A picturesque summer night lingered over the hills and valleys with the melodic tones of a great tribute band paying homage to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. Dark Star Orchestra put a show on for the ages at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards. Since 1997, the band has been “celebrating the Grateful Dead concert experience,” and fans came from near and far to dance and dance and all fall down with two incredible sets, a “dead set” sundown and the notes of “Terrapin Station” welcoming the moonrise.
DSO kicked off the night with their epic driving first set as the audience spun and swayed to “Promised Land,” “Sugaree,” “El Paso,” and “Peggy-O” before bringing it down a notch with “Looks Like Rain” and the wall-of-sound “Row Jimmy” brings with the back line shining through. “Dancing in the Streets” closed out the first set with an absolute banger akin to the famed 1977 Cornell University version.
The set break turned into a massive picnic feast as attendees indulged in Beak & Skiff’s array of adult and NA options, and incredible food, offered throughout their campus.
Once refreshed, all were ready to dance again and treated with a highlight reel of second set classics as “Samson and Delilah” had everyone immediately grooving again. “Ramble On Rose” turned into a venue-wide sing along and the “Estimated Prophet” > “Terrapin Station” > “Playing in the Band” > “Uncle John’s Band” > “The Wheel” segue-fest brought the house down. Goosebumps of glee rose with the moon as a back drop. The encore was finished off with a touching cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” fitting while playing a farm in New York, and another crowd favorite “Ripple.”
Although the Summer Music Series has come to an end this season, Beak & Skiff has many more live music events in their tap room, along with yoga, fall apple festivals and food truck celebrations. You can follow them for more on their socials and on their website here. Dark Star Orchestra keeps trucking throughout the counrty and you may find their tour schedule, which includes a Jamaica retreat, here. We at 315 Music cannot wait to see what is in store next season as Beak & Skiff has become one of the premier venues in the Northeast and a very unique one at that.
