While Dead & Company will not return to Mexico in early 2024 for another edition of Playing In The Sand, the majority of the band’s members—and plenty of talented “company”—will still head to Mexico for a new destination event billed as the Dead Ahead Festival.
The all-inclusive concert vacation, set to take place at Moon Palace Resort in Riviera Cancún, Mexico from January 12th–15th, will celebrate the Grateful Dead songbook with two nights of curated collaboration featuring Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Don Was, Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, and Jay Lane featuring Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda, Margo Price, and “very special guest” Sturgill Simpson.
Guests at the festival, presented by Playa Luna, will enjoy two nights of music from the special Dead Ahead collaboration. The two additional nights of music will feature one headlining performance from Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack as well as a night of celebrations of the Jerry Garcia Band featuring sets by Oteil & Friends and Lettuce. Additional supporting artists include acoustic Goose offshoot Orebolo, Deadhead DJ LP Giobbi, rising bluegrass performer Sierra Hull, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer, and country songstress Jaime Wyatt. Mickey Hart will also serve up a late-night “rhythmic experience” as Mickey Hart’s Noche de Ondas. A full itinerary inclusive of pool parties, beach stage performances, and late-night shows will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Related: What Does The End Of Dead & Company’s Final Tour Really Mean?
Moon Palace Cancún will provide guests with a wide range of luxury accommodations just steps from Dead Ahead’s state-of-the-art concert venue. This oceanfront sanctuary offers magnificent rooms, gourmet all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour room service, and activities like the luxurious AWE-Spa and a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.
In addition to daytime pool parties, curated activities throughout the resort, and nightly concerts on the beach, guests will be encouraged to enrich their weekend with exploration of the Yucatan Peninsula’s natural beauty and rich Mayan culture through various off-site adventures including diving in underground cenotes, visiting the lost capital of Chichen Itza, sailing on luxury catamarans to Isla Mujeres, and more.
All-inclusive packages for Dead Ahead Festival 2024 will go on sale to the public on Friday, September 15th at 1:00 p.m. ET via the festival website. Previous Playa Luna guests (i.e. past attendees of Playing In The Sand) will be invited to return to the beach via a special pre-sale beginning on Thursday, September 14th at 1:00 p.m. ET.
For more information about Dead Ahead Festival 2024, including how to book all-inclusive packages and payment plan details, head here.
