After six decades of faithful service to the jam community, Tom Constanten has announced his formal retirement from touring. While the former Grateful Dead keyboardist had subtly decreased his time on the road in recent years, he took to social channels over the weekend to finally, formally announce his intentions to depart from the live circuit. To honor a storied career, reconnect with longtime collaborators and give the fans one last hurrah, the artist has announced a Farewell Tour with Live Dead and Brothers, the all-star ensemble with whom he has kept the legacy of the Dead roaring.

“This has been in the back of my mind for months,” the artist posted to his Facebook page on Saturday, Aug. 10. “The past couple of years I’ve been enjoying a relatively comfortable semi-retirement. I’ve been thinking of going the rest of the way. As Moms Mabley put it ‘You’s as old as you feels, until one day you wakes up and you feels as old as you is.’ Well, I turned 80 earlier this year, and it’s hard to not notice I’ve lost a step or three. So I’ve been thinking of removing the “semi” from the equation. This upcoming tour of Texas et al. will likely be my swan song.”

Constanten will bid the crowd farewell with a final circuit with his longtime Live Dead ensemble, featuring Berry Duane Oakley, Les Dudek, Mark Karan, Scott Guberman and Pete Lavezzoli. The sextet will plot 18 stops between Sept. 6 and Oct. 12, taking the spotlight in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Tickets are available now through the venue sites; read on for the complete list of locations and tour dates.

“I am abjectly grateful for the many who have been so helpful along the way,” Constanten offers in closing. “The indulgences I’ve enjoyed have been ramping up over the past few years… This is not to say I’ll stop doing music. Bob Bralove is coming by in a week or so to record a few more improvisations. The last time we hit new highs! I have a project of piano morsels in the works as well. As long as my fingers keep moving, something will be happening!”

Tom Constanten w/ Live Dead and Brothers Farewell Tour Dates

SEPTEMBER

6 – Carpenter Hall- Irving, TX                         

7 – Cailloux Theater – Kerrville, TX

17 – Perot Theatre – Texarkana, TX            

18 – Cullen Theatre – Houston, TX                

19 – Greenville Municipal Auditorium – Greenville, TX

20 – Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts – Amarillo, TX     

26 – Sportsmens Tavern – Buffalo, NY

27 – Empire Live – Albany, NY

28 – Pat Garrett Amphitheater – Strausstown, PA

29 – The Hamilton – Washington, DC

OCTOBER

1- Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA

2 – Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA

5 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis MD

8 – The Empire – Belleville, ON

9 – Fort Hill Performing Arts Center – Canandaigua, NY

10 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Warrendale, PA

11 – Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre – Boalsburg, PA

12 – Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY

**MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!