The Dead will reunite at Lockn Festival.

[doctor]

www.gratefulmusic.com/2014/11/the-dead-will-reunite-at-lock-festival.html?m=1

[Flufhead]

You know this is getting posted so many times (and I was one of them, I admit) it has to be true. Like colored graphs in USA Today.

[mccjeff]

I posted it too. I think we should start a club.

[smosey wales]

here's another musing:

Unofficial Grateful Dead Biographer Shares Lengthy Status About 'The Dead'
Reunion Rumors

"With the recent announcement that Furthur is no longer, Grateful Dead fans have been dying to know if the band's surviving members have any plans to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2015. Today, unofficial Grateful Dead biographer Scott W. Allen, who penned Aces Back to Back in 2013, shared a lengthy status on Facebook regarding these rumored plans.

It seems that the reunion will consist of a handful of festival appearances, including Lockn', and extended residencies on both the East and West Coasts.
The main issue preventing a large-scale tour is the massive insurance payments required by promoters - in part because of Weir's recent tour cancellation.

As for the band itself, aside from Weir, Lesh, Hart, and Kreutzmann, the frontrunner for keyboardist is Bruce Hornsby. On lead guitar, however, there are many more names mentioned, including Warren Haynes, John Kadlecik, Steve Kimock, and a fourth unnamed guitarist, potentially Trey Anastasio. The guitarists may perform together, or on rotation - the details remain unclear (and probably unresolved).......

The guitarists are known to be John Kadlecik, Steve Kimock and Warren Haynes, with a fourth, unnamed guitarist, possibly Trey Anastasio or Barry Sless, also being considered; Stu Allen, according to my music promotion source, is not, to my disappointment, on the short list.

The Core Four with Bruce and a three or four guitarist rotation.

Something for everyone, we hope !!

My same booking "source" is reporting that Lockn' is deep in negotiation with the Dead to be the host for the band's 2015 major festival headlining gig.

In fact, Mr. Shapiro and the Lockn' Festival are attempting to pull off the greatest coup in jamband festival history in 2015: having the Dead and Phish headline on alternating nights.

As the String Cheese Incident and Umphrey's McGee did at Lockn' in 2014, expect to see Phish and the Dead playing alternating sets.

The plan is to have Phish play an opening set, followed by an opening set from the Dead. Phish would then play their "closing" set, followed by the Dead, who would also perform the night's closing set.

The following night, the order will be reversed, with the Dead up first, and Phish closing.

Phish fans, meet the Deadheads. Deadheads, say hello to the Phish fans.

We hear that Lockn' is also trying to nail down another special treat. As you know, Widespread Panic backed John Fogerty in 2013 for a set of Creedence and Fogerty classics and did the same this past summer with Stevie Winwood. For next summer, the goal is to have WSP back Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell for a set of Band and Levon Helm classics !!

[mccjeff]

Found this on the interwebz. I think it must be true.

link

[z4kj]

Any more news on this please I will be coming from Kansas if this happens! !!!

[estprofinhumboldt]

Even if they don't it's worth the trip. But if they do you will have tickets because Lockn is a no brainer for them

[Sneake]

looks like no Dead at lockn:

www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grateful-dead-reunite-chicago-farewell-concerts-trey-anastasio-20150116

In what will be a bittersweet announcement for Deadheads, the four surviving and original members of the Grateful Dead revealed that they will reunite to celebrate their 50th anniversary with three gigs at Chicago's Soldier Field July 3rd to 5th. However, for percussionists Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, bassist Phil Lesh and guitarist Bob Weir, these three shows will mark the final Dead shows ever.

[Deleted]

Meh. Phil will probably still play, and maybe do one of those anniversary tribute shows. Maybe we'll get Rhythm Devils, maybe Bobby will sign an exclusive contract with Shapiro and we'll have a little more Ratdog. I expect an announcement of something special AT the Chicago shows, to entice people to still come to Lockn.

Heck, we already have TTB and the Doobies, and it's only gonna get better from here.

[mccjeff]

I bet Lockn is going to be more Dead than you can shake a stick at. No core 4 but so what. DSO, JRAD, Phil, Bob, Keller... Everyone that plays will have to play a dead set list from a pre approved list of dates.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2015 13:24:02 GMT -5 mccjeff said:

I bet Lockn is going to be more Dead than you can shake a stick at. No core 4 but so what. DSO, JRAD, Phil, Bob, Keller... Everyone that plays will have to play a dead set list from a pre approved list of dates.

Is this a fact, rumor, or wishful thinking?

[smosey wales]

Jan 20, 2015 16:24:30 GMT -5 @endless said:

Jan 20, 2015 13:24:02 GMT -5 mccjeff said:

I bet Lockn is going to be more Dead than you can shake a stick at. No core 4 but so what. DSO, JRAD, Phil, Bob, Keller... Everyone that plays will have to play a dead set list from a pre approved list of dates.

Is this a fact, rumor, or wishful thinking?

Here, there is no difference between the three....

[waycha]

Makes me wonder how they decided on just 3 shows in 1 place. They had to know how much a lot of people wanted to see them. If they can't get along then forget it. If they had just sat down for a week & just played maybe they could have put emotions aside & planed a tour. Even if they don't get along I think when they get there the music will take over & be magical. Either way Lockn' will blow us away again. I think Dave & Peter will bring in a lot of surprises. If I only had money for 1 it would be Lockn'.

[Deleted]

I think it's really just old age, waycha. Phil's gonna be 75 in a couple months and has made it clear he has no interest in doing a lot of traveling. We really have no idea what kind of shape Bobby is really in, and the drummers are no spring chickens either.

I'm pretty sure there'll be a P&F set at Lockn, at the least. The fest has traditionally been one of his "residences" with Shapiro, and I don't see any reason to expect that to change.

[waycha]

Your right Worf Rat. I hope that I can even stand for 2 hours at that age let alone having a bass hang around my neck. As a matter of fact I hope I'm alive at 75.

[smosey wales]

Jan 20, 2015 20:56:47 GMT -5 waycha said:

Makes me wonder how they decided on just 3 shows in 1 place. They had to know how much a lot of people wanted to see them. If they can't get along then forget it. If they had just sat down for a week & just played maybe they could have put emotions aside & planed a tour. Even if they don't get along I think when they get there the music will take over & be magical. Either way Lockn' will blow us away again. I think Dave & Peter will bring in a lot of surprises. If I only had money for 1 it would be Lockn'.

the economics say you (promoters, etc.)  make more money staying in one place than moving, due to the high cost to move, set/strike, rent different venues, pay crew on dead days, etc.

This is why the guys in the know have moved to the festival model, after observing the structure of them in Europe about 15 years ago.  I know this from a Very High Up Guy in the industry.

It has nothing to do with the "fun of the road" or getting music out to people who can't travel or spreading it around the land.  It's strictly business.