Jerry Garcia 75th Birthday Events and New Releases

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Jerry Garcia in the ’70s (Photo from the Sundance website)

The late Jerry Garcia would have turned 75 today (August 1, 2017) and nationwide celebrations, concerts, commemorations and archival releases continue to honor his legacy throughout the year.

Here are several upcoming and ongoing events…

The Jerry Garcia 75th Birthday Acoustic Band has just been added to the sold-out August 4 birthday concert celebration at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. The ensemble came together for the event and features original Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band members Sandy Rothman and Kenny Kosek, joined by Anders Osborne and Infamous Stringdusters Chris Pandolfi and Travis Book. The concert features Bob Weir with the Campfire Band composed of the National’s Bryan Devendorf, Scott Devendorf with Josh Kaufman, Steve Kimock and Jon Shaw. Also featured is the electric Jerry Garcia 75th Birthday Band with Melvin Seals, Jackie Labranch, Gloria Jones, Oteil Burbridge, Kamasi Washington, Tom Hamilton and Duane Trucks. For more information on the concert click here. Fans can live stream the event at Nugs.net.

The Jerry Garcia Family will co-sponsor a range of nationwide events in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville and Burlington, VT. The events include performances featuring Garcia’s repertoire from the Grateful Dead, Garcia/Grisman, Jerry Garcia Band and much more, interpreted by a cross-section of artists from a variety of genres. The 15th Annual Jerry Day Celebration will take place at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in San Francisco’s McLaren Park on Aug. 6. See full schedule below. For tickets and information on all of these events, click here.

On July 28, Round Records/ATO Records released GarciaLive Volume Nine: August 11, 1974 – Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, the latest installment of the celebrated GarciaLive archival series. The two-CD set was recorded at the Keystone in Berkeley, Calif., and features Garcia and keyboardist/collaborator/mentor Merl Saunders with Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, Martin Fierro on flute and saxophone and longtime Garcia collaborator John Kahn on bass.

Starting today (Aug. 1), and running through the day he passed at age 53 on August 9, SiriusXM’s The Grateful Dead Channel will host Jerry Week, a celebration of Garcia’s life through his music, archival interviews, rare concerts and other special programming, including a re-airing of the 2017 Red Rocks 75th Birthday Concert and the 2016 Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Go here for more info.

On Aug. 6, the 15th Annual Jerry Day, the city of San Francisco will unveil a new plaque in honor of Garcia. The plaque will be permanently placed in the Excelsior District near 121 Amazon Avenue where the artist lived during his first five years. This is the second time the city has dedicated a plaque in Garcia’s honor. Later that day, at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in McLaren Park, the 15th Annual Jerry Day celebration continues with a concert featuring Melvin Seals and the JGB, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel and Midnight North.

The Grateful Dead backstage in 1977 (l. to r.): Bill Kreutzmann, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Keith Godchaux, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Donna Jean Godchaux (Photo by Peter Simon)

On August 3, the San Francisco Giants will host the sold-out annual Grateful Dead Tribute Night as the Giants take on the cross-bay rival Oakland A’s. Members of the Jerry Garcia Family will be on hand and proceeds will benefit the Rex Foundation.

On Aug. 5 at 9pm EST, AXS TV will air the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes and the Colorado Symphony, recorded on Garcia’s 74th birthday on Aug. 1, 2016, at Red Rocks. This performance, recorded during the fourth installment of this special tour, featured inspiring collaborations on favorites, including “China Cat Sunflower,” “Scarlet Begonias,” “Morning Dew” and “Blues For Allah.”

On Garcia’s birthday in 2016, the artist’s live and studio catalog was made available via streaming services the very first time.

Jerry Garcia Regional Events Schedule

August 1st – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
The Jerry Garcia Family & Brooklyn Bowl Present a Jerry Garcia 75th BirthdayCelebration featuring The Garcia Project recreating a classic Jerry Garcia Band performance, Andy Falco (of Infamous Stringdusters) & Friends performing Garcia & Grisman’s Pizza Tapes

August 1st – Terragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
Aquarium Drunkard and the Jerry Garcia Family present Grateful Shred and Friends celebrating the music of Jerry Garcia. Friends include Delicate Steve, King Tuff, Emmett Kelly, Eric Johnson, Jenny O, William Tyler, Omar Velasco, and Leslie Stevens

August 1st – Higher Ground Ballroom – Burlington, VT
Beg Steal or Borrow – a special opening set paying tribute to Old and in the Way. Great North Special – Grateful Dead set featuring Seth Yacovone, Kevin Shapiro, Trevor Ainsworth, Sheila Metcalf, Andy Burke, and Sean Preece. Additional special guests include Ryan Miller (Guster), Brett Hughes, Zach Dupont, Eric Olsen, Amanda Gustafson and more to be announced!

August 2nd – Basement East – Nashville, TN
Ain’t No Place I’d Rather Be: Jerry Garcia’s 75th Birthday Celebration – A Collection of Nashville’s finest musicians will explore the expansive Garcia Songbook with three sets spanning Garcia’s career including Old And In The Way, Jerry Garcia Band, and The Grateful Dead. Led by members of Futurebirds, Los Colognes and Off The Wagon with special guests including RayLand Baxter, Ben McLeod of All Them Witches, Robyn Hitchcock, Trever Terndrup of Moon Taxi and many more!

August 6th – McLaren Park, Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre – San Francisco, CA
The 15th Annual Jerry Day featuring Melvin Seals and the JGB, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel and Midnight North

Go to jerrygarcia.com to keep up on more birthday celebration announcements and releases.

Watch Melvin Seals and the JGB pay tribute to Garcia on Jerry Day in 2014