Grateful Dead's 60th Anniversary: A Vibrant Legacy Across Music, Business, and Culture

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This week the Grateful Dead legacy remains unmistakably alive and vibrant as the band’s 60th anniversary continues to stir headlines and celebrations. In local news, anticipation is swirling around the CT Grateful Dead All Stars performing at Concerts on the Hill in Easton, Connecticut, this Sunday. The act, led by Matt Helm and joined by musicians from noted regional Dead bands, is drawing regional excitement and stands as a testament to the Dead’s enduring grassroots influence, with food trucks and a festive atmosphere expected. If rain hits, the show moves to Monday, adding a touch of old-school unpredictability to the proceedings according to the Easton Courier.

Meanwhile, in California, San Francisco is preparing for a major season of commemorations. The Heart of Town concert series, organized by the San Francisco Giants and Relix, kicks off July 31 and features an all-star cast hosted by Grahame Lesh, son of founding member Phil Lesh. Grahame recently described the Dead’s legacy as a grand old tree in America’s musical history, and the events are expected to be a gathering of the extended Dead family, from jam scene heavyweights to rising stars. Dead & Company’s headline shows in Golden Gate Park will overlap, creating a citywide festival atmosphere. Not to be missed, the city’s annual Jerry Day, which honors Jerry Garcia, is set to feature Melvin Seals and Stu Allen among others.

On the business front, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery launched a limited-edition 60th anniversary Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale can, timed perfectly with both the band’s and the brewery’s milestone years. Brewery founder Sam Calagione called the collaboration kismet and a fitting tribute. These cans are rolling out in Delaware and select San Francisco accounts just in time for the Golden Gate Park concerts, with matching anniversary shirts and coasters soon to follow, as announced by Boston Beer Company.

Social media engagement remains high, with the Grateful Dead’s official Thread now at over 151,000 followers, confirming their cross-generational appeal. On Instagram, entrepreneur Gerard DiRuggiero’s post Everything I Learned About Business I Learned from the Grateful Dead is garnering buzz with its blend of nostalgia and modern business wisdom.

Literary tributes are also rolling in. On July 31, filmmaker Len Dell’Amico will join Relix’s Dean Budnick in San Francisco to discuss his new memoir, Friend of the Devil, My Wild Ride with Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead, recounting stories from 15 years inside the Dead’s world. The following month, fans can attend a special event celebrating the launch of the new photo book The Grateful Dead by Jim Marshall at the Leica Store San Francisco, featuring a Q&A, book signing, and a live tribute by Deadhead historian David Gans.

Rounding out the week, the band’s official site continues its tradition of releasing classic live recordings through the Tapers Section, this week spotlighting performances from 1977, 1980, and 1993. The lore grows richer, and everywhere from local bands to literary salons and craft breweries, the Grateful Dead’s cultural presence shows no signs of fading.

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