Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on December 1, 2025
San Francisco’s own Playing The Dead is marking a major milestone: One year of Grateful Thursdays on Haight Street at O’Reilly’s Pub. What started as a humble monthly gathering of Deadheads has blossomed into a cornerstone event of the Haight-Ashbury live music scene. To celebrate, the band will host a special 1-Year Anniversary Show on Thursday, December 11, at O’Reilly’s Pub — complete with extended sets, special guests, and the joyful, free-flowing energy that defines the spirit of the Grateful Dead.
But that’s not all, beginning in February 2026, the monthly tradition will evolve into “Grateful First Fridays on Haight Street,” moving from Thursday to the first Friday of every month, allowing for an even bigger celebration of the Dead’s enduring legacy. Each month will feature Playing The Dead alongside additional guest bands, stripped down acts, DJs, and local artists and vendors, creating an immersive night of live music, dance, and community — all inspired by the music of Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia and the timeless Haight-Ashbury spirit.
“We started Grateful Thursdays to bring people together—Deadheads and musicians,” says Playing The Dead’s Jason Movrich. “Now, a year later, it’s really becoming a family community. Over the past we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have some amazing musicians sit in with us, including Scott Guberman, Joe Marcinek, Ann Elva, Genveive Basile. Moving to First Fridays lets us open the circle wider, add more bands, special guests and we’ll have some amazing local artists and vendors.”
O’Reilly’s Pub, nestled in the heart of Haight Street, has become the perfect home for the series — a space where the past and present of San Francisco’s counterculture meet in song. The 1-Year Anniversary Show will honor that community with an expanded lineup and a night that promises to capture the energy, improvisation, and togetherness that define the Dead’s legacy.
Event Details:
Playing The Dead – Grateful Thursdays on Haight Street – 1-Year Anniversary Show
Thursday, December 11, 2025
O’Reilly’s Pub
1840 Haight Street, San Francisco, California
Doors at 7:00 PM / Show at 8:00 PM | 21+
Advance tickets $16.82 (including fees) are on sale at https://bit.ly/ptd-dec11
Grateful First Fridays begin Friday, February 6, 2026, continuing monthly with additional bands to be announced soon, as well as rotating guests and DJs, artists and local vendors celebrating the psychedelic soul of Haight-Ashbury.
For updates, lineups, and upcoming shows, follow @PlayingTheDeadSF on Instagram and Facebook, or visit ptdpresents.com or playi
About Playing The Dead:
Playing The Dead is a San Francisco-based collective of musicians devoted to honoring the music and community of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia’s music. Known for their improvisational sets and warm vocal harmonies. The band has become a staple of the local scene and a beacon for Deadheads old and new.
