Bill Lemke began photographing Deadheads at midwestern concert venues in 1988. Over four years, he took 130 formal portraits including 150 individuals, and exhibited some of these at Milwaukee Auditorium in the 80’s, at Alpine Valley in the early 2000’s and Fare Thee Well in Chicago in 2015. That same year, after a series of events unfolded, Bill and his wife began a decade- long search for as many of the original subjects as they could find to rephotograph them.
David Gans agreed to be the oral historian and began having recorded video conversations with everyone who was found again, from which each person’s story was written as a first-person narrative.
The book, Aging Gratefully: Deadheads Then and Now, includes the full collection of original portraits and for those who were found again, their stories and more current portraits. It is all presented as a beautiful hardcover, coffee table style book with a Forward written by Dennis McNally and Introduction written by Rebecca Adams.
This concert is a celebration of and for the Deadhead community, and of the 40 years that went into the making of Aging Gratefully. This book serves as a reminder that community matters and that sometimes the families we choose are the ones that truly see us through life.
8pm Presentation of book & signing, 9:30pm Music with David Gans and the Broken Angels. All sales are final, no refunds/exchanges permitted, but tickets may be transferred through your TM Account. Garcia's is fully ADA compliant featuring wheelchair lifts and ramps between the various levels of the venue, assisted listening devices upon request, and allows official service animals. Premium Table seating is located closest to the stage offering the most intimate music experience for guests and includes table service. Reserved Table seating is located on our main floor, behind the Premium section, and also includes table service. Both Premium and Reserved table seating is cabaret style which means you may be sitting with other fans. Private Booths are available and depending on the booth seats 1 to 4, 5, or 6 guests. General Admission/Standing Room is located around the sides of the room on an elevated level for quality viewing and easy bar access.
Sale Dates and Times:
Public Onsale : Fri, 31 Oct 2025 at 10:00 AM
Garcia's Chicago Presale : Thu, 30 Oct 2025 at 10:00 AM
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