In the realm of The Grateful Dead, “live” isn’t just a mode — it’s the definition of their musical identity. Every song that counts is experienced in performance, in real time, on real stages. Here, in The Grateful Dead Live, we honor that essence by revisiting the band’s live versions — the notes stretched, the silences held, the improvisation born of the moment.
But tonight, we layer that focus on live energy with Planet Drum Circle Radio Show, a rhythmic journey brought to you by two of the Dead’s own percussive maestros, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. Broadcasting every Sunday, this hour-long show celebrates groove, heartbeat, and the universal pulse linking all music.
And if you’re anywhere near the coast, don’t forget: Venice Beach’s drum circle still thrives every Saturday and Sunday, from noon until sunset — communal, spontaneous, welcoming, and utterly alive.
🥁 Venice Drum Circle: Rhythm By the Shore
If there’s a more organic way to feel music, it’s here, on the sand. The Venice Beach drum circle has been a beloved tradition for decades. You’ll find it where Brooks Avenue meets Ocean Front Walk — just follow the beat. What begins as scattered taps, rattles, and shakers soon becomes a collective heartbeat.
This is a place for everyone: seasoned drummers, curious newcomers, dancers — even if you just bring your feet. Over time, energy builds; rhythms layer, collide, and transform as the sun arcs toward the horizon.
Beyond Venice, Southern California pulse points include:
- Leimert Park, LA – A Sunday tradition: African marketplace + drum circle at Leimert Park Plaza, starting around 10 AM.
- Santa Monica Mountains – The Freedom Drum Circles organize periodic gatherings in scenic outdoor settings — over 100 drums and percussion instruments are often provided.
- Inglewood’s Motherland Music – Hosts free, open-to-all drum circles, typically outdoors.
- Culver City – If you lean toward structure, Gerald C. Rivers offers West African djembe drumming classes (not exactly a jam circle, but a strong rhythmic foundation).
Whether urban plaza or windswept beach, each circle pulses with community, rooted in improvisation — much like the Grateful Dead’s approach to their own live performances.
🎼 Tonight’s Playlist: The Grateful Dead, Live
In this space, every song we mention is the live version, not a studio echo. Because for the Dead, the moment is everything. When a fan listens, they’re chasing magic: the bend in Garcia’s note, the stretch in a drum fill, the space where silence breathes.
Tonight, let’s dream up a session that might unfold on Planet Drum Circle Radio Show, blending live Dead gems with percussive experiments and rhythmic journeys.
- “Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain” (live) — Two fan-favorite segments seamlessly flowing, full of swing, extension, and live interplay.
- “Morning Dew” (live) — One of Garcia’s most emotional live moments; raw and unflinching.
- “Estimated Prophet” (live) — Its rhythmic play and shifting time signatures make it ideal for a drum-centric re-presentation.
- “Drums > Space” (live) — The Dead’s ritual of percussion, abstraction, ambient soundscapes — an ideal bridge into pure rhythm territory.
- “Terrapin Station” (live) — Epics in motion, with movements built for exploration and crescendo.
- “One More Saturday Night” (live) — A high-voltage closer, perfect for ending on uplift.
Imagine those tracks layering with the vibrations of hand drums, congas, djembes, and the swirling rhythms of Planet Drum Circle.
🔊 Planet Drum Circle Radio Show: Rhythm From the Roots of the Dead
Tonight, tune in: Planet Drum Circle, hosted by Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, brings you into the heart of percussion. Each Sunday, for an hour, they guide listeners through rhythmic terrain — from primal beats to subtle textures, from tribal rattles to modern sonic experiments.
The lineage is undeniable: Hart and Kreutzmann, having created percussion narratives onstage for decades, now turn the microphone inward — curating a show that honors rhythm as both foundation and frontier.
Expect:
- World percussion traditions (Africa, Asia, Latin, Polynesia)
- Drummed soundscapes and ambient journeys
- Interviews with percussionists and sound designers
- Layered mixes that reflect the Dead’s improvisational spirit
If the Dead spent their nights in spontaneous dance between genres, Hart and Kreutzmann now invite us into the studio’s rhythmic experiment — to hear percussion not as support, but as a voice.
🌀 Why It All Connects
Venice’s drum circle, the live versions of the Dead, and Planet Drum Circle — these are all threads in the same tapestry.
- Communal improvisation — jamming together, hearing where the music wants to go
- Rhythmic foundation — the heartbeat beneath melody, guiding flow
- Live presence — where music isn’t static, but breathing, responding, evolving
So tonight, whether you’re walking along the beach, tapping on a bongo, or streaming Planet Drum Circle with headphones — you’re plugged into the living spirit of music.
Let the beat take you there.
