‘Truckin’ with The Grateful Dead: Hippies to Highbrows at Fairfield University

From Fairfield University:

FAIRFIELD, CT — David Gans and Nicholas Meriwether will be joined by special guest Jeff Mattson from Dark Star Orchestra at the Quick Center for the Arts on Friday, October 28 at 8:00 p.m. for the Open VISIONS Forum, ‘Truckin’ with The Grateful Dead: Hippies to Highbrows.

David Gans is a musician, author, and radio producer who has been involved with the music of the Grateful Dead since 1972. His most recent book is This Is All a Dream We Dreamed: An Oral History of the Grateful Dead (with Blair Jackson), and his most recent record is It’s a Hand-Me-Down, a collection of solo performances of songs by the Dead. He’ll be joined in conversation by Nicholas Meriwether, a revered rock scholar and band-appointed Official Grateful Dead Archivist.

The program will combine a live musical tribute by Dave Gans and animated rap session conversation including historical perspectives from Nicholas Meriwether. Adding to the fun will be the ‘remarkably gifted’ Jeff Mattson, who has toured internationally recreating memorable Dead shows as lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra.

“We want to welcome again veteran fans who first experienced live Dead shows at colleges from Cornell to Colorado 'back in the day,' or a newly inspired younger generation of Millennial fans springing from the jam-band Phish and Dave Matthews scene,” said Philip Eliasoph, PhD, director of the Open VISIONS Forum. “There's a palpable sense of community.”

Dr. Eliasoph explained that he is bringing the Hippies to Highbrows event to the Open VISIONS Forum this year because he has always been fascinated with the welding of jazz, bluegrass, country and cowboy twangs all swirling into the Dead's psychedelic live concert sound since he was a kid in high school.

“By bringing the Grateful Dead story to campus, we'd like to rekindle the fires of our imaginations and lift our twirling spirits,”Dr. Eliasoph said.

Post-event there will be an after-party or 'hootenanny' in the Quick Center lobby with music led by Gans and Mattson, with some special friends and drinks and food for all.
Tickets are $35| $27 for Quick Center Members | $5 Fairfield University Students, and are available at quickcenter.com or by calling the Box Office at 203-254-4010. This event is sponsored by The Delamar & Spa, Moffly Media, TVEyes and WSHU Public Radio Group.

Image: “Writing Music” - Original artwork courtesy of Stanley Mouse – www.mousestudios.com.