For Deadheads, August 1st–9th is more than a run of days on the calendar. “Jerry Week” (aka the “days between”) is an annual tribute to the life, music, and enduring spirit of Jerry Garcia. Each year, fans flock to San Francisco to honor the late Grateful Dead co-founder (who was born on August 1st, 1942 and died on August 9th, 1995) in the revered band’s home city.
Jerry Week 2026 celebrations will get underway this weekend and be punctuated by two marquee musical events at the Great American Music Hall, presented by Poolside Presents. This Sunday, August 2nd, Melvin Seals & JGB will return to the historic venue for a special evening championing Garcia’s everlasting musical legacy. Then, on August 7th and 8th, acclaimed tribute act AXIAL TILT will honor the Dead’s tradition of fearless musical exploration, pushing their music into new territory.
Melvin Seals is best known to the Dead community for his 14-year tenure behind the Hammond B3 organ in the Jerry Garcia Band. Seals—whose soulful improvisations and genre-defying spirit helped define Garcia’s solo work—will be joined by longtime collaborators John Kadlecik on guitar and vocals, bassist John-Paul McLean, and drummer Jeremy Hoenig. This show will be livestreamed via nugs and feature a rare appearance by New Orleans saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. Harrison first joined Seals and JGB onstage in NOLA during Jazz Fest this past May, leaving an audience of jam fans in awe.
From blues and funk to R&B and rock, Seals and JGB continue to embody the free-flowing musical interplay that was synonymous with the Jerry Garcia Band. In fact, Garcia once famously dubbed Seals the “Master of the Universe,” acknowledging his iconic and unmistakable B3 sound.
Meanwhile, AXIAL TILT is an all-star ensemble including guitarists Stu Allen and Nate LaPointe, keyboardist Mitch Stein, vocalist Elliott Peck, bassist Stephen Ramirez, drummer Pete Lavezzoli, and percussionist Wally Ingram. As an extra-special tribute to both Garcia and founding Grateful Dead keyboardist/original frontman Ronald “Pigpen” McKernan, these shows will also mark Grammy-winning blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite’s debut with the band.
Each AXIAL TILT concert promises an acoustic set followed by two electric sets, roughly five hours of live music. Alongside plenty of musical surprises, each setlist will be completely unique as organizers assure no songs will be repeated between the two nights.
More than just bookending Jerry Week, these performances will reinforce San Francisco’s central role in Grateful Dead history.
Jerry Week officially kicks off this Saturday, August 1st, with the 24th annual Jerry Day at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park. The free celebration features performances by Melvin Seals & JGB with the Jazz Mafia Horns, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, Spencer Krenz & Friends, and other artists honoring Garcia’s hometown legacy before the festivities continue across town throughout the week. Click here for tickets and more information.
This article contains partner content.