Mark your calendars, January 9 will be our 6th Grateful Dead night at Little Caesars Arena!  More details will be posted when ticket sales commence. 

By our rough count, this was our 45th installment of Grateful Brunch, and it was really special.  Fresh off the previous night's performance, we paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton, debuting Tomorrow is Forever, the only Dolly song that the Dead ever played, as well as Bird Song, My Sisters and Brothers, country tunes Big River and Me and My Uncle, and Knocking on Heaven's Door.   Our second set was all requests, per usual, and we debuted When Push Comes To Shove and played a super fast version of Monkey and The Engineer.  Join us the last Saturday of every month, September 26 is next. 

8-29-2026 Grateful Brunch, The Sardine Room, Plymouth, MI
I: My Sisters and Brothers, Tomorrow is Forever*, Bird Song, Big River > Me & My Uncle, Next Time You See Me, Knocking on Heaven's Door
II: New New Minglewood Blues, When Push Comes To Shove*, To Lay Me Down, Monkey and the Engineer, Sugaree, Big Railroad Blues, Me & Bobby McGee, The Wheel > Good Lovin, Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World, Werewolves of London
* = First time played

Wow!  We had a blast headlining at Kensington Metropark playing Grateful Dead music for a crowd of hundreds.   When it got dark, all we could see from the stage were hundreds of blinking crowns (free swag from KM), the full moon, rising above the crowd, and the bugs landing on anything white!  There were dozens of dancers up by the stage and their cheers pushed our show to new heights.  We also welcomed keyboardist Steve Rea to our regular line up.  Thanks to openers The Cherry Bombs, promoter Brian Major, Schubert Sound, and Kensington Metropark for the drone show after the gig,  We can't wait to come back!

8-28-2026 Kensington Metropark Blue Moon on the Beach
The Weight, Mississippi Half Step Toodeloo > Franklin's Tower, The Music Never Stopped, Friend of the Devil, Greatest Story Ever Told, Ramble on Rose, Truckin' > The Other One > Eyes of the World, Sugar Magnolia > Sunshine Daydream, Uncle John's Band

Thanks to all who braved construction on the street outside The Blind Pig to join us for a special evening of music.  FIrst, we were joined by our favorite minors, Nate and Elijah Tolwin, who join their dad Chaim to form the Groove Monkey Trio.  

The vibrations were all aligned, and we took the stage for an unforgettable evening of music.  We take flight again on August 28 at Kensington Metropark and The Sardine Room the very next day. 

I: US Blues > Saint of Circumstance, Brown Eyed Women, Looks Like Rain, Beat It On Down The Line, It Must Have Been The Roses, Ramble On Rose, Jack Straw
II: Playin' in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Playin' Jam > Scarlet Begonias > Touch of Grey > New Speedway Boogie > Playin' Jam > Drums & Space > Help On The Way > Slipknot > Wharf Rat > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower

photos: Quality Jerry, Dave Martin

Returning for our second year at Red Dock, Bill, Chaim, Dave and Steve Rea were joined by Jerry-on-the-run Joe Marcinek and his friend Rick King in the Mickey spot.  Wow!  The band was on fire as the chilly winds blew on the dock, and everybody was shaking hands! 

Since Dave and Bill were the only lead singers, the show was mostly sung by Dave with Bill singing backup and a few reversals. Oh, and we encouraged loooong jams.  The band was ready to oblige!  We started our second set with Estimated Prophet because Bill's nephew was there and it's his favorite song. 

It's an extraordinary thing that Grateful Dead music now exists in a spot similar to jazz standards since the 40s - if the musicians know the catalog, it's easy to sit in without a rehearsal.  Just the night before, Dave had joined our buddy Mike Kriegelstein's band Knein for a Dead show at Covert Beach Campground. The band included both Mike's wife Katelyn (some sweet 3 part harmonies were revealed) and Dave's brother, Jeff, playing bass.  

We (including you) are the first step in Bobby's 300-year-plan.  Let's keep it going for the children of our children's kids.  See you at the Blind Pig on 8/8. 

8-2-26 Red Dock, Saugatuck, MI
I: Jack Straw, Ramble on Rose, The Music Never Stopped, Tom Thumb's Blues, Peggy O, They Love Each Other, Brown Eyed Women, Sugaree, Terrapin Station.
II: Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Touch of Grey, Shakedown Street, Box of Rain, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad > Not Fade Awy
E: Franklin's Tower

What a cool new venue!  We loved playing for the inaugural season of what our photographer and #1 fan Michael Chojnowski called "Red Rocks, Jr." The trippy light show was the icing on the cake as we got to give Lansing area Deadheads a treat in Grateful Dead form.  We hope to return next year!

7-25-26 Fish Ladder Music Park, Lansing, MI
Shakedown Street > Feel Like A Stranger, Tennessee Jed, Me and My Uncle > Big River, Loser, The Music Never Stopped, Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Box of Rain > Jam > Drums > Space > Dark Star Jam > Box of Rain, Terrapin Station > Morning Dew > One More Saturday Night

Our friend who goes by the name "Quality Jerry" filmed Terrapin Station > Morning Dew.  Check it out!

Seven!  Dave, Matt, Bill, and Joseph were joined by vocalist Shannon Lee, keyboardist Steve Rea, and percussionist Gio John Wyatt for another Saturday afternoon of the best American music.  We sang happy 70th birthday to a fan and enjoyed that famous Sardine Room hospitality.  This was our first of 2 gigs that day, so Bill, Dave, Matt, Joseph and Steven drove out to Lansing as soon as we were packed up. We return for our regular brunch on August 29.  

7-25-2026 Grateful Brunch at the Sardine Room, Plymouth, MI
I: Let The Good Times Roll, Dark Hollow, Catfish John, I Second That Emotion, Sugaree, Jack Straw, Midnight Moonlight
II: Around and Around, Bertha, Cumberland Blues, Corinna > I Know You Rider, Ramble On Rose, Black Throated Wind, Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World

What a beautiful day!  After multiple 90+ degree days and several days of unhealthy, smoky air from the Canadian wildfires, mother nature gave a perfect day for an outdoor show - mid 70s, partly sunny, plenty of clean air.  We took advantage of the weather by bringing the Dead to Wyandotte.  We had played 2 other times, but that was with our acoustic quartet.  This time was our full electric ensemble.  Dave, Bill, and Chaim were joined by Joe Odell on guitar and Steve Rea on keys, and we got down to the business of spreading the music.  A great time was had by all!

7-19-2026 Sunday Socials, Wyandotte, MI
I: US Blues, Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, They Love Each Other, Box of Rain, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Touch of Grey, Sugar Magnolia
II: Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Dear Prudence, Dancin' In The Street > Eyes of the World > Terrapin Station, Truckin' > Not Fade Away

Just a few hours after returning home from the DYC... Dave, Bill, and Matt were back at it again!  After a sleepy setup, we got peppy with a prepared first set, and a full crowd-request second. Jody was piggybacking it and painted the extraordinary "Cats Down Under The Stars," pictured above.  We love playing at the Sardine Room! ​

6-27-2026 Grateful Brunch, The Sardine Room, Plymouth, MI
I: Here Comes Sunshine, Greatest Story Ever Told, Deal, Me & Bobby McGee, Bird Song, Cassidy, Alabama Getaway, Promised Land
II: The Music Never Stopped, Box of Rain, Mr. Charlie, Sugaree, Might As Well, Only A River, Eyes of the World, Cats Down Under The Stars, Ripple