Photo by Jay Blakesberg

On May 8, 2023, Cornell University’s Barton Hall was once again served as a stage for the lasting flame of the Grateful Dead as Dead & Company performed an intimate benefit concert. On that day, before approximately 5,000 fans the band performed a show mirroring the date and venue of the Grateful Dead’s iconic 1977 performance at Cornell effectively raising an incredible $3.1 million.

The funds, will be donated to MusiCares, an organization under the Recording Academy that provides vital health and welfare services to the music industry, and the Cornell 2030 Project, a research initiative focused on developing climate-change solutions. Each non-profit will receiving nearly $1.5 million to support their respective missions.

The benefit concert was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Dan Berkowitz, Jon Fordin, and Olivia Miller from 100X Hospitality, in conjunction with Activist Artists Management, Mark Dowley, and Rob Klein.

In a statement of gratitude the band, 100x Hospitality, activist, Full Stop Management/Moir Entertainment, Dowley and Klein wrote, “Thank you to the 5,000 Barton Hall attendees for helping us reach this incredible milestone! Our principal beneficiaries, MusiCares and The Cornell 2023 Project will receive almost $1.5M each to continue their vital non-profit Work.”

The Grateful Dead’s Spring Tour of 1977 is widely regarded as one of their finest, spanning their impressive 30-year performing career. Among the tour’s standout shows, the May 8, 1977 performance at Barton Hall holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, often considered the pinnacle of the band’s live performances. Notably, the legendary concert was released as a three-disc CD box set and a five-disc LP in May 2017.

The benefit concert saw the band perform a double frame gig, with the sextet reaching into the ether of past performances, thoughtfully nodding to the original 1977 setlist along with distinct picks from the era during the Grateful Dead’s fabled college stand. Much like the initial concert at Barton Hall, the show commenced with Weir taking the lead on “Minglewood Blues,” it also saw stunning renditions of “I Know You Rider,” “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot!,” “Franklin’s Tower” and a thumping “Drums/Space” that uninhibitedly shook and vibrated the hall and more.

Currently, Dead & Company are in the midst of their “Final Tour,” and their charitable efforts are on going. The tour will culminate with sold-out shows this weekend at Oracle Park in San Francisco, taking place on Friday, July 14, Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16.

Read about Dead & Company’s 2023 benefit show at Barton Hall here.

Read Dead & Company’s origin story here.