Phish's Mike Gordon Drops By Jerry Garcia Tribute At Red Rocks For Bass Battle With Oteil [Photos/Video/Audio]

On Sunday evening, after rounding out a three-night run with Phish at Boulder, CO’s Folsom Field, bassist Mike Gordon dropped by Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a surprise sit-in during Sunday’s Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration.

Following two sets backed by the Colorado Symphony, the all-star house band for the night—comprised of Oteil Burbridge (bass, vocals), Tom Hamilton (guitar, vocals), Melvin Seals (keys, vocals), Jacklyn LaBranch (vocals, percussion), Lady Chi (vocals, percussion), and Duane Trucks (drums)—stuck around to deliver a third set featuring more conventional JGB-style instrumentation and a number of beloved covers from the live Garcia songbook.

Midway through the third set, Mike Gordon joined the band onstage to add a second low end line to a rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally”. The double-bass take of the blues-rock classic soon barreled into a bass/drums jam during which Burbridge—wielding his new “Dire Wolf” bass inspired by Garcia’s “Wolf” guitar—squared off with Gordon for several entrancing minutes of improvisation before returning to “Lay Down Sally”. Gordon also stuck around for the take on Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue” that followed.

Below, watch clips of Mike Gordon and Oteil Burbridge squaring off for a “Lay Down Sally” bass jam at Red Rocks, view the full setlist from the night, check out photos via Brad Niederman, and listen to an audience audio recording via Z-Man.

The appearance at Red Rocks during the hybrid Grateful Dead/classical music concert on Sunday came at the end of an eclectic weekend for Mike Gordon, who also performed three shows with Phish in Boulder and connected with a hip-hop icon, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, the night prior. Find tickets to upcoming Phish tour dates here.

On August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, fans of the Grateful Dead will flock to San Francisco, CA’s Golden Gate Park for a three-day celebration of the Dead’s 60th anniversary featuring nightly performances by Dead & Company in addition to opening sets by Billy Strings (Friday, 8/1), Sturgill Simpson (Saturday, 8/2), and Trey Anastasio Band (Sunday, 5/3). Find tickets to the Golden Gate Park shows here.

Setlist [via Z-Man]: Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | 7/6/25
Set One: Dark Star, Bird Song, Here Comes Sunshine, Reuben and Cherise, West LA Fadeaway, China Cat Sunflower > Jam > China Doll, Terrapin Station
Set Two: Scarlet Begonias, Morning Dew, Shakedown Street, Run for the Roses, Crazy Fingers, Standing on the Moon, Cats Under the Stars, Ripple
Set Three: That’s What Love Will Make You Do, Waiting For a Miracle, Lay Down Sally [1] > Bass/Drums Jam [1] > Lay Down Sally [1], Tangled Up In Blue [1], Deal
Notes: [1] with Mike Gordon (Phish) on bass. House band featured Oteil Burbridge (bass, vocals), Tom Hamilton (guitar, vocals), Melvin Seals (keys, vocals), Jacklyn LaBranch (vocals, percussion), Lady Chi (vocals, percussion), and Duane Trucks (drums). Entire first and second set featured the Colorado Symphony conducted by Christopher Dragon.

Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration – Red Rocks – Full Audio – 7/6/25
[Audio: Z-Man]