Grateful Dead's 1968 Concert History

Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. Originally known as the Warlocks, the band's first show took place on May 5, 1965. On December 4, 1965, the band performed their first show as the "Grateful Dead" during one of Ken Kessey's series of parties known as the "Acid Tests". The band's loyal fanbase, commonly referred to as "Deadheads", quickly gained widespread recognition for following the Dead on their tours, their countercultural lifestyle, opposition to the Vietnam War, and open use of psychedelic substances like LSD and cannabis. The Grateful Dead performed together for three decades until founding member Jerry Garcia's death on August 9, 1995, exactly one month after the Grateful Dead's final concert. Subsequently, many other spinoff bands emerged, including Dead & Company, Phil Lesh & Friends, and Bob Weir & RatDog.

Date Concert Venue Location
Dec 31, 1968
Grateful Dead / Quicksilver Messenger Service / It's A Beautiful Day / Santana
  Photos   Setlists
Winterland San Francisco, California, United States
Dec 29, 1968
Grateful Dead
  Photos   Setlists
Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States
Dec 28, 1968
Grateful Dead
  Setlists
The Catacombs Houston, Texas, United States
Dec 28, 1968 –
Dec 30, 1968
Miami Pop Festival II 1968
Fleetwood Mac / Joni Mitchell / Canned Heat / José Feliciano / The Turtles / Booker T. & The MG’s / Procol Harum / Grateful Dead / The Box Tops / Richie Havens / John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers / The Grass Roots / Iron Butterfly / Buffy Sainte-Marie / The McCoys / Paul Butterfield Blues Band / Hugh Masekela / Flatt And Scruggs / Blues Image / Junior Walker And The All Stars / ian and sylvia / Sweet Inspirations / marvin gaye / H.P. Lovecraft / sweetwater / Charles Lloyd Quartet / Joe Tex / James Cotton Blues Band / The Amboy Dukes / The Baxters Show all bands
  Setlists
Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States
Show Duplicate for Dec 28, 1968
Dec 24, 1968
Grateful Dead The Matrix San Francisco, California, United States
Dec 23, 1968
Grateful Dead The Matrix San Francisco, California, United States
Dec 21, 1968
Country Joe and the Fish / Grateful Dead / Spirit / ((PULSE)) / Sir Douglas Quintet / Mint Tatoo / Comfortable Chair
  Photos   Setlists
Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall Los Angeles, California, United States

Photos from 1968 View All 1968 Photos


Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on May 31, 1968 [471-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
May 31, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
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Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on May 31, 1968 [472-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
May 31, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on Jun 1, 1968 [474-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
Jun 1, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on Jun 1, 1968 [475-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
Jun 1, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on May 30, 1968 [508-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
May 30, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on Jun 1, 1968 [509-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
Jun 1, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris on May 31, 1968 [510-small]

Grateful Dead / Charlie Musselwhite / Petris
May 31, 1968
 San Francisco, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal / Pinnacle on May 17, 1968 [514-small]

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal / Pinnacle
May 17 - 18, 1968
 Los Angeles, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal on May 18, 1968 [525-small]

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal
May 18, 1968
 Los Angeles, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal on May 18, 1968 [526-small]

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal
May 18, 1968
 Los Angeles, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal on May 18, 1968 [827-small]

Grateful Dead / Steve Miller Band / Taj Mahal
May 18, 1968
 Los Angeles, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Northern California Folk-Rock Festival 1968 on May 18, 1968 [835-small]

Northern California Folk-Rock Festival 1968
May 18 - 19, 1968
 San Jose, California, United States
  Uploaded by zimtrim

Rock
Pop Rock
Classic Rock
Psychedelic Rock
Folk Rock
Blues Rock
Country Rock
Psychedelic
Jam Band
Roots Rock
Acid Rock
Plunderphonics
Jam
Cosmic American
Double Drumming
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2015 5 concerts
1995 52 concerts
1994 87 concerts
1993 91 concerts
1992 55 concerts
1991 81 concerts
1990 75 concerts
1989 77 concerts
1988 82 concerts
1987 91 concerts
1986 51 concerts
1985 72 concerts
1984 69 concerts
1983 69 concerts
1982 64 concerts
1981 87 concerts
1980 89 concerts
1979 78 concerts
1978 83 concerts
1977 66 concerts
1976 43 concerts
1975 8 concerts
1974 45 concerts
1973 80 concerts
1972 89 concerts
1971 89 concerts
1970 147 concerts
1969 144 concerts
1968 136 concerts
1967 125 concerts
1966 119 concerts
1965 21 concerts
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Dec 02, 2025

Epic show


Aug 27, 2024

I truly wish everyone got a chance to see The Grateful Dead. Unfortunately anything after 1995 is NOT The Grateful Dead.
There's been some wonderful post Jerry shows played by surviving members. Cherish that you saw their songbook live even though it wasn't The Grateful Dead


Feb 01, 2023

Somebody needs to fix this shit. The grateful dead done in 1995. Why is Dead and Co listed as the Grateful Dead?


Aug 10, 2019

how do i change the fucking date . . . of red rocks show to 1985 ?

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