Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg/ Retro Photo Archive

A new Kickstarter campaign is asking fans of Jerry Garcia to consider offering a financial donation in order to help cover the costs of The Encyclopedia of Jerry Garcia Music Venues. The book-bound informational guide aims to examine the aforementioned guitarist’s musical legacy through the lens of each venue where he performed. 

The Encyclopedia of Jerry Garcia Music Venues is the brainchild of Harry Angus, a longtime fan of Garcia’s. After attending his first Grateful Dead concert on September 18, 1972, at the Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, N.J., Angus was hooked on the guitarist. Within four years, he traveled in pursuit of live music, which took him on a path of seeing iconic gigs at venues, including Keystone, the Winterland, Warfield, Greek, and more.  

Drawing on his own history in connection with the proposed project, Angus writes, “In 2011,  while I was a radio programmer for KMUD in Redway, CA, playing Jerry Garcia/Grateful Dead music, I created the Jerry’s Brokendown Palaces blog, reaching 1.75 million hits. I then decided to turn my attention to writing The Encyclopedia of Jerry Garcia Music Venues. This is the only Jerry Garcia book with photographs of the locations where he played coupled with all of his Grateful Dead and side band dates by venue, bringing his iconic history to life.”

Angus aims to give fellow fans a premium-quality product featuring 2000 pages of music history housed in a gold-embossed 9 ” x 11″ hardbound book signed and numbered. “The extraordinary history of each venue is here including architects, builders, owners, opening night performers and other notable appearances. I’ve also added venue characteristics; murals, statues, stage prosceniums, backstage areas, pipe organs, secret rooms and hidden tunnels. I’ve identified which venues received restorations and those that have been demolished.”

“This unique book will put you at the venue, while you review the setlist and the eye witnesses narrating their show experiences through their own words. I’ve searched every book and known article about Garcia and I’ve included thousands of endnotes acknowledging those who have written about Jerry,” Angus explains. 

In pursuit of the project, Angus has already garnered “permission to use” for over 1,100 high-resolution photos, turned over 99% of the content to the book designer, and taken other steps to secure the desired product. Currently, he has raised nearly $14,000 of the necessary $25,000 goal.

To review Angus’ plan and donate to The Encyclopedia of Jerry Garcia Music Venues, visit kickstarter.com.