As if Sphere wasn’t immersive enough, Dead & Company fans will be able to experience half a century of Grateful Dead history at the Dead Forever Experience. This exhibit at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas presented by Vibee will be free and open to the public five days a week for the duration of Dead & Company’s 24-date, eight-weekend Sphere residency from May through July. The Dead Forever Experience will include retail shopping, art exhibits, exclusive Dead & Company content, and more. Dead & Company has also released additional tickets to the residency here.
Located at The Venetian which is attached to Sphere and connected via a sky bridge, the 22,000 square foot exhibit spread across two floors will tell a comprehensive story of the Band Beyond Description. A highlight of the Dead Forever Experience is a working 1:4 scale model replica of the Dead’s famed Wall of Sound , which legendary sound designer Owsley “Bear” Stanley III created for use in 1974. Though the real Wall of Sound was only used for a few dozen shows before the Dead abandoned it due to the tremendous financial burden, the homemade PA system revolutionized live concert sound and now luthier Anthony Coscia has allowed fans to experience a smaller version of the infamous setup.
Related: Anthony Coscia Recreates A Grateful Dead Legend With Mini Wall Of Sound Project [Interview]
Another selling point of the Dead Forever Experience is an art exhibit featuring new works by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. “Art at the Edge of Magic” will showcase the drummer’s vibrational expressionism, with dozens of sensory-enhancing pieces in a variety of forms and mediums including a blacklight immersion.
Deadheads will also be able to see 30 years of Grateful Dead history through the lenses of various photographers in an exhibit curated by Jay Blakesberg and his daughter Ricki. “An American Beauty: Grateful Dead Photography 1965-1995” will house 145 images by 27 different photographers, including many previously uncirculated images. At the end of the exhibit, “The Long Strong Trip” will tell the continuation of the Grateful Dead saga with a showing of Dead & Company photos shot by Blakesberg and Chloe Weir. Other Dead & Company-specific content includes a showing of the band’s May 8th, 2023 concert at Cornell University‘s Barton Hall—the site of the Dead’s famed 1977 concert—available to Vibee VIP ticket holders.
Other activities at Dead Forever Experience include the Participation Row featuring booths of non-profit organizations. Broadcasts by SiriusXM Grateful Dead Radio hosts Gary Lambert, Davis Gans, and Big Steve Parish will also air throughout the opening weekend of the run beginning Thursday, May 16th and continue every Thursday through the residency with the Big Steve Hour.
Related: Here’s Where Shakedown Will Be For The Dead & Company Sphere Residency
Finally, the Dead Forever Experience will include a retail store where fans can purchase a variety of items including exclusive Dead & Co merch, posters, apparel, and more. The store will also include Grateful Dead vinyl and merch from James Perse, Teton Gravity Research, and others. Find more information on the Dead Forever Experience here and purchase tickets to the Sphere shows here.
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