Grateful Dead tribute and LGBTQ+ benefit band BERTHA has announced her first ever tour across the United States, “BERTHA DOES AMERICA”. The tour will begin on September 12 at the Brooklyn Bowl.
The world’s first all-drag Grateful Dead tribute band, BERTHA is a powerhouse of a performance. Founded in Nashville after their state legislature passed bans on public drag and trans youth healthcare, every show BERTHA plays is a benefit for LGBTQ+ causes, creating community and solidarity between the local drag and live music scenes.
An absolute love letter to both their namesake and the queer community, BERTHA is a conglomerate of drag artists with a core set of performers but no concrete lineup. There is a rotating lineup with special guest Berthas, seasoned Berthas, and every Bertha inbetween. Founding members include singer for bluegrass band Front Country Melody Walker, former member of the duo Smooth Hound Smith Doyle, Jacob Groopman, Lindsay Lou, Alex Bice, Thomas Bryan Eaton, Kyle Tuttle, and Milly Racoon.
Regardless of how long a particular artist has been a Bertha, the band is a collective with two things in mind- the Grateful Dead and raising money for LGBTQ+ causes. This unique set of priorities has led to a growth in the overlap between Grateful Dead fans and members of the queer community, fostering a rather unique and enthusiastic audience attitude towards both the performances themselves and the larger causes they support.
This exciting tour will open on September 12 at the Brooklyn Bowl, followed by nine other dates across the country. For tickets and further information on the Brooklyn date, please visit here.
The full list of dates on the BERTHA DOES AMERICA tour are listed below. For more information on BERTHA and other shows, please visit here.
TOUR DATES
9.12 BROOKLYN, NY – BROOKLYN BOWL
9.13 HARTFORD, CT – INFINITY HALL
9.14 ASBURY PARK, NJ – THE WONDER BAR
10.17 ASHEVILLE, NC – SALVAGE STATION
10.19 CHARLESTON, SC – CHARLESTON POUR HOUSE
11.2 NASHVILLE, TN – BASEMENT EAST
11.21 BOULDER, CO – FOX THEATRE
11.22 DENVER, CO – CERVANTES
11.23 FT. COLLINS, CO – AGGIE THEATRE
12.14 BERKELEY, CA – THE UC THEATRE
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