As Dead & Company readies for another Sphere residency in 2025, Shakedown Vegas has announced its anticipated return to Las Vegas. The fan-organized bazaar will come back to the Tuscany Suites & Casino for 18 more free pre- and post-Dead & Company Sphere events from March 20th through May 17th.
Last year’s Sphere residency was a success for Dead & Co and Shakedown Vegas alike, both bringing in fans from across the country and around the world to celebrate the Band Beyond Description. While fans still don’t know what new audiovisual bells and whistles Dead & Company will bring to Sphere, Shakedown Vegas has announced some upgrades to this year’s events. First, the event will resume the form of a true “lot” scene by moving from the indoor ballroom to the Tuscany’s south parking lot, allowing for more vendors and larger set-ups. Shakedown was originally scheduled to be outside in 2024, though the oppressive summer heat of Dead & Co’s May–August residency quickly forced the event indoors. With average temperatures for March–May hovering between the 70s and 80s (F), it should make for a comfortable and customary lot experience.
While last year saw Shakedown Vegas welcomed an average of 90 different vendors, this year will up the ante with just over 130 different vendors scheduled to participate each week—with the space for each vendor almost doubling. Also new this year, Shakedown will host a few food trucks including reliable lot eats such as grilled cheese sandwiches and veggie dishes plus some local taco vendors.
Additionally, Shakedown Vegas will expand its musical offerings for 2025. With the new outdoor vendor setup will come a new outdoor main stage which will run simultaneously alongside the stage in the Piazza Lounge from 12–5 p.m. each day. Then, after Dead & Company wraps at the Sphere, the party will keep going into the early morning with late-night sets at the Copa Room. Also new in 2025 are the Waiting For The Band Weekend Warm-Up on Wednesday night (7 p.m.–12 a.m.) and the Sunday brunch sets to close the weekends (10 a.m.–2 p.m.). Highlights of the musical schedule include Grateful Dead Hour host David Gans kicking off the brunch series the first weekend, Merl Saunders’ son Tony Saunders and his Keystone Revisited project celebrating Jerry Garcia and Merl’s ’70s collaborations, Joe Marcinek Band, Shakedown Strings Band, Marcus Rezak, and more. Find the full music schedule here.
All of these events are free and can be found at the Tuscany Suites & Casino, 255 E. Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas NV (South Parking Lot), a short walk from Sphere. Find a full list and schedule of events on the Shakedown Vegas website, in addition to promo codes for reduced rates and fee-free booking at the Tuscany. Find tickets to Dead & Company at Sphere here.
