Grateful Dead Reunion Shows in Chicago to Be Broadcast in Movie Theaters

Fans who weren't able to buy tickets to the Grateful Dead's July reunion shows in Chicago will be able to see the performances in select movie theaters, Fathom Events announced today, April 16. The screenings will run for five hours July 3 to 5 as Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh jam live from Soldier Field. Tickets for the shows will be on sale May 4 with local theaters determining the prices, Billboard noted.

"What Fathom and the cinemas offer is a feeling of community, shared interest and energy," John Rubey of Fathom Events said. "This is a trans-generational event."

Fathom is owned by three major theater chains and will broadcast the event in more than 1,000 cinemas across the country. AMC, Regal, Carmike and Cinemark are all part of the network.

Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead will also feature Trey Anastasio of Phish -- filling in for Jerry Garcia -- Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti. The concerts will mark 20 years since Garcia last performed with the group.

"There are no Jerry Garcias coming down the pike, anymore than there is a Jimi Hendrix or Bob Marley. They are all at the same level -- the highest level that you strive to get to as a musician. Me and my friends -- we'll all be long dead, people will still be trying to dig into what Jerry Garcia did." Anastasio told Rolling Stone about Garcia.

Ticket demands for Fare Thee Well were so extraordinary that the group added two more dates. The band will stop by Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in June to give more fans the opportunity to see the last ride.

"Ours wasn't just a long, strange trip -- it was a VERY long, VERY strange trip," the band shared in a letter. "We weren't sure what it was going to be like to put a punctuation mark on the end of it. None of us anticipated the overwhelming outpouring of love and interest following our initial announcement of the shows at Soldier Field, and we were blown away by the response."

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Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh