Vancouver Folk Music Festival

July 14 to 16, 2023

American Beauties: Songs of the Grateful Dead Re-Imagined

“American Beauty” is undoubtedly the Dead’s most beloved studio album, a pure and potent representation of their style and philosophical outlook.”– Pitchfork Magazine.

Musician extraordinaire Steve Dawson leads an ensemble cast of terrific musicians who will put their own spin on the Americana songs of The Dead, including many from the band’s beloved 1970 album.

Influenced by friendships with the likes of Crosby Stills and Nash, and propelled by their own musical development, American Beauty distilled the best and brightest aspects of an inspiring, complicated band, and remains a highlight of the Grateful Dead discography, widely regarded as their finest studio album. Jerry Garcia said of the album: “It has some of the first things I’ve written, and that we’ve performed as a band, that in my opinion, are genuinely beautiful.”

Dawson considers these performances re-imaginings rather than tributes, and the Dead repertoire, including many songs from American Beauty,will be performed in a style entirely up to each artist’s inspiration and imagination. As one of the world’s best-know jam bands, the Dead would certainly approve.

The concert features Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson, Rich Hope, Maya de Vitry, Ruth Moody, Joachim Cooder, Khari Wendell McClelland, Krystle dos Santos and Samantha Parton.

The band: Scott Smith (guitar), Liam McDonald (percussion), Saffron Henderson (backing vocals), Leon Power (drums), Sam Howard (bass), Darryl Havers (keyboards).