Photo Credit: Lindsey McCutcheon

On Friday, May 24, Dark Star Jubilee returned to Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, for another Dead-infused celebration hosted by Dark Star Orchestra. During the Memorial Day Weekend gathering, the revered cover band welcomed a range of acts, most of which marked their appearances with collaborative sit-ins, covers, and use of Jerry Garcia’s Alligator Strait via Grateful Guitars, who were on location for the occasion. 

Friday’s schedule featured The Jennifer Hartswick Band, which consisted of the namesake trumpeter/songstress alongside Nick Cassarino, Nate Edgar, and Conor Elmes. Initial musical offerings were also put on by Keller Williams and Grateful Gospel, with instrumental assistance from funk/R&B leaning project, More Than A Little, and John Kadlecik. For the headliner’s frame, they recreated the Grateful Dead’s April 8, 1989 concert, which was initially performed at Cincinnati’s RiverFront Coliseum. 

Saturday brought forth another wave of performances, including Doom Flamingo and, Melvin Seals & JGB, and others who stoked the spirit of the Grateful Dead separately. Notably, during Saturday’s follow-up, the hosts clicked into a weather-related offering, with an encore of Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35.”  Sunday saw special moments, including Sam Grisman Project, featuring Grisman, Chris J. English, John Mailander, and Max Flansburg, who welcomed Greensky Bluegrass members Paul Hoffman and Anders Beck to help out on “Sisters and Brothers” and “Thrill is Gone.” 

Notably, Sunday saw Alligator grace the stage, helmed by Daniel Donato during the Cosmic Country set and Jeff Mattson of DSO during their final performance. Dark Star also welcomed a familiar face, Holly Bowling, who sat in for “Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo.” All said and done, the 2024 edition of Dark Star Jubilee further accentuated the spirit of the Grateful Dead, their illustrious songbook and historic presence in music. 

Photographer Lindsey McCutcheon shared his photos from Dark Star Jubilee. Scroll down to view highlights.