Sweetwater Music Hall, the storied Mill Valley nonprofit that has welcomed the Grateful Dead family since Jerry himself first took the stage decades earlier, rolls into mid-summer with a calendar tailor-made for Deadheads. While the venue continues to present every shade of live music, July and August lean heavily into psychedelic roots, improvisation, and the communal spirit that defines the Dead’s enduring legacy.
The run begins to glow red-hot on Wednesday, July 23, when guitarist Duane Betts and his band Palmetto Motel plug in. Betts’ winding, melodic leads—heir to both the Allman Brothers’ and the Dead’s jam-centric DNA—promise an evening where Southern rock, cosmic Americana, and free-flowing improvisation meet under Sweetwater’s cedar-beamed ceiling. It’s the ideal prelude to the hall’s marquee celebration two weeks later.
On Sunday, August 3, Sweetwater Music Hall throws open its doors at 11 a.m. for a family-friendly morning of tie-dye twirls and sing-along smiles as The Rock and Roll Playhouse brings its celebrated “Plays Music of the Grateful Dead” program to Mill Valley. Designed especially for young music lovers, the interactive concert lets kids (and the grown-ups who love them) dance, howl, and noodle along to timeless Dead favorites while celebrating six decades of the band’s joy-spreading legacy. The show starts at 11:30 a.m., runs a tidy single set, and welcomes children under one year old free of charge—making it the perfect introduction to live music in Sweetwater’s storied, all-ages setting. While this playful tribute is not formally affiliated with or endorsed by the Grateful Dead, it channels the group’s communal spirit in a safe, stroller-friendly space where little heads can dabble in big jams.
On Friday, August 8, Sweetwater hosts Brown Eyed Women, the acclaimed all-female Grateful Dead tribute that has been lighting up national stages with fearless exploration of the Dead’s songbook. From “Scarlet → Fire” to “Sugaree,” the band’s vocal harmonies and risk-taking jams offer a fresh perspective on classics while honoring the music’s deepest grooves. Expect tie-dye twirls on the dance floor and a set list that could wind anywhere—the way the Dead liked it.
The following night, Saturday, August 9, Wicked Messengers turns the spotlight directly on Jerry Garcia’s country-steeped side, arriving on the exact 30-year mark of Garcia’s passing. Their pedal-steel-kissed arrangements and affectionate nods to the New Riders era will echo the gentler, rootsier corners of Garcia’s catalog—think “Deal,” “They Love Each Other,” and a healthy helping of Grisman-flavored acoustic pickin’. For Deadheads, the back-to-back dates create a full-weekend pilgrimage: first the Dead, then the Jerry.
The hall continues to weave the broader jam community into its schedule: July 27’s free midday Marin Bluegrass Sessions invite pickers to trade Monroe licks and Garcia-inspired runs; twice-monthly Open Mic nights hosted by Matt Jaffe (July 8 and 22) offer local players a chance to test new songs on Sweetwater’s storied stage. Each event underscores the venue’s nonprofit mission to foster creativity and keep the Bay Area’s musical conversation vibrant and accessible.
Doors open one hour before showtime, and every ticket purchased helps fund Sweetwater’s workshops, youth programs, and emerging-artist residencies. Fans can secure seats, donate, or become members at sweetwatermusichall.org—and follow the hall’s social channels for the latest updates. Whether you come to chase a “Dark Star” with Brown Eyed Women, raise a toast to Jerry with Wicked Messengers, or simply soak up the scene Duane Betts ignites, Sweetwater invites the Deadhead community to gather, groove, and keep the music alive.
