Grateful Dead co-founder Bill Kreutzmann is bringing an impressive lineup of musicians to Kauai for three upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend concerts. The lineup includes Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Holly Bowling, who will gather at Kilauea’s Porter Pavilion, a small North Shore community venue far different from the enormous arenas we still associate with the Grateful Dead.
The concerts, called “A Very Grateful Thanksgiving,” are set for November 27 through 29, and tickets went on sale today, Wednesday. Kreutzmann, now 80, has lived on Kauai for years and is among the famous people we’ve previously written about who call Hawaii home. His November 2024 concerts at Porter Pavilion sold out.
From acoustic Americana to the Grateful Dead’s electric family.
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are among the best-known names, with their acoustic performances and close harmonies. Holly Bowling is known for playing Grateful Dead and Phish music on piano, while Sam Grisman has a musical connection to Jerry Garcia through his father, David Grisman.
The lineup also includes Alphonso Johnson, who played with Weather Report, along with Mark Karan, Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits, and Reed Mathis of Billy & the Kids. Each night will feature a different combination of musicians performing from the Grateful Dead songbook, with music on two stages and plenty of room for improvisation. Kreutzmann is curating the concerts, though it hasn’t been confirmed whether he’ll play drums.
Kreutzmann originally envisioned a Thanksgiving party, but after Hurricane Lowell damaged his home venue, he moved the gathering to Porter Pavilion and turned it into a benefit. Proceeds will help Anaina Hou cover expenses incurred while providing emergency meals, supplies, and other services during the storm recovery.
What to expect at Kauai’s Porter Pavilion.
General admission this year is primarily standing room, with some seating available on a first-come basis. Attendees can bring folding chairs for the lawn, but not inside the pavilion. VIP tickets include reserved seating. The concerts are rain or shine, and all ticket sales are final, with no refunds.
We bought tickets ourselves, partly to support a worthwhile Kauai fundraiser.
A useful preview is available from the 2024 Mahalo Dead concerts, including Kreutzmann’s performance of “Just a Little Light” recorded at Porter Pavilion. It gives prospective concertgoers a sense of the music’s electric jam-band side.
Updated: Tickets went on sale Wednesday at 8 a.m. Hawaii time.
Tickets for “A Very Grateful Thanksgiving” sold out Wednesday morning soon after going on sale at 8 a.m. Hawaii time. Anyone still hoping to attend can check the official Anaina Hou concert website for any changes or additional ticket releases. We’ll also update this if we learn more. Organizers had described capacity as very limited.
For visitors coming to Kauai for the concerts, The Cliffs at Princeville and OUTRIGGER Kauai Beach Resort & Spa offer related lodging packages.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
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