One day in 1997, two Deadhead musicians were ruminating about life without Jerry Garcia and simultaneously came up with the same idea: "Let's recreate a Grateful Dead show."  Around forty people came down to Martyrs' in Chicago on November 11, 1997, to hear the brand-new Dark Star Orchestra's rendition of the Dead's show of 10/8/81. They'd planned it as a four-week experiment, ninety folks showed up the second week, then two hundred, then a 400-person sell-out, so it seemed like a good idea to keep going.

No stranger to the music of the Dead, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti  - of Dead and Company, and formerly of Furthur, RatDog, The Dead, and The Other Ones - joins Dark Star Orchestra November 18 at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT and November 19 at The Palace Theatre in Albany, NY.  DSO bassist Skip Vangelis is unavailable for these dates, so keyboardist Rob Barraco will pivot to fill in on bass while Chimenti, who joined DSO in 2012 and 2014 for similarly brief sit-in

On Oct. 4, 2016, I had the opportunity to catch Dark Star Orchestra in concert at the Lafayette Theater in Lafayette, IN. The experience was interesting, to say the very least.

I had the privilege of attending my favorite festival of the year for the fifth year in a row, and I am here to tell you about the best place on Earth. I would travel across several oceans to get to this festival. It is one that if you haven’t experienced, it should be placed on your bucket list. I’d like to start this tale of Dark Star Jubilee, held at Legend Valley, in Thornville Ohio, each Memorial Day weekend, with some words from the band, written in each schedule passed out:

The first night of this three-night Dark Star Orchestra run at the Boulder Theater was powerful, exciting, and fun. They played the first night of Red Rocks 1978, which was on August 30th, and it featured the first time ever played “’I Need a Miracle,” “Stagger Lee,” and “If I Had the World to Give.” Many of the patrons of the Boulder Theater were extremely happy as the buzz went around the venue of which show it was.

Imagine a paradise that contained all of your family, friends, and favorite music. A place that feels like home as soon as you walk in and everyone is considered family. A place where a smile never leaves your face and the music never stops playing.  Imagine no further, I’m here to tell you of such a place! Join me at the Dark Star Jubilee for its fifth year at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio. It is just over a month away and is held May 27th-29th.

On April 7th, 8th and 9th Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) will perform for the first time ever in Berkeley, CA.  The performances will be held at the newly renovated UC Theatre.

Z2 Entertainment is proud to present John Kadlecik Band with Special Guests at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, April 30th, 2016. Tickets are on sale January 22nd for $17.50 advanced or $20 day of show.

JOHN KADLECIK CO-FOUNDED DARK STAR ORCHESTRA, PLAYED LEAD GUITAR WITH GRATEFUL DEAD FOUNDING MEMBERS IN FURTHUR, HAS JOINED PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS ON STAGE & MORE!!!

In a time where any musician can self-produce and release their own independent album, up-and-coming talents need to set the bar extra high, or at least posses image marketability. The story behind music industry insider Matt Reynolds’ debut release is far from this trend. The longtime road manager for Grateful Dead tribute favorite Dark Star Orchestra has released his impressively diverse Been Long Gone after years behind the scenes.