Grateful Dead citywide parties and pier-side shows led by Grahame Lesh

San Francisco is in the midst of a musical renaissance as the city pays tribute to the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. At the heart of the celebration is Grahame Lesh, son of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who is curating a three-night concert series at Pier 48 from July 31 to August 2. The performances—featuring an array of jam bands, guest musicians, and Dead-inspired artists—are breathing fresh life into the Deadhead tradition while honoring a legacy that helped define the counterculture of the 1960s.

These special concerts, dubbed “Summer of Dead,” are timed to coincide with Dead & Company’s farewell shows at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park. While the larger stadium performances have drawn tens of thousands of fans from across the country, Grahame Lesh’s pier-side shows offer a more intimate, grassroots experience. Attendees are treated to waterfront views, sunset jam sessions, and surprise appearances from former Grateful Dead collaborators.

The lineup features a curated mix of bands associated with the Dead’s musical DNA, including Midnight North (fronted by Grahame Lesh himself), Circles Around the Sun, and special sit-ins from members of the extended Grateful Dead family. In keeping with the spirit of improvisation and collaboration that the Dead were known for, each night offers different setlists, spontaneous jam pairings, and heartfelt tributes to the original band’s most beloved tracks.

In addition to the music, the Pier 48 events include pop-up art installations, food trucks offering Bay Area staples, and Dead-themed merchandise from local artists and vendors. Attendees can even participate in community-led activities like collaborative murals and storytelling circles, where longtime fans recount personal memories of following the band through decades of tours.

The celebration has taken over the city in a broader sense, too. Restaurants, hotels, and neighborhood businesses have joined in by decorating their storefronts with tie-dye and skull-and-roses motifs. Music venues like The Fillmore and Great American Music Hall are hosting Dead-themed afterparties and tribute nights. San Francisco’s local government has even acknowledged the impact of the band on city culture, issuing a commemorative proclamation naming August 1 as “Grateful Dead Day.”

What makes this anniversary stand out is the generational bridge it’s building. While many original fans are now in their 60s and 70s, a large portion of the crowd at both the main and pier-side concerts consists of younger fans, many of whom weren’t even born when the band was at its peak. For them, the Grateful Dead represents not just a music genre but a movement—one of freedom, experimentation, and community.

Grahame Lesh has spoken about the importance of carrying forward that legacy in a way that feels authentic but also relevant. “We’re not just playing old songs,” he said in a pre-show interview. “We’re creating moments. That’s what the Dead always stood for—connection, spontaneity, and being present.”

With the pier-side series in full swing and energy high across the city, San Francisco is proving that the spirit of the Dead is far from gone—it’s alive, evolving, and still jamming after 60 years.