Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation announces the Dark Star Orchestra - Grateful Guitars Foundation Benefit, an exclusive pre-show VIP reception before Dark Star Orchestra’s performance at the iconic Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday August 15. This intimate benefit event will support GGF’s mission to commission world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music and to fund music education programs. Show & VIP tickets go on sale this Friday April 25, and there are only 100 VIP tickets available.
The benefit will take place in the midst of Dark Star Orchestra’s extensive tour, which was announced today, and it will feature meet & greet with members of DSO, rare gear on display – including Jerry Garcia’s Alligator guitar, – a silent auction featuring extraordinary memorabilia, an exclusive VIP swag package and curated food & drink.
“Dark Star Orchestra and Grateful Guitars Foundation have joined forces several times over the years, including at last year’s Jubilee and celebrating the 40th of 7/13/84 at the Greek in Berkeley,” said Andy Logan, founder of Grateful Guitars. “We are so thrilled to partner with DSO for the first time in New York City and cannot wait to celebrate this music with all the fans at the gorgeous Pier 17. We are eternally grateful to DSO for partnering with us to make this a benefit for GGF, so that we can bring music education to future players and gift instruments to ensure jam music lasts in perpetuity."
Lead guitarist and vocalist for Dark Star Orchestra Jeff Mattson adds: “We are so excited to be doing a benefit for the Grateful Guitars Foundation in my hometown of New York City. The generosity and benevolence of Andy Logan and the GGF has benefited Dark Star Orchestra and so many fine musicians, and the work they are doing to help underserved young people with music education is invaluable and sadly missing in today’s education programs.”
This event follows GGF’s second annual benefit concert last year at San Francisco’s famed Great American Music Hall on August 13 – 49 years to the day since the Grateful Dead’s legendary performance at the venue. Last year, GGF also released the compilation Grateful: The Music Plays the Band, a seventeen-track collection of some of the finest Grateful Dead songs performed by key members of the band’s greater musical community including Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company), DSO and more. Learn more about the Grateful Guitars Foundation at https://gratefulguitars.org/.
About Dark Star Orchestra
Performing to critical acclaim for over 25 years and over 3300 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience. Dark Star Orchestra has performed throughout the entire United States, including a sold-out debut at Colorado’s Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, plus shows in Europe and the Caribbean with the band touching down in seven different countries and at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, Milwaukee's SummerFest, The Peach Music Festival, Jam Cruise, Wanee Festival, SweetWater 420 Festival, Mountain Jam and many more. Dark Star Orchestra also hosts its own annual music festival titled the Dark Star Jubilee, currently in its eighth year, where DSO headlines all three nights and are joined by a mix of established and up and coming national touring acts. The band has featured guest performances from six original Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, Tom Constanten and even toured with longtime Dead soundman, Dan Healy. Other notable guests have included Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, Keller Williams, Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Peter Rowan, Ramblin' Jack Elliot and many more.
About Grateful Guitars Foundation
Grateful Guitars Foundation is a 501-c3 nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. We identify musicians who thrive in live settings and we secure the gear they need to reach their fullest musical potential. Through the powerful connection between the skilled player and the highest quality instrument, our aim is to ensure that jam band music thrives for generations of live music fans. Additionally, Grateful Guitars Foundation board members share actual and replica Grateful Dead instruments and gear from their personal collections with players in the community. We are also rolling out a program seeking to support music instruction in schools to seed the next generations of talented players in the Bay Area and beyond.
