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The month of August may be the most impressive of all the months. It’s hot, sometimes too hot, flowers are still in bloom but just hanging on, the ocean is a comfortable temperature but the jellyfish start to appear. A lot going on for one month! It’s like some of the best and worst Mother Nature has to offer.

Join me for some live acoustic music at Toms River Brewing on the 5th at 5pm. I’m looking forward to playing a few new tunes including “He’s Gone” one of those special songs from Europe 72. Feel free to bring food and make a night of it! This is my only August show, next one is a late night full band gig in Point Pleasant.

I just finished a new song that I hope to release in September. I actually have two versions; one that rocks pretty hard and an acoustic version. Not sure which one will make the cut, it’s not easy picking a favorite take. Till then follow me on all streaming services just search “Grateful Dave”. Peace, Dave

Greetings from the Jersey Shore where we should be getting the first of our “Jersey Corn” shortly. Every place that grows corn thinks they have the best, but in Jersey we really do 😉

Looking forward to playing live at Toms River Brewing Friday July 15 and if the weather cooperates we will be outside with the trio, if not I will rock it inside solo acoustic. I have a few new Dead, Phish and Floyd tunes I’m looking forward to playing for the first time. I have one or two shows per month booked though October so if you miss this one, no worries.

Just a reminder you can stream my single “The Way” on all music platforms just search for “Grateful Dave”. You can also ask Siri to play the way, which is kind of fun! I am currently working on a new tune and hope to share that this fall. Here is a link to Spotify G/D Artist profile.

Lagerfest was a lot of fun and although we had a serious weather scare, everything worked out great. Thanks again to Icarus Brewing for hosting I look forward to playing for them again soon.

Looking forward to playing Icarus Brewing “Lagerfest” this month. It’s a showcase featuring tons of local lager style beers, some brewed just for this event! Plus live music all day. I will be closing out the event with a set of Dead favorites at 6pm. Thanks to Justin at Icarus Brewing for hosting, really looking forward to it! Visit the Icarus event page for details.

The rest of this month is all about the the DUB, I have a ton of gigs with my other project UKE and the trio has several gigs. We are making a point of being in the moment and making the “jams” all about the groove. For dates please visit my sister website www.ukevibe.com

Hope you have a great start to your summer! If you are on Instagram please follow me there Grateful Dave Music

Single release on 4/20 “The Way” 

The Way was just a little guitar lick that I kept playing and someone said “Hey that’s great! What song is it?” so I thought, maybe it is a song. Within about an hour I had the finished tune recorded, which basically just sat around for most of 2022. As I started growing a following on Instagram in 2023 with my Dead and Phish covers, the idea to release a single was also kicking around, and I thought why not put out an original?

The single is a nod to Taoism and becoming one with the natural flow of everything. I’m not a Taoist but I dig the idea that doing less, or having less, is often more meaningful. “That’s the way it is, that’s the way it goes”. 

The Way will be live on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music 4-20-2023. I will share some links once it goes live!

I spend a lot of time listening to music. I love it, from classic rock to funk and jazz I just can’t get my fill. Over and over I come back to the Grateful Dead the vibe the jams and the lyrics always offer something new even if I’ve heard a song a thousand times. The one thing that someone (very important to me) mentioned was that the Dead are the most American band and at the time it didn’t really mean much but I can’t help but think on that, the Grateful Dead are truly the most American band.

The spirit of freedom musically, philosophically mixed with crisscrossing the continent hundreds of times on tour really speaks to a core idea of the country: liberty. Like the band the US is often messy, dangerous and at its best amazing and magical. There is something inherently American about the band as an idea, and as music. So that’s something!

Here are a couple of Spotify playlists that I am listening to now and using to help me learn to play some new songs for the April gigs.

• April Dead Jams
• Dead, Phish and beyond!

I will be live at Toms River Brewing and The Whiskey Lounge (Brielle) this April. Follow the Instagram profile @gratefuldavemusic for the latest news and events.

Looking forward to April, 2023

Excited to share that my first single “The Way” will be available on all music streaming platforms on April 20, 2023. It’s a song that I’ve had kicking around for a while and seemed like a great first tune to drop. Please stream and follow it really helps get my music to more people so I can keep on truckin’

I am stoked to be playing live in April too! Join me at Toms River Brewing Saturday 4/22 at 4pm. Will be playing lots of Dead, Phish and more. Music starts at 4pm. Feels good to play at local venues especially when they deliver delicious beer!

On Thursday April 28 I will be playing live at the The Whiskey Lounge! Located in Brielle, NJ and featuring a wide selection of whiskey and food. My brothers went there last week and said the food was delicious, can’t wait to check it out. Music starts at 6pm

About Grateful Dave

Jersey Shore based, Grateful Dave blends smooth laid back vocals with impressive guitar work. Dave literally went from busking on the boardwalk to playing alongside legendary Grammy winning artists. 

Here’s the thing, Grateful Dave has found a way to channel the elusive vibe of The Grateful Dead, Phish and Pink Floyd with effortlessly airy vocals and spot on guitar work. His mellow vibe and atmosphere are infused with a gentle spirit, warmth and of course tasty classic songs that form the core of Grateful Dave’s shows.

The moment that sent Dave’s career into high gear was a chance encounter with “The Boss”. Dave was busking with his friends on a cold misty Spring night on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. Out of the fog appeared none other than Bruce Springsteen who stopped to listen and dropped a hefty tip in the jar before disappearing into the mist. That was enough to keep the musical fires burning strong. Dave tours nationally and prefers intimate gigs near his home down the Jersey Shore playing around 50+ shows each year.

The Grateful Dave YouTube channel is in the works with some highly watchable videos available with more in production. There is also some jam influenced original music that is scheduled for release on Apple Music and Spotify for Spring 2023. In a world of copycat and lookalike cover bands Grateful Dave is a fresh hit we all need more than ever!