Grateful Dead To Release April 1978 Box Set

The Grateful Dead will release a new 19-CD box set titled Friend Of The Devils: April 1978 on September 20, featuring eight previously unreleased concerts from their spring tour that year. This limited edition set, with only 10,000 copies available exclusively at Dead.net, showcases notable performances in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The release marks a pivotal moment in the band's history, highlighting the introduction of the 'Drums' and 'Space' segments during concerts, a practice that became a hallmark of their live shows. Fans can preview the box set with the newly released track 'U.S. Blues' from the Duke University concert. The collection includes remastered recordings originally captured by Betty Cantor-Jackson, designed by Steve Vance, and features a 48-page book with liner notes by Steve Silberman. Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux emphasizes the significance of these shows, stating they reflect a band fully engaged and delivering their best every night.