Jennifer Hartswick Meets Dark Star Orchestra At Dark Star Jubilee 2026

Dark Star Orchestra welcomed trumpeter/vocalist Jennifer Hartswick during the second night of their Dark Star Jubilee 2026 festival. The longtime Trey Anastasio Band member helped DSO close their first set on Saturday with a Grateful Dead classic and staple cover.

Dark Star Orchestra launched the second of three performances over the course of the holiday weekend at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio with the GD-covered Bonnie Dobson number “Morning Dew.” DSO loaded the first set with Dead favorites such as “Jack Straw,” “Loose Lucy,” “Black-Throated Wind,” “Here Comes Sunshine” and “Sugar Magnolia.”

Following the latter, Hartswick emerged to sing backup on From The Mars Hotel cut “Scarlet Begonias” before delivering a spicy trumpet solo on the traditional “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” to wrap the first frame.

Set two got underway with the classic Dead pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.” DSO also offered a few non-Dead covers in the second set including Little Feat's “Easy To Slip,” Blind Faith's “Can’t Find My Way Home” and Bob Dylan's “She Belongs To Me” along with more GD standouts such as “St. Stephen” and “He’s Gone.”

Dark Star Orchestra wrapped up “Sugar Magnolia” in the first set with its tag “Sunshine Daydream” to close the second round. The band returned to encore with The Beatles' “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road” and Stephen Stills' “Love The One You’re With.” Saturday’s performance was an original setlist while DSO recreated the Grateful Dead’s April 21, 1978 show on Friday and March 31, 1983 concert on Sunday.

Livestreams of DSO’s Dark Star Jubilee performances are available via nugs.