Photo via @BillKreutzmann on FB


Bill Kreutzmann turns 75 on May 7, and to celebrate he previously announced Grateful Mahalo, a special three-night celebration in Kauai, Hawai’i featuring his Billy & The Kids band (Aron Magner, Tom Hamilton and Reed Mathis) and string maven Billy Strings.

Now, Carlos Santana, who has been part of the Grateful Dead drummer’s orbit since the late 1960s, and Trey Anastasio Band saxophonist James Casey, who has been living in Hawaii during the pandemic, have been added to the shows’ lineup.

The news of Santana’s appearance broke via social media, with Kreutzmann and Strings posting pictures alongside the legendary guitarist. Casey’s presence was confirmed in a video, where he picked up a message-in-a-bottle note on the beach.

“Bliss is timeless and some friendships really are forever,” Kreutzmann wrote.

Grateful Mahalo will be streamed May 7-9 via FANS.live.

Kreutzmann also shared a note along with the shows’ announcement.

“With all the time this past year that we’ve all been able to reflect, while isolated on all of our own islands, I kept coming back around to how GRATEFUL I am,” the drummer wrote. “For you, for the music that has been the soundtrack to all of our lives, and to all the amazing adventures we’ve had — together — over the years. So for my 75th birthday, I decided I wanted to focus on giving, not receiving.”

“Grateful Mahalo — it’s me saying thank you for a real good time,” Kreutzmann continued. “But it’s also my way to say, yes, we just got through the worst of it… it’s time to let the good times roll once again!”

For more information and to purchase passes and merchandise, head to FANS.live/mahalo.