In light of the upcoming Fourth of July I would like to invite all readers to comment with your ideas of what constitutes American Music.  We could get a very nice discussion going regarding bands, styles, influences, allusions, imagery, intent, and anything else that might come up about what American Music is, was, means and does.

Such a Grateful place for die-hard Garcia fans to be Gathering! We're so happy and grateful to announce that we will be having our 5th outdoor music and camping get together this summer! The "Grateful Garicia Gathering" will be returning back to the beautiful "NCN-North Campground" on July 29th through August 1st 2005, in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin.

I made a deal with my wife that if I could get the kids to bed, so that everything at the ol' homestead was settled and peaceful, then I could go to the show.  So I went, though I was delayed enough by my two daughters that I arrived at the tail end of Dark Star Orchestra's first set.  DSO is not just your average

On the anniversary of one of the all-timers, this show is held so dear by so many deadheads that it is one of the true links for newbie to old-timer (as someone notes below).  It has almost invariably been one of the first tapes of a show that we first had our minds blown by and one of the first tapes that we literally wore out...most of us know the Betty Board with the Minglewood fade in and the chunk missing (Ouch!) from Lazy Lightning>Supplication which otherwise is of great quality.  My highest recommendation is to listen regularly to the

Phil Lesh was in Denver autographing his new book, Searching for the Sound, and we were there to meet him.  The Tattered Cover hosted the event.  At least 500 on hand to have their books signed. Phil started autographing books around 7PM, 30 minutes early; no doubt the good crowd prompted this.  We were probably 200th on line and Phil was taking about 20 - 30 seconds chatting with most people.

There will be a free staged reading and full sing through of CUMBERLAND BLUES , which incorporates 20 songs by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, Monday, February 7 at the Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, Ohio. A limited number of invitations are available.

Grateful Dead Hour to Celebrate Twenty Years On Air With KPFA Radio Marathon Feb. 19 - Sixteen Hour Radio Program Hosted by David Gans to Feature Grateful Dead and Dead-Related Music; Will Host Live Music by Dark Star Orchestra.

The Grateful Dead Hour radio program will celebrate its twentieth anniversary of weekly, nationwide broadcasting on Saturday, February 19, 2005 with a radio marathon from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. PST consisting of sixteen hours of Grateful Dead and Dead-related music.

RatDog must regretfully announce the postponement of the Bob Weir and RatDog tour scheduled to begin tomorrow, October 7th, in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Since January, Bob Weir has worked continuously on music dates for RatDog and The Dead, promotional work for his career retrospective album, and a number of nonprofit appearances. 

The first night (8/10) was really nice.  We had outstanding weather, and the crowd was mellow.  As always there was lots of fun to be had in the parking lot and on the lawn.  I like PNC - the people who work there aren't lamers like the some of the people at Jones Beach.  On the way into the show we saw some interesting things..  One guy tried to smuggle beer in by storing where the sun don't shine.  Well, ok, not exactly!  He tied a jacket around his waste and lined the inside of the jacket with beer cans.  Pretty clever, but I don't think he got pas