About Dead Is Live

Dead Is Live tracks the music that never stopped. We list Grateful Dead tribute bands, cover groups, and jam acts keeping the scene alive across the country.

The original band stopped touring in '95, but the catalog is as loud as ever. On any given weekend, someone near you is launching into "Eyes of the World" or stretching out "Shakedown Street" in a local taproom, a historic theater, or a festival field. We list dedicated tribute acts chasing classic eras, alumni projects carrying the torch, and jam bands keeping a handful of Dead tunes in heavy rotation. Dead Is Live puts all those shows on a single calendar.

The scene spans the entire map. A typical week hits The Hamilton in D.C., winds through Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, lands at Felton Music Hall in the Santa Cruz mountains, and packs dozens of breweries you've never heard of. We built this site because tracking the music across different regions usually means digging through scattered Facebook groups and fragmented local venue pages.

A real human reviews every show before it hits the site. Dates roll in from venue schedules, band websites, and submissions from heads who actually go to the shows. Hand-curating the list takes more time than running an automated web scraper, but it keeps the directory accurate and free of junk.

Dead Is Live is completely free to use. Listing your band costs nothing. If you play this music, submit your dates. If you spot a busted listing, suggest a correction right on the page.

This is an independent, fan-run project. Dead Is Live holds no official ties, endorsements, or licenses from the Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead Productions, or their rights holders. Band names and song titles are strictly used to identify the music these artists perform.