Photo by Marc Millman

On Sunday, Phil Lesh & Friends welcomed Béla Fleck, Sam Bush and Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck and Paul Hoffman on stage during their headlining set at the 49th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colo. The collaborative ensemble dug into the Grateful Dead archive, mainly playing fan favorites and a rare number from the band’s early repertoire on the set opener, “Mason’s Children.” 

After starting off the night with “Mason’s Children,” a tune that only graced the Grateful Dead’s setlist a handful of times from 1969 till 1970, they moved into mid-70s material on “Here Comes Sunshine.” Next, Phil Lesh & Friends–Grahame Lesh, Stu Allen, Holly Bowling and John Molo–pulled out the Jerry Garcia classic “The Wheel” before welcoming Fleck to the stage. 

For the fourth tune of the night, Fleck played banjo along with the band on the traditional number turned Grateful Dead staple, “Peggy-O.” Fleck stuck around for the following ditty, this time the bluegrass infused “Cumberland Blues,” with Bush emerging and laying down the mandolin alongside the talented crew of musicians. Following the Workingman’s Dead favorite, the two guests exited the stage and, before long, were replaced by members of Greensky Bluegrass, Beck and Hoffman. 

Hoffman offered his skills on the mandolin, while Beck focused his energy on the dobro during the band’s take on a classic pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.” After the guest appearances, the band was left on stage to perform the set closers “Lady with a Fan” into “Terrapin Station,” ahead of a “New Speedway Boogie” encore to cap off the Telluride Bluegrass Festival set. 

Following yesterday’s performance, Phil Lesh & Friends will take some time off the road before reconvening on July 1 at Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre on July 1. 

For tour information, visit phillesh.net.

See the complete setlist below.

Phil Lesh & Friends 

Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Telluride, Colo.

June 19, 2022 

Set: Mason’s Children, Here Comes Sunshine, The Wheel, Peggy-O*, Cumberland Blues*^, China Cat Sunflower# > I Know You Rider#, Lady With a Fan, Terrapin Station 

Enc.: New Speedway Boogie 

Notes:

* With Béla Fleck

^ With Sam Bush

# With Anders Beck and Paul Hoffman