The 19th annual Gathering of the Vibes will take place  July 31-August 3, 2014. Tickets go on sale Black Tie Dye Friday, November 29, 2013. Purchase early bird tickets for $185,  that is almost $100 dollar savings from purchasing at the gate.Check out some great new 2013 highlights on the Vibes YouTube channel.

In October 1978, The Grateful Dead played its final run of shows at The Winterland Ballroom, the ice-skating-rink-cum-hallowed-home-court for San Francisco’s “home-team” band. After promoter Bill Graham converted Winterland into a full-time music venue in 1971, The Dead played a total of eight runs (three or more shows in a row) at Winterland and chose the landmark hall for six New Year’s Eve blowouts, dating back to 1968.

Fans of the Grateful Dead will continue to seek that special feeling their music brought for 30 years, though the group disbanded eighteen years ago. Bassist Phil Lesh recently announced for all practical purposes that he is retiring from touring, sticking to his Terrapin Crossroads locale with occasional exceptions. Though the other living members of the band will likely continue to tour and perform, their music tends to evolve with them as musicians.

Once again, Dark Star Orchestra kicks off the New Year in the cold reaches of the Upper Midwest, starting Winter Tour 2014 in Minneapolis before winding its way south with stops in Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Charlotte and Atlanta to name a few, until wrapping up with four nights in Florida.

Following the Spring departure of longtime bassist, Kevin Rosen, the Chicago-formed Dark Star Orchestra offered temporary spots to a handful of talented performers. Today, the band announces the formal, permanent bassist role goes to Skip Vangelas who is currently on tour with the band.

After a beach-bumming, sun-soaking, toe-tapping, sold-out great time was had earlier this year, Dark Star Orchestra and Island Gigs are excited to be teaming up once again to host the Jamaican JAM IN THE SAND II at the adults only (all-inclusive) Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa in Negril, Jamaica, February 28 - March 4, 2014.

You'll barely feel the weather getting colder as Dark Star Orchestra heats things up with Fall Tour East 2013, beginning November 13 in Buffalo followed by a return trip across the border to Toronto and winding up in State College, PA on December 4.

No sooner will Summer turn to Fall than Dark Star Orchestra will be truckin' on with the Fall Tour West, beginning September 27. Starting with mountain spots like Jackson Hole, Bozeman and Missoula, the bus then heads northwest for three shows in Washington state, two nights in Portland, followed by a trek through California that stops in good ole SF for a weekend.

Flashback to 1972. It’s been a tremendously busy year for the American Rock band the Grateful Dead. Solidifying their identity as “American” the boys (and Donna) traveled to Europe for a 22 show multiple country engagement including East and West Germany, Amsterdam, Lille Fairgrounds, Rotterdam, and beyond. This tour was groundbreaking in Dead evolution, displaying focused and extended jams on newer material such as Playing in the Band, while refining jazzier touches on standby opuses such as Dark Star and The Other One.