"Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me, Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been." -- from the Grateful Dead's Truckin'
Fans of the Grateful Dead — otherwise known as "Deadheads" — will want to pull up a chair for this news: One of Alexandria's largest music venues, The Carlyle Club, will play host to Northern Virginia's largest Grateful Dead Concert re-creation come Saturday, Aug. 4, according to organizers.
The concert kicks off Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. and continues into the early hours at The Carlyle Club, 2050 Ballenger Ave. in the Carlyle neighborhood.
The concert will feature the music of Garcia and The Grateful Dead performed by On the Bus and The Free Flowing Musical Experience.
The sixth annual concert is a celebration of Jerry Garcia's birthday (Aug. 9). Garcia, who died in 1995, was the lead singer and guitarist for the popular rock band that rose to prominence in the 1960s in Northern California.
"What we're trying to do is re-create the full Grateful Dead experience down to the unique food items being sold inside and vending areas," said organizer Scott Fallon, a member of The Free Flowing Musical Experience.
"We're also working with an outside event organizer to assist us in re-creating the outside parking lot 'Shakedown Street' vending scene," Fallon said. "This will have local vendors selling tie-dyes, miscellaneous items, food trucks and beer vendors as well as a live band outside. Essentially what we're doing is a creating unique event."
On the Bus is the longest-running Grateful Dead tribute band in the Washington D.C. area, and is known for its faithful recreation of the music, vibe and experience of a Grateful Dead show. The Free Flowing Musical Experience aims to capture the diversity of their musical influences and expand upon each song as an improvisational journey.
For ticket information, visit The Carlyle Club website.
