35 years ago tonight the Grateful Dead kicked off their momentous run at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, returning to one acoustic set and then one electric set format, the first time the band had done this since 1970. Although the Dead stripped down and unplugged in San Francisco at The Warfield and for two shows in New Orleans at the Saenger Performing Arts Center, the Radio City shows were the main attraction. The performances, particularly the October 30-31 shows were immortalized on Dead Ahead, a DVD that any Deadhead should have in their collection. Take a listen to the audio from the anniversary of tonight’s show below.
Grateful Dead-Inspired Fare Thee Well Set Break Music To Get Official Release
Setlist: Grateful Dead at Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY – 10/22/80
Set I: Dire Wolf, On The Road Again, Been All Around This World, Monkey and the Engineer, To Lay Me Down, Heaven Help The Fool, Bird Song > Ripple
Set II: Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, Friend Of The Devil, Me & My Uncle > Big River, Peggy-O, Minglewood Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Drums > Not Fade Away > Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad > Good Lovin’
Encore: U.S. Blues