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Shakedown Street plays ShowDown Town in Eagle Thursday

The free ShowDown Town concerts generally fill Eagle Town Park with people. Here, Uncle Lucius performs at a show last year.
Zach Mahone | Special to the Daily |

If you go ...

What: Shakedown Street, a Grateful Dead tribute band.

Where: Eagle Town Park, Eagle.

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Cost: Free.

More information: Visit http://www.showdowntownfreeconcerts.com.

EAGLE — One of the longest running Grateful Dead tribute bands in the world, Shakedown Street, takes the Eagle Town Park stage Thursday night for ShowDown Town, part of the Vail Valley Foundation’s free summer concert series in Eagle.

The Original ShakeDown Street makes its home in and around the Rocky Mountain region of North America. Spawned from jam sessions at the Ancient Mariner bar in Manitou Springs, Colorado in 1987 (founded by Ted Galloway and Rick Starkey), the band quickly grew in popularity, and garnered a legion of loyal fans who refer to themselves as “Shakeheads”. In a few short years, throngs of “Shakeheads” could be found on the highways and byways of the Rocky Mountains, making their way to another Shakedown Street show.

The band’s personnel is comprised of some of the most creative musicians from some of the finest Colorado bands: Smokey Joe Weisiger (keyboards/organ and vocals) from Arvada; Scott Swartz (rhythm guitar and vocals) from Moffat; Edwin Hurwitz (bass) from Boulder; Josh Rosen (lead guitar and vocals) from Fort Collins; and Christian Teele (drums and percussion) from Boulder.



Throughout the years, Shakedown Street has had the privilege of sharing the stage with many iconic musicians. Some of these include former Grateful Dead members Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten, as well as Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band, and Grateful Dead technician and keyboard wizard Bob Bralove. Others include Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, The JGB Band, Hot Tuna, The David Nelson Band, NRPS, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Merl Saunders, Mitch Ryder, Spirit, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Presented by the Town of Eagle, ShowDown Town concerts take place Thursday evenings in July and August at 6:30 p.m. with children’s activities also highlighting family friendly evenings in the park. Face painting, balloon animals and character sketches are just a few things to look forward to in addition to the free concerts. Next up, Rob Drabkin Band plays Aug. 8 and Grant Farm is slated for Aug. 15. For additional information on the free concert series check out http://www.showdowntownfreeconcerts.com.


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