The worlds of Hawaiian slack key guitar, psychedelic pedal steel, and masterful keyboard work converge as three virtuosos of the jam band scene announce their debut tour as Skeleton Krewe Trio. Born from a serendipitous collaboration in early 2024, this unique musical collective features Rob Barraco (Dark Star Orchestra, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Dead), Barry Sless (Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, David Nelson Band, Phil Lesh and Friends), and Grammy-nominated Hawaiian slack key guitarist Stephen Inglis.

It’s almost certain that no musical act in history has produced as many “cover” bands as the Grateful Dead. In nearly every major city in America, as well as countless smaller towns and rural communities, Dead cover bands regularly celebrate the music of that storied band. Some are long-established lineups of cats who gather regularly down under the stars; some are catch-as-catch-can pick-up bands.

In West Marin County, California, on Saturday afternoon, a benefit performance by Skeleton Krewe, a unique trio (Stephen Inglis, Barry Sless, and Rob Barraco) in which each member possesses decades of high-level Grateful Dead-esque experience, was enhanced by the presence of two powerhouse musical guests (Pete Sears and Jay Lane), both of whom have displayed their own improvisational prowess seemingly forever.

Grammy-nominated Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Stephen Inglis joins forces with longtime friends and musical collaborators Barry Sless (Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Phil Lesh & Friends) and Rob Barraco (Dark Star Orchestra, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Dead) to bring the Skeleton Krewe Trio to Northern California in October. The live shows in Marin, Sonoma, Chico, Humboldt, and the Sierra Foothills will dive into a musical stew of Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan classics, originals, Hawaiian songs, and more.