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This summer’s Symphony on the Prairie schedule includes a Grateful Dead tribute act, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the rock band’s final concert in Indiana.
Dark Star Orchestra, scheduled to perform Aug. 8 at Conner Prairie in Fishers, will replicate a set list played by the Grateful Dead during one of the band’s appearances at Noblesville’s Deer Creek Music Center—now known as Ruoff Music Center.
From 1989 to 1995, the Grateful Dead headlined 14 shows at Deer Creek.
Conner Prairie and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced Tuesday that the 43rd season of Symphony on the Prairie will launch June 27 with the symphony accompanying a Fleetwood Mac tribute act known as Tusk.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform 11 times on the 21-date schedule, including two shows devoted to music popularized in Disney films and a pair of shows featuring film scores written by John Williams, Hans Zimmer and other composers.
Three presentations of “Star-Spangled Symphony” are scheduled July 3-5. Tickets for all Symphony on the Prairie dates go on sale at 11 a.m. April 8.
On nights when the ISO won’t be present, the roster of tribute acts includes musicians celebrating the work of Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Elton John, Queen, the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Buffett, Michael Jackson and Journey.
Although “orchestra” is part of Dark Star Orchestra’s name, the band formed in Chicago in 1997 is not a classical-themed tribute to the Grateful Dead. Dark Star Orchestra specializes in faithfully presenting the Grateful Dead’s music as it was performed in various eras of the band’s history.
In 1995, the Grateful Dead planned to perform two shows at Deer Creek. However, thousands of ticketless fans charged the back fence of the amphitheater’s lawn during the July 2 concert, which led to a cancellation of the July 3 show.
Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead’s iconic vocalist and guitarist, died on Aug. 9, 1995, at age 53. Although multiple bands featuring members of the Grateful Dead visited Ruoff Music Center in subsequent years, the Grateful Dead name was retired after Garcia’s death.
Symphony on the Prairie concerts will begin at 8 p.m., except for the Dark Star Orchestra show that features a 7 p.m. start time. Gates at Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, will open at 6 p.m. for all performances.
2025 Kroger Symphony on the Prairie season schedule
June 27: Tusk: The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute with the ISO
June 28: Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA with the ISO
July 3-5: The ISO performs “Star-Spangled Symphony,” conducted by Alfred Savia and featuring vocalist-trumpet player Byron Stripling
July 11-12: The ISO performs “Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time,” conducted by Jack Everly
July 18-19: The ISO performs “John Williams & Friends,” conducted by Jack Everly
July 25: The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston with the ISO
July 26: EagleMania with the ISO
Aug. 1-2: Let’s Sing Taylor: An Unofficial Live Tribute Band
Aug. 8: Dark Star Orchestra
Aug. 9: Face2Face: A Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John
Aug. 15: One Night of Queen
Aug. 16: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute
Aug. 22: Neil Forever: The Music of Neil Diamond
Aug. 23: A1A: The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show
Aug. 29: Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson
Aug. 30: Voyage: Celebrating the Music of Journey
For more information, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
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Why would you book DSO on the same night as the return of Widespread Panic? LOL