Last year, Grateful Dead founding members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh put together yet another Dead-related project, Furthur, featuring Jeff Chimenti, John Kadlecik, Jay Lane and Joe Russo. Chimenti comes from Weir’s other project, RatDog; Kadlecik hails from the Dead-tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra; and Russo is one half of the Benevento/Russo duo. Lane, also of RatDog, left Furthur just last week to rejoin Primus, where he was an original founding member.
Music lasts even after we’re gone, and that has never been more true for a band like the Grateful Dead. A deep wound was surely left in the hearts of many thousands, with the passing of founding member Jerry Garcia in 1995, but thanks to Weir, Lesh and the other remaining members of the Dead, the music has lived on ever since in each of the various side projects like The Other Ones, The Dead, RatDog, Phil Lesh and Friends and The Rhythm Devils.
The Grateful Dead, their kind-hearted fans and outdoor festivals have gone together like PB&J for decades now, so you just might be in luck this summer if you find a way to make the trek out to California.
From May 28-30, the Furthur Fest will take over the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp, California, featuring four stages of music, camping, late night shows, organic food and drinks and special Dead memorabilia and artwork. Furthur is headlining two nights of the festival. Also playing the festival are Hot Tuna, Jackie Greene, Galactic, Larry Campbell and wife Theresa Williams, Jemimah Puddleduck, The Mother Hips, The Waybacks, Common Rotation with Dan Bern, Carney, Maiden Lane and Blue Light River. Tickets go onsale through Ticketmaster on March 26 at 10 am PST. More artists are expected to be added to the festival in the coming weeks.