You have to get up and get out to uncover the hidden jewels of this world. Naturalists, art connoisseurs, and music fans are always mining for gems; the revelation of an unknown vista, an emerging artist, or a hot new band is the reward for their digging. We are on our way to Manchester, Vermont, for the Dead of Summer Festival. The Green Mountains invite us to step outside, breathe the clean air, and enjoy the clear blue skies. The town of Manchester is charming, and I instantly realized I should have planned a few extra days to explore. Unfortunately, I can only stay for the first two days—I must return to the Midwest by Tuesday.
The event unfolds across Hunter Park’s 25 acres on two grassy fields ringed by mountains. The smaller field is reserved for campers, while the larger is divided between tent sites and the event stages. My first impression is how well run everything is, with spaces clearly marked for tents and RVs. Even better, the tent‑camping area lets guests drive up and use wagons to haul their gear. A welcoming canopy marks the entrance, where smiling volunteers and courteous security staff seem intent on ensuring everyone has a good time.
Festivities begin with One World Puppet‑making in the Jam Tent—an early nod to the festival’s family‑friendly spirit. WEQX 102.7 FM personalities serve as MCs; Jeff “Morad” appears on cue, flanked by his teammates Sweet D and Joy Proft.
Jeff introduces the opener, Jatoba. The groovy Brattleboro trio—John Jamison (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Jason Scaggs (guitar, banjo, vocals), and Jeff Richardson (upright bass, vocals)—brings formidable talent to the first slot, sliding effortlessly between originals such as “You Freak Me Out” and covers like “Cumberland Blues” and Stone Temple Pilots’ “Meatplow.”
Music is cleverly staggered: an act on the Main Stage, then another in the Jam Tent. Today’s tent set belongs to the Marks Bros., whose lineup—Mark Paradis (guitar), Mark Mercier (keyboards), Brian Konopka (drums), and Dave Stoltz (bass)—boasts nearly half a century of collective pedigree. They are fantastically entertaining.
While the Marks Bros. keep the tent rocking, the crew swaps Jatoba’s gear for Hilltop, a funk outfit from Albany featuring Reid Perry (drum kit), Stephen Perry (percussion), Aris Nieuwkerk (guitar), and Dave Klang (bass). Local fans turn out in force for songs like “Sunshine” and “Tell Me,” from the band’s latest live collection, Live Rips, Vol. 2. Catch their Halloween show at Albany’s Lark Hall on October 31.
After another rollicking tent interlude with the Marks Bros., I stroll the grounds. The promoters have curated vendors offering interesting food, treats, and souvenirs at fair prices.
Jeff returns to the Main Stage to introduce one of today’s most intriguing acts: Steely Dead. Merging the music of Steely Dan and the Grateful Dead is brilliant—picture “Mr. Charlie” with a smooth‑jazz undertone or “F.M.” infused with folk‑rock soul. The Denver‑based quartet—Dave Abear (guitar), Matt Abear (bass), Chris Sheldon (drums), and Dylan Teifer (keys)—radiates energy, reviving old memories for longtime fans and forging new ones for younger listeners.
Closing the Main Stage is Prince/Bowie, a jazz‑fusion re‑imagining of two unlikely icons. The rhythm section—Rory Dolan (drums) and Eric Gould (bass)—locks a deep pocket for Steve Learson (keys) and Cal Kehoe (guitar, vocals). Add a powerhouse horn line—Josh Schwartz (baritone sax, lead vocals), Shannon Lynch (tenor sax), Dave Grippo (alto sax), and Gershon Rosen (trumpet)—and the result is dazzling. Drawing on pedigrees in Pink Talking Fish, lespecial, Giant Country Horns, and Remain in Light, they breathe new life into classics like “Delirious” and “Ziggy Stardust” (the latter with guest Michael Butler of Bearly Dead). Seek them out—this band is pure entertainment.
After the Main Stage goes dark, Bearly Dead takes over the Jam Tent. Boston‑based Tyler Brooks (drums, vocals), Sarah Elaz (bass), Nick Swift (guitar, vocals), Kris Yunker (keys/organ/synth, vocals), and Michael Butler (vocals, percussion) guide us through a spirited journey of Grateful Dead favorites, delivering the exuberant relaxation Deadheads cherish.
Day Two
Morning begins with a visit to the White Light Foundation tent. The nonprofit channels funds back into local communities and, here at Dead of Summer, has organized a disc‑golf tournament—physical fun that also benefits the area.
Next door, Fiddlehead Brewing Co., another festival sponsor, keeps attendees refreshed with top‑tier craft beer. Repeated “quality checks” confirm the brew is stellar.
Music starts at 11 a.m. with Bar Brides, who blend deep‑cut covers and original jam‑band tunes spiked with bluegrass rock. Guitarists Brett Hughes and Lowell Thompson join Pat Melvin (bass), Steve Hadeka (drums), and Leon Campos (keys) for originals like “I’m Not the One” and George Jones’s “The Race Is On.”
In the Jam Tent, kids experiment with tie‑dye while Vermont natives Heavenly Nettles warm up alongside Deadgrass violinist Kensuke Shoji. Heavenly Nettles—Marc Edwards (guitar), Mandolin Hank (mandolin), and Mowgli Giannitti (double bass)—weave jazz and bluegrass into a lively set that fills the tent with reflective charm.
Deadgrass follows on the Main Stage, blending bluegrass drive with Grateful Dead classics. Matt Turk (multi‑instrumentalist), C Lanzbom (guitar), Dave Richards (bass), Boo Reiners (banjo), and Kensuke Shoji (violin) power through “Alabama Getaway,” “Shady Grove,” and more, eliciting broad smiles.
Rain rolls in just as Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads hit the stage, but the Jamaican frontman’s boundless energy makes the downpour irrelevant. His reggae‑infused takes on Talking Heads staples—“And She Was,” “Wild Wild Life”—keep dancers blissfully unaware of the weather. If you get a chance, don’t hesitate: see him live.
Back in the Jam Tent, Nicole Henley’s Terrafunk unleashes psychedelic soul. John Stefanik (guitar), Jeff Barberie (keys), Garth Retallack (trombone), Bryan McCulloch (trumpet), Kami Lahoski (sax), Billy Sullivan (bass), and Jake Snyder (drums) spin day‑glow grooves that seem to dry the field for the night’s finale.
South Carolina’s Dangermuffin then takes the Main Stage, weaving imagery‑rich lyrics and genre‑bending Americana. Dan Lotti’s clear tenor, Mike Sivilli’s lyrical guitar, Andrew Hendryx’s soaring mandolin, and Steve Sandifer’s pinpoint drumming elevate songs like “Icarus,” “Omaha,” and “Cicada.”
Headlining is Melvin Seals & JGB. With John Kadlecik (guitar, vocals), John‑Paul McLean (bass), and Jeremy Hoenig (drums), Seals—a veteran of Garcia’s original band since 1981—guides us through beloved tunes. Kadlecik and McLean harmonize like siblings, Hoenig never stops moving, and atop it all shines Seals’s unmistakable Hammond B‑3 through spinning Leslie speakers. It feels divinely familiar: the music plays, the stars appear, and everything is just like the song.
Sadly, our Dead of Summer adventure ends too soon. Day Three promises The Wheel and The Whailers, but we must depart. Perfectly positioned between Blue Heron and Grey Fox, Dead of Summer hosts top‑tier acts before a cozy crowd of fewer than 2,000, creating an intimate, friendly vibe. For anyone plotting a Northeast summer trek, this hidden gem belongs on the list.
