Grateful Dead’s Berkeley and Hampton 1985 Shows Arrive on Play Dead

Two standout Grateful Dead performances from March 1985 are now streaming in newly mastered high-resolution audio on Play Dead, pairing the close of a four-night Berkeley run with the launch of the band’s Spring Tour at Hampton Coliseum.

The first show, recorded March 13, 1985, at the Berkeley Community Theatre, brought the Dead’s four-night Rex Foundation run to a close. Matthew Kelly joined the band on harmonica for “Minglewood Blues,” “Deal,” “Spoonful” and “Black Peter,” while the second set opened with the only “The Music Never Stopped” > “Franklin’s Tower” pairing the band ever performed. Hamza El Din joined the Rhythm Devils for what would become the Grateful Dead’s final “Ollin Arageed,” and “Brokedown Palace” closed out the night.

Seven days later, the Grateful Dead opened Spring Tour at Hampton Coliseum in Virginia. “Alabama Getaway” > “Greatest Story Ever Told” kicked off the night, while the second set moved through “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” > “Playin’ in the Band” > “Drums” > “Space.” “The Wheel” followed before the band teased “The Other One,” eventually dropping into the song and closing the run with “Wharf Rat” > “Around & Around” > “Johnny B. Goode.”

Both performances were curated by David Lemieux and newly mastered by David Glasser from the original Grateful Dead F1 Digital Tape sources. They are available now in Hi-Res exclusively through Play Dead.

Grateful Dead — Berkeley Community Theatre — March 13, 1985

Set I
Jack Straw > Althea
Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues
Friend of the Devil
Minglewood Blues
Deal

Set II
The Music Never Stopped > Franklin's Tower > Estimated Prophet > Spoonful > Drums > Ollin Arageed > Space > Women Are Smarter > Black Peter > Good Lovin'

Encore
Brokedown Palace

Listen to Berkeley 3/13/85

Grateful Dead — Hampton Coliseum — March 21, 1985

Set I
Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told
They Love Each Other
El Paso > Tennessee Jed
Down in the Bottom
Dupree's Diamond Blues > Looks Like Rain > Might As Well

Set II
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Playin' in the Band > Drums > Space > The Wheel > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Around & Around > Johnny B. Goode

Encore
Day Job

Listen to Hampton 3/21/85