Dead & Company Tours

Many fans truly believed the long strange trip had ended in Chicago.

In the summer of 2015, the historic “Fare Thee Well” concerts appeared to mark the definitive final chapter for the surviving core members of Grateful Dead. The massive stadium shows celebrated fifty years of groundbreaking music, and as the final chords echoed, it felt like a heavy and beautiful goodbye to a cultural phenomenon.

But the music of the Dead has a funny way of refusing to stop. It lives, it breathes, and it always finds a way to keep rolling down the track.

Shortly after those farewell performances, the scene was jolted by a surprising announcement. A new group was forming: Dead & Company.

The band brought together original members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann. They were joined by guitarist John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge, and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti.

At first, the reaction from the diehard fan base was mixed. Skepticism ran high. Could a modern pop-blues icon like Mayer step into the enormous musical role once held by Jerry Garcia?

The answer came quickly, and it came on the road.

Dead & Company did not simply launch a short reunion tour. They created an entirely new era of live performances, extending the improvisational tradition of the Grateful Dead for nearly a decade.

If you want a complete overview of the band’s origins, members, and music, you can read our Dead & Company complete guide.

In this article, we explore the Dead & Company tour history, including the most important tours and concerts that defined the modern era of the band.

Why Touring Is Central to the Dead Legacy

To understand the success of Dead & Company, one truth must be clear.

The music truly exists on stage.

For the Grateful Dead, touring was never simply a promotional tool to sell records. The real story always unfolded through live performances, changing setlists, spontaneous jams, and the traveling community of fans known as Deadheads.

Dead & Company continued that tradition.

Every night featured a different setlist. Songs were stretched, reshaped, and reinvented through improvisation. The chemistry between the band and the audience often influenced the direction of the performance.

For fans, preparing for a tour became a ritual. Groups of friends would plan road trips across the country, following multiple shows and reconnecting with the community.

Before concerts, fans gathered in the parking lots known as Shakedown Street. These gatherings became vibrant marketplaces filled with food, art, tie-dye clothing, and creative fan-made merchandise.

This deep connection between touring musicians and passionate fans helped sustain the band’s unique culture for eight remarkable years.

2015: The First Dead & Company Tour

The first Dead & Company tour began in October 2015.

Their debut show took place at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. Fans arrived with curiosity and cautious excitement, wondering whether this unusual lineup could capture the spirit of the Grateful Dead.

The early concerts showed promising chemistry.

John Mayer’s blues-based guitar style proved surprisingly compatible with the improvisational structure of the music. Rather than copying Jerry Garcia, he approached the catalog with his own musical voice.

Meanwhile, Oteil Burbridge added a melodic and expressive bass style that blended perfectly with the legendary drumming duo known as the Rhythm Devils.

Momentum quickly grew throughout the tour.

Highlights included the Halloween shows and a major run at Madison Square Garden. By the time the band reached their New Year’s Eve performance at The Forum in Inglewood, fans widely agreed that the experiment had succeeded.

If you want to learn more about the musicians who shaped this lineup, read our guide to Dead & Company band members.

2016-2018: Growing Popularity and Musical Chemistry

After proving themselves in 2015, the band entered a new phase of growth.

The Summer Tour 2016 moved into larger outdoor amphitheaters across the United States. These venues had long been associated with classic Grateful Dead summer tours.

During this period, the band’s musical chemistry deepened significantly.

Bob Weir provided steady leadership and continuity with the original band’s philosophy. At the same time, John Mayer grew increasingly confident exploring the deeper improvisational elements of the catalog.

His on-stage chemistry with Jeff Chimenti became one of the most exciting musical dynamics in the band.

Meanwhile, the rhythm section created a powerful groove that allowed the long improvisational jams to unfold naturally.

Fan interest grew rapidly. Many longtime Deadheads returned to concerts after years away, while younger fans discovered the music for the first time.

2019-2022: The Stadium Era

By 2019, Dead & Company had become a major stadium touring act.

Their summer tours included iconic venues such as Wrigley Field, Citi Field, and Folsom Field in Boulder.

These large venues changed the scale of the music.

The jams became more expansive and atmospheric, filling massive outdoor spaces. The famous “Drums” and “Space” segments evolved into immersive experimental experiences featuring electronic percussion and deep improvisation.

The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily paused touring in 2020, but the band returned in 2021 with renewed energy.

These comeback shows carried an emotional atmosphere. Fans reunited after long periods apart, turning the concerts into powerful celebrations of community.

The Final Tour (2023)

In late 2022, the band announced that 2023 would be their final traditional tour.

While the news was bittersweet, many fans understood the decision. The demands of touring had become increasingly difficult for the veteran members of the band.

Before the tour began, Bill Kreutzmann stepped away for health reasons. Drummer Jay Lane joined the lineup for the final run.

Despite the change, the tour became one of the most successful and emotional periods in the band’s history.

Fans traveled across the country to attend the final concerts, creating a powerful atmosphere of celebration and farewell.

You can also explore the band’s musical highlights in our guide to the best Dead & Company songs.

Most Memorable Dead & Company Concerts

Over eight years of touring, several concerts became legendary among fans.

Madison Square Garden – Halloween 2015

The Halloween show at Madison Square Garden became one of the band’s earliest defining moments.

The performance convinced many skeptical fans that this new project had real musical power.

Alpine Valley Music Theatre – June 23, 2018

Alpine Valley is considered sacred ground for Deadheads.

During this show, the band delivered a remarkable second set that included “Viola Lee Blues,” “Estimated Prophet,” and “Uncle John’s Band.”

Many fans still consider this concert one of the band’s finest performances.

Folsom Field – Boulder

Boulder quickly became one of Dead & Company’s most beloved tour stops.

Multi-night runs at Folsom Field consistently produced memorable performances and unique setlists, making the venue a spiritual home for the band’s modern fan community.

Oracle Park – San Francisco (July 16, 2023)

The final show of the Final Tour took place in San Francisco, the birthplace of the Grateful Dead.

The emotional significance of the night was enormous. Fans and musicians alike recognized that this concert marked the closing chapter of a remarkable journey.

The show ended with a moving performance of “Brokedown Palace,” followed by the crowd chanting “Not Fade Away.”

It was a perfect farewell.

Conclusion: The Music Never Stops

Looking back, Dead & Company were far more than a tribute band.

They were a continuation of the Grateful Dead tradition.

Through nearly a decade of touring, the band created thousands of unforgettable musical moments while introducing the music to a new generation of fans.

From their debut in Albany to the emotional farewell in San Francisco, they proved something important.

The music never truly stops.

It evolves, finds new musicians, and continues to inspire new audiences.

For the fans who followed the band across the country, that long strange trip will always remain one of the most memorable adventures in modern live music history.