Doors at 7:30pm ~ Show at 8:00pm
A tradition that started back in the 20th century, Ashkenaz’s Grateful Dead Night is always evolving, continuing on! Led by the best artists in the Bay Area, a revolving cast of incredibly talented musicians grace the stage each week, drawing from the Grateful Dead’s vast catalog to delight Deadheads and dancers of all generations.
Reed Mathis will be hosting this edition of Ashkenaz's Grateful Dead Night!
A long-standing tradition that began in the late 1990s, Ashkenaz’s Grateful Dead Night continues on to ensure that the music never stops in the region where it all began back in 1965! This weekly gathering features live music performed by a revolving cast of the best musicians in the Bay Area, all drawing from the Grateful Dead’s vast catalog (including the “roots” and traditional songs covered by the Dead, in addition to songs performed by the Jerry Garcia Band). Rookies and “regulars” of all ages and abilities come from near and far to enjoy the “rainbow full of sound” and the accompanying community. For a few hours at every Grateful Dead Night you can freely dance your worries away, sit back and watch life’s parade, meet a new friend, or just close your eyes and “let the music play the band” (as it invariably does!).
The post-pandemic iteration of Grateful Dead Night continues the pre-pandemic format but with different bandleaders hosting and curating the players. The current hosting duties are split (alternating each Wednesday) by two incredible musicians who know the canon intimately: keyboard player Scott Guberman and guitarist Matt Hartle. To mix things up a bit, one Friday a month will usually be a “Not Necessarily Dead” night where a different band will perform music from a nearby galaxy but with the same danceable intentions and good vibrations.
Whether you are discovering Ashkenaz or the Grateful Dead or just the idea of dancing to live music for the first time in a public setting, the important thing to remember is that it’s never too late to get on the bus! We hope to see you there!