Bob Weir traveled across the Rio Grand-eo Atlantic Ocean for an evening of ornate Grateful Dead interpretations with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall. The show marked the Grateful Dead guitarist’s first live appearance since Dead & Company wrapped their Sphere residency last month, and his first show with his Wolf Bros since a New Year’s run in Florida.
Orchestral shows have become a semi-regular part of Weir’s non-Dead & Co tour schedule, dating back to a four-night stint with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in 2022. A three-city orchestra tour followed last fall, but Saturday marked the first time Weir had ever taken the concept abroad.
The setlists for Bobby’s orchestra shows have remained largely consistent, featuring Weir and composer Giancarlo Aquilanti‘s classical arrangements of Grateful Dead favorites. The show translates the Dead’s wide stylistic breadth into a classical context, starting with the rollicking opening “Truckin'” that lost a bit of its bluesy edge to a more upbeat, warm sound thanks to the horn and string sections.
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra — “Truckin'”— 6/21/25
[Video: Neil Lucas]
Though there’s no replacing the guitar work of Jerry Garcia, but an army of violins, violas, and cellos all playing the central riff to “China Cat Sunflower” is an acceptable substitute. Elsewhere, the orchestra amplified the originally sparse “Black Peter”, pushed “I Know You Rider” to its cathartic limits, and added sweeping emotion to the first set-closing “Brokedown Palace”.
The world-famous Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra proved its versatility throughout the Dead’s range of styles, including the cheerful psychedelia of the second set-opening “Sugar Magnolia”. Of course, the centerpiece was a proper rendering of the Dead’s original orchestral foray, “Terrapin Station”, while Bobby shed his Wolf Bros bandmates (but kept the orchestra) for a solo, tear-jerking “Days Between”.
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra — “Sugar Magnolia” — 6/21/25
[Video: whichway]
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra — “Terrapin Station” — 6/21/25
[Video: Neil Lucas]
The “Sugar Magnolia” > “Sunshine Daydream” movement sandwiched the entire orchestral second set, before Bobby, Jay Lane, Don Was, and Jeff Chimenti finished the evening in their traditional rock n’ roll format for RatDog‘s “She Says” and Weir’s traditional “One More Saturday Night” closer. Wolf Bros pedal steel guitarist Barry Sless was notably absent from the London show.
Check out videos from Bob Weir & Wolf Bros with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in London. Up next for Bobby is a three-night Dead & Company run in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park celebrating the Dead’s 60th anniversary. The shows on August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will feature support from Billy Strings, Sturgill Simpson, and Trey Anastasio Band, respectively. Find tickets here.
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra — “Black Peter” — 6/21/25
[Video: whichway]
Setlist: Bob Weir & Wolf Bros | Royal Albert Hall | London, England | 6/21/25
Set One: A Grateful Overture (Giancarlo Aquilanti) [1] [2], Truckin’ [1], Black Peter [1], China Cat Sunflower [1], I Know You Rider (Traditional) [1], Brokedown Palace [1]
Set Two: Sugar Magnolia [1] Terrapin Station [1] Days Between [1] [3], Jack Straw [1], Hell in a Bucket [1] Sunshine Daydream [1], She Says (Ratdog), One More Saturday Night (Bob Weir)
[1] w/ The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
[2] Orchestra only
[3] Bob solo w/ orchestra