Dead & Company Celebrate Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary With Special Guests In San Francisco

Dead & Company celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead with a three-night run at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the historic site of many original Dead performances and Jerry Garcia's memorial. The event, coinciding with what would have been Garcia's 83rd birthday, featured special guests including bluegrass star Billy Strings and Grahame Lesh, son of late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. Billy Strings opened the weekend with a set blending originals and covers related to Garcia's solo repertoire, highlighting tunes like "Shady Grove" and "Thunder." Sturgill Simpson also performed as an opening act during the run, integrating Grateful Dead homages and captivating the crowd with his mix of rock and country influences. Dead & Company's sets included nods to various eras of the Grateful Dead's catalog, featuring classics like "Bertha," "Jack Straw," and "Box of Rain," with playful teases and segues that honored the band's legacy. The involvement of family members like Trixie Garcia and the participation of original members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart underscored the event's blend of celebration, remembrance, and musical homage.