Dark Star Orchestra Hosts Jam In The Sand 2019 & Confirms Spring Tour Leg 2

Grateful Dead tribute act Dark Star Orchestra recently concluded this year’s Jam In The Sand destination event in Jamaica. The band also confirmed the second leg of their upcoming spring tour.

Dark Star Orchestra will lead up to their 2019 Dark Star Jubilee festival with a series of dates in the Northeast. Up first is a show at The Wilbur in Boston on May 9. Next up are visits to Westbury, New York on May 10 and Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania on May 11. The tour continues with two nights at The Hamilton in Washington D.C. May 13 and 14. A performance in Red Bank, New Jersey on May 16 will be followed by two nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York on May 17 and 18. The tour concludes with stops in Princeton, New Jersey on May 20 and Buffalo on May 21.

The group kicked off Jam In The Sand 2019 on January 15 with a setlist akin to the Grateful Dead’s January 12, 1979 performances. A few changes were made to avoid repeats. For the filler, DSO went with the dream pairing of “Dark Star,” “Brokedown Palace” and “Mystery Train.” The action continued at Jewel Paradise Cove in Runaway Bay, Jamaica on January 16 with an elective setlist. Green Leaf Rustlers and The Wailers were the other bands on hand in Jamaica. Green Leaf Rustlers frontman Chris Robinson sat-in with DSO on “The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion)” on January 17, while the band’s Barry Sless added pedal steel to “Dire Wolf” and “Bird Song.” Additionally, drummer John Molo helped out on “Scarlet Begonias” and “Fire On The Mountain” to start the second set. Chad Johnson took over drum duties for “Box Of Rain.”

Speaking of Green Leaf Rustlers, the band’s set included a guest appearance from the legendary Donovan for “Season Of The Witch.” The final show of the event saw Dark Star Orchestra recreate a Dead setlist from 40 years prior. On January 18, DSO performed the same setlist the Grateful Dead used on January 18, 1979. Dark Star concluded the event with a filler of “I’ll Be With Thee” featuring Tanya Shylock on vocals.

Photos by Suzy Perler

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Jam In The Sand Setlists

January 15

Set One: Jack Straw; Candyman; El Paso; Tennessee Jed; Beat It On Down The Line; Peggy-O; Passenger; Deal

Set Two: Samson And Delilah; It Must Have Been The Roses; Dancing In The Street > Space > Drums > Not Fade Away > Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad > Sugar Magnolia

Filler: Dark Star > Brokedown Palace > Mystery Train

January 16

Set One: Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower; Lazy Lightning > Supplication; Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues; I’ll Take A Melody; It’s All Over Now; We Can Run; The Music Never Stopped

Set Two: Saint Stephen > Man Smart (Woman Smarter); Sunrise; Eyes Of The World > Unbroken Chain > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Morning Dew

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January 17

Set One: *Dire Wolf; *Bird Song; Playing In The Band > Uncle John’s Band > ^The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion) > Uncle John’s Band (reprise) > Playing In The Band (reprise)

Set Two: #Scarlet Begonias > #Fire On The Mountain; Feel Like A Stranger > Terrapin Station > %Box Of Rain > Stella Blue > Turn On Your Lovelight (Pig style)

• * = w/ Barry Sless on Pedal Steel Guitar
• ^= w/ Chris Robinson lead vocal
• #= w/Jon Molo on drum set (Koritz on Congas)
• %= w/ Chad Johnson on drum set (Dino on Congas)

January 19

Set One: The Promised Land; They Love Each Other; Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues; Friend Of The Devil; Cassidy; Jack-A-Roe; Looks Like Rain; Ramble On Rose; New Minglewood Blues; Deal

Set Two: I Need A Miracle > Bertha > Good Lovin’ > From The Heart Of Me ; Ship Of Fools ; He’s Gone > Truckin’ > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Around And Around

Encore: U.S. Blues

Filler: *I’ll Be With Thee

* – w/ Tanya Shylock