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About

Dark Star Orchestra on Tour

More than just a tribute band, the seven members of the Dark Star Orchestra are dedicated to the Grateful Dead live experience, best known for playing full setlists picked from their 2,000+ concerts. The Grateful Dead's live show is legendary, a catalog of improvisation traded and celebrated across decades. The Dark Star Orchestra re-creates the Dead's intra-band interplay and pastoral guitar soloing. Remarkably devoted and true to the source material, DSO tailors their arrangements, gear and tempos to the era of the evening. Some nights find the DSO creating original setlists, playing sets from the Jerry Garcia Band or even jamming with members of the Dead themselves.

Dark Star Orchestra in Concert

Formed in Chicago in 1997, Dark Star Orchestra provides generations of fans with the chance to experience entire Grateful Dead sets, song by song. Named after "Dark Star," a part of the Dead's set known for exploratory jams, DSO rose to national prominence in 1998 when Mike Gordon and John Fishman of Phish joined them for a performance of the Dead's 1983 Halloween show. DSO promptly became a touring sensation: At 2,800 shows and counting, DSO have played more shows than the Grateful Dead themselves. They ultimately enlisted keyboardist Rob Barraco of Phil Lesh and Friends, the Other Ones and the 2003 touring version of the Dead. The DSO have played Bonnaroo and Milwaukee's SummerFest, and they've been hosting their own annual fests for years - the Dark Star Jubilee in Ohio and the Jam in the Sand in Jamaica. Perhaps the most important honor for DSO, though, is enlisting actual members of the Grateful Dead, having performed on stage accompanied by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux, Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten. A 2018 show even found guitarist Jeff Mattson playing Jerry Garcia's custom-made guitar, "Wolf," which the Dead founder used for two decades.

Setlists

    1. 1.Feel Like a Stranger (Grateful Dead cover)
    2. 2.They Love Each Other > (Jerry Garcia cover)
    3. 3.The Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon cover)
    4. 4.Dire Wolf (Grateful Dead cover)
    5. 5.Cassidy (Bob Weir cover)
    6. 6.Big Railroad Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover)
    7. 7.The Music Never Stopped (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 8.Don't Ease Me In (Henry Thomas cover)
  1. Set 1:

    1. 1.Ramble On Rose (Grateful Dead cover)
    2. 2.Black-Throated Wind (Bob Weir cover)
    3. 3.Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo (Grateful Dead cover)
    4. 4.Beat It on Down the Line (Jesse Fuller cover)
    5. 5.Row Jimmy (Grateful Dead cover)
    6. 6.Jack Straw (Grateful Dead cover)
    7. 7.Let It Rock (Chuck Berry cover)
    8. 8.Cumberland Blues (Grateful Dead cover)
    9. 9.El Paso (Marty Robbins cover)
    10. 10.To Lay Me Down (Jerry Garcia cover)
    11. 11.Weather Report Suite (Grateful Dead cover)
    12. 12.China Doll (Grateful Dead cover)
  2. Set 2:

    1. 13.Ship of Fools (Grateful Dead cover)
    2. 14.Big River (Johnny Cash cover)
    3. 15.Black Peter (Grateful Dead cover)
    4. 16.Around and Around (Chuck Berry cover)
    5. 17.Dark Star Jam (Grateful Dead cover)
    6. 18.Spanish Jam (Grateful Dead cover)
    7. 19.U.S. Blues (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 20.Uncle John's Band (Grateful Dead cover)
    9. 21.One More Saturday Night (Bob Weir cover)
  3. Encore

    1. 22.Casey Jones (Grateful Dead cover)
  1. Set 1:

    1. 1.Sugaree (Jerry Garcia cover)
    2. 2.Run for the Roses (Jerry Garcia cover)
    3. 3.Box of Rain (Grateful Dead cover)
    4. 4.Next Time You See Me (Junior Parker cover)
    5. 5.Mission in the Rain (Jerry Garcia cover)
    6. 6.I'll Be With Thee ([traditional] cover)
    7. 7.That's What Love Will Make You Do (Little Milton cover)
    8. 8.From the Heart of Me (Grateful Dead cover)
    9. 9.Midnight Moonlight (Old & In the Way cover)
    10. 10.Like a Road Leading Home (Albert King cover)
    11. 11.Deal (Jerry Garcia cover)
  2. Set 2:

    1. 12.The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff cover)
    2. 13.The Strange Man (Dorothy Love Coates cover)
    3. 14.They Love Each Other (Jerry Garcia cover)
    4. 15.Easy Wind (Grateful Dead cover)
    5. 16.Lonesome and a Long Way From Home (Delaney & Bonnie cover)
    6. 17.Drums > (Grateful Dead cover)
    7. 18.Space > (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 19.The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic cover)
    9. 20.Love the One You're With (Stephen Stills cover)
    10. 21.Tangled Up in Blue (Bob Dylan cover)
  3. Encore

    1. 22.Ripple (Grateful Dead cover)
  1. Set 1:

    1. 1.Alabama Getaway > (Grateful Dead cover)
    2. 2.Promised Land (Chuck Berry cover)
    3. 3.They Love Each Other > (Jerry Garcia cover)
    4. 4.El Paso (Marty Robbins cover)
    5. 5.Tennessee Jed (Grateful Dead cover)
    6. 6.Cassidy (Bob Weir cover)
    7. 7.Althea > (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 8.Looks Like Rain (Bob Weir cover)
    9. 9.Far From Me (Grateful Dead cover)
    10. 10.The Music Never Stopped (Grateful Dead cover)
  2. Set 2:

    1. 11.China Cat Sunflower > (Grateful Dead cover)
    2. 12.I Know You Rider > ([traditional] cover)
    3. 13.C.C. Rider (Elvis Presley cover)
    4. 14.Peggy-O ([traditional] cover)
    5. 15.Lost Sailor > (Grateful Dead cover)
    6. 16.Saint of Circumstance > (Grateful Dead cover)
    7. 17.Drums > (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 18.Space > (Grateful Dead cover)
    9. 19.Wharf Rat > (Grateful Dead cover)
    10. 20.I Need a Miracle > (Grateful Dead cover)
    11. 21.Bertha > (Grateful Dead cover)
    12. 22.Good Lovin' (The Olympics cover)
  3. Encore

    1. 23.U.S. Blues (Grateful Dead cover)
    2. 24.Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Sly & the Family Stone cover)
    1. 1.Day Tripper (The Beatles cover)
    2. 2.West L.A. Fadeaway (Grateful Dead cover)
    3. 3.Beat It on Down the Line (Jesse Fuller cover)
    4. 4.Loose Lucy (Grateful Dead cover)
    5. 5.My Brother Esau (Grateful Dead cover)
    6. 6.Keep On Growing (Derek and the Dominos cover)
    7. 7.Candyman (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 8.Passenger (Grateful Dead cover)
    9. 9.The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff cover)
    10. 10.Greatest Story Ever Told (Bob Weir cover)
  1. Set 2:

    1. 11.Man Smart, Woman Smarter (King Radio cover)
    2. 12.Mr. Charlie (Grateful Dead cover)
    3. 13.He's Gone (Grateful Dead cover)
    4. 14.New Speedway Boogie (Grateful Dead cover)
    5. 15.Drums > (Grateful Dead cover)
    6. 16.Space > (Grateful Dead cover)
    7. 17.Unbroken Chain (Grateful Dead cover)
    8. 18.Going Down the Road Feeling Bad ([traditional] cover)
    9. 19.I'll Take a Melody (Frankie Miller cover)
    10. 20.The Golden Road (to Unlimited Devotion) (Grateful Dead cover)
  2. Encore

    1. 21.Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane cover)

Reviews

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 1377 reviews
  • Dark Star Orchestra was Fabulous

    by rac1060 on 6/28/11Erie Canal Harbor - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    this was the first time I have seen Dark Star and Ioved the concert. I would recommend the concert to all my friends.

  • DARK STAR LITE THE PATH FOR A FUN FILLED NITE

    by Sinisterpearl on 6/27/11Erie Canal Harbor - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    Nothing like a Dead show.........well almost the Dead..U know what I mean. A wonderful nite of music and the PEOPLE. U always meet GOOD people at a MERRY PRANKSTER EVENT.. I danced alL NITE in the RAIN. DSO is better than a tribute band....their a band within themselves of talented musicians who so happen to love THE DEAD.....A great nite and Buffalo Rocks the Harbor is very well organized piece of the pie. A great nite and I needed it. I look forward to hearing them again..........PEACE!!

  • DSO awesome as usual

    by chrisppp on 6/27/11Erie Canal Harbor - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    It rained but we didn't care at all. The music was great as usual. Kinda of missed Rob on keyboards, he does an insane job...... But they filled in nicely. Another great show by DSO. Glad they buffalo and keep coming back each.

  • Dark star orchestra :)

    by Kdecline on 6/27/11Erie Canal Harbor - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    The open space was awesome and everything ran smoothly. Plenty bathrooms too. Dark star was incredible like usual!

  • Darkstar - best dead cover band that I have seen.

    by Pappy on 6/27/11Piere's - Fort WayneRating: 5 out of 5

    Another great performance by Dark Star at a very nice venue with plenty of room for all the spinning deadheads. Really enjoyed the selection of tunes . Reminds me so much of the old dead shows where the band played a solid 4 hour show. Bands these days rarely make it 2 hours. Again,Great show !

  • Dark Star Orchestra was electric!

    by kevinshocker on 6/27/11Erie Canal Harbor - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    Enjoyed the show immensely! They played and sang their hearts out. A very talented group of musicians. Took my 13yr old daughter and she was dancing up a storm, in the rain no less! Awesome show!

  • by Anonymous on 5/19/11Sherman Theater - StroudsburgRating: 3 out of 5

    First set enjoyable. Venue great. Not a good balance of Jerry

  • Awesome show from Dec of 1990

    by bpinet on 5/16/11Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom - Hampton BeachRating: 5 out of 5

    rockin loose lucy, that gave away the timeframe for us. Little too much space and drums for me, but hey they are recreating a dead show, so have to blame the dead not them. They always put on a great show and love this venue.

  • DSO was unbelievably fantastic! Loved them!

    by julesvw on 5/16/11Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom - Hampton BeachRating: 4 out of 5

    Dark Star was amazing, and the show was great.... I would have given it a 5 star, but I am disappointed in the Hampton Beach Ballroom Casino, and don't think I will go back there again. So... huge kudos to DSO, but serious thumbs down the Casino, and it's RUDE staff! The manager (Adam) is on a massive ego trip, and I feel he was LOOKING for trouble, and was dismayed when he couldn't get me to "take the bait".... I just wanted to hear some great music, and be with some great people, and that was accomplished... except of course for the staff at the Casino!

  • by TYEDYE55 on 5/15/11The Electric Factory - PhiladelphiaRating: 5 out of 5

    WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT WAS.......AS ALWAYS......AN EXCELLANT SHOW FELLAS.......REMINDS ME OF BEING THERE FOR THE SHOWS THAT I DID MAKE IT TO IN THE LATE 80's .....EARLY 90's........LOVING THE RIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Dark Star keeps it going!

    by SouthPhillyFrank on 5/10/11The Electric Factory - PhiladelphiaRating: 4 out of 5

    I just saw Dark Star Orchestra at the Electric Factory last Friday night and they really are continuing the Grateful Dead experience. The lead guitarist is really nasty and tore it up on songs like "Dear Prudence" and "Viola Lee Blues". The Weir role was filled admirably and he sang great songs like "Hell in a Bucket", "West LA Fadeaway" and "Memphis Blues". They really were true to the Dead, but at the same time I felt they took the songs in their own direction and allowed them to breath and take on a new life. Usually, DSO will cover a setlist from the 30 years of touring the Dead did but on this night they did an original setlist which also included classic Dead covers such as "Big River" and "Mama Tried". This show was well worth the price of admission and I plan on going to see them anytime they come to town.

  • by Trav1173 on 5/9/11The Electric Factory - PhiladelphiaRating: 5 out of 5

    What a fantastic show! These guys are phenomenal in their ability to recreate the Grateful Dead experience!

  • DSO continues mastery...

    by BigDaddy403 on 5/8/11The Electric Factory - PhiladelphiaRating: 5 out of 5

    The Electric Factory once again has been the setting for an amazing display of talents as the Dark Star Orchestra continues to provide Grateful Dead lovers; old and new, with tunes to soothe the soul...such a peaceful and enjoyable vibe as the band performed a wide variety of tunes from all different years...Some a very unexpected pleasure...true throwback to shows gone by...The light show and sound were perfect and all came together for one real good reason...nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile...

  • Dark Star Orchestra was amazing!!

    by uncleboogie on 4/8/11McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - PortlandRating: 5 out of 5

    This is the closest you will get to a Dead show. The musicianship is spot on. The new Jerry is there best yet. Thank you DSO, you have to come here more often!!

  • DSO was amazing! This is my 1st show.

    by furthur58 on 4/6/11Showbox at the Market - SeattleRating: 5 out of 5

    Great songs. Even some Dylan. They played till 1am and I was dancing the whole time.

  • GREAT JAMS

    by mallyman on 4/5/11Showbox at the Market - SeattleRating: 5 out of 5

    This was the best DSO concert that I have been to. The original setlist was awesome. The band was crisp and crackling with energy. Very tight and simply put....HOT! HOT!

  • MY FEET DON'T HURT

    by mallyman on 4/5/11McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - PortlandRating: 3 out of 5

    First time to the Crystal ballroom. Love the floating dance floor. Usually my feet and legs ache after standing and dancing for three hours. But, not at this venue. The moving dance floor was a comfort. As far as DSO goes...it was a mediocre performance. They totally sucked when they played The Wheel. It sounded like someone had their finger on a record as it was playing....too slow

  • I love you more than words can tell!

    by Dead2 on 4/3/11McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - PortlandRating: 5 out of 5

    Wow. Just wow. I went to three Dark Star Orchestra shows -- Seattle, Portland, and Eugene. The band was on every night, and actually seemed to get better throughout the week. If you enjoy the Dead, do yourself a favor and go see DSO. It will remind why you fell in love with this music in the first place. It is so much fun!

  • DSO - Amazing

    by Anonymous on 4/3/11McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - PortlandRating: 5 out of 5

    These guys never fail to deliver a fantastic show! The show was perfect. As always, the Crystal Ballroom is the best place in Portland for these guys to play. The sound was great, atmosphere lively and you can always feel the love of the die-hard Deadheads!

  • A Great Night in Portland!

    by Viva2 on 4/3/11McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - PortlandRating: 5 out of 5

    The Dark Star Orchestra show was fantastic! The band played with a combination of technical proficiency and genuine enthusiasm that was both impressive and quite enjoyable. I was standing in the "center" of the room with all of the tapers, and the sound quality was first rate. During the jams, you could pick out each of the individual players with absolute clarity. Each song was performed at a high level, but Eyes of the World went to an even higher level which pretty much blew my mind. I have been listening to this music for over 20 years now, and last night ranks high on my all time experience list which includes meeting Bob Weir.