After making their debut at the storied venue one year earlier, the Grateful Dead returned to Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 1979 for a repeat performance of incredible proportions. The 1970s were peak years in the Dead’s career, with the band writing and performing some of their best music on a regular basis. Add to that the magic of Red Rocks, and you have yourself a performance for the ages.

The show itself opened up with a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land”, and featured great versions of tracks like “Brown Eyed Women”, “Althea”, “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” and more. The section of “Estimated Prophet” > “Eyes of the World” > “Drums” > “Space” > “Not Fade Away” in the second set is the stuff of legends.

Grateful Dead – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO – 8/12/1979

[Soundboard audio uploaded by Jonathan Aizen]

Setlist: Grateful Dead | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | 8/12/1979

Set 1: Promised Land, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried-> Mexicali Blues, Peggy-O, Lazy Lightning-> Supplication, Brown Eyed Women, Looks Like Rain, Althea-> Passenger

Set 2: China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider, Lost Sailor, Don’t Ease Me In, Estimated Prophet> Eyes of the World> Drums> Space> Not Fade Away> Black Peter> Around & Around

E: U.S. Blues

[Originally published 8/11/17]