This year marks the 25th time this unique Bay Area-based septet will host its annual Day of the Dead Extravaganza at the Freight. Wake the Dead weaves Irish jigs and reels with the songs of the Grateful Dead and other '60s iconic bands, delivering them with unique power and joy. Soaring vocal harmonies and daring instrumentals fuel the band's singular groove engine, delighting Celtoids and Deadheads alike. Wake the Dead is Danny Carnahan (vocals, octave mandolin & fiddle), Kevin Carr (uilleann pipes, fiddle), Sylvia Herold (vocals, guitar), Paul Kotapish (vocals, mandolin), Valerie Rose (vocals, fiddle), Cindy Browne (bass) & Brian Rice (vocals, exotic percussion). Their sound is singular, their energy extraordinary—a rare collision of worlds that leaves everybody dancing & grinning. Expect a giant dancing skeleton and some surprises.
In 1999, veteran multi-instrumentalists Danny Carnahan and Paul Kotapish (both global tour veterans, appearing with numerous bands) cooked up the idea of collecting some like-minded souls and reimagining Grateful Dead songs through the lens of Celtic music. Their début CD, released on the Grateful Dead’s own label, sold 20,000 copies within 3 months and got some serious attention from the Deadheads. Three more CDs followed and the band has wowed festival and club crowds across the western US for 25 years. Joining Danny and Paul from the start: Sylvia Herold, lead vocalist and guitarist, famed for her jazz groups Cats & Jammers, Rhythm Bugs and Euphonia. Kevin Carr, piper and fiddler extraordinaire, has toured with The Hillbillies From Mars for decades as well as ensembles playing Galician, Quebecois, and American Old Time music. Bassist Cindy Browne has toured globally in classical, jazz, and bluegrass ensembles. Brian Rice is a top Brazilian percussionist, famed in both North and South America. Newest member Valerie Rose is best known for her decades as a central player in the Bay Area folk dance world. The band boasts a combined 250 years of touring, performing, and recording.
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