Grateful Dead tribute fest returns to Ventura with Phil Lesh

Wes Woods II, Ventura County Star
Updated ·2 min read
Guitarist Mark Masson, left, and bassist Jeff Hiller of the Ventura County band Shaky Feelin' are shown at the 2022 Skull & Roses Grateful Dead tribute festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The group will return April 20 during the festival's five-day run starting April 19.
Guitarist Mark Masson, left, and bassist Jeff Hiller of the Ventura County band Shaky Feelin' are shown at the 2022 Skull & Roses Grateful Dead tribute festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The group will return April 20 during the festival's five-day run starting April 19.
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The Grateful Dead made multiple appearances at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in the '80s because frontman Jerry Garcia enjoyed the ocean views and modest venue.

On April 19-23, the Grateful Dead legacy of rock, blues, jazz and improvisational music returns with the Skull & Roses festival at the fairgrounds.

"Jerry didn’t mind playing in dumps," said festival publicist Dennis McNally, who was the Grateful Dead's publicist from 1984-95. "It was this perfect natural beauty combined with the fact it’s not fancy. It’s just a good ol' county fairgrounds."

More than 30 bands are set to perform over five days, including two-day headliner and Grateful Dead member Phil Lesh, who will perform under the name Phil Lesh & Friends. Lesh is back to Ventura for the second year in a row and will headline on April 22 and 23.

Lesh was the first member of the Grateful Dead to play the event, McNally said. Last year, Lesh played 13 songs on the last day of the fest, bringing back mostly Grateful Dead songs including "Franklin's Tower" and "West L.A. Fadeaway," according to the website setlist.fm.

Everybody loved him so much, they asked him to play two nights this year, McNally said.

One of the guitars used by the Grateful Dead's de facto leader, the late Jerry Garcia, is shown on display at the 2022 Skull & Roses festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
One of the guitars used by the Grateful Dead's de facto leader, the late Jerry Garcia, is shown on display at the 2022 Skull & Roses festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

At least 6,500 fans are expected to attend, McNally said, with the largest turnout typically on Saturday. The festival began in 2017 but took a two-year break because of COVID-19 and returned last year.

Other headliners include Dead & Company member Oteil Burbridge, billed as Oteil & Friends, on April 20. Dark Star Orchestra takes top billing on April 21.

Ventura County's Shaky Feelin' will perform a Grateful Dead-inspired set at 11:30 a.m. on April 20.

"We don’t play Dead songs exactly like the Dead. We give them their own feel and sound," said Jeff Hiller, who lives in Newbury Park and plays bass for Shaky Feelin.'

"We're pretty excited to be the first band of the day," Hiller said. "It'll be upbeat with high energy."

Hiller, who also owns Mister Softee of Southern California in Camarillo and Ventura, describes the music of Grateful Dead as a type of modern-day jazz.

"The songs have become anthems for many generations," Hiller said. "The songwriting, storytelling and characters in the songs are all very compelling."

If you go

What: Skull & Roses festival When: April 19-23; hours vary Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Drive, Ventura Tickets and information: skullandroses.com/

Esther Rorin is shown on dancing with a hula hoop at the 2022 Skull & Roses festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The event returns April 19.
Esther Rorin is shown on dancing with a hula hoop at the 2022 Skull & Roses festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The event returns April 19.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Grateful Dead tribute fest returns to Ventura with Phil Lesh