On November 17, the Southern Mississippi University Forum will host a special Grateful Dead themed evening. The University Forum has welcomed cultural, scientific, and artistic speakers to the university since 1974. However this will be the first occasion in which the Forum is moving off-campus for an event.
From The Vault to the Stage will present a conversation with David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead’s archivist and legacy manager. Lemieux has served as archivist for more than a quarter century. He began his association with the band as a Deadhead, first taking to the road as a teenager, while taping and trading shows. His first official work with the band began in 1999 under a short-term contract to catalog the Dead’s video holdings. Then, following the passing of audio archivist Dick Latvala in August of that year, Lemieux moved into his current role.
Lemieux will share his perspective on the Dead at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater starting at 6:30 on 11/17. This will be preceded by a block party that will kick off at 5:15. Finally, following the conversation with Lemieux, The Stolen Faces will take the stage at 8:00.
Free wristbands will be distributed to the first 700 people to arrive that day.
To read more about Lemieux check out our interview with the archivist on his origin story. He also selected 10 memorable versions of Bob Weir songs for our recent special issue.
