July 31st and August 1st, 2026, the fantastic Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) will play two shows at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Proceeds will benefit the Rex Foundation, the nonprofit founded by members of the Grateful Dead and ‘Friends’ in 1983.
Since forming in 1997, DSO has performed over 3,400 shows, recreating legendary Grateful Dead shows and the creative musical spirit that was their hallmark. Going forward, these shows will be more than just a tribute to Dead shows of the past; they will also serve as a critical nexus for Deadheads of all stripes (new heads and longtime diehards) to tap into the indefinable and spontaneous sense of community that was the magic of a Grateful Dead show.
The August 2025 trio of Dead & Company shows at Golden Gate Park (which celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead) and the subsequent recent passing of Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir signaled the end of an era in the jam band ecosystem. With that, there is a “passing of the torch” happening as the scene as a whole is now treading uncharted waters. As such, the role that DSO plays in that scene has grown and expanded in ways they probably never imagined…