60 years on from the Grateful Dead’s first incarnation as the Warlocks it may surprise many aficionados of the Great American Songbook to know there is a thriving Deadhead scene this side of the water – maybe not on the level of the Dead-influenced bands that you find all over the US but regular gigs and enthusiastic audiences around the UK keep the vibe alive. We of course feature the Dead from time to time here on AUK, and if you’ve ever grooved to “Live Dead”, “American Beauty” or “Europe 72” then the 4th Playing on the Farm Festival, at the wonderful Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester in the Cotswolds, will feel like coming home. Most of the Brit Dead bands will be playing at POTF this year as well as a younger generation of jam bands who often namecheck the Dead alongside the likes of Phish, Billy Strings and Goose.
Tickets priced at £65-£55 are limited to 350 and sell out every year. You can buy them from this link. All profits will again go to Medecins Sans Frontieres to support their humanitarian work in Gaza and beyond. As the organisers say, if you dig the Dead and love live music in the beautiful countryside, get on down to the organic farm for the best value festival of the summer!
