Grateful Dead Announce ‘Shakedown Stream’ YouTube Concert Series



Grateful Dead have announced a new, weekly YouTube concert series, dubbed ‘Shakedown Stream.’ The series debuts this Friday, Apr. 10 at 8 p.m. ET.

The first show featured for ‘Shakedown Stream’ will be the Dead’s July 4, 1989 show at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. This show was released on video previously as Truckin’ Up To Buffalo.

Prior to the screening, Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux and Dead historian Gary Lambert will host a live pre-show. Fans can submit questions for the duo to answer in advance by sharing them on the ‘Shakedown Stream’ submission page submission page. Lemieux and Lambert will answer some of the questions during the pre-show. “‘Shakedown Stream’ was conceived as a platform for Dead Heads of all ages to virtually congregate during the challenging days the world currently faces and connect in a familiar way, via a Grateful Dead show,” read a press release.

There will also be a charitable element to the series. “The ‘Shakedown Stream’ live broadcast will also feature a ‘Donate Now’ button for viewers to directly support the MusiCares® COVID-19 Relief Fund to help support the music community during these challenging times,” read a press release.

“We’ve decided to start the streaming video series with the Buffalo ’89 show for a couple of primary reasons: it’s excellence is indisputable and is something that we think pretty much everyone will enjoy in the absence of actually being able to see live concerts; and, as a tribute to the many rabid, loyal Dead Heads from the hard-hit tri-state area, which has been affected more than anywhere else in the country,” Lemieux said via press release. “To all of the Dead Heads in New York State and beyond, this one’s for you.”

According to the press release, “The ‘Shakedown Stream’ series will continue next Friday, April 17, with The Grateful Dead Movie, and subsequent weeks will feature not only previously released concerts but also never-before-seen shows from the Dead’s video archive. Each ‘Shakedown Stream’ will also kick off with a live, on-camera pre-show with members of the Dead community.”

Head to Grateful Dead’s YouTube channel to tune in.