This Friday, September 20th, a peak of the Grateful Dead's post-hiatus period will be immortalized with the release of Friend Of The Devils: April 1978. Available exclusively from Dead.net, the 19CD boxed set features eight previously unreleased concerts from the start of an historic tour – when “Drums” and “Space” first became regular live segments, and forever redefined the Grateful Dead’s live experience.

On this somber September day, we turn our thoughts to the legend who cast a long shadow upon the fields of country music—Hank Williams, born on this day in 1923. Like a melancholic refrain echoing through the cold, misty hollows of the South, Hank’s music lingers in the hearts of all who hear it, leaving an indelible mark on the soul. His voice, at once sorrowful and sweet, beckoned like a ghostly whisper from the midnight winds, stirring a deep longing in the human spirit.

This fall, Insight Editions will release Grateful Dead Tarot: The Official Deck and Guidebook, a unique tarot deck that merges the traditional elements of tarot with the vibrant, psychedelic aesthetic of the Grateful Dead. This extraordinary deck is based on the 78 cards of the esoteric tarot, featuring iconic symbols and archetypes that tarot readers recognize, while also paying homage to the Grateful Dead's iconic imagery, making it a must-have for Deadheads and tarot enthusiasts alike.

The year is 1955, and a boy from Lubbock, Texas, is poised to change the course of music history. His name? Buddy Holly. Today, on September 7th, 2024, we celebrate what would have been his 88th birthday—a moment to reflect on the meteoric rise, the songs that still echo across generations, and the lasting imprint he left on the soundscape of rock 'n' roll.

The Songs That Shook the World

On September 3rd, 1977, the Grateful Dead played one of their most legendary concerts at Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. The show drew an astonishing crowd of approximately 150,000 people, creating the largest audience the state had ever seen for a concert. This event wasn't just a show; it was a monumental gathering that would become a defining moment in the history of the Grateful Dead and rock music.

The Scene and The Crowd

Another year rolls by, and as the calendar flips to August 31st, we at Grateful Web pause to celebrate a man whose music has traversed the decades with the grace of a river winding its way through a lush, timeless landscape. Van Morrison, the Belfast Cowboy, has been at the forefront of the musical journey, from his early days with Them to his expansive solo career, which has made its mark on generations of listeners.

On this day, August 26th, we gather our thoughts and pay tribute to Branford Marsalis, a master of sonic alchemy, whose notes whisper like wind through the reeds of the saxophone. His playing is a flight of shadows and light, twisting through the mind like the architecture of dreams. Branford's style moves with fluid grace, a river of jazz and soul, interwoven with the ghostly echoes of those who came before.

Ah, Donna Jean Godchaux—her voice a soft ribbon threading through the air, dancing alongside the sweet chaos of the Grateful Dead’s sonic journey. Born on this day, August 22nd, she’s more than just the woman who wailed with the Dead; she’s living proof of the unexpected twists life can take when music's in the driver's seat. But let’s wind the clock back a bit before she was harmonizing in the Dead’s kaleidoscopic storm.