Since its inception in 2015, Bearly Dead, Boston’s tribute to the Grateful Dead, has built a reputation not just as a cover band, but as a full-scale celebration of the Grateful Dead’s music, exploring the depths of the band’s massive catalog with technical precision and free-spirited jamming.
With a catalog of over 250 songs, Bearly Dead’s performances deliver on the unpredictable spirit that defines the Grateful Dead’s legacy, honoring every era from the early days to the band’s final years. The quintet features Tyler Brooks (drums, vocals), Owen Finley (bass, vocals), Nick Swift (guitar, vocals), and Michael Butler (vocals, percussion), with the recent addition of keyboardist Kris Yunker, who previously worked with Goose and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.
Bearly Dead’s live musical chemistry and commitment to spontaneous creation have attracted a growing fanbase, landing spots at some of the Northeast’s most iconic venues, from Paradise Rock Club and Worcester Palladium to major festival stages like Jerry Jam and Strange Creek Campout. The band’s weekly Wednesday night residency has drawn drop-ins from many notable musicians including Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Paul Wolstencroft (Slightly Stoopid), Steve Molitz (Particle/Phil Lesh & Friends), Kebbi Williams (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Rob Compa (Dopapod), Hayley Jane (Hayley Jane & The Primates), Richard James (Neighbor), and Johnny Trama (Dub Apocalypse).
Now, Bearly Dead is bringing its unique interpretation of the Grateful Dead’s music to new cities and venues across the country on the Harvest The Wind Tour 2024. Picking back up on October 17th, the tour will resume at Denver’s Mercury Cafe before hitting major stops in the Mountain West, West Coast, Southwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Along the way, Bearly Dead will play some of the nation’s top intimate venues, from Mill Valley’s Sweetwater Music Hall (10/22) and Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz (10/23) to Baltimore’s 8×10 (11/9) and Nectar’s in Burlington, VT (12/7).
The tour also includes a Halloween show at The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge in Minneapolis, MN and a special New Year’s Eve celebration at The Met in Pawtucket, RI, as the band rolls into its 10th anniversary year in 2025.
With its growing national presence, Bearly Dead continues to prove it’s more than just a cover band—it’s a living, breathing extension of the Grateful Dead’s legacy, embracing the same spirit of community, creativity, and musical adventure that defined the band’s forebears.
Click below for a full list of upcoming shows and visit the band’s website for tickets.
Bearly Dead With Scott Murawski & Bill Carbone Of Max Creek – The Warehouse At FTC – Fairfield, CT – 8/3/24
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