Dark Star Orchestra Unveils a Western Winter Tour and the 2027 Jubilee
Dark Star Orchestra just gave fans two big things to plan around. The long-running Grateful Dead tribute act announced a twelve show Winter Tour West that begins in Denver on January 29 and 30, 2027, and it revealed the first artists for the 14th annual Dark Star Jubilee, the band’s own festival, returning to Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio over Memorial Day weekend. Between the two, the band’s 2027 calendar now stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast and back to its home festival grounds in the Midwest.
Twelve Shows, Starting in Denver
The run opens with a two night stand at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on Friday and Saturday, January 29 and 30, 2027. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the music starts at 8:00 PM, the shows are open to ages 16 and up with a valid ID, and fans can buy either single night tickets or a two day pass good for both evenings. Single night tickets start at $81.
From Colorado, the route winds through the Mountain West and the Southwest before settling into a long California stretch. Confirmed stops include Salt Lake City, Tempe, Los Angeles, Del Mar, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Oakland, along with a stop in Boise, Idaho. It is the same kind of swing the band has made in recent winters, and it hits the venues that have become regular stops for West Coast Deadheads. The full routing and ticket links are posted on the Dark Star Orchestra website and through Live Nation.
The 14th Annual Dark Star Jubilee
Every Memorial Day weekend, Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio turns into a three day camping festival hosted by Dark Star Orchestra, who play multiple headlining sets over the course of the weekend. The festival began in 2012, and the 2027 edition marks its fourteenth year. The first wave of the lineup is out, and it mixes Garcia family adjacent music, bluegrass, Southern rock, jam and New Orleans funk.
Additional lineup waves, camping passes and VIP packages will be announced through the Dark Star Jubilee website.
Hear the Tribute Scene on the Air
If you want to hear the music that keeps this scene thriving, tune in to The Music Plays The Band Radio Show on The Grateful Dead Live. The show plays live music by Grateful Dead cover bands and explores the important role those bands play in keeping the legacy alive, which makes it a natural companion to a story about Dark Star Orchestra. It is open to listeners of all ages.
Where to Buy
Tickets for the Winter Tour West are available through the band’s website and Live Nation, and the Denver opener can be purchased directly through the Fillmore Auditorium. For Jubilee passes and future lineup announcements, keep an eye on the festival’s official website.
