It’s about time an adventurous group of talented, open-minded individuals gave the good ol’ Grateful Dead’s music a fresh, vibrant makeover. BERTHA: Grateful Drag has added a joyous splash of color to one of the most cherished musical catalogs in existence. The timeless music of the Grateful Dead is now being presented with all the sparkle and wonder it deserves. As far as we know, BERTHA is the only Grateful Dead drag tribute band in our galaxy—though who’s to say what might be happening elsewhere?

The String Cheese Incident will headline CaveJam, a two-day, two-stage festival at The Caverns over Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-25, 2025. Festival highlights include two nights of performances by The String Cheese Incident, featuring three above-ground sets and a special late-night set in The Caverns' renowned subterranean venue.

BERTHA: Grateful Drag, the world's first all-drag Grateful Dead tribute band, recently played their first festival—the 2024 Newport Folk Festival. Grateful Web had the opportunity to learn more about them.

GW: How did you come up with the idea?

The music and cultural landscape is set to shift dramatically with the arrival of BERTHA, the world’s first Grateful Drag band. This all-star ensemble of queer and allied talent from East Nashville is pioneering a spectacular blend of music, performance art, and activism, all while donning wigs and full drag. The group has announced an eagerly awaited performance at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, November 21, 2024.