The Heart of Town: Grateful Dead’s 60th Anniversary Celebrated by 60+ Artist Ensemble (Photo Gallery)
Rob Moderelli on August 4, 2025
The Heart of Town, photo by Dave Vann
Over the weekend, while Dead & Company marked the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary with three nights in San Francisco, a litany of the Dead’s devotees gathered on the other side of their original stomping grounds for The Heart of Town, a star-studded tribute to the group and their immortal music. Presented by the San Francisco Giants and Relix, the concert series united more than 60 storied performers for three enthralling nights of reverent and innovative treatments of the Grateful Dead’s beloved catalog, amounting to the most ambitious statement of the band’s influence ever endeavored on stage.
The Heart of Town was helmed by bandleader Grahame Lesh, son of the Dead’s legendary founding bassist Phil Lesh and torchbearer for the group’s sonic legacy with his ever-evolving Grahame Lesh & Friends live project. The younger Lesh’s support for the sold-out landmark celebration featured representatives from some of the jam world’s foremost outfits, including .moe’s Al Schnier, JGB’s Melvin Seals, The Greyboy Allstars’ Karl Denson, The Disco Biscuits’ Aron Magner, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s Tom Hamilton and Goose’s Trevor Weekz and Cotte Ellis. The dream team of fans from across genres and generations that filled out the lineup included Stephen Stills, Peter Rowan Dawes’ Taylor & Griffin Goldsmith, John Medeski, Robert Randolph, Eric Krasno, Ivan Neville, Adam Deitch, Cody & Luther Dickinson, Jackie Greene, Duane Betts, Mikaela Davis, Maggie Rose, John Molo, Sam Grisman and many more.
The Heart of Town came to life through the efforts of producing partners Dayglo Presents and Terrapin Station Entertainment. The organizing team was led by Executive Producer Peter Shapiro, with Producers Bradley Tucker, Stephen Grybowski, Jesse Lauter and Molly Billmyre and Musical Director Lesh.
Get an inside look at The Heart of Town in the Photo Gallery below, courtesy of photographer Dave Vann. Read a full recap of night one here.
Content shared from relix.com.