“What A Long Strange Trip” Celebrates The Grateful Dead

On Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th, Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is taking concertgoers on a musical journey that hits the high notes of the Grateful Dead’s 50 plus year career.

What A Long Strange Trip, a back-to-back set of Grateful Dead tribute concerts that “Deadheads” will highly appreciate, highlights the best of the band’s extensive collection of songs. Formed in 1965, the Grateful Dead is known for its unique fusion of country, blues and folk. Up until the passing of guitarist and singer-songwriter Jerry Garcia in 1995, the band toured and recorded regularly, playing around 2,300 long, freeform concerts, according to Rolling Stone, who named Grateful Dead 57th on its 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. And in 2007, Grateful Dead was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards.

“It’s been far too long since the Grateful Dead were honored with a show dedicated to their unique brand of American music,” said Gary Hygom, Bay Street Theater Producer. “So we are doing two nights with some of the most talented musicians on the East End. It’s going to be amazing!”

Joe Lauro, an East End-based musician, filmmaker and image archivist, arranged the lineup of talented musicians, which includes members of Loki, one of the original Grateful Dead bands, the Moondogs, Unbroken Chain and the Dead Music All-Stars. Featured What A Long Strange Trip performers will include David Deitch (keyboards and vocals), Bob Grado (pedal steel and mandolin), Paul Graviano (guitar and vocals), Mick Hargreaves (harp and vocals), Joe Lauro (bass and vocals), Michael Schiano (guitar and vocals), Lee Shonik (drums and percussion), and Howard Silverman (drums and vocals).

Tickets are $25 per show in advance and $30 on the day of. Both shows begin at 8 p.m.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, call 631-725-9500 or visit www.baystreet.org.