The inaugural Days Between Festival, celebrating the legacy of late-Grateful Dead patriarch Jerry Garcia and the musical score he left embedded in our soul, was upbeat and a resounding success in northern Mendocino County, California on August 6 and 7, even amidst the rage of north-state wildfires and Covid-19 pandemic 2.0. Proof of vaccination or a negative, very-recent Covid test were required for entry.

The jam band enthusiasts—“aged Deadheads”—and hipsters alike, all made their way out from the depths of the Colorado Front Range for a night of Grateful Dead tribute and homage. Dark Star Orchestra made the Dead fans of Denver “Get Up, Get Off, Get Out of the Door,” to suit up for an original setlist and production at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 5th, 2021.

Andy Logan is a Dead Head who recognizes (along with the rest of us!) that Dead music is our common heritage and a nurturing source of love for us all.  Wanting to support that, and having a collection of guitars, he began to lend and sometimes give special instruments to gifted players who didn’t have the means to acquire them on their own.  This came to include not only first-quality examples of the types of guitars that Garcia and Weir had played, but then instruments built for them, as well as instruments Jerry owned, most famously “Alligator,” his axe from the era of Europe ’

The Grateful Dead tribute act Dark Star Orchestra formed in Chicago, Illinois and offered its first public show on November 11, 1997, has performed 2997 shows since that time. The band today announces the return to its Windy City birthplace roots by hosting a pair of shows in downtown Chicago at Soldier Field.

John Kadlecik to Join Members of Dark Star Orchestra For First Time in 10+ Years Starting Tonight in Denver April 8 - 11, Streaming Live on Fans

Dark Star Orchestra will be headlining a pair of shows at the Columbia Speedway Entertainment Center as part of the Cola Concerts Series. On Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 the band will replicate a different performance from the Grateful Dead each night, playing an entire set from one of the Dead’s iconic live shows. Tickets for both nights go on sale Friday, April 2 at noon. Two-night packages are available.

Grateful Dead tributeers Dark Star Orchestra today announce their 9th Jamaican Jam in the Sand festival. Happening January 11-15, 2022 at the Jewel Paradise Cove Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, the festival features four full beachside concerts (2 sets each night) from Dark Star Orchestra within the palm tree covered, beachfront stage. Nightly sets from special guests Melvin Seals & JGB featuring John Kadlecik with songs to fill the air.

Launched earlier this year The Music Plays the Band podcast from Dark Star Orchestra Drummer Rob Koritz has been highlighting and focusing on the influence of the Grateful Dead on the life and career of professional musicians within the jamband world and beyond.