Jeff Mattson, Lisa Mackey, and JGBG will join Pittsburgh jam band theCAUSE at the annual DJAM, a Grateful Dead tribute show benefitting Just Harvest, on March 30th. Just Harvest is a nonprofit organization that reduces hunger through sustainable, long-term approaches to help those in need. This year's DJam takes place on Saturday, March 30 at Thunderbird Music Hall, 4053 Butler Street in Pittsburgh, PA.
Doors @ 7pm
Show @ 8pm
GENERAL ADMISSION: $20.00
AGE: 21+
I'm very honored to serve as the Artist At Large at the 3rd Annual Touch of Brews, a Grateful Dead-themed music festival in Nashville presented by Terrapin Beer Company September 29-30, 2023. This all-ages 2-day festival takes place in Sevier Park in the 12 South Neighborhood and kicks off Friday night with a set from Midnight North and the Dead Beats Tie Dye Jam. Then Saturday from 10am-9pm, myself and Midnight North's Grahame Lesh & Elliott Peck will join forces with local greats Ladycouch and the Stolen Faces, and more wrapping it all up with a set as Nashville Is Dead featuring Mike Miz and more! One Ticket Good for BOTH days, all-ages event, and kids 10 and under are FREE! Buy in advance for discounted pricing, tickets range from $25-$35 here. More info below:
- THE ROCK N ROLL PLAYHOUSE "MUSIC OF THE JAM"
- SCHOOL OF ROCK
- 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WATKINS GLEN SUMMER JAM FEATURING LADYCOUCH PERFORMING THE BAND
- THE STOLEN FACES
- MIDNIGHT RIDERS
- NASHVILLE IS DEAD FEATURING JEFF MATTSON, MIKE MIZ , MEMBERS OF MIDNIGHT NORTH AND MORE!
-Terrapin Beer plus Waterbird Spirits
-Food Trucks
-Expanded Free Kid Zone brought to you by Pancho & Lefty's Cantina
-Shakedown Street Vendors
-Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
Additional Details/Rules
- Friendly leashed dogs are welcome, but please bring what you need to clean up and provide water
- Re-Entry is allowed
- No large bags, no weapons, no drugs, no outside food or beverage
- The festival site is located in the North East area of Sevier Park, close to the corner of 10th Ave and Kirkwood.
I'm honored to be joining the following list of confirmed artists for a night commemorating the legendary 8/13/75 on its anniversary at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall.
Confirmed artists:
Alex Jordan (Musical Director, Cubensis)
Jeff Mattson (DSO)
Rob Eaton (DSO)
Skip Vangelas (DSO)
Rob Barraco (DSO)
Dino English (DSO)
John Kadlecik (Furthur)
Sunshine Becker (Furthur)
Stu Allen (Phil & Friends)
Garrett Deloian (JMF)
Zach Nugent (Dead Set)
Nate LaPointe (Cubensis)
Brad Rhodus (Cubensis)
Scott Guberman (Phil & Friends)
Elliott Peck (Midnight North)
Danny Eisenberg (Mother Hips)
Brian Rashap (Mother Hips)
Jeremy Hoenig (Melvin Seals & JGB)
Roger Sideman (China Cats)
The above All-Stars will be sharing the stage in support of the Grateful Guitars Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. The foundation has already gifted instruments to many of the artists playing at the show and some of those will be on hand for all to enjoy. In addition, Grateful Guitars board members will loan out stage-used Grateful Dead instruments, like Alligator and Mission Control, for this inaugural event.
There is something a little magical about musical instruments, with their ability to translate ideas into sound and move hearts. Grateful Guitars Foundation founder Andy Logan began to collect the model and style of guitars that Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir played and for the past ten years and counting has loaned them out to bands seeking to recapture period-specific tones. Eventually, he owned some of the instruments they’d actually played, including “Alligator” (a Fender Stratocaster Garcia played from 1971 to 1973 so-named because of a sticker on it) and the Martin D-28 with which he recorded “Ripple,” as well as Weir’s Modulus Blackknife (used 1983 to 1985) and a few more owned by Weir, as well as amps, speaker cabinets and keyboards all used by the Grateful Dead.
“These instruments should be played, not mounted on a wall. I wanted to share them with the fans and players who have loved the Grateful Dead, so that the jam scene is enlivened by their unique tones and historical significance,” said Andy.
Andy has since been joined by Jason Scheuner, who owns several Phil Lesh played instruments, notably Mission Control (used 1974 to 1979) and Jason offers his basses to players to spread this same joy. Recently, David Meerman Scott and Nate Bidner joined the Grateful Guitars Foundation; they also own guitars formerly owned by Bob Weir and also loan them out for all to enjoy.
In addition to loaning out these legendary treasures, all work with the highly committed board on the Grateful Guitars Foundation, which commissions high-end custom guitars that go to the leading guitarists in the jam-band and Dead tribute band world. These instruments inspire players to reach their full potential and bring the unique tones that fans crave with the intention of helping the jam scene last forever.
“Since the Grateful Dead’s legendary Blues for Allah record release in 1975, 8/13 is an important date for the Great American Music Hall. We are excited to honor this date by hosting this inaugural benefit for the Grateful Guitars Foundation, as we fully support their cause to get top instruments into the hands of these incredible players,” said Fred Barnes, Senior Talent Buyer and General Manager, Great American Music Hall.
Thanks again to Alex Jordan for having me out to recreate 8/1/73 - Alligator's last show - as part of his Grateful Thursdays residency at Redwood City's Club Fox, and to Andy Logan for his incredible generosity in sharing Alligator with us. Can't wait to do it again!
Happening at one of the most beautiful and intimate venues in New Orleans and featuring some of the most well-known names in the extended Grateful Dead family, AXIAL TILT is an all-out party in honor of the music, life, harmony, and spirit of togetherness inspired and Furthured by America's own Grateful Dead.
FEATURING
Jeff Mattson (Dark Star Orchestra) - Guitar
Rob Eaton (Dark Star Orchestra) - Guitar
Lisa Mackey (Dark Star Orchestra) - Vocals
Mitch Stein (Gatorators, Cryptical) - Keyboards
Skip Vangelas (Dark Star Orchestra) - Bass
Jay Lane (Dead & Company, Ratdog, Wolf Brothers) - Drums
Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident) - Percussion
Both Nights: 1 Acoustic Set + 2 Electric Sets – 5 HOURS OF LIVE GRATEFUL DEAD MUSIC (including a couple of breaks) - NO SONGS REPEATED BETWEEN NIGHTS!
-- ALL AGES!!! --
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to kick out the Grateful Dead jams in New Orleans, and hope you can join us!
Jeff, Rob, Lisa, Mitch, Skip, Jay & Jason
In the past year, the word "Shelter" has only come to be more powerful in all our lives. This song was originally recorded by Donna Jean and the Tricksters, but has been remixed with stronger background vocals and a more tribal edge in the rhythm section. As writers, Jeff Mattson and I are thrilled with what came to life! It's time is now. Thank you for listening! All the best, Donna Jean
Released 2021
Heart of Gold Records
Thank you to everyone who has joined me online over the past several months. Performing for you is my favorite thing and I'm grateful to have been able to continue while we could not gather in person. Now that live music is finally on the horizon, I will be wrapping up my LIVE From the Living Room series over the next month. The final Sundays are March 14, March 28, and April 11, all at 4pm Eastern. I hope to see you all there and I can't wait to see you in-person when DSO hits the road in April and beyond.
Tune into Jeff Mattson & Friends this Sunday, October 18 at 4pm Eastern for another round of your old and new favorites LIVE from my living room, then get your tickets while you still can for Dark Star Orchestra's Halloween weekend at Showtime At The Drive In taking place October 30 - November 1 in Frederick, Maryland. Friday and Saturday are evening shows and Sunday is a Sunset Show starting at 4pm. Details and tickets are available right here. See you there!
We're sorry to report the annual D-Jam Benefit with Pittsburgh Jamband theCause scheduled for June 13 has been cancelled. Tickets are good for next year, can be refunded or can be converted into a Just Harvest donation. It's an honor for me to be invited every year to this great event supporting Just Harvest, and I'm looking very forward to its eventual return. Take care of one another and we hope to see you soon.
Join Jeff this Sunday, May 3 for a second installment of LIVE music from his home to yours - 4pm EDT!
Friends! I had so much fun performing for you last Sunday I've decided to do it again every other Sunday going forward starting May 3. Join me on Facebook at 4pm for classics & obscurities, originals, and the Good Ol' Grateful Dead.
Catch Jeff delve into his songbook this Sunday, April 19 at 4pm Eastern for his Facebook LIVE debut right here!
Thanks for joining us on this work in progress!