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The Grateful Dead continue to inspire musicians keeping the songs alive through tribute bands and festivals nearly 30 years after Garcia’s death.

Joni Bottari & Friends and Spiral Light at Florida's Grateful Gathering

Weekend events include Neil Diamond tribute; percussion group concert; Plant City barbecue championship

View Comments After an extended set break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, live music is returning in a big way to stages across New Jersey this summer. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that as rusty strings are being dusted off, the sound at the forefront of live music’s resurrection is that of the Grateful Dead. “The people who come to see the Grateful Dead music, it’s beyond music, it’s community,” said Dana Carroll, bassist of the Dead tribute act Brown Eyed Women. “I think that is maybe some of the difference, why these bands are kind of critical to the return of live m...

Every other Thursday, we will preview the upcoming podcast release.  Before Robert Koritz readies his gear to hit the road with Dark Star Orchestra, he needs to ready his interviews of fellow musicians. That’s because while he and the Grateful Dead tribute band are finally playing shows again, Koritz will continue to host his podcast, “The Music Plays the Band.” Koritz, who is Jewish and and co-chair of the Camp Sabra alumni committee, interviewed a pair of musicians for his latest episode of the podcast, which debuts today, April 8. Reed Mathis is a virtuoso bassist who has...