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Dark Star Orchestra

Southbound Winter Tour 2012

Continuing the Grateful Dead Concert Experience

Ages 18+

9:00 pm

Tickets on sale: $22 advance / $24 door



It’s really about the sound that’s created. It’s about a sense of familiarity. It’s about a feeling that grabs listeners and takes over. It’s about a contagious energy: it’s about the experience.

Dark Star Orchestra has been delivering this experience to old and new Grateful Dead fans since 1997, after guitarist John Kadlecik contacted keyboardist Scott Larned with a concept — performing complete Grateful Dead shows from out of the band’s long touring history. When Scott mentioned having the same idea, John knew they were on to something.

The newly formed Dark Star Orchestra secured four Tuesday night gigs at Martyrs’ in Chicago. The first night, November 11, 1997, saw only 78 people, but by the fourth week they had sold out the room. One year later, on the eve of their first anniversary, Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish joined the band at Martyrs’ after their own show in Chicago. Fishman sat in for the majority of the evening, which included a rollicking drum section with four percussionists!

The ensuing buzz caused national interest in the band. That winter, their Colorado tour sold out almost every performance, their MP3 website was getting millions of hits and everyone wanted to know how they got their sound so precise. The Washington Post declared them “the hottest Grateful Dead tribute act going” and USA Today raved that DSO was “channeling the Dead.” Dark Star Orchestra had arrived.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Darkstarorchestra#p/a/u/1/8z_Cg9vMR1A

WWW.darkstarorchestra.net