Billy & The Kids, the collaborative project lead by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, appears to be making some new moves. In a post to the band’s social media accounts on Monday, November 11th, Billy & The Kids issued the first details about their forthcoming reunion—”Billy & The Kids Ride Again: 4/2020″—indicating this coming April as the target for a reunion.
In late October, the group’s Facebook page shared its first post in more than two years: A photo of Kreutzmann with the caption, “Tap tap, is this thing on?” The post also tags Kreutzmann and the rest of the band’s members, bassist Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green, Electric Beethoven, Golden Gate Wingmen), guitarist Tom Hamilton (Ghost Light, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and keyboardist Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits).
In the time since that initial post, the Billy & The Kids page has made various amusing if relatively unsubstantive posts hinting at a reunion. They also shared a teaser video of their performance of “Shakedown Street” from the forthcoming Christmas Jam 2014 box set.
Per Setlist.FM, the group has not played a full U.S. show since their appearance at Wanee Festival in April of 2016. While no details were shared in the band’s Facebook post, the “soundcheck” message seems to be a clear indicator that a new Billy & The Kids announcement is on its way.
Billy & The Kids – Wanee Festival – 4/15/16
[Audio: Butch Almberg]
Before any potential new shows with the supergroup, Bill Kreutzmann will head out on a Fall Fun Run with Dead & Company for two nights at Los Angeles’ The Forum on December 27th and 28th and San Francisco’s Chase Center on December 30th and 31st. For a full list of upcoming Dead & Company dates, head here.
We’ll be sure to update you on the return of Billy & The Kids as details become available.
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[Originally published 10/30/19]