical legacies of the psychedelic era.
For fans of both the Grateful Dead and Hendrix, the pairing feels right at home. Both helped redefine what electric guitars and improvisational rock music could accomplish, stretching familiar musical structures into new territory and inspiring generations of musicians to follow.
Throughout these performances, Playing The Dead continues to celebrate the music as something that belongs to the present as much as the past. Rather than treating the Grateful Dead's catalog as a fixed collection of songs, the band embraces the improvisational possibilities that have always kept the music fresh.
For longtime Deadheads, newer fans, and anyone who appreciates the freewheeling spirit of live improvisational music, these upcoming Northern California shows offer plenty of opportunities to get out, hear the music, and share in the community that continues to grow around it.
For tickets and additional information, visit PTD Presents or Playing The Dead's official website.
Friday, November 6, 2026
Grateful First Fridays on Haight Street
Playing The Dead with Jerry Saracini, Tommy Carmine & Special Guests
O'Reilly's Pub – San Francisco, CA
Doors: 7:30 p.m. | Show: 8:30 p.m.
Tickets & Information
Monday, November 23, 2026
Jason Movrich & Friends Play The Dead
Featuring Scott Guberman, Roger Sideman, Justin Wooster & More
Winter's Tavern – Pacifica, CA
6:00 p.m. | Free Show
More Information
Friday, November 27, 2026
Celebrating Jimi Hendrix's 84th Birthday
Liquid Sky – A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
with Playing The Dead
Mystic Theatre – Petaluma, CA
Doors: 7:30 p.m. | Show: 8:30 p.m.
Tickets & Information
Friday, December 4, 2026
Grateful First Fridays on Haight Street
Playing The Dead with Tim Baker, Jeff Quiglet, Kyle Fooks & Special Guests
O'Reilly's Pub – San Francisco, CA
Show: 8:00 p.m.
Tickets & Information
More About Playing The Dead
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