Watch Brandi Carlile & Sturgill Simpson Lead Bobby Weir’s Dead Ahead In Mexico

The Bobby Weir-curated Dead Ahead festival continued this past weekend at Moon Palace Resort in Riviera Cancún, Mexico with a pair of all-star performances featuring Brandi Carlile and Sturgill Simpson. Weir performed alongside Simpson, Rick Mitarotonda, Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, Don Was and Jay Lane on Friday and Sunday with Grace Bowers participating for select songs on Friday and Carlile aboard for three songs on Sunday.

Bobby Weir and the Dead Ahead band kicked off their first of two sets on Friday night with “Sugar Magnolia.” Simpson then had his first turn leading the ensemble on “Sugaree” before Weir fronted the group on “Deep Elem Blues.” Bowers made her first appearance on the night on “Tennessee Jed” ahead of Weir-sung renditions of “Dupree’s Diamond Blues,” “Lost Sailor” and “Saint Of Circumstance” to close the set.

Friday’s second set began with a “China Cat Sunflower” led by Sturgill Simpson. “China Cat” gave way to “I Know You Rider” and “Terrapin Station.” Sturgill then helmed the group on his own “Turtles All The Way Down.” Next up was a “Peggy-O” sung by Mitarotonda ahead of Bowers returning for “All Along The Watchtower.” Bobby Weir then led the band through “Days Between” and “Not Fade Away” to end the frame before the ensemble delivered a “Black Muddy River” encore.

On Sunday, the Dead Ahead performance started with “Shakedown Street.” From there, Rick Mitarotonda led “Friend Of The Devil” and Bobby belted out “Jack Straw” and “Samson And Delilah.” Brandi Carlile went on to make her presence felt on Grateful Dead classics “Bird Song,” “Loser” and “Box Of Rain.” An abbreviated second set consisted of “Mama Tried,” “Ripple,” “Me And My Uncle” and “Deep Elem Blues.”

Last night’s third set got underway with “Deal.” Simpson and Weir then led the ensemble through “Scarlet Begonias” before Bobby fronted the band on “Estimated Prophet,” “Eyes Of The World” and “Morning Dew.” Rick Mitarotonda sang the set-closing “Cold Rain And Snow” and the all-star troupe teamed for a “Turn On Your Love Light” encore.

Check out fan-shot video from the first two Dead Ahead 2025 performances below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fweRjR-97UU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvKBZHOWZKM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACmvEVWZm_8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t23ZEJmhMt4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6oG3eGyQXE

Take a look at the setlists and stream audience recordings of both performances below: