For more than 20 years, Playing Dead has recreated a true Grateful Dead concert experience for Deadheads throughout New England. Formed in the early 2000s, the band features musicians with deep roots in the jam scene, including former members of Dark Star Orchestra, Slipknot!, and Uncle John's Band. Their mission goes beyond playing the songs—they capture the spirit, improvisation, and musical journey of a Grateful Dead show.

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Staying true to the original format, Playing Dead builds two-set performances with authentic song selection, pacing, and extended jams. With a catalog spanning rock, blues, jazz, folk, bluegrass, and psychedelia, no two shows are alike—but every performance is unmistakably Grateful Dead.

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Playing Dead has become a first-call band for many of the Commonwealth's most notable Grateful Dead celebrations, from Jerry Day at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox to commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead's legendary performance at Boston's Music Hall (now the Wang Theatre). The band has earned its place as an institution among Deadheads throughout New England.

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From Soundcheck Studios on the South Shore to stages across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut, Playing Dead brings together longtime Deadheads and new fans alike. For its members, keeping the music alive is personal—a lifelong connection to the songs, the shows, and the enduring legacy of the Grateful Dead.