Dark Star Orchestra

Dark Star Orchestra keeps the Grateful Dead’s concert tradition in motion, recreating complete setlists from the band’s touring years or building fresh sets from its vast songbook. The seven-piece group, formed in 1997, has played more than 3,300 shows, carrying the Dead’s blend of rootsy rock, soulful harmonies and open-ended improvisation into each performance. Familiar songs such as “Truckin’,” “Sugar Magnolia” and “Dark Star” can unfold in changing combinations, with room for extended jams and musical detours. The setlist may be a mystery until the first notes arrive, inviting longtime listeners to recognize the source show as it takes shape.