Thirty years ago today, on July 9, 1995, the Grateful Dead took their final bow at Chicago's Soldier Field. To some, it marked the end of an era; to others, it was the beginning of a never-ending dance with a musical legacy that defies explanation. For both those who "get it" and those still wondering what all the fuss is about, this anniversary offers a chance to reflect on why the Grateful Dead remain an unparalleled cultural phenomenon.

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.

Nestled beneath the ancient oaks of Mendocino County’s storied Black Oak Ranch, Dead On The Creek will once again gather Deadheads, bluegrass pickers, and roots-music revelers for three days of song, fellowship, and creek-side camping from Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10, 2025.

The San Francisco Giants and Relix are teaming up to present The Heart of Town, a special three-night concert series celebrating the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary and the enduring spirit of San Francisco. Hosted by Grahame Lesh & Friends, the shows will take place July 31–August 2 at Pier 48 in Mission Rock, located just steps from Oracle Park.

The Grateful Dead’s beloved concert film The Grateful Dead Movie returns to the big screen this summer as part of the band’s worldwide “Meet-Up at the Movies” 60th-anniversary celebration. Local Dead Heads can catch the exclusive event at the historic Boulder Theater on Thursday, August 14 and Saturday, August 16, 2025. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; the feature rolls at 8:00 p.m.

The Garcia Project, widely regarded for its meticulous re-creations of historic Jerry Garcia Band (JGB) concerts, will celebrate a decade-and-a-half of keeping the music alive with the “Days Between” 2025 Summer Tour. From July 29 through August 16, the ensemble will thread together 14 dates across the Northeast and Midwest, each night pairing a period-accurate JGB set list (1976-1995) with the vintage tempos, grooves, and soulful dynamics that defined Garcia’s own stage presence.

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the Fox Theatre will be awash in psychedelic color and timeless sound when Boulder’s own Young & Dead headline an immersive “Evening with Young & Dead,” accompanied by the swirling visuals of the JPEG Liquid Light Show. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the music begins at 8:00 p.m.

Grateful Web is proud to publish an exclusive interview with journalist and author Brian Anderson, conducted by Meagan Panici of Chicago’s legendary freeform station 88.3 FM The Wizard. In Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, Anderson treats the Wall of Sound not as mere equipment but as a living, breathing protagonist—capricious, communal, and uncompromising. Across this conversation, he delves into the system’s pioneering design, the mad-scientist zeal of Bear and Ned Lagin, and his own lifelong Deadhead roots that shaped this project.

Six decades after the Grateful Dead’s first notes echoed across the San Francisco Peninsula, Deadheads everywhere will reunite under the silver-screen glow for the annual “Meet-Up At The Movies.” This year’s cinematic gathering features the triumphant return of THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE—the 1977 concert film revered for its electrifying Winterland performances, psychedelic animation, and candid behind-the-scenes interviews with the band and crew.

Dark Star Orchestra, in partnership with Island Gigs, is thrilled to unveil Jam in the Sand XIII, set for January 10 – 14, 2026 at the newly appointed Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters resort, just outside Montego Bay. The beachfront gathering features four nights of music headlined by Dark Star Orchestra—three full, two-set concerts beneath the Caribbean stars plus an extended daytime “Sunshine Set” on day three.