Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra has announced its 2026 Spring Tour following a sold-out West Coast winter run and the milestone of its 3400th live performance. The ten-date tour begins May 7 in San Antonio and travels through Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia before leading into the 13th annual Dark Star Jubilee at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.
The tour arrives after a major moment for the band earlier this year, when Dark Star Orchestra celebrated its 3400th show, surpassing the total number of performances played by the Grateful Dead during their 30-year career. The band also recently donated 10000 dollars to the Rex Foundation in honor of the late Bob Weir, continuing the philanthropic legacy tied to the Grateful Dead community.
Fans attending the spring run can expect Dark Star Orchestra’s signature approach of faithfully recreating historic Grateful Dead setlists while blending in their own improvisational energy. The tour includes performances at venues such as ACL Live at the Moody Theatre in Austin along with outdoor amphitheaters throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Tickets go on sale March 6 at 10 AM local time, with a fan presale beginning March 4 using the code RIPPLE.
TOUR DATES:
May 07 – Stable Hall – San Antonio, TX
May 08 – Longhorn Ballroom – Dallas, TX
May 09 – ACL Live at the Moody Theatre – Austin, TX
May 11 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
May 14 – The Refinery – Charleston, SC
May 15 – Asheville Yards – Asheville, NC
May 16 – The Amp Ballantyne – Charlotte, NC
May 17 – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater – Wilmington, NC
May 19 – Amphitheatre at Elmwood Park – Roanoke, VA