This past Friday, the Grateful Dead launched the new “Shakedown Stream” archive video series, which will air weekly on the band’s YouTube channel while the live music industry remains on indefinite hiatus. The first concert as part of the new couch tour series brought fans back to the Dead’s July 4th, 1989 performance at Buffalo, NY’s Rich Stadium.
The start of the new series has since been accompanied by a personal message from Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, who shared an update of positivity from inside music studio at his California home.
“One of the things we’ve all been missing most in these strange times, is the magic that happens when we gather to celebrate our shared love of music,” a bandana mask-wearing Hart says in the brief video. “We’re gonna try and bring our community together by sharing some of our favorite shows.”
Hart goes on to briefly recap where the Dead’s 1989 Independence Day performance stood at that point in the band’s journey, which was preceded by two years of immense growth in popularity thanks to 1987’s In The Dark and its hit single, “Touch of Grey”.
Watch Mickey’s uplifting message below, and tune in to the band’s YouTube channel every Friday night going forward for the latest “Shakedown Stream” webcast.
Mickey Hart Kicks Off Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Stream” Series
[Video: Grateful Dead]