Well, we're getting close..... sorry for the radio silence!!!!

[mountainjam]

  I don't need to hear a note-for-note version of a Dead song

This would be more of the DSO approach. JRAD is a different animal; totally fresh take on GD music. Super high energy improvisational jamming by really great musicians.

Another idea would be Keller Williams' Grateful Grass. They did a set at Lockn' Fest that was excellent.

[sarrygarcia7]

I'll take any Dead in any form please!

Straight up Phil and Friends as a headliner would be awesome. That's not note for note.

[psuruns10]

I would love a bluegrass rib ute to the dead.

[Mark of Bloomington]

I just looked back to last year.  The final lineup was announced by Brian on March 19th.  We may still be a couple of weeks away from any announcement.  That does not stop me from checking this Forum several times a day anyway.

[petefrane]

Ferg said about 2 weeks just 1 week ago top of this thread 

 Listening to: GSBG

[GnuGrass]

Ferg...
Robert Plant is now an avowed Deadhead...just sayin'. 

Get him with the Basement Tapes or House Band. 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/01/11/robert-plant/20588859/

 Listening to: Travelin' McCoury's

[FaceOnMars]

I'll take any Dead in any form please!

Straight up Phil and Friends as a headliner would be awesome. That's not note for note.

The recent lineup with Dave Nelson & Barry Sless would've fit in very nicely, but time to take the needle out of my arm & I also suspect it might be too close in time to the Chicago run.

I'll take any Dead in any form as well, but not looking to force the issue either ... if it happens it happens ... kind of the way we heard a good handful of The Band tunes the year Levon passed away.

[gregsfrontporch]

I like the theme of each band doing a Dead song.
I saw Larry Keel and a stage of full ofall-stars, Drew, Ben, etc. crank out a version of Shakedown Street at Cervantes the other night.
Man once the beat was recognized, the whole place just started bouncing!

 Listening to: Tony Joe White

[Mark of Bloomington]

Speaking of themes.  I was fortunate enough to attend a few consecutive MerleFests several years ago.  In the years that I made it to North Carolina the Waybacks hosted a set on the Hillside Stage, and with a few assorted guests they would cover an entire album of an old classic rock band, i.e. Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Moody Blues, etc.  I do not know if they still do this on a regular basis.  It took planning and quick rehearsals and someone had to learn all the lyrics, probably why they stuck to old classics.  But that set was always well attended.  Everyone loved it.  Perhaps the House Band might cover "American Beauty" or "Workingman's Dead" or my favorite, "Wake of the Flood".