Grateful Dead Cover Band Will Celebrate Summer Jam's 50th Anniversary In Aurora

AURORA, IL — The Venue will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the rock festival Summer Jam at Watkins Glen with two tribute bands July 28.

The downtown Aurora concert, also called Summer Jam, will feature Peach Jam and Cream Puff Warriors, bands paying tribute to the Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead, respectively. The show is happening exactly 50 years to the day after the original show brought the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band, and The Band together in 1973 at a New York racetrack.

The original 12-hour-long Summer Jam broke records with its crowd of 600,000, landing it in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Sean Briskey, one of Peach Jam's two lead guitarists, brought the idea of the anniversary celebration to The Venue after the band sold out a winter show at the downtown Aurora concert hall, organizers said.

"I'm excited to get Chicago musicians together," Briskey said in a statement.

Scott Tipping, The Venue's music director, echoed Briskey's sentiments.

"It's the jam band community coming together," he said. Tipping will also perform as a "musician at large" with both bands throughout the evening.

Tickets to Summer Jam are on sale for $30. The price will increase to $35 at the door, set to open at 6 p.m. The event will start at 7 p.m. at Mundy Park, 21-23 S. Broadway.

Local food trucks and artisan vendors are slated to sell goods at the event, happening rain or shine.