Dark Star Orchestra Tickets

Dark Star Orchestra Schedule

Dark Star Orchestra - Resources

• Official Dark Star Orchestra Website

About the Dark Star Orchestra

Based in Chicago, the Dark Star Orchestra provides a glimpse at a time that some have never been to and some would love to go back to. They are a Grateful Dead tribute band that takes set lists from the Dead's past and recreates them with great attention to detail. Both Deadheads and music fans that never got to appreciate the music of the Grateful Dead can get a taste by getting tickets for DSO..

The DSO originated in 1997 when guitarist John Kadlecik contacted keyboardist Scott Larned with an idea. The idea was to perform shows out of the history of the Grateful Dead. And as it turned out, Larned shared the same idea and the Dark Star Orchestra was born. The band was formed with great attention to detail. Each person was placed to sound just like the one they pay homage to. John Kadlecik sings with shocking similarity to Jerry Garcia, Kevin Rosen plays bass just like Phil Lesh and Dino English performs on drums like Bill Kruetzmann. Each member of the Grateful Dead's history is accounted for in the Dark Star Orchestra, creating a sound that is recreating the Dead.

In 2005, co-founder Scott Larned died of a heart attack during their spring tour, and in the time since multiple keyboardists have filled the role. Rob Barraco was selected as the permanent replacement in 2007 and has recreated the sound on the multiple keyboardists over the Grateful Dead's history. Their first show in 1997 saw only 78 people walk through the doors to see them perform; now ten years later they sell out tickets around the world.