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Published: 2012/06/14

After unforeseen medical issues within the band forced former Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann’s group 7 Walkers to cancel their Colorado tour dates this weekend, the local jamband community has banded together to fill the void with a weekend of homegrown Dead tribute performances and local talent.

According to a group spokesperson, 7 Walkers guitarist Papa Mali recently underwent routine surgery and hasn’t recovered quickly enough to perform this weekend at the State Bridge Riverside Amphitheatre in Bond, Colorado, where the group had scheduled performances spanning two days.

While Mali’s full recovery is expected soon and the group promises to reschedule the dates for later this summer, local Dead-influenced bands immediately stepped up to fill the vacancy in the Amphitheatre’s schedule, setting up a four-act mini-festival featuring the Rocky Mountain Grateful Dead Review, Frogs Gone Fishin’, Shakedown Street and The Congress.

Assembled from the top musicians from Dead tribute bands all over the area, the Rocky Mountain Grateful Dead Review will perform in the headlining spot on Saturday night, showing off their “its faithful rendering of Grateful Dead material and its trademark style of improvisation.” Colorado mainstays Shakedown Street will perform on Sunday, welcoming special guest guitarist Rob Eaton of Dark Star Orchestra to their lineup for the show. Tickets for the impromptu Dead celebration will be $10 for one day of $15 for both, and those with tickets for 7 Walkers are welcome to keep them for the rescheduled date or return them for a refund.